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Another week, another whirlwind of ecommerce news and Amazon updates you can’t afford to miss. From tariff tensions shaking up global supply chains to fresh ad campaign features and powerful seller insights—this week is full of action and opportunities.
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News
Amid soaring 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, some Chinese suppliers are urging U.S.-based Amazon sellers to commit customs fraud by under-declaring shipment values or using DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) to misrepresent costs. These tactics aim to reduce duty payments but pose serious legal risks for unsuspecting sellers.
Messages obtained by Fortune show suppliers openly suggesting invoice manipulation, with some claiming U.S. competitors are already using these methods. Amazon sellers sourcing from China must be cautious, as participating in these schemes can lead to fines, account suspensions, or worse.
Sellers are encouraged to explore alternative sourcing countries or verify that partners are compliant with U.S. import laws. The increased pressure is already triggering supply chain shifts and wider scrutiny of marketplace pricing practices.
Anker has increased prices on about 20% of its Amazon listings, with some products jumping by 18% or more, in response to the new 145% U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. The company told investors it could raise prices without losing competitiveness because most rivals are also China-based and are facing the same cost pressures.
For Amazon sellers, this move underscores the real impact tariffs are already having on pricing strategy, margins, and customer behavior. Sellers should monitor competitor pricing and explore sourcing alternatives or geographic expansion to stay competitive.
Amazon is reworking its Temu-style Haul store by adding brand-name items shipped from U.S. warehouses, moving away from its original promise of ultra-cheap, unbranded Chinese products. This shift comes as new U.S. tariffs and the end of the de minimis rule will soon add duties to low-cost imports under $800, impacting Haul’s core model.
For Amazon sellers, the move signals growing pressure on ultra-low-cost imports and an opportunity to compete more fairly as Amazon pivots to U.S.-based fulfillment. Sellers should watch this shift closely, especially as it may influence consumer expectations around price, delivery speed, and sourcing.
Over 60% of the top 10,000 Amazon.com sellers registered before 2019, proving that experience and endurance are key in today’s marketplace. Despite daily new registrations, most elite seller spots remain locked in by veterans who’ve weathered rising fees, ad costs, and global disruptions.
Still, nearly 10% of top sellers joined in the past two years, showing that strategic newcomers can break through. For Amazon sellers, the message is clear: longevity matters—but adaptation and smart execution still open doors to growth.
Amazon is reaching out to U.S. sellers directly to gather insights on how rising tariffs are impacting pricing, sourcing, and logistics—hinting that it may adjust fees, tools, or category strategies based on seller input. This comes as Trump’s tariff on Chinese goods hits 145%, putting pressure on the 70% of Amazon goods sourced from China.
In addition to asking how sellers are coping, Amazon is promoting its European marketplaces as an alternative growth channel, offering incentives to expand abroad. For sellers, this outreach signals Amazon is actively gathering field data to adapt its platform and help sellers survive this shifting global trade environment.
Temu’s ultra-low pricing model is under threat as the U.S. ends the de minimis loophole and imposes steep tariffs on Chinese imports, forcing the company to either raise prices or absorb unsustainable costs. Experts say Temu may reroute goods through lower-tariff countries or invest in U.S. warehousing, but both options come with strategic and financial challenges.
As Temu scrambles to adapt, Amazon sellers could benefit from reduced competition, especially those with U.S.-based inventory or diversified supply chains. Consumer trust in Temu is also falling, while platforms like Amazon and Walmart gain ground with larger, consolidated purchases.
Etsy has begun rolling out full AI-generated summaries of buyer reviews, but sellers like Cindy Baldassi report that these often highlight rare negative feedback, ignore hundreds of positive comments, or even repeat inaccurate buyer assumptions. Examples include misrepresented product details and time-sensitive shipping complaints being framed as ongoing issues.
For Amazon sellers, this is a cautionary tale: as platforms increasingly lean on AI to summarize reviews, your reputation could be shaped by flawed or misleading automation. With Amazon already using similar review summaries, it’s critical to monitor how your products are represented—and adjust listing content, images, or messaging to preempt misinterpretation.
Amazon has rolled out a machine learning upgrade for Sponsored Display campaigns, automatically optimizing all existing Reach and Page Visit campaigns to drive more conversions and boost sales performance.
This shift means sellers using these campaign types may start seeing better results in metrics like ROAS and ACOS, without needing to manually change their settings.
For Amazon sellers, it’s a strong push toward efficiency—especially for those running broader awareness ads—and a reminder to revisit campaign performance now that conversion-focused targeting is the new default.
Amazon has clarified that Vine reviews are aggregated at the parent ASIN level, not by variation, meaning sellers should enroll related product variations together and plan ASIN merges carefully.
Each enrollment tier has a review cap—up to 30 reviews for 11–30 units, 10 reviews for 3–10 units, and 2 reviews for 1–2 units. When merging parent ASINs, only the maximum allowed reviews from the highest tier will be retained.
For Amazon sellers using Vine, this update reinforces the need to strategize enrollment and merging to maximize review value.
Seller Tips & Tricks
Steven Pope shares a detailed breakdown of alternative manufacturing hubs for Amazon sellers facing steep China tariffs. Countries like Vietnam, India, Mexico, and Turkey are emerging as key options across sectors like apparel, electronics, furniture, and automotive.
For example, Vietnam excels in apparel and footwear, while India leads in textiles and pharmaceuticals. U.S.-based sellers can explore nearshoring with Mexico or diversify globally depending on product category and cost considerations.
Sweeping new U.S. tariffs—up to 25% on imports from countries like China, Mexico, and Canada—are increasing costs for Amazon sellers and squeezing margins. The end of duty-free exemptions on low-value shipments further complicates importing for those relying on small-batch or drop-shipped inventory.
Sellers are encouraged to diversify sourcing, optimize inventory planning, and carefully adjust pricing to stay competitive. Tools that calculate landed costs, forecast stock needs, and monitor profitability will be essential in navigating the tariff-driven landscape.
Amazon allows dropshipping if sellers follow specific guidelines—most importantly, they must remain the seller of record and ensure that all packing slips and branding reflect their business, not the supplier. The article outlines how to set up a dropshipping business on Amazon, from finding reliable suppliers to handling customer service and maintaining profitability.
Dropshipping offers low startup costs, making it attractive to new Amazon sellers, but success depends on vetting suppliers, calculating margins, and complying with Amazon’s dropshipping policy. Sellers can also combine dropshipping with Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to optimize for both slow and fast-moving inventory.
Amazon Business offers a major growth channel for B2B suppliers, with over $25 billion in annual sales and tools tailored for business buyers—such as quantity discounts, purchase order integration, and customer-specific pricing. This guide walks sellers through evaluating fit, setting up an account, listing high-margin products, and activating key features like Business Prime and RFQs.
Success on Amazon Business requires more technical content, consistent fulfillment, and competitive pricing, especially as B2B buyers prioritize specifications, bulk options, and reliability. Amazon sellers already operating in the B2C space can expand into B2B by strategically selecting product lines, leveraging enhanced listings, and tracking performance metrics to refine and grow their catalog.
Amazon is hosting free webinars to help sellers optimize operations and grow their businesses. Highlights include sessions on using Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) for low-cost storage and streamlined inventory management, as well as how to leverage the FBA Enrollment Opportunities tool to identify high-potential ASINs for Fulfillment by Amazon.
Resellers can also attend a session focused on best practices for listings, pricing, and navigating category approvals. Each webinar includes a live Q&A and is designed for sellers of all experience levels.
Video of the Week
Strong Opinions
Chinese Amazon sellers are turning to emotional livestreams on platforms like Rednote to unload inventory impacted by Trump’s 145% tariffs. Claiming their U.S. sales dreams are crushed, sellers are slashing prices—offering 90% off products like rice cookers and obscure private-label brands.
Some performances show sellers crying on camera surrounded by unsold boxes, blurring the line between genuine distress and savvy marketing. For Amazon sellers, it highlights how global competition is pivoting fast under tariff pressure, with discount-driven tactics that could influence U.S. marketplace pricing and buyer behavior.
Amazon sellers are reporting a return of quantity limits on inbound FBA shipments, drawing comparisons to the early pandemic inventory restrictions of April 2020. Scott Needham highlights that many sellers feel Amazon's algorithm is out of touch with real sales velocity and demand trends.
Sellers investing in inventory say they better understand what moves, yet they’re being overruled by automated caps that appear arbitrary. This could disrupt restock planning and sales momentum—Amazon sellers should double-check inbound limits and adjust logistics strategies accordingly.
Chinese sellers generate over $111 billion in Amazon sales and may end up paying less in tariffs than their U.S. counterparts. According to Scott Needham, this is due to three key factors: lower cost of goods, customs fraud, and shifting final assembly to low-tariff countries.
Many Chinese sellers are already bypassing U.S. brands, leveraging cost advantages and aggressive tactics to dominate key categories. Needham warns that U.S. Amazon sellers will be hit hardest if they don’t quickly adapt to the changing tariff and sourcing landscape.
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That’s all for this edition! Whether it’s adapting to tariffs or leveling up your ad game, I'm here to keep you one step ahead.
God Bless,
Todd Welch
Amazon Seller School