Amazon is betting big on movie theaters, planning to release 14 films annually with 45-day exclusive theater windows before they hit Prime Video.
They sure love drama—here’s the other drama happening in ecommerce:
- Amazon Vine "hack" suspends sellers 🚨
- $0 fees, growth solutions, and omnichannel advantage 💡
- Amazon Japan sellers push back 🇯🇵
- Tariffs split sellers’ views 💸
- TikTok's bomb gets snoozed ⏳
BLACK MARKET
There’s no shortage of seller strategies—optimize your listing, drive traffic, collect reviews. But some tactics age like milk. What was once clever can quietly become a compliance nightmare.
Case in point? Vine Review Merging. Amazon Sellers Appeal (ASA) sheds light to this tactic.
🎩 ‘Sellers’ says it’s magic
Amazon’s Vine program helps sellers collect authentic reviews from trusted voices. It’s a legit way to build early credibility.
So what did some sellers do?
They launched a new child ASIN, used Vine to rack up 20–30 reviews, then merged it into a high-performing parent ASIN.
Voilà—instant boost to star rating and review count.
⛔ Amazon isn't buying it anymore
Here’s the issue:
- Reviews are meant to reflect the customer’s experience with a specific ASIN.
- When those Vine reviews get moved to a different variation—especially one that isn’t a true match—it’s misleading.
Merging just to stack ratings? Amazon calls it out for what it is: artificial review inflation.
🖐️ Rethink the strategy
ASA Compliance Group says this tactic is still being recommended in Facebook groups and seller forums. But Amazon enforcement is catching up—fast.
We’re talking:
- Vine reviews being silently removed
- Listings suppressed for review abuse
- In serious cases, account-level warnings or suspensions
Tip: Stay informed. Question “growth hacks,” and when in doubt—play it clean.
Because the only thing worse than losing reviews... is losing your account.
TOGETHER WITH WALMART MARKETPLACE
How Walmart Marketplace helped a startup reach global status
In the competitive world of eCommerce, finding the right platform to scale your business is key to achieving sustained growth.
In 2022, NexGrill, an outdoor cooking and heating product brand, was looking for a partner to help them grow their business.
What stood out about Walmart Marketplace is that unlike other platforms, they offered:
- $0 monthly or setup fees
- Powerful, easy-to-use eCommerce solutions designed for growth
- Walmart’s unique omnichannel advantage
Inspired by this story? It only takes a few minutes to create an account. Sign up for Walmart Marketplace today.
BITES OF THE WEEK
- Gotta Catch ‘Em Small: Get to know and support all the tiny but mighty small businesses on Amazon.
- Hello, Haul: Here's everything you need to know about Amazon's low-cost shopping experience, Amazon Haul.
- Ghibli-Style Goes Viral: OpenAI's Ghibli-style viral photo generator could be an example of future immersive ads.
- Well For Now: Big retailers like Walmart and Costco should be able to withstand the latest round of tariffs.
AMAZON NEWS
Amazon Japan's local sellers fight to keep their ground
While most Amazon marketplaces are increasingly dominated by China-based sellers, Japan is holding strong. True enough, Marketplace Pulse says 54% of active sellers on Amazon Japan are local businesses.
It’s the highest representation of local sellers across major Amazon marketplaces.
🌏 Local sellers' standings
Here's the catch: things are changing. The influx of China-based sellers is becoming more noticeable—and it’s spreading across the globe.
- Japan: Still leading with 54% local sellers, but over 50% of new sellers in 2024 were from China.
- U.S.: Local sellers make up only 34% of the marketplace.
- Europe: Local sellers in marketplaces like Germany, France, Italy, and Spain are all below 20%.
- Canada: The lowest of them all, with just 4% local sellers.
💰 Sell anywhere, anytime
This shift reflects how Amazon has evolved from being a simple retail platform to a global cross-border commerce powerhouse. The seller’s physical location no longer matters as much.
As long as you can tap into Amazon’s logistics and fulfillment network, you can sell anywhere in the world.
HOT TOPIC
Tariffs dividing sellers over opportunity and risk
Tariffs have been shaking the global marketplace—and sellers are not on the same page about it. Some see this as a golden opportunity, others are bracing for impact.
eCommerceBytes rounded up discussions from forums like eBay and Amazon, where sellers are voicing their opinions.
👍 Some said YAY
For some sellers, tariffs are a chance to cash in on shifting market dynamics.
- Inventory advantage: Sellers with stockpiled inventory are ready to profit.
- The resale surge: Second-hand goods may become more appealing as new products dwindle.
- Vintage treasures: Sellers hunting for high-value items to flip when prices rise.
- Local resellers stepping in: Domestic sellers may fill the gaps left by fewer imports.
- Made-in-the-USA confidence: Sellers of U.S.-made goods are less concerned.
👎 Others say NAY
On the flip side, many sellers are bracing for a financial hit.
- Shrinking budgets: Inflation and economic uncertainty mean less money for shopping.
- Non-essential cutbacks: Consumers may hold off on non-necessities.
- Older buyers hit hard: Retired shoppers could reduce their spending even more.
💭 Food for thought
Tariffs are a double-edged sword, and how they’ll affect your business depends on your strategy. Will they help your sales, or hurt them? Only time will tell.
SOCIAL PULSE
TikTok’s looming end gets a snooze button (again)
Just when it looked like TikTok might tick its final tock, President Trump hit pause—for the second time around.
According to CNBC, Trump has once again extended the deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations. The new date? Mid-June.
⏱️ More seconds on the clock
Here’s what we know so far:
- According to Trump, “more work” is needed to get all the necessary approvals signed. ByteDance agrees—sort of.
- The company says there are still “key matters to be resolved,” and any agreement will need approval under Chinese law.
- Multiple bidders are battling it out.
💰 Just days before the extension
Trump signed a sweeping “reciprocal tariff” policy, hitting China with a 34% rate—on top of the existing 20%. His message? Tariffs are a power move.
And he’s using them as leverage to push this TikTok deal across the finish line.
⏭️ What's next?
ByteDance has 75 days to seal the deal. For now, TikTok is still dancing in the U.S., but the music might stop if this deal falls through.
(If you haven’t yet, now’s a good time to diversify and start selling on multiple platforms.)
