The weekend flew by, just like Amazon Now.
Groceries and essentials delivered to customers’ doors in 30 minutes or less. Yes, really!
- Global audits are hunting you 🔥
- Is your Amazon growth stuck? 🤔
- Amazon just 'betrayed' sellers 💀
- Returns got easier but profits are in danger ⚡
HOT TOPIC
China just threw a sharp compliance jab, and it’s aimed squarely at its own cross-border sellers.
According to a LinkedIn post, regulators have asked Amazon to hand over deeper, more detailed seller data as part of a nationwide tax enforcement push.
🕵️ Paperwork in the spotlight
China’s regulators are officially in “trust but verify” mode, and marketplaces are now expected to keep squeaky-clean financial trails.
- Sellers with messy bookkeeping are now flagged as higher risk.
- Invoices and accounting records must align across all systems.
- Documentation needs to be clear, consistent, and verifiable.
- Marketplaces may require more transparent financial information moving forward.
- Expect more frequent audits as platforms protect themselves from regulatory scrutiny.
⚠️ This isn’t a China-only crackdown
Once one major country steps up enforcement, marketplaces everywhere tighten their internal compliance to avoid becoming the next target.
In other words: it doesn’t matter where you sell, this wave is coming for everyone.
For sellers, this isn’t a “panic” moment. It’s a “get your house in order” moment. Clean books aren’t just a regulatory shield, they’re quickly becoming a competitive advantage as marketplaces raise the bar.
TOGETHER WITH SELLER INTERACTIVE
What’s really holding your Amazon growth back?
You’ve optimized listings. You’re running PPC. You’ve read all the blogs. So… why isn’t it translating into real growth?
That’s where Seller Interactive comes in.
We’re not here to sell you a magic hack. We’re here to show you exactly what your current strategy is missing.
From underperforming keywords to untapped ad opportunities, our team of Amazon experts will walk you through what’s actually going on inside your account—and where your next wins are hiding.
Our full-service team manages over $2M in monthly ad spend across categories like health & wellness, home & kitchen, supplements, and more. And we don’t just launch ideas—we back them with data, test them, and scale what works.
Think of us as the partner who brings clarity and execution to your Amazon strategy.
BITES OF THE WEEK
- Black Friday Fizzles: Once chaotic and irresistible, Black Friday now feels diluted as extended promotions erode urgency and trust.
- Europe’s Ecommerce Gap: Online shopping adoption in Europe ranges from 22% in Bulgaria to 92% in the Dutch province of Utrecht, showing stark regional divides.
- Five Ecom Drivers: AI, social commerce, RMNs, payments, and logistics drive Latin America’s ecommerce growth.
- AI Cloud Surge:AWS re:Invent 2025 unveils Graviton5, frontier agents, Nova models, and AI factories transforming enterprise performance.
BIG IDEA
Amazon breaks its no-fee hike promise
Remember when Amazon promised no fee hikes? Well, forget that.
Starting January 15, 2026, U.S. sellers are facing major FBA fee changes that could shake up margins if you’re not prepared.
💸 FBA fees on the rise
- Small standard products >$50: Biggest hit, averaging $0.31/unit (15.4% non-peak increase)
- Products $10–$50: Fees rise $0.08–$0.25/unit depending on size
- Low-price items <$10: Modest bump of $0.12/unit, but high-volume sellers feel it
📦 New small bulky tier brings relief
- New Small Bulky category lowers fees for heavier items previously in Large Standard
- Fee reduction 21–23% for qualifying SKUs (e.g., 10-lb item drops from $9.61 → $7.55)
- Applies to items with longest side 18–37” or 20–50 lbs
- Opportunity to save without touching prices
🛳️ Inbound placement and packaging updates
- More size tiers and new packaging rules
- Inbound placement fees rise for most items, except small standards <8oz; heavier items may climb $0.72/unit
- SIPP enrollment cheaper; non-SIPP Small & Large Bulky items face $1.50–$4 extra/unit
- Overmax handling fees ($17–$25) for extra-large units like fishing rods or tankless water heaters
It’s no time for sloppy planning, act now or watch 2026 margins shrink.
SELLER REFRESHER
Holiday returns just got easier for sellers
Amazon is rolling out upgraded tools to help sellers manage returns more efficiently, including a smarter “returnless” option and a brand-new returns dashboard.
📦 You set the rules
The Returnless Resolutions program now gives sellers more control:
- Set a maximum item price ($1–$75) for returnless refunds.
- Enable returnless on a per-product basis, perfect for low-cost items or international orders.
- The program excludes high-risk customers and items over $75.
📊 New dashboard reveals returns insights
All sellers can now access a returns and inventory recovery dashboard that shows:
- Top reasons customers return items and tips to reduce returns.
- Metrics on recovered value from returned units for cost tracking.
- Visibility to make data-driven decisions on inventory and returns.
🔥 Protect your margins
With holiday shopping and peak season in full swing, efficient returns can save your profits while keeping customers happy.
The upgraded tools help sellers limit processing costs, reduce fraud risk, and gain actionable insights, especially for low-cost and international items.
