What do fees, fakes, and fans have in common?
They all made headlines this week, and yes, Amazon’s in the middle of it.
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.
💹 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:
🧮 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
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:
💡 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’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:
💪 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.