Tag - e-commerce

 
 

E COMMERCE

A man claimed Amazon promised "unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming” of entertainment through Prime Video. He alleges the company reneged on the deal and is suing.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 23, 2024
Amazon shouldn't be swindling users
The tech giant is being sued for charging subscribers more than advertised: Not what you'd expect from a self-professed customer-obsessed company.
Laws governing global e-commerce and the growing tidal wave of data that crosses borders may soon change.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 22, 2024
Streaming a movie abroad may soon come with taxes at the border
It's still unclear exactly how governments would implement digital tariffs.
As their popularity grow, Shein and Temu together send almost 600,000 packages to the U.S. every day.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 22, 2024
Rise of fast-fashion Shein and Temu roils global air cargo industry
Their pursuit of limited air-cargo space to woo consumers with rapid transit times make off-peak seasons almost disappear and cause capacity shortages.
Rakuten Group has incurred a net loss for the fifth straight year.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 15, 2024
Rakuten logs second-largest annual net loss
The firm will skip a dividend payment for the first time in 23 years to prioritize its financial stability.
Amazon CEO And Blue Origin Founder Jeff Bezos
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 14, 2024
Jeff Bezos sells $4 billion of Amazon stock, avoiding $288 million levy
Moving to Florida, after Washington imposed a 7% gains tax, the world’s second-richest person offloaded 24 million shares over just four trading days.
The Nvidia headquarters in Santa Clara, California
BUSINESS / Tech
Feb 13, 2024
Nvidia briefly overtakes Amazon in market value
NVIDIA's market value momentarily surpassed Amazon's on Monday, fueled by soaring demand for its chips used in artificial intelligence computing.
Like for other generative AI services, the algorithm behind Rufus is a closely held secret and Amazon declined to discuss how it operates.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 6, 2024
Who benefits when shoppers use Amazon's new AI tool?
The tool raises several questions, as Amazon has a history of steering customers toward products that most benefit the company.
Garments at a Shein Group pop-up store inside a Forever-21 store in the Times Square neighborhood of New York on Nov. 10, 2023
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 31, 2024
Cars and online retailers outperform as China exports disappoint
The sectors represented the fastest expansion among China's economy, with an export value of at least $10 billion.
The U.S. head office of TikTok in Culver City, California
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 24, 2023
Whoever designed TikTok Shop should get coal for Christmas
With TikTok Shop's debut holiday season, is sees a mixed bag of success and struggles.
Since starting out as a venue for short, silly lip-syncing videos, TikTok has emerged as an incubator for consumer trends, with millions of people trying on clothes and reviewing products.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 13, 2023
TikTok Shop sees early success, taking aim at giant Amazon
In a sign of how seriously Amazon is taking TikTok, the company cut deals with Pinterest, Meta and Snapchat to let users shop without leaving those apps.
Chinese fast-fashion upstart Shein has excelled with its offering of $9 hoodies and other bargain-basement apparel.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 7, 2023
Amazon targets Shein with fee cuts for cheap apparel sellers
Rare move by U.S. e-commerce giant shows its intent of muscling into Chinese fast-fashion upstart's territory.
In recent years, Jack Ma has largely stayed out of public view after clashing with the Chinese government.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 30, 2023
Jack Ma returns to rally troops after Alibaba’s troubles deepen
"Every great company is born in a winter"
A JD.com advertisement in Beijing promoting the Singles Day shopping festival
BUSINESS
Nov 10, 2023
China’s Singles Day downbeat amid slumping consumer confidence
Shoppers are increasingly seeking value, looking for cheaper brands amid an overall mood of restraint.
A notice issued by the Consumer Affairs Agency on its website and elsewhere cautions consumers about "dark patterns" on the internet. The issue has seen web design tricks employed to coax consumers into parting with their money.
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2023
'Dark patterns' deceiving online consumers in Japan
Among other tactics, some websites preselect a subscription option when users log in, leading to unintended financial commitments.
Hiroshi Mikitani, chairman and CEO of Rakuten Group, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo in May.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 17, 2023
Rakuten rally from record lows clouded by looming bond deadlines
The most pressing task now for Rakuten is to raise funds for a wall of more than $5 billion of bonds due in the next two years.
Kiva robots move inventory at an Amazon fulfilment center in Tracy, California.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 13, 2023
Amazon strategy could unlock $100 billion in revenue
Supply Chain by Amazon is the latest part of its drive to become a leading logistics company.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (front left) inspects a shipping company in Tokyo's Ota Ward in September.
JAPAN
Oct 6, 2023
Japan to give shopping points to promote outside door delivery
The project is the centerpiece of the government's emergency policy package to address a looming shortage of truck drivers due to tighter overtime caps.
A self-employed Amazon Japan delivery driver (right) who was deemed eligible for workers' compensation holds a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 5, 2023
Amazon Japan delivery driver eligible for workers' compensation
The outcome could clear the way for other self-employed Amazon delivery drivers to be eligible for compensation and could impact other industries.
With the aim of bolstering its customer base, SBI Holdings introduced a commission-free service starting Saturday amid growing interest in investing thanks to government efforts to persuade people to shift household assets from cash and savings to investments.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 2, 2023
Zero-commission services intensify brokerage competition in Japan
SBI Holding's decision to scrap commission fees for domestic stock trading threatens to undercut the brokerage industry's profitability.
TikTok can advertise to more than 100 million users in Indonesia, but they now need to go on a different app or site to buy.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 28, 2023
TikTok’s e-commerce ambitions stall as global backlash grows
Complaints about how TikTok is squeezing local players has stalled the Chinese-owned social media platform's e-commerce ambitions

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world