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Survival of the fittest drives veteran Amazon sellers to the top

Posted on by SellerBites

Ah, Monday. The week’s here, and so is the drama! The trade war rages on, and Amazon’s dropping fresh updates to keep us all on our toes.

Buckle up, because ecommerce chaos isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

  • Veteran sellers on top 💪
  • Up to $75K in incentives 💰
  • Retail giants brace for tariffs ⚡
  • Amazon’s ‘Buy for Me’ 🛒
  • Price hike or exit Amazon 🇨🇳

TRENDING TOPIC

Everyone loves a good “overnight success” story. But on Amazon, those are the exception, not the rule. The real success stories are those less viral and more…veteran.

A Marketplace Pulse report revealed that you don’t get to the top by accident. You get there by staying in the game longer than most people are even willing to try.

📊 The data speaks for itself

  • Over 60% of Amazon’s top 10,000 sellers joined before 2019
  • Sellers active for 6+ years now make up the majority of top earners
  • Only 8% of sellers from pre-2019 are still in the game today
  • A full 30% of new accounts never make a single sale

🔁 Grit that pays off

The top sellers didn’t just get lucky—they stuck it out. Amazon’s marketplace has thrown curveballs for years: rising fees, global supply shocks, shifting algorithms. 

But seasoned sellers? They adapt.

Did you know? More than half of Amazon’s GMV now comes from sellers with 5+ years of experience.

🧩 What this means for new sellers

  • Play the long game. Amazon rewards consistency, not quick hits.
  • Build systems that can bend, not break. Tariffs, inflation, and supply chain chaos are here to stay.
  • Study the veterans. They’ve failed, learned, adjusted, and kept going. Don’t chase fads—follow footprints.
  • Compete beyond product and price. Reviews, trust, consistency—these compound over time.

If you’re feeling behind, don’t sweat it. Every veteran seller was once a newbie, too. The difference? They stuck with it. They built systems. They weathered storms. And they kept showing up—order after order, review after review.

TOGETHER WITH WALMART MARKETPLACE

Walmart’s latest New-Seller Savings is too huge to miss

If you have an eCommerce business, pause your scroll for this one. Walmart has launched its biggest offer ever for New-Seller Savings 2025, its incentive program for new sellers.

If you’ve never applied to Walmart Marketplace before, that would be you, which makes you eligible for up to $75K in incentives* once you start selling. Here’s a breakdown of the savings:

  • Up to 75% off base referral fees to maximize your profits. And, Walmart only charges a competitive referral fee when you make a sale—no setup or monthly fees, ever.
  • Up to 50% off storage fees and 25% off fulfillment fees (a $2K total value) when you outsource your shipping to Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) and enjoy scalable fulfillment for any business size.
  • $1K in advertising credits with Walmart Connect to showcase your products to millions of shoppers on Walmart’s website, app and third-party websites.

Be sure to take advantage of this unprecedented offer and the endless opportunities on Walmart.com.

Join Marketplace

New-Seller Savings run from sign up to January 31, 2026, so don’t wait—the faster you start, the more opportunity you’ll have to save.

*Offer subject to eligibility criteria, promotional savings will vary by seller. See full terms and conditions for offer details.

**Credits will come as reimbursements for fulfillment services.

***Walmart Connect’s offer is exclusively for new advertisers. See terms for complete details, including eligibility requirements.

BITES OF THE WEEK

ECOMMERCE NEWS

Retail giants are prepping for tariffs—you should too

Retail giants like Walmart and Uniqlo are preparing for the next round of U.S. tariffs. According to The Daily Upside, both companies are crafting plans to stay resilient in the event that trade talks break down over the next 90 days.

🧭 Retailers’ pivot plans

  • Beyond “China plus one.” Uniqlo’s CEO suggests diversifying production across multiple countries to reduce overexposure. 
  • Profit dips, long-term gains. Despite short-term losses, Uniqlo raised its profit forecast, showing that agility leads to long-term success.
  • Walmart’s inflation advantage. Economic stress has helped Walmart capture more high-income shoppers by adapting strategically.

❗️ Moves to think about now

  • Source smart, source wide. Avoid relying on one country; Build relationships in multiple regions for flexibility.
  • Lean into chaos with strategy. Take proactive steps during uncertainty to come out stronger—don’t wait for stability. 
  • Margins may squeeze—stay nimble. Plan for tariff hikes and use flexible pricing or bundling to stay competitive.

Walmart and Uniqlo aren’t just reacting—they’re preparing. Amazon sellers should do the same. By staying flexible and focused on long-term value, you can turn global uncertainty into opportunity.

AMAZON NEWS

Amazon launches ‘Buy for Me’ to keep shoppers in the app

There’s a new middleman in town—and surprise, it’s Amazon.

The retail giant is testing a new-AI powered feature called Buy for Me that lets customers use the Amazon Shopping app to buy products directly from other brands’ websites.

🛍️ How it works

  • Search, tap, and go.When customers spot a “Buy for Me” item in Amazon search, they’re directed to a product page—even if the product lives on a different brand’s site.
  • Amazon handles the checkout. Customers confirm shipping, taxes, and payment in the Amazon app.
  • Customers only leave when it’s time to deal with delivery or support from the brand.

🔍 More visibility for brands

But for marketplace sellers? It’s one more way Amazon keeps customers inside its walled garden—and possibly nudges them toward non-Amazon options.

Want to stay visible? Make sure your listings are competitive, your brand is discoverable, and your strategy accounts for a world where even off-Amazon purchases start on Amazon.

HOT TOPIC

China-based sellers rethink price hikes or pulling out of Amazon

Tariffs just got a whole lot messier—and China-based Amazon sellers are feeling the squeeze.

According to Fox 7 Austin, many are now deciding whether to hike prices dramatically or exit the U.S. market altogether. With China-based sellers making up more than 50% of Amazon’s marketplace, this could ripple across the platform fast.

🧾 What just happened?

  • On April 9, Trump jacked up tariffs on China-based imports to 125%, retaliating after China imposed an 84% tariff on U.S. goods.
  • Other countries? They got a temporary 90-day break with just a 10% rate—for now.
  • A China-based Amazon seller said they’ll have to raise toy prices by 20–50% just to stay afloat.

📦 Seller impact 

As current inventory runs out, the marketplace can expect two things:

  • Steeper prices on everyday goods—from toys to home gadgets
  • Vanishing listings as some sellers pull out of the market

If you source from China:

  • Don’t wait. Revisit your pricing strategy now before margin pressure hits.
  • Diversify your supply chain where you can—Canada, Mexico, EU, or even domestic partners.
  • Lean into your edge. Your unique value proposition or branding can help you stay ahead while others hit pause.

Global tension isn’t new—but this spike feels different. Sellers who pivot early could come out ahead when the dust settles.