Top Seller News This Week
This week’s Amazon seller updates bring important changes for Q4 planning.
- FBA parcel fee update for UK/EU: More categories will shift to unit-weight pricing with seven granular tiers, potentially lowering costs for many items. New returns processing fees will apply to high-return products like Backpacks and Handbags.
- Holiday peak fulfillment fees return: From October 15 to January 14, US and select EU markets will see seasonal surcharges. Rates are unchanged from last year.
- Prime Big Deal Days (October 7-8): Amazon’s holiday kickoff event offers early traffic opportunities for sellers running Prime Exclusive Discounts, coupons, or Sponsored Products. Prep listings and inventory now.
- Amazon Outlet reminder: Clear slow-moving stock before holiday sales, but monitor deals closely, as one seller reported suppressed Outlet deals despite deep discounts.
Taken together, these Amazon updates underscore the need to plan early, optimize inventory, and stay flexible to maximize Q4 profits.
Amazon FBA Parcel Fee Changes in the UK/EU
Amazon is making some major changes to how it prices FBA parcel fulfillment across the UK and Europe. Starting October 15, 2025, FBA parcel-size products across more categories will switch to a weight-only pricing model, which could lower costs for most items and make pricing more predictable.
New Size Tiers
Earlier this year, Amazon updated fees in the “Clothing and Accessories” and “Backpacks and Handbags” categories, removing the greater-of rule (unit vs. dimensional weight) and replacing two parcel size tiers with seven more granular tiers.
From October 15, this new system will expand across additional categories in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, with Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, and Ireland to follow on November 1.
Categories affected include:
- Baby Pushchairs and Safety Equipment
- Eyewear Protection
- Footwear
- Furniture Accessories
- Grocery and Gourmet
- Home Linen and Rugs
- Luggage Accessories
- Mattresses
- Pet Clothing and Food
- Printer and Scanner Accessories
- Reusable Work and Safety Gloves
UK Fulfillment Fee (Small vs. Medium Parcel, 900g item)
Here’s a side-by-side example calculation that shows exactly how Amazon is positioning this as a fee decrease for some SKUs.
| Size Tier | Old System (effective February 1, 2025) | New System (October 15, 2025) | Difference |
| Small Parcel ≤ 900g (35 × 25 × 9 cm, ≤ 3.9 kg unit weight and ≤ 2.10 kg dimensional weight) | £3.04 | £2.87 (Small Parcel 2 base £2.87 + £0.02 incremental since per 100g) | -£0.17 |
| Small Parcel 1.9 kg (35 x 25 x 12 cm) | £3.25 | £2.91 (Small Parcel 3 base £2.91 + £0.02 incremental per 100g) | -£0.34 |
| Standard Parcel ≤ 900g (40 x 30 x 20 cm, unit weight ≤ 11.90 kg and ≤ 7.96 kg dimensional weight) | £3.06 | £3.10 (Medium Parcel 2 base £3.10 + £0.03 increments per 100g) | +£0.04 |
| Standard Parcel 1.9 kg | £3.48 | £3.34 (Large Parcel 1 base £3.34 + £0.03 increments per 100g) | -£0.14 |
What does this show?
- Small Parcel items (≤900 g and 1.9 kg): Both examples see notable fee reductions. A 900 g Small Parcel drops by £0.17 per unit, while a 1.9 kg Small Parcel sees the biggest win with a £0.34 reduction.
- Standard Parcel items: It’s mixed. A compact Standard Parcel at 900 g goes up slightly by £0.04, but at 1.9 kg, the fee actually drops by £0.14 under the new “Large Parcel 1” tier.
The new granular size tiers and unit-weight-only pricing mean that many SKUs, especially those that were penalized by dimensional weight in the old system, will now be cheaper to fulfill. Only certain compact-but-bulkier Standard Parcels see modest increases.
In conclusion, sellers with light-to-midweight products stand to benefit from lower costs. The few small increases are outweighed by meaningful savings on heavier Small Parcels and standard-sized items that previously sat on the dimensional weight borderline.
Save on FBA fees with the Product Resizer tool. Our free calculator shows how small packaging adjustments can move your products into lower-cost size tiers, saving thousands in fees. Calculate your savings now.
New Returns Processing Fee
In the same announcement post, Amazon also said sellers in categories with high return rates, such as Backpacks and Handbags, should note a new returns processing fee starting November 1, 2025 in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The fee applies only to items above a category-specific return threshold.
These fee changes come just as sellers are preparing for the peak Q4 season. With the retailer simultaneously reminding sellers of the Amazon peak fulfillment fees (running October 15, 2025-January 14, 2026 in the US, Germany, and the UK), cost management is becoming increasingly complex.
Prime Big Deal Days 2025 Kick Off October 7–8
Amazon has confirmed that Prime Big Deal Days return on October 7-8, 2025, marking the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season.
Exclusive to Prime members, October Prime Day is packed with discounts across Amazon devices, Kindle books, grocery items, and an expanded selection of Amazon Exclusive holiday merchandise. Customers can also shop curated categories through the Holiday Shop, featuring festive decor, seasonal fashion, and early-bird gift ideas.
In a statement to Retail Dive, Amazon’s VP of North America marketing and Prime tech, Carmen Nestares, said the event helps members “check off their holiday lists early and make the most of their holiday budget.” Following July’s record-breaking four-day Prime Day, this fall event is expected to drive another surge in sales.
During the October sales event, shoppers will be primed for discounts and early gift buying, which means visibility and competitive pricing are key. You can take advantage of:
- Prime Exclusive Discounts to capture deal-hungry shoppers.
- Coupons and Sponsored Products campaigns to increase traffic and conversions.
- The Holiday Shop’s curated categories to reach customers searching for gifts, décor, and seasonal essentials.
But while big promotions can fuel sales, there’s also a risk: inventory strain. If stock runs out mid-event or you end up with excess inventory, you miss the momentum of Amazon’s marketing push.
Enter Amazon Outlet: Clearing the Decks for Holiday Bestsellers
In preparation for major events like Prime Big Deal Days and the lead up to Christmas, Outlet allows you to move slow-moving or Amazon excess inventory so you can focus on your high-demand products.
If eligible, creating a deal is simple:
- From your FBA Inventory dashboard, select the Recommendation filter
- Create Outlet deals.
- Review the price and hit submit. Outlet pricing must meet Amazon’s maximum discount requirements, ensuring buyers see real value.
When viewed together, these updates show how Amazon is nudging sellers to balance aggressive holiday promotions with smart inventory management. Prime Big Deal Days will spotlight the most attractive offers, while Outlet ensures warehouses aren’t clogged with items that could drag down efficiency.
Other Seller Updates This Week
1. Direct Access to Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) for Sponsored Ads Advertisers
Amazon Ads has just made it much easier to tap into AMC. Sponsored ads advertisers now get instant, self-service access to AMC’s analytics right from their account, no reps or partners needed. With no-code templates and AI-driven tools, you can analyze performance, build high-intent audiences, and optimize campaigns faster than ever.
2. Delivery Photos for Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) Orders
Amazon Logistics is rolling out delivery photos for eligible MCF orders, giving you a way to reassure buyers with visual proof of delivery. Photos can be shared via Swiship links, buyer emails, or accessed through the SP-API. This is a powerful tool for reducing “where’s my package?” support requests. Just make sure images meet Amazon’s quality standards.
3. Walmart’s 2025 Top Toys List: Trends to Watch
Walmart’s holiday toy list is out, and it’s packed with insights sellers should note. Licensed characters dominate (37% of toy sales), collectibles are booming, and millennial parents are seeking toys with social-emotional benefits. Toys and video games remain among the top five gifting categories.
4. NRF Predicts Import Declines Through 2026
Retailers front-loaded imports this summer to get ahead of tariffs, with July hitting 2.36M Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit (TEUs), a near-record. But Global Port Tracker now projects steep declines, down to 1.8M TEUs by January 2026 (-19% YoY). With tariffs still looming, the NRF warns costs will climb and consumer prices will feel the pinch. Retail sales growth in August (+6.8% YoY) shows shoppers are buying early to save.
Balancing New Fees With Holiday Opportunities
This week’s Amazon seller updates show rising costs in some areas but new chances to save and scale. Here’s how:
- Audit your catalog with Amazon’s new parcel tiers in mind. Use tools like the Product Resizer to simulate packaging adjustments and identify cost savings.
- Build promotions for October Prime Day now. Focus on discounts, coupons, and advertising campaigns in connection with Amazon’s holiday merchandising push.
- Optimize inventory management to liquidate excess stock and maximize storage space for best sellers.
