Can New CEO Keep eBay on Top?

Online trading fuels demand for protected species

(NEWSER) - The Internet has become one of the biggest threats to at-risk species, allowing hunters to offload everything from polar bear pelts to extremely rare Iranian salamanders with ease, conservationists told the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Qatar. Thousands of endangered species are regularly traded online through message boards, auction sites, and chatrooms, the BBC reports, with buyers enjoying both the anonymity it offers and the global network of potential buyers. More»

Used handkerchiefs, sisters... the possibilities are endless!

(NEWSER) - Hard up for cash? Perhaps the Daily Mirror’s list of the 10 most bizarre eBay auctions will inspire you to sell off some of your own belongings:

• Scorned by your ex-wife? Consider selling her wedding dress. If you model it yourself, as one man did in 2004, you could get $6,300.
• Pregnant? One mom got $15,500 from a casino in exchange for the right to name her kid. Fair warning: Said child is now saddled with the moniker Golden Palace Benedetto.

Johansson auctions off used tissue to feed the hungry

(NEWSER) - Scarlett Johansson is proving that even Hollywood glamour-pusses can be gross. The actress thinks her flem would make a nice fan memento, so she’s auctioned off a used tissue to raise money for a hunger charity. Bidding on eBay has already topped $2,000, the New York Daily News reports. Johansson alerted the world to the auction on Leno, telling him that she caught a cold from co-star Samuel L. Jackson while filming The Spirit. More»

The online auction giant sees 'Amazonification' as a path to profit

(NEWSER) - Looking to compete more aggressively with Amazon for users who want to sell items at a fixed cost, eBay is changing its pricing model, lowering listing fees by up to 75% and increasing its final sales commission, BusinessWeek reports. The goal is to increase inventory of items listed at a "buy-it-now" price, increasingly popular with buyers weary of waiting for auctions to play out. More»

Guidelines for safe e-shopping are necessary even on eBay

(NEWSER) - If it looks too good to be true, it might be. Counterfeit goods are no stranger to sites as mainstream as eBay, so you'll want to take a few precautions to avoid forking it over for a fake. Forbes outlines tips for a safe and reliable e-shopping spree.

• Know what to look for: Before purchasing a pricey purse item, read a corresponding authenticity guide. Written by legitimate sellers, you'll learn what to look for, from genuine monogram placement to label fonts.