UPS glitch caused panic among sellers due to sudden FBA cost spike

We came across a Reddit post of a seller who made millions on Amazon but is now looking for another livelihood. According to the seller, there was a recently passed law that made their products illegal, causing Amazon to restrict all their listings.

While this story proves the uncertainty of selling on the platform, great risks can still come with great rewards—but only if you’re vigilant, resourceful, and proactive.

• FBA glitch 🔺
• Outpace your Amazon competition
• Amazon’s new experiment ⚗️

BLACK MARKET

You better double-check your logistics charges. Ecommercebytes reported that on October 31, a UPS glitch caused FBA rates to spike.

📈  What happened?

A few weeks ago, sellers reported an increased cost when sending their FBA inventory. Amazon moderators escalated the piling cases and rooted out the cause.

Here’s a recap of the events:

• On October 24 and 25, UPS experienced technical issues that affected pricing information sent to Amazon and other customers.
• Incorrect manifest rates were displayed in the Ship to Amazon workflow and AWD on Seller Central.
• On October 31, Amazon moderators posted that the issue had been resolved and normal pricing had been restored. ✅
• They also assured the affected sellers that refunds would be issued for shipments that were overcharged, with no action needed from sellers.

🎄 An attack or just part of the festive frenzy?

Inventory and logistics issues are common during peak season. It’s all the more reason to guard your business against them and have backup workflows in place.

Our tip? Calculate the UPS charges for your FBA inventory and cross-check with what the system is showing. Most importantly, stay calm and don’t get swept up by the holiday frenzy.

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AMAZON NEWS

Amazon tests seller rating display in product search

ICYDK, Amazon is experimenting with a feature that shows seller ratings directly on product search pages. The goal? To help customers make more informed choices right from the search results! 🔍

👀 According to GeekWire, the feature aims to:

• Provide quick visibility. Customers see seller ratings directly in search results without extra clicks.
• Enhance consumer trust. Amazon aims to improve transparency and help buyers choose trusted sellers quickly.

How does this benefit your business?

• Boosts visibility. High ratings are front and center, which helps you stand out in search results.
• Drives more sales. Great ratings attract more buyers, giving you a competitive edge.
• Encourages customer loyalty. Focusing on service keeps ratings high, which can lead to repeat customers.

🎯 A big opportunity

With the ratings on display, customers will have an easier time spotting top-rated sellers. If you’re committed to quality service, this visibility boost could drive more shoppers to your store. 

As per an Amazon spokesperson, this is still just an “experiment.” But we’ll surely keep an eye out to see if Amazon makes this feature permanent and report it to you.

Who knows, this might just be the extra edge your business needs.