Top 5 Amazon Seller Reads this Week: Issue #234

Top 5 this week

1. Walmart’s Competing DEALS Run July 8–13 — Outlasting Prime Day by 2 Days

“Walmart and Amazon are going head-to-head in a summer sales showdown—and even Target’s jumping in with its Circle Week—competitors are clearly trying to ride the Prime Day wave. Will all these discounts boost sales like retailers are hoping, or just leave shoppers overwhelmed? Eyes will be on the sales numbers once the dust settles.” ~Vanessa Cox

2. Quality guidelines for promotions

“As Amazon sellers, we’re seeing a clear shift toward stricter promo standards. Discounts need to be real, competitive, and backed by solid product performance. After last Q4’s consumer surveys revealed growing deal fatigue—with shoppers feeling overwhelmed and skeptical about the abundance of promotions—Amazon appears to be adjusting its strategy in response. It’s more important than ever to monitor pricing history and return rates if you want your deals approved.” ~Tom Rohlf

3. Amazon Seller Updates: Seller Standards Rise While AI Capabilities Soar

“Amazon is raising the bar: tougher compliance rules ahead of Prime Day and a new AI fix tool signal a shift toward stricter oversight and smarter operations. Meanwhile, Claude is reinforcing AI’s central role in retail success. Sellers must now match compliance with AI adoption to stay ahead.” ~Vanessa Hung

4. The Retail Media Reckoning: Why Incrementality Is The Metric That Matters

“Incrementality is the true north of retail media, not clicks or impressions. Understanding precise lift—what campaigns actually drive new sales versus redistributing existing spend—is essential for brand ROI clarity. As retail media continues its meteoric rise, placing incrementality at the center ensures marketers spend smarter and prove the real value of their investments.” ~ Clayton Atchison

5. Walmart reportedly testing ‘dark stores’ to speed deliveries

“Walmart is stepping up its efforts to turn its vast store network into a true fulfillment advantage. If leveraged correctly, their extensive store and warehouse infrastructure could serve as a critical fulcrum in accelerating delivery speed and efficiency. These latest moves suggest they’re beginning to unlock that potential. If they can successfully scale dark stores and automation, they may be able to close the gap with Amazon faster than expected.” ~Chelsea Cohen