Today, Poshmark announced it has joined a number of other industry-leading marketplaces to advocate for small online sellers as new eCommerce legislation comes to the forefront.
We believe there is an important voice missing from key policy decisions that are progressing in state legislatures around the country — and the ramifications will undoubtedly be felt by millions of people who use marketplaces like ours to sell online.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of a newly formed coalition of leading eCommerce platforms alongside eBay, Etsy, Mercari and Offer Up, who have joined forces to advocate for our sellers. The Coalition to Protect America’s Small Sellers (PASS Coalition) is proudly representing the interests of millions of small online sellers who depend on eCommerce to compete and thrive in the digital age.
eCommerce has seen a remarkable uptick over the past year as a result of COVID – as millions of individuals, small businesses, and entrepreneurs joined eCommerce marketplaces to save and make money. At the same time, legislation that does not adequately protect the rights of these sellers has advanced across the country.
There is an urgent need for the rights and interests of small online sellers to not only be heard by policymakers across the country, but also understood. That is where the PASS Coalition comes in. For example, new marketplace verification and disclosure requirements (often referred to as “INFORM Acts”) would jeopardize the privacy of millions of small online sellers by requiring them to publicly disclose their full name, address, phone number and email address if they are considered a “high-volume seller” (defined as having made 200 or more discrete sales in a 12-month period amounting to $5,000 or more).
We believe this type of public disclosure compromises our sellers’ privacy, security, and ability to thrive. We are actively working with fellow members of the PASS Coalition to push for amendments that both consider and protect small online sellers.
If you would like to learn more, please visit the PASS Coalition website, where you’ll find more information about current and pending legislation that may affect Poshmark sellers. You’ll also find ways you can take action and use your voice to influence pending legislation.
We believe it is possible to find solutions that address eCommerce policy concerns while also supporting and protecting the needs of small online sellers.