Amazon’s cranking up the heat, and if your inventory can’t take it, it’s getting the boot. Starting April 15, meltable products won’t be accepted in fulfillment centers until October 15.
Any leftovers? They’ll be marked unfulfillable and could be trashed (on your dime) starting May 1. Time to move fast or melt away.
Meanwhile, here’s what’s heating up in ecommerce:
- AI and logistics heat up ⚔️
- Factory-direct model still reigns 🏭
- The true cost of leaving China 💰
- Amazon DSP x Google Privacy Sandbox 🔍
AMAZON NEWS
The battle between retail giants Amazon and Walmart is heating up. According to PYMNTS, both are doubling down on AI and logistics to outmaneuver each other—and for sellers, that means big opportunities (or challenges), depending on how they play it.
Here’s how they’re making their moves:
🛞 Where Amazon is headed
- AI-powered customer service: Amazon Connect is getting an AI boost to enhance customer interactions.
- Voice commerce upgrade: Starting March 28, Alexa will shift to cloud-based processing, unlocking new generative AI features and hyper-personalized shopping.
- Auto sales disruption: Amazon is eyeing the car sales market, a move that could shake up platforms like Carvana and open new doors for FBA sellers. 🚗
🥊 How Walmart is competing
- AI for merchants: On March 18, Walmart launched “Wally,” an AI assistant designed to help merchants source products faster and more efficiently. 🤖
- Logistics expansion: Walmart’s new freight brokerage program comes with strict carrier requirements—10 to 1,000 trucks and $1M in liability insurance—aiming to speed up fulfillment.
👣 The next step?
In the near future, expect faster fulfillment options and AI-powered tools from these retail giants.
For sellers? Adopting omnichannel strategies will be key to staying competitive.
The playing field is shifting—agility and adaptability will be your biggest assets.
TOGETHER WITH SELLER ALLIANCE
Amazon Sellers: Get in Before the Paywall Hits!
For a limited time, Seller Alliance is 100% free—but that changes on April 1st.
If you’re serious about growing your Amazon brand, this is your chance to lock in expert guidance, proven strategies, and a community of like-minded sellers—at zero cost.
Why Join?
✅ Bi-weekly coaching calls with Amazon growth experts
✅ Step-by-step SOPs & video walkthroughs for scaling smarter
✅ Private seller community (no fluff, no noise—just real insights)
✅ Exclusive discounts on tools & services to help your business thrive
Starting April 1st, memberships will start at $50/month—but as a SellerBites reader, you can join now for free.
👉 REPLY to this email to get your access code—then follow the link to register. No credit card required.
Once you're in, you're grandfathered in for life at no cost. But after the deadline, you'll have to pay like everyone else.
Secure your free spot today—REPLY now!
Join for free before April 1st →
BITES OF THE WEEK
- Ask Amazon: Engage with Amazon experts, policymakers, and leaders live this March at Seller Forums.
- Amazon in Ireland: The newly launched Amazon.ie will offer a wide selection of goods, complete with a "Brands of Ireland" page.
- Remove Meltables: Amazon won't accept heat-sensitive inventory from April 15 – October 15. The remaining items are marked unfulfillable.
- Seasonal Shopping: Learn how to prepare for the shopping season with Amazon's Webinar on March 25–27.
ECOMMERCE NEWS
Why de minimis dying won't stop Shein and Temu
A Modern Retail report confirms what many in ecommerce already knew: even without the de minimis loophole, the factory-direct model—made famous by Shein and Temu—isn’t going anywhere.
Why? Because it was never just about dodging duties.
🥇 Why direct-from-factory is still winning
A key factor in Temu and Shein’s ultra-low prices is the de minimis trade rule, which allows retailers to import goods under $800 duty free.
Earlier this year, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on China-based goods (later increased to 20%) and scrapped de minimis for China.
But even with these changes, brands are sticking with the model—and for good reason.
- Faster inventory turnover. Sell products almost immediately after production.
- Better cash flow. No need to prepay for inventory months in advance.
- Lower warehousing costs. Skip domestic storage fees. Even with tariffs, factory-direct shipping remains a cost-effective alternative to traditional distribution.
🔑 The future of ecommerce
Even with tariffs, factory-direct shipping remains a cost-effective alternative to traditional distribution. For brands that prioritize agility and efficiency, it’s a strategy built to last.
HOT TOPIC
Why replacing China-based manufacturers could cost you more than staying
The latest 20% tariff on China imports has sellers questioning their next move. Should you start sourcing elsewhere? Not so fast. According to a LinkedIn post, smart sellers are staying flexible instead of making knee-jerk decisions.
🌏 Why China still makes sense
Despite higher tariffs, China’s manufacturing dominance isn’t fading anytime soon. Here’s why:
- Unmatched efficiency. No other country matches China’s speed, scale, and mature supply chain.
- Tip: Expand your supplier network. Testing alternative manufacturers in Mexico, India, and Vietnam while keeping China as a core supplier.
- Better deals are emerging. With some businesses leaving, factories are offering lower prices and better terms to those who stay.
- Tip: Negotiate better terms. Lower demand means factories are more willing to offer discounts and better contracts.
- Stronger negotiation power. Sticking with China means more leverage in pricing and contract flexibility.
- Tip: Visit factories in person. Top sellers aren’t just making decisions over Zoom—they’re securing better deals face-to-face.
🚪 Don’t rush to exit China
Sure, diversifying to Vietnam, India, or Mexico can help mitigate risks—but switching isn’t instant. It can take months (or longer!) to match China’s production speed and reliability.
Instead, balance your sourcing strategy. Leverage China’s strengths, explore new options, and stay flexible.
In a high-tariff world, negotiation and adaptability win!
TECH MARKETING
Amazon DSP's new Google Privacy Sandbox integration
Amazon is stepping up its commitment to privacy and measurement with a new Google Privacy Sandbox integration for its DSP.
This upgrade gives advertisers better tools to track, measure, and optimize campaigns—without relying on third-party cookies. 🍪
🔒 Amazon’s privacy solution
With stricter privacy laws and the decline of third-party identifiers, understanding who you're targeting and how well you're converting is becoming more challenging.
AI-driven, privacy-centric measurement tools that ensure your campaigns stay visible and effective.
- Ad Relevance, powered by AWS AI, keeps ads impactful, even without ad IDs.
- Consented signals provide secure performance tracking, so you can adapt despite browser restrictions and policy shifts.
🔴 It's live
This upgrade is available now for both self-service and managed-service sellers in most countries Amazon operates in.
Privacy changes aren’t slowing down—Amazon is making sure your ad strategy doesn’t either.
