Trump refuses to kill TikTok again for the third time

Amazon is going big for Prime Day this year—tapping LeBron James to headline the campaign and launching deals before the main event even starts. The retail giant also just dropped the official event guide so you can go big, too. 📦 Download it here.

• Trump won’t ban TikTok (again) 🤷‍♂️
• Get on Walmart by July for back-to-school 🛒
• Sellers stuck in Amazon’s return circus 🎪
• 2025 Prime Day guide is finally here 📘

SOCIAL PULSE

TikTok’s fate in the U.S. remains in limbo after President Donald Trump signed his third extension delaying enforcement of the sale-or-ban law. 

According to CNN, the move gives the app another 90 days to avoid getting booted from American phones. 

The new deadline: September 17.

🕒 Where things stand

• ByteDance is still negotiating to sell TikTok’s U.S. ops—without surrendering its prized algorithm.
• A nearly-finalized April deal unraveled after Trump slapped new tariffs on China.
• TikTok says talks continue with VP JD Vance’s office to craft a compliant deal.
• China’s approval is still a wildcard—especially if the algorithm’s involved.
• All this unfolds as U.S.-China tensions cool slightly under a new export control framework.

Meanwhile, the list of potential U.S. buyers includes Amazon, Perplexity, Kevin O’Leary, MrBeast, and several heavyweight private equity firms.

🤳 TikTok while you can

TikTok Shop is still booming—meaning ad dollars, influencer reach, and viral product launches are all in play. But with the platform’s future still tangled in geopolitics, it’s smart to diversify. 

TikTok gold rush? Maybe. But don’t bet the whole brand on it.

TOGETHER WITH WALMART MARKETPLACE

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BITES OF THE WEEK

• Deliveries On Hold: ICYMI, DHL Express Canada suspends operations as labor union, Unifor, continues the strike. 
• Trump Victory: The U.S. Supreme Court is allowing Trump's tariffs to remain in effect - no fast-track lawsuits - for now.
• Tariffs on Steel: The steel and aluminum of home appliances (refrigerators and dishwashers) will be subject to 50% tariffs.
• Designed to Convert: Get your shoppers to buy more and buy quickly with these strategic Shopping Cart Page Designs.

TRENDING TOPIC

Sellers are the collateral damage in Amazon's return circus

Returns might be easy for shoppers, but for sellers? It’s death by a thousand chargebacks. According to CNBC, return fraud and spiraling costs are pushing sellers out of FBA—and in some cases, off Amazon entirely.

And it’s not just about the money. Sellers report Amazon reshipping soiled or used items to new buyers—like a cooler that came back full of rotting breast milk. Yep, that actually happened.

Meanwhile, recent data says return rates have dipped nearly 5%. 

🍾 Don’t pop the champagne just yet

• Fraudulent returns hit 14% of all U.S. retail returns in 2024—up from 5% in 2018, totaling $890 billion in losses.
• Amazon’s return rate fee (launched June 2024) penalizes sellers with high return volumes.
• The “frequently returned” badge? Helpful maybe, but it’s not stopping the fraud flood.
• Many sellers are improving listings and product quality just to dodge return penalties.
• 65% raised prices last year to offset the rising cost of returns and fees.

🥊 DIY fraud defense 

With Amazon slow to act, sellers are taking fraud prevention into their own hands:

• GeekStands’ Mike Jelliff installed 40 cameras in his warehouse to document every shipment and return. Why? Because Amazon won’t let sellers block abusers, so he’s building his own blacklist.
• Ceres Chill gave up on FBA entirely after a nightmare return scenario and now uses GoodBuy Gear, a return reseller that’s clean, controlled—and growing fast.

On Amazon’s side, there’s been progress… sort of:

• Sellers can now appeal fraudulent returns multiple times.
• As of 2023, sellers can opt out of automatic return labels for items over $100.

Helpful? Sure. Enough? Not even close. 🤦

SELLER REFRESHER

Amazon finally drops the 2025 Prime Day guide

Better late than never—Amazon just released its 2025 Prime Day Readiness Guide, complete with strategies, best practices, and performance tips to help sellers prep for the platform’s biggest sales event of the year.

🔍 Inside the playbook

• Use Brand Analytics to spot listing optimization opportunities
• Drive traffic with Amazon Ads, Attribution, and Brand Referral Bonus perks
• Boost conversions with A+ content and shoppable videos
• Build loyalty with Tailored Promotions, strong reviews, and branded storefronts

💡 Bonus: Includes full details and submission tips for Prime Exclusive Discounts.

Prime Day 2025 will be the longest prime ever. So, you still have time to put these best practices and tips to good use before the sales event. Download the file now.