A study at the University of Maryland of eBay buyer activity found those buyers gain satisfaction out of spending less than they thought they might on auctions. Sellers, well, they probably aren’t that ecstatic over it.

Three out of 10 major online retailers offered new payment methods as an additional option to credit cards in December 2007, according to a study from Brulant. That is an increase of 24 percent of major online retailers who offered alternative payment methods in February 2007. More than one-fifth of online retailers surveyed offered Bill-Me-later. [...]