DoorDash Nears a $17 Billion Deal for Instacart, a Court Strikes Down the Fed's Debit Card Fee Cap
4 min read · October 27, 2026 · Covering October 26 · 9 stories from 6 sources
Yesterday in ecommerce: DoorDash moved closer to a $17 billion deal for Instacart, a federal appeals court struck down the Fed's cap on debit card swipe fees, and the FTC sued Dollar General over deceptive register pricing. 9 stories, about 4 minutes.
01Marketplaces
DoorDash nears a $17 billion deal to acquire Instacart
DoorDash is in advanced talks to acquire Instacart, with an announcement possible within days, the Wall Street Journal reported. The deal would value Instacart near $17 billion; its shares jumped 8% on the news, while DoorDash is worth about $73 billion. Instacart's parallel talks with Uber have ended. Separately, Instacart said it will wind down its Caper Cart AI-cart hardware business to focus on software and AI, a decision it says was made over several months.
For your store:If you rely on Instacart or DoorDash for delivery, watch for fee or coverage changes once a deal is confirmed.
A court just struck down the Fed's cap on debit card fees
The 8th Circuit ruled the Federal Reserve wrongly set its 21-cent debit swipe fee cap, backing a 2025 lower-court decision. Judges said the Fed must count only marginal per-transaction costs, as the Durbin Amendment requires, not fixed and fraud-related costs it had folded in. The ruling vacates the current cap; a convenience-store trade group says the old rate let banks "collect billions of dollars a year more from stores." Bank groups called the fight unresolved.
For your store:A lower, Congress-mandated cap could cut your debit card costs once the Fed issues new rules, likely not immediately.
FTC and 20 states sue Dollar General over register overcharging
The FTC and 20 states sued Dollar General, alleging it routinely charged shoppers more at the register than prices shown on shelves, circulars and digital channels. The complaint cites over 29,000 price-honoring complaints since January 2023 and undercover buys in four states where every purchase rang up higher than advertised; one Ohio store mispriced 13 of 58 items in a single visit. The FTC's Christopher Mufarrige said the chain "betrayed the trust of millions of American consumers."
For your store:Audit your own shelf-tag-to-register pricing regularly. Even small, unintentional mismatches can draw real regulatory risk.
Walmart stretches Black Friday and Cyber Monday to 14 days
Walmart's 2026 holiday sale events run longer than ever: an early Black Friday window November 12 to 15, a core Black Friday event November 23 to 29, and Cyber Monday November 30 to December 2, totaling 14 days versus 10 in 2025. Walmart+ members get early access to parts of both Black Friday events. The retailer says thousands of gifts will be priced under $20. Analysts at Telsey Advisory Group expect Walmart to be "another winner this holiday season."
For your store:A longer sale window spreads out shopper spending. Consider starting your own holiday promos earlier too.
Bose buys Skullcandy to widen its audio brand portfolio
Bose formally acquired fellow headphone maker Skullcandy on October 21, deal terms undisclosed. CEO Lila Snyder said Bose, being privately held, can make "bold, long-term investments" and is now expanding through brand partnerships as well as its own products. The two companies had already collaborated on Bose technology inside Skullcandy products. Skullcandy CEO Brian Garofalow called it "a win for Skullcandy and our fans," with Bose's audio expertise expected to improve future products.
For your store:Consumer electronics is consolidating fast. If you sell audio or accessories, expect sharper competition from combined brand portfolios.
EU customs seized a record 196 million counterfeit items
European customs and enforcement agencies intercepted 196 million suspected counterfeit items last year, worth an estimated 6.3 billion euros, up 67% from 2024, per a European Commission and EUIPO report. External borders alone accounted for 42 million items, more than double the prior year, spread across over 45,000 express courier and 26,000 postal detentions. The Commission said rising ecommerce parcel volumes are making interception "increasingly difficult."
For your store:If you sell branded goods, expect more scrutiny at EU borders. Keep authentication and sourcing documents ready for customs checks.
A UK retailer's EU orders fell 61% after new customs charges
Grindstore, a 25-person retailer in North Norfolk, says its EU orders fell 61.3% between July and early October versus a year earlier, from 6,128 to 2,371, after a new 3-euro-per-item-type EU customs charge took effect in July. Its average euro-order shipping cost jumped from 4.09 to 11.07 euros. Local MP Steff Aquarone visited the business and will raise the evidence in Parliament, pushing for clearer government guidance before a further EU-wide handling fee expected in November.
For your store:If you ship into the EU, model the per-item customs charge into your prices now, before the next fee lands in November.
UK delivery firm Evri has invested £32.2 million so far this year, part of a planned £100 million, in infrastructure, technology and operations ahead of the Christmas peak. It can now handle 4.9 million parcels a day, about 500,000 more than last year, and is expanding parcel lockers and its Barnsley super hub. Evri is also hiring 7,000 extra community couriers and 3,000 seasonal staff. CEO Martijn De Lange called peak "the most important and demanding period" for its customers.
For your store:Confirm your courier's peak capacity and cut-off dates now, before volume surges squeeze delivery promises in December.
Zooplus marketplace launches in Spain with 10,000 products
German pet supply retailer Zooplus expanded its seller marketplace into Spain, its third market after France and Germany, launching with 10,000 new products. Outside brands with an EU entity, VAT number and EU-held stock can register as partner sellers, and their listings appear across all three active marketplace countries at once. Chief Merchandising Officer Pierre-Yves Delforge said the move unlocks categories like fresh and frozen food, already the top-selling marketplace category in Germany and France.
For your store:A marketplace launch is a fast way to test a new country. If you sell pet or specialty goods, check if Zooplus fits your range.
The Daily Checkout is a daily summary written by KonvertiQ. Every story links to its original source, where you will find full reporting and context. Covered today: ChannelX / Tamebay, Digital Commerce 360, Ecommerce News Europe, PYMNTS, Payments Dive, Retail Dive.