Amazon Seller News

Amazon is updating its Valid Tracking Rate (VTR) requirements within the Order Performance program to ensure accurate and timely deliveries. Starting January 15, 2025, sellers fulfilling their own orders must maintain a VTR above 95% by providing valid tracking information on all applicable shipments.

Key changes to the VTR guidelines include new tracking requirements based on package value and region for orders shipped to the U.S.:

• Shipments to the U.S. from China, Canada, American Samoa, or U.S. Minor Outlying Islands: Packages valued under $5 USD require at least one valid carrier scan, while those at or above $5 USD require two scans (one for arrival at the carrier facility and one for delivery or delivery attempt).
• Shipments to the U.S. from India or the UK: Packages under $15 USD require at least one carrier scan. For packages valued at $15 USD or more, two scans are required—one upon arrival at the carrier facility and one upon delivery or attempted delivery.

Exemptions from VTR tracking requirements include:

• Digital products
• Domestic packages using specific freight carriers (see Valid Tracking Rate help page)
• Domestic packages valued under $10 USD sent via USPS Standard or First-Class Mail envelopes
• Packages under $15 USD sent from the UK or India to the U.S. with untracked Amazon-integrated shipping
• Shipments to the U.S. from regions not specified in the updated VTR requirements

For further guidance on maintaining a healthy VTR and understanding exemptions, view the detailed VTR documentation on Amazon Seller Central’s help pages.

Amazon has introduced several initiatives aimed at reducing packaging waste and promoting recyclability, benefiting both customers and the environment. Here are the latest efforts to enhance sustainable packaging practices:

• Ships in Product Packaging Program: Amazon now certifies select products to ship in their original manufacturer’s packaging without additional outer packaging from Amazon. This program, which uses seller feedback, machine learning, and product testing to identify qualifying items, certified nearly four million products in 2024 alone.
• Expanded Use of Paper-Based Packaging: When extra packaging is necessary, Amazon now prioritizes paper-based materials, which are often recyclable through standard home recycling. As of October 2024, Amazon has fully eliminated plastic air pillows in packages prepared at its global fulfillment centers.
• Minimizing Packaging Materials: For items that need added protection during shipping, Amazon employs data-driven models to determine the most efficient packaging type, reducing the need for excessive cardboard, filler, and plastic. This approach is already widely implemented across North America and Europe and is being extended to India, Australia, and Japan.

These initiatives are part of Amazon's ongoing commitment to sustainable packaging solutions.

As of October 11, 2024, Amazon has officially discontinued its Subscription Box and Club program. This decision does not impact the separate Subscribe & Save program, which continues to operate as usual.

Sellers in the Subscription Box program were informed of the change on October 10, 2024, with customer notifications following on October 11. While new subscriptions are no longer available, existing subscribers will still receive their scheduled deliveries, and Amazon will provide order support until the program's full deprecation on December 31, 2024. Subscribers can continue receiving shipments until the end of December unless they choose to cancel, skip, or if sellers opt to end their subscription listings before this date.

As of September, videos uploaded to Amazon product pages can now be displayed across shared global listings, reaching customers in multiple Amazon stores automatically. This feature helps increase customer engagement, drive sales, and potentially reduce returns by offering more visual product information.

To add videos to your global listings, use the Upload Video tool and follow the usual upload process. When available, your video content will automatically appear on relevant shared listings in multiple stores. You can review where your video is displayed by visiting the Upload and Manage Videos page, which shows a list of stores above the video’s title.

If you prefer to remove a video from one or more specific stores, follow these steps:

1. Go to Upload and Manage Videos.
2. Click the trash icon next to the video.
3. Choose either "Delete from other stores, excluding the current one" or "Delete from all stores, including the current one."

Amazon Seller Central now offers an easier way to analyze performance metrics by ASIN. Based on seller feedback, you can filter business report data directly by ASIN, entering up to 100 ASINs in the search bar for a streamlined search and analysis experience.

Previously, finding specific ASIN data required downloading reports and filtering offline. With this new feature, sellers can now save time and manage ASIN performance data more efficiently within Seller Central.

To use this feature, follow these steps:

1. Go to your Sales Dashboard.
2. Select “Reports,” then “Business Reports.”
3. Choose any report under the "By ASIN" category on the left panel.
4. Use the ASIN Search toolbar at the top to locate your ASINs.

Amazon has introduced the new "Issue Alert" feature within the Image Manager to help sellers resolve product image issues more efficiently. This update offers several enhancements designed to streamline the process for fixing image-related problems.

Key improvements include:

• Issue Alerts: Images with problems will now display a red icon in the bottom left corner. Hover over it to see a message describing the issue.
• Centralized View: Access all image issues in one place through the Image Manager, eliminating the need to check the Submission Status page for each product individually.
• Easy Image Updates: Replace images quickly by using the Upload button located in the top-right corner of any image with an issue.

Visit the Product image requirements for detailed information on image requirements.

If you sell products containing single-use plastics on Amazon.de, you now have the ability to prove compliance with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Single-Use Plastics through your Account Health dashboard. From January 1, 2025, Amazon will be required to verify your compliance, and any non-compliant listings will be deactivated.

For producers based in Germany, follow these steps to demonstrate your compliance:

1. Register your brands for each single-use plastic category with the German Environment Agency’s Single-Use Plastics Fund (DIVID) platform.
2. Submit your registration numbers for each brand and product type through the Compliance Portal under Account Health > Policy Compliance > Regulatory Compliance. Your submission will be reviewed and updated within five business days.
3. Report annually: Starting in 2025, report the types and quantities of single-use plastic products sold in Germany to DIVID and pay the required levy (eco-contribution fees) each year. Access your reports via the EPR Category Report.

If you are not a producer but resell products from producers based in Germany, obtain the necessary registration numbers from your supplier and complete Steps 2 and 3.

For producers or resellers not established in Germany, you will need to register with DIVID, appoint an authorized representative, and follow Steps 2 and 3. To learn more, visit the Authorised representatives FAQs or explore Amazon’s Service Provider Network for assistance.

To determine if you qualify as a producer under German EPR law, use the Self-check tool on the DIVID portal. You can also reach out to third-party compliance service providers for additional support.

Visit EPR requirements: single-use plastics in Germany or contact Selling Partner Support for more details.

Amazon has introduced a new Automotive Fitment tool for sellers of automotive parts in several European markets, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. This tool helps sellers better manage their vehicle-specific parts catalogues and monitor important trends.

With the Automotive Fitment tool, sellers can easily track the performance of their fitment-specific products, ensuring they meet compatibility requirements. The tool also simplifies the process of adding, editing, or deleting fitment data, whether individually or in bulk. Additionally, it allows for verification of fitment information across multiple marketplaces and flags products that don't require compatibility details.

Key features include:

• Monitoring the fitment health of your entire catalogue.
• Managing fitment information in bulk or individually.
• Checking data consistency across different Amazon stores.
• Using advanced filters and sorting to prioritize key actions.

To start using the Automotive Fitment tool, go to the Menu, select Inventory, and then choose Automotive Fitment. For more detailed guidance, refer to the "Add fitment information" page.

Amazon is introducing new email notifications to help sellers stay informed about changes or delays in FBA shipments using full truckload, less than truckload, and intermodal shipping options. These alerts will notify sellers of adjustments in pickup dates, shipping modes, or carrier details under the Partnered Carrier Program, allowing better preparation for inventory management.

The notifications will be sent to the email provided in Step 4 of the "Send to Amazon" workflow, where carrier and pallet information is confirmed. Additionally, for delivery disruptions, sellers will receive alerts about changes in shipment destination or delivery timing.

To adjust your preferences for these email updates:

1. Go to Seller Central and navigate to Settings.
2. Select Notification Preferences.
3. Scroll to FBA Inbound Shipment Status Notifications.
4. Click Edit to manage alerts for delivery plan changes or disruptions.

Each email will provide key shipment details, including the shipment ID, total pallets, cartons, and weight, giving sellers better oversight of their FBA processes.

For more details, refer to the Track Your Shipments page.

Prime Video is launching Buy It Now on October 30, 2024, a competition show where entrepreneurs can pitch their products to a panel of Amazon executives and celebrity judges. Often compared to Shark Tank, this show emphasizes Amazon’s commitment to helping small businesses and sellers by offering a unique platform to showcase their innovations.

Entrepreneurs will have 90 seconds to present their products to a live audience and a judging panel. The winning contestants will secure a spot in Amazon’s exclusive Buy It Now store, accessible on both Amazon.com and within the Prime Video app, and a chance to win $20,000.

Judges include Amazon executives such as Carmen Nestares and Jenny Freshwater, alongside rotating celebrity judges like Gwyneth Paltrow and Tony Hawk. The show highlights Amazon’s focus on supporting sellers and helping them reach millions of customers through a streamlined platform.

Products are evaluated based on the "five Ps": pitch, product, popularity, problem-solving, and potential. Viewers will also be able to purchase featured products directly through Amazon's Buy It Now storefront starting on October 30 by scanning a QR code during the show or searching "Buy It Now" on Amazon.com.

The first three episodes will premiere on October 30, with new episodes airing weekly until the finale on January 8, 2025.

For more details, visit the Buy It Now storefront.