Honestly, if you saw the movie script, you’d probably walk out. It’s too over-the-top. A massive tech giant worth billions decides to wage a "campaign of terror" against two middle-aged bloggers in Natick, Massachusetts? It sounds like a paranoid thriller from the 90s. But for Ina and David Steiner, the nightmare was very real, and it’s a story that still keeps ecommerce sellers and journalists up at night.
Basically, the Steiners run EcommerceBytes. It’s a niche newsletter, but in the world of online selling, it's the Bible. They’ve been doing it since 1999. In 2019, they wrote some things that eBay’s top brass didn't like. What followed wasn't a sternly worded email or a cease-and-desist. It was psychological warfare.
The "Campaign of Terror" (And Why It Wasn't Just a Prank)
Most people remember the headlines about the live spiders. Or the cockroaches. But the sheer scale of what Ina and David Steiner went through is hard to wrap your head around unless you look at the timeline.
It started with "the packages." At first, it was just weird. Then it got dark. A bloody pig mask. A funeral wreath. A book about surviving the loss of a spouse. Imagine sitting in your living room, opening a box, and finding a preserved fetal pig inside. That’s not a corporate strategy; that’s a threat.
It went way beyond mail
The harassment wasn't just digital or postal. It became physical.
- Surveillance: eBay security staff actually flew across the country to Massachusetts. They sat in a van outside the Steiners' house.
- The GPS Plot: They tried to break into the couple's garage to put a tracker on their car. They failed, but the intent was there.
- The Craigslist Ads: They posted ads on Craigslist inviting strangers to the Steiners' home for "sex parties" and "yard sales."
The goal was simple: "Take her down." Those were the literal words of then-CEO Devin Wenig in a text message to another executive after Ina wrote about his pay. He later resigned with a $57 million exit package, though he has consistently denied knowing about the criminal tactics his team used.
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What’s Actually Happening Now? (2026 Update)
If you think this ended when the FBI made arrests in 2020, you've got it wrong. The legal battle has dragged on for years, and it is still reaching boiling points right now in 2026.
Just this past year, there’s been a massive shift in the civil case. For a long time, eBay tried to argue these were just "rogue employees." But the Steiners aren't letting it go. They are currently pushing for nearly $100 million in damages.
The Trial of the Century (For Ecommerce)
The civil trial is finally slated for March 2, 2026. This is a big deal. Why? Because it’s not just about the money. It’s about whether a corporation can be held responsible for "negligent supervision" when its security team goes full CIA on private citizens.
Interestingly, Jim Baugh—the former eBay security director who was sentenced to nearly five years in prison—cut a deal in 2025. He’s set to testify against the former executives. That is the "smoking gun" everyone is waiting for.
Why This Case Actually Matters to You
You might think, "I'm not a blogger, why do I care?"
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Kinda because of the precedent. If a company can spend millions of dollars to stalk someone because they didn't like a blog post, then the First Amendment is basically a suggestion. The Steiners have talked openly about how this has ruined their trust. They even slept in separate rooms for a while so that if someone broke in, at least one of them could call 911.
It’s about the "chilling effect."
Ina recently mentioned that sources are scared to talk to them now. Sellers who used to tip them off about eBay's fee changes or technical glitches are terrified. They think, "If eBay did that to the Steiners, what will they do to my small business?"
Breaking Down the Misconceptions
People often get a few things wrong about this case:
- "It was just a few low-level guys." Nope. Seven people were convicted, including senior directors of security. These weren't interns.
- "eBay paid the fine, so it's over." eBay paid a $3 million criminal fine to the DOJ in 2024. But the Steiners didn't get that money. That went to the government. Their personal fight for restitution is what's happening in the civil courts right now.
- "The CEO was cleared." Technically, Devin Wenig wasn't criminally charged. But "not charged" isn't the same as "innocent" in the court of public opinion—or in a civil trial where the burden of proof is lower.
Where the Steiners Stand Today
Despite everything, EcommerceBytes is still live. Ina is still writing. David is still running the business side. They’re essentially the most resilient couple in media.
But they’re tired. You can see it in their statements. They’ve been living in a state of litigation for seven years. It’s a marathon that nobody would ever want to run.
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Actionable Insights: Protecting Yourself
If you’re a journalist or a high-profile online personality, the Steiner case offers some grim but necessary lessons:
- Beef up home security early. The Steiners’ doorbell cameras were what eventually helped the Natick police identify the rental cars used by the eBay "security" team.
- Documentation is everything. Keep every weird email, every strange package, and every "odd" social media interaction. In this case, the paper trail was what moved it from "crazy conspiracy" to "federal indictment."
- Know your rights. Corporations often use "SLAPP" suits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) to silence critics, but what happened here was way beyond the law. If you feel physically unsafe, go to the police, not the company's "ethics" hotline.
The march toward the March 2026 trial date continues. It’s probably going to be one of the most significant cases regarding corporate overreach in the digital age. We'll be watching to see if "ashes" is really what the court finds at the end of it all.
To keep up with the latest filings in Steiner v. eBay Inc., you can monitor the Massachusetts District Court records or follow the updates directly on EcommerceBytes, where the couple continues to document their journey toward accountability.
Next Steps:
- Monitor the March 2, 2026 trial date for live testimony from former eBay executives.
- Review the deferred prosecution agreement documents if you want to see the full list of items sent to the Steiner home.
- Audit your own digital footprint to ensure business and personal addresses are kept separate where possible.