Brexit, Universal Postal Union Causing Cross-Border Ecommerce Uncertainty

| Tim Parry

The global shipping landscape may be disrupted this fall, depending on the outcome of two major geopolitical events, and cross-border ecommerce sellers need to brace themselves for the potential changes. Experts discuss the ramifications of both Brexit in the UK and a possible U.S. pullout from the Universal Postal Union (UPU).

No Beating Amazon on Shipping, So Compete Elsewhere

| Monica Eaton

The clash of the titans goes on: Amazon rolls out free, one-day shipping for Prime subscribers, and Walmart immediately counters with a free next-day shipping offer of its own, with a $35 threshold to qualify and no membership requirement.

Cross-Border Shipping: Overcoming Global Headwinds, Trade Issues

| MCM staff

The global shipping landscape may go through one and possibly two seismic shifts this fall: either a Brexit in the UK, a U.S. pullout from the Universal Postal Union, or both. So how should you prepare? How quickly can you adjust your shipping plans? This latest special report from MCM taps experts and explores these issues in detail.

Regional Carrier Eastern Connection Ceases Operations

| Mike O'Brien

Eastern Connection, a regional carrier with a 35-plus-year history, shut down its operations earlier this month, the company announced, leaving shippers in the Northeast from Maine to Virginia looking for alternate capacity. Other regional carriers, including Lasership and CDL, stand to benefit along with UPS, FedEx and the USPS.

Stamps.com Stuns by Parting Ways with USPS, Looks to Other Carriers

| Mike O'Brien

In a bold and unexpected move, Stamps.com, which built its business through an exclusive shipping partnership with the U.S. Postal Service, is now severing that relationship as it seeks to offer its ecommerce customers more options, while keeping a sharp eye on Amazon logistics. See what the CEO had to say and how analysts reacted.

Ecommerce Shipping: Feeling the Need for Speed

| Daniela Forte

Sixty-three percent of customer expect items to be delivered within three days, and younger generations are showing loyalty toward companies that offer free expedited delivery options, even if they have to pay for it, according to a study by LaserShip. Here is a look at what customers expect from retailers when it comes to their shipping strategy.

cargo containers on pier

Amazon Steps up Ocean Freight Shipping from China to the U.S.

| Mike O'Brien

Amazon has been quietly shipping ocean freight from China to West Coast ports, in another sign of its increasing logistics ambitions and an entire supply chain play, according to a report in USA Today. In the past year, Amazon Logistics has shipped 4.7 million cartons of consumer goods from China to Long Beach and Seattle.

ecommerce fraud

7 Tips for Ecommerce Merchants to Detect Online Fraud

| Srii Srinivasan

Being an ecommerce business comes with its own set of unique challenges. For one, it’s very difficult to validate a real customer, and you can also face a lot of issues that come with unauthorized transactions—such as resulting chargebacks, which can cause even more financial loss. Here are seven tips that can help you detect online fraud.