Amazon faces $5.4B in lawsuits over Buy Box favoritism

Amazon is suiting up for its biggest cinematic play yet: James Bond.

CEO Andy Jassy says he “can’t wait” for Bond 26. It’s the first Bond film made without the Broccoli family, and with Tom Holland back in the rumor mill, speculation around the next 007 is already heating up.

Here’s what’s waiting for Amazon:

• $5.4B legal battle puts Amazon’s Buy Box under fire 🔥
• Score big with Walmart’s new-seller perks 📦
• Amazon pulls the plug on FBA prep in the US 🧯
• Can you survive the surge of fake reviews on Amazon? 🕵️
• Get Looped In and take the chaos out of ecommerce accounting ✉️

BLACK MARKET

Amazon’s under fire again. According to Reuters, A London tribunal just greenlit two major lawsuits claiming the ecommerce giant abused its power in the UK. Combined, the cases could cost Amazon $5.4B. 

And yeah—it’s about the Buy Box (surprise, surprise).

🔍 “That box is rigged”

Lawsuit #1: Competition law professor Andreas Stephan is leading the charge for 200,000+ third-party sellers.

• Core accusation: Amazon manipulates the Buy Box to favor FBA sellers, leaving independents in the dust.
• Claims: If you’re not using Amazon’s logistics, your odds of winning the Buy Box go way down.
  • And when you lose the box, you lose the sale. Simple (and brutal) math.

Lawsuit #2: Consumer advocate Robert Hammond is representing millions of UK shoppers.

• Core accusation: Amazon’s Buy Box algorithm inflated prices by sidelining better-value offers.
• Claim: Shoppers were nudged toward higher-priced listings, all while thinking they were getting the “best deal.”

Both lawsuits are opt-out, meaning everyone’s automatically included unless they say otherwise.

💬 Amazon’s response

“These claims are without merit,” said an Amazon spokesperson, who also reminded everyone that over 100,000 UK businesses sell on their platform. 

A classic “we’re the good guys” defense—but that won’t stop the legal wheels from turning.

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AMAZON NEWS

Amazon phasing out prep for US FBA shipments

Mark your calendar: Starting January 1, 2026, Amazon will officially retire its FBA prep and item labeling services in the U.S., according to Supply Chain Dive.

Amazon said most sellers have upped their packaging game, so the company’s ready to pull back. Faster, leaner, and less hands-on.

🧰 What’s ending, exactly?

Amazon’s in-house services for prepping and labeling FBA inventory are going away. That includes:

• Labeling barcodes
• Applying warning stickers
• Bagging and bubble-wrapping
• Other prep steps during inbound shipment

So if you’ve been relying on Amazon to clean up your shipping act... time to pivot.

📦 What should sellers do now?
Amazon laid out two options:

• Do it yourself using Amazon’s prep guidelines.
• Outsource it to a third-party prep service.

You can also consider joining the Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP) program, which lets products ship in their original manufacturer packaging (if your product qualifies).

SELLER REFRESHER

How do you compete when 40% of reviews are fake?

Did you know up to 40% of Amazon reviews could be fake? We’re talking bots, paid placements, shady review swaps, and even outright competitor sabotage.

SellerApp shared ways to protect your listings, credibility, and bottom line:

• Monitor your reviews. Look for sudden review spikes, repetitive language, or sketchy accounts with no purchase history.
  • Tip: Use Amazon’s “Report abuse” link to flag suspicious ones.
• Use Brand Registry tools. If you’re enrolled, use:
  • Transparency to block counterfeits
  • Project Zero to remove harmful listings
  • Review insights to catch manipulation early
• Don’t touch fake review schemes. Violations can lead to suppression, suspension, or permanent bans. To stay clean, steer clear of:
  • Buying or swapping reviews
  • “Verified” review services
  • Off-the-books influencer deals
• Ask for legit reviews. Use Amazon’s Request a Review button or follow up with Buyer-Seller Messaging (compliantly).
• Stay updated. Amazon updates review policies often. Plus, FTC rules apply to all sellers in the U.S.
  • Tip: Check Seller Central regularly so you’re never caught off guard.

Fake reviews won’t stop, but neither should your vigilance. Sellers who stay sharp and clean win the long game.