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Amazon raises FBA fees calling it “efficiency”

Posted on by SellerBites

What do fees, fakes, and fans have in common?

They all made headlines this week, and yes, Amazon’s in the middle of it.

  • Amazon’s “efficiency” comes with a fee hike đź’°
  • Banned device rakes in $8M on Amazon 🛑
  • Walmart woos collectors Amazon shut out 🦸
  • Join our Facebook group for FREE ✨

CASH CORNER

It’s official, Amazon’s breaking its no-fee-hike streak. 

According to PYMNTS, after a quiet 2025, the retail giant announced it will increase Referral and FBA fees by $0.08 per unit next year.

đź’ą Still cheaper than inflation

Amazon calls it a small hike, arguing the increase is well below inflation, and, frankly, lower than the 3.9%–5.9% hikes other U.S. carriers have pulled over the past two years.

Here’s what sellers can count on:

  • 90 days’ notice before the changes kick in.
  • No new FBA fee types in 2026 (a rare moment of fee stability).
  • Higher costs only where Amazon says it’s adding more value, think automation upgrades, better inventory forecasting, and smoother returns.

🧮 More tools, fewer surprises

To soften the blow, Amazon’s rolling out new and improved dashboards:

A few cents per item might not sound like much, until you multiply it by your monthly volume. Amazon’s take: “We’re keeping it reasonable.” 

Reality check: even small hikes can eat into margins. Now’s the time to update your rates, test pricing, and keep Amazon from taking more than its share.

Tell us this doesn’t hit a little too close to home.

BITES OF THE WEEK

BLACK MARKET

Couple made $8M selling banned health devices

Amazon just cleaned house after another health-product fiasco. 

Forbes reported that a Colorado couple raked in over $8 million selling Dechoker, a suction-style anti-choking device falsely marketed as FDA-approved. 

Spoiler: it wasn’t. 🫢

🧯 Lifesaver or legal trouble?

The FDA says Dechoker was never approved and should’ve been classified as a high-risk Class III device. 

Despite a 2023 stop-sale order, the founders kept listings live until regulators shut them down.

Here’s how it unraveled:

  • The couple made $8.2 million from 2023 to May 2025. 
  • The FDA seized the cash but hasn’t pressed charges… yet.
  • Reports cite bruising and suction injuries.
  • A UC Davis study found the device didn’t remove blockages and even caused tongue damage.

đź’ˇ Don’t play doctor

An Amazon spokesperson said the company yanked the Dechoker and similar unapproved devices. 

It’s tightening compliance checks too, only FDA-cleared products stay up, and the rest “are immediately removed.” 

Sellers, take note: if your product even sounds medical, get your paperwork straight and skip the fake “FDA-approved” flex.

HOT TOPIC

Walmart courts collectors while Amazon shuts them out

Walmart’s leveling up from groceries to geekdom. 

According to EcommerceBytes, At New York Comic Con, it unveiled a partnership with Shortboxed to list 10,000 verified comics from a 75,000+ catalog on Walmart Marketplace.

📚 A collector’s community

Walmart’s move isn’t just about selling comics, it’s about building culture, trust, and fandom. Here’s what’s rolling out:

  • Comic fans can now trade through Shortboxed on Walmart Marketplace.
  • The collaboration makes collecting safer and more fun with verified sellers and real deals. 
  • At NYCC, Walmart gave away limited editions with DC, Marvel, Image, and Skybound, and says it’s doubling down on tech and exclusives to make collecting “for everyone.”

đź’Ş A subtle flex at Amazon

This isn’t a coincidence. Amazon just axed “Collectible” listings for Toys & Games. While Amazon shuts the door, Walmart’s flinging it open, and posting a guard. 

For sellers, it’s a cue: Walmart’s move with Shortboxed could make it the new hub for niche sellers Amazon just shut out.