A growing body of empirical literature finds that consumers are relatively limited in how much they search over product characteristics. We assemble a dataset of search and purchase behavior from eBay to quantify the returns, and thus implied costs, to consumer search on the internet. The...

We present an equilibrium search model that parsimoniously rationalizes the use of auctions as a sales mechanism for new-in-box goods--a frequent occurrence in online retail markets--and analyze whether the existence of these auctions is welfare enhancing relative to a market consisting only of...

Consumer return rates have been steadily rising in recent years, resulting in growing costs for retailers who must manage the returns process and the disposition of returned products. This cost pressure is driven in part by extremely generous return policies, such as giving consumers a full...

On July 12, 2011 the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) gave its decision in L'Oréal v eBay (C-324/09). The CJEU dealt with inter alia the following issues: (1) the aspects related to the nature of the goods sold by eBay's users; (2) the liability of eBay in connection with the said...

As commercial transactions on cyberspace include no face to face interaction and no physical inspection of products which ultimately leads to various problems and fostering of illegal activities like counterfeiting. In past few years, brand owners have declared war against such cyber...