# David and Ina Steiner/EcommerceBytes Have Retired!

**URL:** <https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539>\
**Category:** News for Ecomm Sellers\
**Created:** [September 14, 2026, 9:49am UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539 "2026-09-14T09:49:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 15\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Pepper\_Thine\_Angus](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/pepper_thine_angus/32/56_2.png) [@Pepper\_Thine\_Angus](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/Pepper_Thine_Angus)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 9:49am UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/1 "2026-09-14T09:49:51Z")

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[https://ecommercebytes.com/](https://ecommercebytes.com/)

> **Thank you**
> 
> After 27 years, EcommerceBytes has ceased publication.
> 
> Steiner Associates, LLC publishers David and Ina Steiner began an incredible journey when they launched AuctionBytes in 1999, rebranding the site to EcommerceBytes in 2011.
> 
> Freelance reporters, advertisers, and providers supported what remained a small, husband-and-wife publishing business dedicated to helping sellers become more efficient and profitable selling online.
> 
> Readers provided insight into the joys and pitfalls of selling online. Many people who relied on ecommerce platforms for their livelihood requested anonymity in communicating with EcommerceBytes about problems they encountered because they feared retaliation for speaking out publicly. The publishers of EcommerceBytes support reporter shield laws such as the one being considered in Massachusetts, supported by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association.
> 
> According to the Legal Information Institute:
> 
> _"In the context of the press, shield laws allow journalists to refuse to disclose confidential sources of information obtained during newsgathering. These laws protect reporters from being compelled to testify about their sources or unpublished materials in legal proceedings._
> 
> Thank you for supporting and being a part of EcommerceBytes over the past three decades.
> 
> Steiner Associates, LLC  
> PO Box 668  
> Natick, MA 01760  
> Tel. 508-655-5697
> 
> **Contact**  
> Ina Steiner: [ina@ecommercebytes.com](mailto:ina@ecommercebytes.com)  
> David Steiner: [dsteiner@ecommercebytes.com](mailto:dsteiner@ecommercebytes.com)

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**Author:** ![Pepper\_Thine\_Angus](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/pepper_thine_angus/32/56_2.png) [@Pepper\_Thine\_Angus](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/Pepper_Thine_Angus)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 9:52am UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/2 "2026-09-14T09:52:06Z")

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I wish the Steiners a happy retirement and all the well wishes in the world.

I also want to let the Steiners know they ALWAYS HAVE A HOME HERE AT SAS if they ever want to join us!

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**Author:** ![Pepper\_Thine\_Angus](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/pepper_thine_angus/32/56_2.png) [@Pepper\_Thine\_Angus](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/Pepper_Thine_Angus)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 9:52am UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/3 "2026-09-14T09:52:39Z")

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**Author:** ![SellerFeller](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/sellerfeller/32/7364_2.png) [@SellerFeller](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/SellerFeller)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 10:47am UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/4 "2026-09-14T10:47:12Z")

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When I saw the much-deserved settlement they got, I thought “I wonder how long I would keep putting out a newsletter with that kind of money in the bank?” Now I know!

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**Author:** ![Image](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/image/32/55_2.png) [@Image](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/Image)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 12:50pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/5 "2026-09-14T12:50:22Z")

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No amount of money could ever compensate for what was done to them. The abuse was horrific, something out of a horror movie.

_I wish them peace and happiness from now until the end of time._

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**Author:** ![oneida\_books](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/oneida_books/32/44_2.png) [@oneida\_books](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/oneida_books)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/6 "2026-09-14T18:00:39Z")

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When I hit the Lotto I am **right behind them**!!!

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**Author:** ![Uncle\_Leroy](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/uncle_leroy/32/10810_2.png) [@Uncle\_Leroy](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/Uncle_Leroy)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/7 "2026-09-15T02:24:10Z")

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> [@oneida\_books](#):
>
> When I hit the Lotto I am **right behind them**!!!

If I win, I’ll send you a cup of coffee. Now, it may not be enough to retire on. It may not be hot and fresh by the time you get it… but by golly at least you can say you got something out of my cheap hiney.

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**Author:** ![papy](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/papy/32/7639_2.png) [@papy](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/papy)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 7:54pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/8 "2026-09-17T19:54:10Z")

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@primetime has pointed something out:

> [@CNBC | FTC sues Amazon, accusing the e-commerce giant of misleading advertisers](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/cnbc-ftc-sues-amazon-accusing-the-e-commerce-giant-of-misleading-advertisers/7497/19):
>
> This article is not available due to the Steiner’s shutting down the site.  
> Can you summarize what it was about? It’s too bad there aren’t archives available on their site but I guess they are not interested in funding the continuance of it.

In these few minutes that I’ve been pondering the entirety of their site going dark, and the historical cataloging in real time of 21st century ecommerce evolution along with it, I have two theories:

1. Maybe the Steiners are contemplating writing a book of that history and want to preserve their product for that proprietary venture? (better option)

2. Now that they have had a sizable publicized pay out, there are probably many people out there looking to cash in with their own claims and cases against the Steiners/Ecommercebytes–regardless of merit or standing–hoping to be paid to go away, and the Steiners have just preliminarily shut that down by closing the site completely. (worse option because ugh)

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**Author:** ![joebcrafts](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/joebcrafts/32/488_2.png) [@joebcrafts](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/joebcrafts)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/9 "2026-09-17T20:56:45Z")

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It is likely #2 (or a variation of) and I don’t blame / fault / begrudge them one bit given what they already had to go through.

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**Author:** ![Pepper\_Thine\_Angus](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/pepper_thine_angus/32/56_2.png) [@Pepper\_Thine\_Angus](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/Pepper_Thine_Angus)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 9:00pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/10 "2026-09-17T21:00:18Z")

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Didn’t they have a forum? If so, then I vote for #3, not having to deal with site maintenance!

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**Author:** ![papy](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/papy/32/7639_2.png) [@papy](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/papy)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/11 "2026-09-17T22:27:45Z")

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> [@joebcrafts](#):
>
> likely #2 (or a variation of) and I don’t blame / fault / begrudge them one bit

Me neither! Just hate that they could now have to deal with that, at all. The double-edged sword of speaking out and going public. 😓

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**Author:** ![HobbesIsMyTiger](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/hobbesismytiger/32/8000_2.png) [@HobbesIsMyTiger](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/HobbesIsMyTiger)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 10:41pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/12 "2026-09-17T22:41:55Z")

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I took the other view, if I wanted an easy target, these are not the people I’d go after!

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**Author:** ![primetime](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/primetime/32/1419_2.png) [@primetime](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/primetime)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 11:25pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/13 "2026-09-17T23:25:25Z")

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> [@papy](#):
>
> two theories:

Maybe both are correct

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Image](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/image/32/55_2.png) [@Image](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/Image)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/14 "2026-09-18T20:37:18Z")

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> [@papy](#):
>
> I’ve been pondering the entirety of their site going dark,

I have not looked but the “Wayback Machine” may have an archive. I know they have our sites captured back to the early 90’s.

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**Author:** ![papy](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/papy/32/7639_2.png) [@papy](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/papy)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 10:33pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/david-and-ina-steiner-ecommercebytes-have-retired/7539/15 "2026-09-18T22:33:23Z")

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> [@Image](#):
>
> the “Wayback Machine” may have an archive.

I checked, and nothing. The error was that the server didn’t respond.

> [@CNBC | FTC sues Amazon, accusing the e-commerce giant of misleading advertisers](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/cnbc-ftc-sues-amazon-accusing-the-e-commerce-giant-of-misleading-advertisers/7497/20):
>
> Hm, no luck on Wayback Machine, so I’ll keep looking. Yes! I didn’t think that stopping publishing would bring everything down, at least not immediately. ETA: I think–and I’m dealing with food poisoning so might not be recollecting correctly-- @primetime the Ebytes post was about calling the auction second prices “soft reserve” prices. The euphemisms of grift.
