Amazon News: Major Updates on Inventory, Reviews, and TikTok Opportunities
Hello Fellow Amazon Sellers,
Welcome to another edition of our weekly newsletter! Stay informed and empowered as you navigate the dynamic world of Amazon and e-commerce. Let’s dive into this week’s updates:
News
Amazon Launches Inventory Defect and Reimbursement Portal for Better Transparency
Amazon has introduced the new Inventory Defect and Reimbursement (IDR) portal to help FBA sellers efficiently manage inventory-related defects and reimbursement opportunities. This portal consolidates information on warehouse lost and damaged inventory as well as customer returns, offering complete visibility into defect types, actions taken, and reimbursement eligibility.
Sellers can also access insights into defect trends and resolution details, enabling proactive management of inventory issues. While the portal excludes inbound, removal, and disposal defects, it simplifies tracking and reimbursement claims for key inventory categories.
Walmart Gains Ground on Amazon
Fran?ois Maingret highlights Walmart’s significant 21% growth in 2024, outpacing Amazon’s 8.2%, driven by better logistics, Walmart+ subscriptions, and a growing marketplace. Walmart’s extensive store network and services like BOPIS (Buy Online, Pickup In-Store) offer unique advantages, attracting shoppers and third-party sellers with competitive fees and streamlined operations.
For Amazon sellers, Walmart provides a strong alternative to diversify sales, though the platform is becoming more competitive due to increased seller participation, especially from Asia. As Maingret notes, 2025 will be a pivotal year for marketplace competition, with both Amazon and Walmart making strategic moves to capture more market share.
CPSC Orders Amazon to Warn Consumers About Hazardous Products
Amazon must now recall over 400,000 hazardous third-party products sold via its “Fulfilled by Amazon” program, including defective carbon monoxide detectors and unsafe children’s pajamas. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requires Amazon to inform affected customers directly, display recall notices on its site, and provide refunds for destroyed or disposed products.
This decision emphasizes Amazon’s accountability for third-party goods, urging sellers to ensure their products meet federal safety standards to avoid similar issues. Starting January 26, Amazon must also submit monthly progress reports and maintain recall records for five years, signaling stricter compliance measures for its marketplace operations.
Updates to Packaging Requirements for Sharp Products
Amazon will no longer offer prep services for sharp products starting April 14, 2025. Sellers must package sharp products in secure, cut- and puncture-resistant materials, such as hardened plastic or blister packs, to comply with updated safety requirements.
Products arriving before April 14 will still be accepted if they meet current minimum standards, such as being boxed or bubble-wrapped. After the deadline, any non-compliant sharp products will be disposed of at the seller’s expense without reimbursement, emphasizing the importance of adjusting packaging strategies promptly.
Amazon’s DSP Ambition: Aiming to Lead Programmatic Advertising
Amazon is transforming its DSP (Demand-Side Platform) into a top choice for advertisers, challenging Google and The Trade Desk with competitive CPMs and advanced features. Recent upgrades, such as integration with the Amazon Marketing Cloud, focus on leveraging Amazon’s first-party shopper behavior data, offering advertisers better targeting and measurable results.
The platform is expanding beyond Amazon’s ecosystem to target open web audiences, enabling advertisers to access broader reach with fewer providers. While still evolving, Amazon’s DSP is becoming a critical tool for retail and non-retail advertisers alike, poised to reshape modern advertising strategies.
10 Best Product Seeding Platforms to Boost Your Brand’s Reach in 2025
The traditional approach to influencer gifting is evolving, and product seeding platforms are now the go-to solution for brands looking to build authentic relationships and reduce campaign inefficiencies. These platforms streamline influencer discovery, personalized gifting, and campaign tracking to improve ROI while addressing challenges like unaligned creators and wasted resources.
Top platforms like Brandwatch, Modash, and Upfluence offer tools for influencer targeting, inventory integration, and real-time performance insights. By leveraging these technologies, Amazon sellers can connect with relevant creators, foster brand authenticity, and amplify product visibility across digital channels.
Amazon Has ‘Strong’ Strategic Fit as Buyer of TikTok, Says Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley highlights TikTok as a potentially strong strategic acquisition for Amazon due to its potential to enhance social shopping, bolster Amazon’s ad network, and compete in the broader online advertising space. The firm suggests that both the U.S. and China are considering pathways to enable TikTok’s divestiture, which increases the likelihood of Amazon stepping in as a buyer.
This acquisition could help Amazon sellers by integrating TikTok’s social media and advertising strengths into the Amazon ecosystem, creating new opportunities for product visibility and social commerce. Morgan Stanley maintains an Overweight rating on Amazon, with a $280 price target, indicating confidence in Amazon’s ability to leverage this opportunity for growth.
领英推荐
360-Degree Image Experience Discontinued on Amazon
As of January 20, 2025, Amazon will no longer support the 360-degree image experience on product detail pages, a feature that was already limited to existing uploads since December 2023. Instead, sellers are encouraged to use 3D models for features like “View in 3D,” “View in Your Room,” and “Virtual Try-on,” which offer enhanced interactive shopping experiences.
For Amazon sellers, transitioning to 3D models can help improve customer engagement and provide a modern way to showcase products. Sellers can upload 3D models via the Upload 3D Models tool and find additional guidance through the 3D shopping experience resources.
Seller Central Account Hacked: The KeaBabies Security Breach
Ivan Ong, co-founder of the $78M Amazon brand KeaBabies, shares a harrowing experience of a security breach on his Amazon Seller Central account. Despite multiple assurances from Amazon, hackers repeatedly changed the admin email, bypassed security measures, and even altered bank account details, leading to lost sales of $230,000 per day and leaving the business at risk of bankruptcy.
Ong suspects a potential insider job or a systemic vulnerability in Amazon’s platform, urging Amazon to address the root cause to prevent widespread cyberattacks on seller accounts. This incident highlights the urgent need for stronger security protocols and proactive crisis management to safeguard sellers’ accounts and livelihoods.
Seller Tips & Tricks
Unlocking the Secrets of Amazon Reviews: What Every Seller Should Know
Amazon’s review algorithm heavily impacts product rankings and sales, emphasizing recent and verified reviews. Recent reviews weigh more than older ones, reflecting current product performance, while older reviews lose influence over time. This underscores the importance of consistently maintaining quality and encouraging happy customers to leave feedback.
Verified reviews carry the most weight, especially when detailed or marked as “helpful” by others. Reviews with keywords relevant to your product can also boost its visibility in search results. Danan Coleman highlights the importance of monitoring reviews closely to detect and report suspicious activity while focusing on providing exceptional customer experiences to foster positive, authentic feedback naturally.
Video of the Week
Amazon AWD Guide: Save on Storage, Avoid Inbound Fees – Full Walkthrough
Strong Opinions
Amazon Resellers vs. Direct Selling: Which Strategy is Right for Your Brand?
Blair Forrest, founder of AMZ Prep, dives into the ongoing debate of whether brands should sell directly on Amazon or partner with resellers. Direct selling offers higher margins (15-25%) and full control but requires expertise and capital, while resellers provide immediate Amazon expertise and working capital but may sacrifice some control and margins.
Success stories exist on both sides, with the best strategy depending on factors like cash position, team expertise, growth goals, and distribution strategy. Forrest highlights that no one-size-fits-all answer exists, and brands must evaluate their unique needs to determine the optimal path forward.
Featured Software and Services
Keepa: Historical Sales & Pricing Insights
I rely on Keepa, a valuable Chrome extension, to access historical sales ranking and pricing data of products before making wholesale purchases. By reviewing past sales performance and price trends, I can ensure the items have a solid sales history and maintain profitability in the future. To utilize Keepa, you’ll need to purchase a Data Package, which enables the extension to retrieve essential information from Amazon. At around $17 per month, this investment is undoubtedly worth it. Check out our video review for more insights.
Top Upcoming Amazon Events
I hope these updates help you stay informed and ready to tackle the challenges of selling on Amazon.
God Bless,
Todd Welch
Amazon Seller School
Certified Amazon Virtual Assistant Strategist | Boost Sales, Maximize ROI, and Scale Your Business to $60K+ Monthly Revenue!
2 周Wow, Amazon is always keeping us on our toes! It's like trying to keep up with a marathon runner while wearing flip-flops. However, I appreciate you alerting me to the most recent ad tactics and policy changes. I'll make sure to grab a cup of coffee and dive into those updates. #AmazonDSP #ProductSeeding #AmazonNews
Very informative! Thanks for the update