Amazon launches Fee Explainer to decode seller charges

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Let’s just say the ecommerce world didn’t hit pause while you were busy filling orders this week. ⏯️

Between shifting rules, half-baked tools, and global crackdowns, sellers are stuck playing offense and defense—at the same time.

Welcome back to the fun.

• Amazon rolls out new tool to break down seller fees 💸
• Ever wonder what tools top agencies use for Amazon? 🛠️
• Amazon tweaks FBA standards again 📦 
• Shein and Temu caught sneaking banned items 🚫
• Sign up for Walmart Insiders to get one growth hack every week. 🛒

AMAZON NEWS

ICYMI, Amazon wants to fix one of your biggest headaches: unexplained charges.

Enter the new Fee Explainer tool—now live in the Payments dashboard. It promises clear, transaction-level breakdowns with actual math, so you know why you’re being charged… not just how much.

For sellers used to decoding cryptic fees with spreadsheets and guesswork, this could be a game-changer.

🍪 Quick bits

• Located in Payments → Transaction View
• Click a charge to see full breakdowns—variables, definitions, and fee formulas
• Covers 9 key fee types: subscription, referral, return processing, etc.
• Designed to improve forecasting and pricing accuracy
• Still some bugs—like vague “other chargebacks” and inconsistent logic

💬 SellerBites’ take

Amazon’s finally trying to speak your language—profit margins. Fee Explainer is a welcome move toward transparency, and when it works, it can clarify years of confusion.

But let’s not pretend it’s flawless.

Some charges are still wrapped in mystery, and early users are reporting glitches, vague labels, and missing context.

Solid progress, but not quite the crystal ball we hoped for.

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TRENDING TOPIC

Amazon redefines ‘sellable inventory’ in FBA update

Amazon updated the FBA Inventory page layout, swapping “Available” for a new label—On-hand. 

It’s supposed to give a clearer picture of what’s sellable... but it’s also causing some head-scratching.

🍪 Quick bits

• “On-hand” now includes both Available and fulfillment center (FC) transfer units.
• “Reserved” no longer includes FC transfers—just FC processing + customer orders.
• FC transfer units are now considered purchasable, not pending.
• The change affects your Inventory dashboard—not your downloadable reports.
• Reports won’t be updated until mid-2026. Yep, two more years of mismatches.

💬 SellerBites’ take

Amazon’s logic checks out: if FC transfer units are headed to fulfillment centers, they’re technically sellable. So calling them “On-hand” isn’t wrong.

But when your dashboard says one thing and your reports say another? That’s a forecasting migraine waiting to happen.

So for now, sellers are stuck translating two versions of the truth. Watch your numbers closely, and don’t panic if they don’t line up—we’re all just playing inventory Sudoku until the reports catch up.

BLACK MARKET

Shein and Temu slipped banned products into Europe

The EU just went full secret-agent mode—and the results weren’t pretty.

A covert investigation revealed that Shein and Temu are funneling in dangerous, illegal products across Europe. We’re talking kids’ clothing that’s a safety hazard, UV-less sunglasses, and cosmetics spiked with banned chemicals.

All of it technically “legal” thanks to a gaping loophole in EU import rules. 

🍪 Quick bits

• Undercover testing found major EU safety violations from both platforms
• Most items arrive as duty-free “low-value” parcels, skipping inspection
• 12M such packages enter the EU every day—that’s a lot of unchecked goods
• Banned substance Lilial was found in several beauty products
• Shein and Temu both say they’re improving compliance—but red flags keep flying
• The EU is now eyeing:
  • Scrapping the €150 duty-free threshold
  • Adding handling fees per parcel
  • Creating a central customs force to rein in volume

💬 SellerBites’ take

This isn’t just about dodgy sunglasses or sketchy lipstick, it’s about who’s playing by the rules. EU sellers pay for compliance, safety testing, and VAT. 

Meanwhile, low-cost Chinese platforms flood the market with under-the-radar goods and get a free pass.

But based on this crackdown, the EU’s ready to make that more than just a soundbite.