New Amazon Fee Explainer Tool Helps Sellers Decode Charges
Amazon has rolled out a Fee Explainer tool to bring more transparency to the way selling fees are calculated and charged. Sellers can now see a breakdown of how and why fees appear on their account offering much-needed clarity on one of the most confusing parts of selling on Amazon.
What It Covers:
The tool currently supports explanations for:
- Subscription fees
- Referral fees
- Variable and fixed closing fees
- Refund administration fees
- Customer return and high-return rate processing fees
- Removal and disposal fees
For each fee type, it outlines:
- A definition
- The variables or attributes used in the calculation
- A clear formula showing how the fee was determined
How to Access It:
Go to the Transaction View page in your Payments dashboard, select a transaction, and click the fee amount to view the explanation.
Amazon plans to expand this tool to include more fee types later this year.
Why It Matters for Sellers:
This is a big win for financial clarity. If you’ve ever questioned where certain charges came from, this tool can help you validate or flag inconsistencies making it easier to track profitability and dispute potential errors. Be sure your finance team or bookkeeper knows about this update.
Amazon’s AI Brand Name Generator Now Supports Brand Personality Input
Amazon has enhanced its AI-powered brand name tool by introducing a new brand personality field—allowing sellers to generate more distinctive and on-brand name ideas.
What’s New:
You can now enter personality traits like casual, elegant, or playful alongside:
- Your company description
- Product categories
- Target audience
The tool then generates name suggestions aligned with the tone and image you want your brand to convey.
Why It Matters:
Choosing a brand name is a big step for any business, especially before enrolling in Brand Registry. This tool can help sellers brainstorm creative, brand-right ideas more efficiently—while also ensuring alignment with brand identity.
Amazon also encourages sellers to consult a legal professional before moving forward. Their Intellectual Property Accelerator connects you with vetted law firms to help with trademark registration.
Try the tool here: Create a brand name
This update is another sign that Amazon is making it easier for new and growing brands to build long-term assets directly within Seller Central.
Amazon Bulk Image Upload Tool Now Handles Errors More Efficiently
Amazon has upgraded its Bulk Image Upload tool to make it easier for sellers to manage product images at scale—without being blocked by one error.
What’s Changed:
Previously, if your zipped image upload had even a single error, the entire batch would be rejected. Now:
- All valid images are processed
- An error report is generated for rejected files
- You can fix issues in bulk before re-uploading
This speeds up the process and eliminates the headache of repeated uploads.
Access the tool here: Bulk Image Upload Dashboard
Helpful Resources:
Top Reasons Amazon Suppresses Images:
- Logos, watermarks, or text on main images
- Non-white backgrounds (must be RGB 255, 255, 255)
- Cropped, blurry, or pixelated visuals
- Main image shows product in packaging or with props
- File type, size, or naming errors
To prevent ASIN suppression, always replace not delete main images, and ensure your files meet Amazon’s technical and policy requirements.
This update is especially helpful for catalog managers and design teams handling large volumes of product updates.
FBA Inventory Page Updates May Temporarily Disrupt Reports
Amazon is updating how inventory is displayed on the FBA Inventory page to better represent what customers can actually buy. These changes affect all US-based FBA sellers.
What’s Changing:
- The Available column has been replaced by On-hand, which now includes both Available and FC transfer units (since both can be purchased).
- As a result, FC transfer units are no longer counted under Reserved. The Reserved category now includes only FC processing and customer orders.
Why It Matters:
This change gives sellers a more accurate snapshot of sellable inventory but there’s a catch.
Temporary Impact on Reports:
Until mid-2026, inventory reports will still show FC transfer units as Reserved, causing discrepancies between what you see on the FBA Inventory page and what appears in downloadable reports.
No action is needed on your part, but you may want to inform your inventory team or 3PLs about this reporting gap to avoid confusion.
For tips on staying optimized, visit Inventory Performance Help.
LEGO Listings Removed En Masse—Sellers Warn of Catalog Collapse and Revenue Loss
Sellers are sounding the alarm in the Amazon Seller Forums after a wide swath of LEGO listings were deactivated across all accounts, with no warning and little recourse. The listings were flagged under ASIN creation policy violations, citing that the products are no longer valid offerings from the brand and that sellers not associated with LEGO through Brand Registry cannot relist them.
This has raised major concerns among long-time sellers, especially those focused on discontinued or collectible inventory. One user put it bluntly:
“This is the backend AI/software going rogue. It’ll cost [Amazon] hundreds of millions.”
This Isn’t New—Sellers Have Faced Ongoing Gating Issues with LEGO
Amazon’s enforcement around the LEGO brand has been tightening for years, and this latest move appears to be a full shutdown of even previously approved listings:
- Gated Again (9 months ago)
A seller who had sold over 500 LEGO sets since 2014 was suddenly restricted with no clear explanation. Support reps cited vague reasons like “customer satisfaction” and “safety” as justification for the gating.
Amazon moderator Cooper_Amazon eventually responded, stating:
“As the Amazon catalog grows, we continuously make new determinations on which products should be restricted… The only way to list these items is to Apply to Sell or be added to the brand’s authorized reseller list.” - Gated Again After Being Ungated (6 months ago)
Another seller, previously ungated for LEGO, was restricted again without documentation or prior notice.
One reply summarized Amazon’s evolving stance:
“Even if you were selling your product before, you may be subject to new restrictions… Amazon makes ongoing determinations on which products should require qualification.”
Key Takeaways for Sellers:
- Ungating is not permanent. Even authorized listings or sellers with history are subject to review and future restriction.
- Brand Registry = Control. If you’re not directly associated with a brand through Brand Registry, you may lose the right to create or relist ASINs especially for discontinued or out-of-print items.
- Invoice Rule Hurts Legacy Inventory. Amazon requires invoices dated within 365 days for most appeals even when the product hasn’t been manufactured for years.
- Catalog erosion is real. Sellers warn this may destroy one of Amazon’s greatest strengths: offering everything, including rare or hard-to-find items.
With frustration mounting and support channels offering inconsistent answers, many sellers say they’re already shifting inventory to eBay, Walmart, and Shopify.
Stay tuned this may be one of the most consequential catalog enforcement shifts Amazon has made in years.
Walmart’s U.S. Supply Chain Playbook Goes Global—And It’s Reinventing Retail at Scale
Walmart is exporting its U.S. supply chain strategy to global markets—and it’s reshaping what modern retail looks like.
After years of investment in automation, machine learning, and omnichannel logistics, Walmart’s U.S. supply chain is now faster, leaner, and more customer-centric. With proven success at home, the company is now expanding this blueprint internationally, starting with Chile and Mexico, and eventually reaching Walmart markets in China, Canada, and beyond.
Key pillars of Walmart’s global playbook:
- End-to-end visibility using AI to track inventory, demand, and delivery routes
- Automated replenishment to prevent stockouts and reduce waste
- Modernized distribution centers powered by robotics and machine learning
- Omnichannel fulfillment to serve in-store, online, and last-mile delivery needs
Why it matters for marketplace sellers:
This shift sets a high bar for delivery speed, inventory accuracy, and in-stock performance—especially for third-party sellers looking to meet Walmart’s retail standards. As the infrastructure scales, expect more pressure on sellers to adhere to stricter SLAs and improve fulfillment metrics to stay competitive.
Walmart isn’t just scaling operations—it’s redefining how global retail works across online and physical channels. For brands looking to expand via Walmart Marketplace, aligning with these new standards will be essential.
Retailers Left Money on the Table During Prime Day, Suggests Constructor Data
A new analysis from Constructor reveals that many retailers—Amazon included—missed revenue opportunities during Prime Day due to weak onsite search and product discovery experiences.
Here’s what the data showed:
- 66% of shoppers reported poor search results across major retailer sites during Prime Week.
- Many couldn’t find the products they were actually looking for—even when they were in stock.
- Shoppers often abandoned carts or switched platforms when results weren’t relevant or intuitive.
What this means for marketplace brands:
Retail events like Prime Day draw intense traffic, but conversion still hinges on discoverability. If your listings aren’t optimized with the right keywords, structured data, and product content, you’re invisible—even when you’re ready to ship.
Takeaway:
Even the biggest sales events won’t drive results if your products can’t be found. Brands need to invest in data-driven SEO, AI-enhanced search, and on-page conversion tactics—not just pricing and promotions. If you didn’t hit your Prime Day goals, this may be the blind spot.
The Power of Flexible Warehousing: Five Ways to Unlock Savings
As warehousing costs soar and consumer expectations tighten, brands are turning to flexible warehousing models to stay lean, fast, and profitable. According to Supply Chain Brain, companies that embrace adaptable warehousing strategies can unlock significant savings while improving customer experience.
Five Key Strategies to Drive Efficiency:
- Short-Term Space Leasing
On-demand storage lets brands scale up or down quickly perfect for seasonal spikes or new product launches without long-term contracts. - Multi-Client Warehousing
Sharing space and labor with other brands reduces fixed costs and improves operational efficiency. - Strategic Location Shifts
Placing inventory closer to customer demand shortens last-mile delivery, cuts transportation costs, and boosts satisfaction. - Real-Time Inventory Visibility
Integrating WMS and analytics across multiple sites ensures faster decision-making and fewer stockouts. - Dynamic Labor Allocation
Flexible staffing models help adjust for peak periods, minimizing overhead without sacrificing fulfillment speed.
Why it matters for eCommerce sellers:
If your current 3PL or fulfillment partner can’t pivot with demand or scale efficiently, you’re leaving money on the table. This is especially critical for brands juggling Amazon FBA limits, DTC growth, or Walmart expansion. Flexible warehousing isn’t just a cost-saver—it’s a competitive edge.
Target Quietly Adjusts Price Match Policy Amid Amazon and Walmart Pressure
Target has made a subtle but important update to its price match policy and it’s flying under the radar. The retailer will no longer match prices from warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club, narrowing the list of competitors it honors for price adjustments.
What’s changed:
- Target removed Sam’s Club and Costco from its online list of eligible competitors.
- Amazon and Walmart remain eligible, showing Target’s focus on its two biggest digital rivals.
- The shift comes amid broader pricing pressure in an environment where every margin point counts.
Why it matters for sellers:
Target is drawing a clearer line between value retail and bulk discount models, which could influence how brands price and promote across channels. For DTC brands or 1P sellers working with Target, this signals:
- A push for clearer price positioning
- Potential margin protection efforts on high-volume SKUs
- The need to monitor price parity more tightly across Amazon, Walmart, and Target
As Target tightens policies, expect other retailers to follow suit especially if they’re trying to balance promotions with profitability.
Prime Day’s Mobile AOV Challenge: Shoppers Browse, Brands Lose Margin
New insights from Practical Ecommerce show that mobile traffic dominated Prime Day, but average order values (AOVs) on mobile lagged significantly behind desktop posing a growing challenge for sellers chasing profitability.
Key Takeaways:
- 76% of traffic during Prime Day came from mobile, yet AOVs on desktop were 22% higher.
- Mobile users tended to browse more and buy less, often adding one item to cart rather than bundling.
- While conversion rates on mobile are improving, upsell and cross-sell performance still struggles due to small screen real estate and UX limitations.
Why This Matters for eCommerce Sellers:
- Brands running aggressive mobile ads or social campaigns may see high clicks but lower ROI if mobile AOV stays weak.
- Optimizing for mobile isn’t just about speed it requires clearer bundles, smarter upsells, and frictionless checkout.
- Amazon and other marketplaces must close the gap, or brands will keep bleeding margin from mobile-first traffic.
If your Prime Day results felt underwhelming despite high traffic, this mobile AOV gap might be the culprit. It’s time to rethink how your listings and offers show up on small screens.
Shopify POS Exec on the Future of Retail: “It’s All About the Customer, Not the Channel”
Shopify’s VP of Retail, Arpan Podduturi, recently sat down with Practical Ecommerce to share where retail is headed and it’s clear that the old channel-first thinking is dead.
Key Insights from the Interview:
- Omnichannel is no longer a strategy it’s the baseline.
Consumers don’t distinguish between in-store, online, mobile, or social. They expect a seamless experience everywhere, and brands that still separate those worlds are falling behind. - Retailers need to unify data and customer experience.
From inventory to loyalty programs, Shopify’s retail push is about helping brands connect backend systems and personalize experiences in real time whether it’s a pop-up shop, physical location, or Shopify store. - POS systems are evolving from “cash registers” to customer experience tools.
Shopify’s in-store POS now lets brands see online purchase history, manage returns across channels, and deliver a unified brand feel at every touchpoint.
Why It Matters for eCommerce Brands:
For sellers expanding into retail or already operating across multiple platforms, this signals a major shift. It’s not enough to “add a store” or “offer local pickup.” You need to think holistically about how your customer shops, buys, and re-engages.
If your operations, data, and customer journey still live in silos, you’re leaving long-term growth and loyalty on the table.
What the Vetting Program Requires:
If selected, sellers must show category maturity and submit one or more of the following for each product:
- Invoices showing chain of title back to brand/manufacturer
- FDA documentation (e.g., MOCRA registration, NDCs, 510(k))
- Letter of Authorization from the brand
- Third-party lab tests
- Claims or safety substantiation
Walmart says the requirements may evolve over time, but the message is clear: sellers must prove legitimacy and compliance at the product level.
Why This Matters:
This move mirrors Amazon’s tightening grip on compliance for categories like supplements, medical devices, and topicals. It’s part of a broader shift in retail marketplaces toward regulatory alignment and risk reduction.
If you’re selling in these categories:
- Start gathering documentation now
- Be ready to substantiate every claim and ingredient
- Monitor Walmart Seller Center for a vetting invite—not all sellers will be contacted
If your WFS inventory is impacted, Walmart has provided instructions on initiating removals.
Expect more category-level enforcement like this across marketplaces in the year ahead.
Walmart Tightens Rules for Beauty and Personal Care – New Vetting Program Incoming Source: Internal seller email from Walmart Marketplace
Walmart is rolling out stricter compliance measures for Beauty and Personal Care products, signaling a major shift in how sellers will need to document and support their listings in these regulated categories.
What’s Changing:
Walmart will soon restrict listings in these categories unless you’re a:
- Brand owner
- Authorized distributor
- Or approved participant in their new enhanced vetting program
What the Vetting Program Requires:
If selected, sellers must show category maturity and submit one or more of the following for each product:
- Invoices showing chain of title back to brand/manufacturer
- FDA documentation (e.g., MOCRA registration, NDCs, 510(k))
- Letter of Authorization from the brand
- Third-party lab tests
- Claims or safety substantiation
Walmart says the requirements may evolve over time, but the message is clear: sellers must prove legitimacy and compliance at the product level.
Why This Matters:
This move mirrors Amazon’s tightening grip on compliance for categories like supplements, medical devices, and topicals. It’s part of a broader shift in retail marketplaces toward regulatory alignment and risk reduction.
If you’re selling in these categories:
- Start gathering documentation now
- Be ready to substantiate every claim and ingredient
- Monitor Walmart Seller Center for a vetting invite—not all sellers will be contacted
If your WFS inventory is impacted, Walmart has provided instructions on initiating removals.
Expect more category-level enforcement like this across marketplaces in the year ahead.
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