Full Breakdown
eBay Executives Allegedly Harassed EcommerceBytes Founders
7/14/2026, 2:17:26 AM
Alleged Harassment Campaign
In 2019 senior leaders at eBay decided to silence a news site and message board that served eBay sellers. The site, EcommerceBytes, was run by the Massachusetts couple Ina and David Steiner. According to the New York Times report, top eBay personnel—including the chief executive—directed security chief James Baugh to “deal with” the Steiners. Baugh led a group of mostly young female employees who, the Steiners say, sent them offensive and suggestive items, pursued them on social media, and stalked them at their home. The couple has described the experience as a campaign of terror from which they have never fully recovered.
Context of the Conflict
EcommerceBytes published information that eBay executives found inconvenient, notably that the chief executive earned 152 times the salary of the average worker. The site also functioned as a forum where sellers could discuss eBay policies. eBay’s leadership reportedly viewed the outlet as a threat to the company’s public image and chose to “buy them off or just buy them,” according to the article’s narrative.
Individuals Involved
- Ina Steiner – Co-founder of EcommerceBytes.
- David Steiner – Co-founder of EcommerceBytes.
- James Baugh – Head of security at eBay, who organized the harassment effort.
- Unnamed top eBay executives, including the chief executive, who allegedly ordered the campaign.
Criticism & Opposition
The Steiners’ account constitutes the primary criticism of eBay’s actions. They allege that the harassment was systematic and severe, leaving lasting personal and professional damage. No public response from eBay or its representatives is included in the source material.
Verbatim Quote
- “eBay was founded in 1995 on the simple premise that people are basically good.” — eBay (as quoted in the article)
The report relies on the Steiners’ testimony and the New York Times investigation; no additional official statements or independent verification are provided.
