Today's tip · Fulfillment
Your container is late. Amazon just gave it two more weeks.
Ocean delays, port holds and customs checks have been stretching international FBA plans past the fee line. For plans created August 1 to November 30, the line moved.
In a multi-destination FBA plan, the clock starts when the first shipment is received. Until now the rest of the plan had 30 days to show up before Amazon charged the deleted or abandoned inbound defect fee. Amazon has now stretched that to 45 days for international shipment plans created between August 1 and November 30, 2026, citing longer ocean transit times, port delays and customs holds.
There's a second change. The automatic shipment closure window for those plans is now 90 days, so a box still at sea doesn't get its shipment closed out from under it. Amazon says no action is required, and any inbound defect fees already charged on eligible shipments will be reimbursed automatically.
Two catches worth knowing. The defect still shows on your Inbound Performance Dashboard even when the fee is waived, so don't panic at the flag. And the dates are firm: a plan created on July 31 isn't in the window. If you're building an international plan this month, build it by November 30.
From Amazon's Seller Central announcement. Related shipments are counted from the first receive in a multi-destination plan. Amazon did not state the previous closure window, so only the new 90 days is shown.
Source: Seller Central News, Temporary peak season extensions for international FBA shipments
Data desk by XENA IntelligenceThe weekend plan
- 01List your international plans
Pull every international shipment plan created on or after August 1, 2026.
- 02Find the first receive date
For each multi-destination plan, note when the first shipment was received.
- 03Count 45 days forward
That's the new deadline for the plan's remaining shipments to arrive without the defect fee.
- 04Check your Reimbursement report
Fees already charged on eligible shipments are reimbursed automatically and show up there.
- 05Create new plans by Nov 30
Plans created after November 30 aren't covered by the temporary extension.
Section 02
This week's checklist
7 jobs pulled from this issue, in the order the deadlines bite. Tick them off as you go. Your browser remembers the ticks, nobody else sees them, and a fresh list comes with each issue.
0 of 7 done
Section 03
The seller calendar
Every date Amazon has put in writing for the season, plus the two everyone knows. October is zoomed in on the chart because that's where the trouble is.
Peak fulfillment fees run Oct 15 to Jan 14. Plus $0.32 per unit on average, with the 3.5% surcharge on top.
| Date | What happens | Type | Countdown | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Big Deal Days (Oct 6 to 7) | Shopping event | Done | About Amazon | |
| AWD arrival deadline for Black Friday Week | Inventory | Done | Seller Central News | |
| Holiday peak fulfillment fees begin | Fees | Done | Seller Central News | |
| Original Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal deadline (Amazon has since extended it to Nov 13) | Deals | Done | Seller Central News | |
| FBA arrival deadline, minimal shipment splits | Inventory | Done | Seller Central News | |
| FBA arrival deadline, Amazon-optimized splits (most sellers) | Inventory | Done | Seller Central News | |
| Business Hour Delivery Rate review: seller-fulfilled offers under 90% may be deactivated for Amazon Business customers | Offer | Done | Seller Central News | |
| Last day of off-peak storage for AWD with auto-replenishment | Inventory | Done | Seller Central News | |
| Confirm New Selection Program (2026) enrollment to keep launch fee credits | Fees | Done | Seller Central News | |
| Extended holiday returns begin: items bought Nov 1 to Dec 31 can come back until Jan 31 | Returns | Done | Seller Central News | |
| New commercial liability insurance requirements take effect: a $1 million policy for products in categories with enhanced safety listing requirements, with no sales threshold | Policy | Done | Seller Central News | |
| Virtual multipacks from the latest pilot wave become available to customers | Offer | In 8 days | Seller Central Help | |
| Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal sourcing closes (extended from Oct 20) | Deals | In 10 days | Seller Central News | |
| Ask Amazon: Seller Assistant live Q&A with Amazon's product teams | Shopping event | In 15 days | Seller Central News | |
| Black Friday | Shopping event | In 24 days | Calendar | |
| Cyber Monday | Shopping event | In 27 days | Calendar | |
| Last day to create an international FBA shipment plan covered by Amazon's 45-day related-shipment and 90-day closure extensions | Inventory | In 27 days | Seller Central News | |
| Prepaid return labels required for most US seller-fulfilled returns (heavy and bulky items excepted for now) | Returns | In 45 days | Seller Forums | |
| Last day to sign up for the free 12-month Amazon Quick Plus subscription | Offer | In 58 days | About Amazon | |
| Last purchase date covered by the extended holiday return window | Returns | In 58 days | Seller Central News | |
| Updated product bundling policy takes effect: most single-ASIN bundles must be packaged by the original manufacturer or brand | Policy | In 69 days | Seller Central News | |
| Holiday peak fulfillment fees end | Fees | In 72 days | Seller Central News | |
| Last day to return holiday purchases under the extended window | Returns | In 89 days | Seller Central News |
Add every date to your calendar (.ics)Works with Google Calendar, Outlook and Apple Calendar. Re-download after big announcements.
Sources: Seller Central News, Holiday 2026, About Amazon, Seller Assistant, Seller Central News, 2026 holiday return policy, Seller Central News, New AI tools for the holidays, Seller Central News, Black Friday Cyber Monday deals deadline extended, Seller Central News, Business hour delivery requirement for seller-fulfilled shipments, Seller Central Help, Virtual multipacks, Seller Central News, New commercial liability insurance requirements, Seller Central News, New requirements for product bundles starting January 11, Seller Forums, Amazon's prepaid return label notice and moderator clarification
Fee watch
The changes that cost money this year, newest last. If Amazon hasn't announced it, it isn't here.
Since Jan 15, 2026
2026 US fee update
FBA fees rose by an average of $0.08 per unit. Amazon added no new fee types for 2026.
Amazon, 2026 US referral and FBA fee updateSince Apr 17, 2026
Fuel and logistics surcharge
3.5% on FBA fulfillment fees, about $0.17 per unit on average in the US. Multi-Channel Fulfillment and Buy with Prime followed on May 2.
Seller Central News, Fuel and logistics surchargeSince Sep 2026
MCF Preferred Pricing Program
Discounted Multi-Channel Fulfillment fees plus FBA credits per unit shipped. Amazon says sellers save 15% to 25% on fulfillment fees for the first six months, with no contract and one-click enrollment in Seller Central.
About Amazon, Prime delivery for MCF merchants' websitesOct 15, 2026 to Jan 14, 2027
Holiday peak fulfillment fees
About $0.32 more per unit on average, with the 3.5% surcharge calculated on top.
Seller Central News, Holiday 2026Holiday deal events
Deal fees
$100 upfront per promotion plus 1.5% of promotional sales, capped at $5,000, for Best Deals, Lightning Deals and Prime Exclusive Price Discounts.
Seller Central News, Holiday 2026Nov 1, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027
Extended holiday returns
Orders placed Nov 1 to Dec 31 can be returned until Jan 31, 2027, for FBA and seller-fulfilled orders alike. Budget for a slower, larger return wave.
Seller Central News, 2026 holiday return policy2027
Next annual fee update
Not announced as of Oct 24, 2026. Amazon says it gives at least 90 days' notice, and the 2026 changes were announced in October 2025.
Amazon, 2026 US referral and FBA fee update
Section 04
By the numbers
Four figures worth knowing this week. Each one is Amazon's own, linked to where they said it.
for related international shipments to arrive after the first receive
Seller Central News, Temporary peak season extensions for international FBA shipmentsautomatic shipment closure window for eligible international plans
Seller Central News, Temporary peak season extensions for international FBA shipmentsto upload a prepaid return label or refund, starting Dec 18
Seller Forums, Amazon's prepaid return label notice and moderator clarificationhigher click-through rate for AI-optimized Responsive eCommerce Creative ads
Amazon Ads, Responsive eCommerce Creative reimaginedSection 05
The playbook
4 moves for this week, then a few quick ones for the train.
Returns
Seller-fulfilled returns go prepaid on December 18
Starting December 18, 2026, most US returns on seller-fulfilled orders need a prepaid return shipping label. The address-only label, where the customer pays to ship the item back, stops counting, with a temporary exception for heavy and bulky items.
You get seven calendar days from the return request to either upload a prepaid label in the Manage seller-fulfilled returns workflow or issue a full refund without asking for the item back. Miss it and Amazon may issue a returnless refund and deduct it from your account. A label sent through Buyer-Seller Messaging doesn't count. An Amazon moderator added that Amazon-generated prepaid labels aren't going away, and return eligibility rules for categories like Custom, Handmade and Dangerous Goods are unchanged.
Do this: Before December 18, decide who on your team uploads return labels and check that they can reach Manage seller-fulfilled returns.
Source: Seller Forums, Amazon's prepaid return label notice and moderator clarification
From Amazon's notice to sellers as posted in the Seller Forums. Labels shared outside the Manage Returns workflow don't meet the requirement.
Source: Seller Forums, Amazon's prepaid return label notice and moderator clarification
Data desk by XENA IntelligenceDeals
Amazon's own Black Friday pre-flight has five boxes
Amazon posted a short readiness list for Black Friday and Cyber Monday this week, and it is refreshingly unglamorous. Inventory for deal ASINs in stock and received. Listings with tidy images, titles, bullets and A+ Content. Deal prices that meet the minimum discount, with suppressed or at-risk deals fixed. Account Health clear of open warnings. Ads live or scheduled.
Amazon's pitch is that sellers who stay on top of inventory, deals and account health see fewer disruptions during peak events. Ten quiet minutes this week beats a frantic hour on Thanksgiving night.
Do this: Open Manage Promotions today and walk the five boxes for your top three deal ASINs.
Source: Seller Central News, Get your account ready now for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
- Inventory: deal ASINs in stock and received at fulfillment centers
- Listings: images, titles, bullet points and A+ Content in shape
- Deals: pricing meets the minimum discount, at-risk deals resolved
- Account Health: outstanding policy warnings cleared
- Advertising: campaigns live or scheduled for the event
From Amazon's Seller Central announcement, Get your account ready now for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Source: Seller Central News, Get your account ready now for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Data desk by XENA IntelligenceShipping
A padded handling time costs you sales you never see
Amazon says every one-day improvement in promised delivery time leads to an average 5% increase in sales, and that over 87% of seller-fulfilled US orders are handled within one day. Yet plenty of sellers still set SKU-level handling times longer than they need, which pushes the delivery promise out.
Since June 29, 2026, handling times have to be accurate. If a SKU consistently ships at least a day faster than stated, Amazon flags it and gives you 30 days to fix it, or starts managing it for you. Automated Handling Time sets it from your recent shipping history and comes with late shipment rate protection. During holiday week, a promise of Tuesday instead of Thursday is the difference between a gift and an apology.
Do this: Pull your seller-fulfilled SKUs with handling times over one day and check whether they actually ship that slowly.
Source: Seller Central News, New handling time requirements for seller-fulfilled products
From Amazon's Seller Central announcement on handling time requirements. 87% describes US seller-fulfilled orders handled within one day. 5% is the average sales lift per one-day faster delivery promise.
Source: Seller Central News, New handling time requirements for seller-fulfilled products
Data desk by XENA IntelligenceAdvertising
Display ads that build themselves, inside your brand rules
Amazon Ads rebuilt Responsive eCommerce Creative. It now does in-banner video, carousels of three to six of your products, and, in the US, conversational prompts that open Alexa for Shopping right inside a display ad on third-party sites. It also runs on Alexa+ smart displays and Fire Tablet.
The part brand managers will like is the brand identity controls. Upload your logo, color palette, approved imagery and copy guardrails once, and the system generates variations that stay on brand without you reviewing each one. Brand controls are US only for now. Preview filters let you check by ASIN, placement, size and language. It's open to sellers and vendors, though only endemic advertisers, meaning brands that sell on Amazon.
Do this: Before your holiday display campaigns launch, upload your logo, palette and copy guardrails in the brand identity controls.
Source: Amazon Ads, Responsive eCommerce Creative reimagined
Amazon's reported averages for Responsive eCommerce Creative ads using AI optimization. Amazon internal data, worldwide, July to December 2025.
Source: Amazon Ads, Responsive eCommerce Creative reimagined
Data desk by XENA IntelligenceQuick hits
05Advertising
Ask your ad account a question, get a business review
One unBoxed 2026 detail that slipped under the holiday noise: Amazon Ads Agent puts nearly 1,000 metrics behind a plain-language question, from top campaign drivers to new-to-brand breakdowns, with charts and peer benchmarks in minutes. Its built-in generative creative tools turn existing product assets into display ads and video, and Amazon says advertisers using them drove up to 71% more product coverage and up to 15% sales growth versus before. Monday morning reporting just got shorter.
Source: Amazon Ads, unBoxed 2026
Section 06
The wire
What changed lately, straight from Amazon. We read the announcement so you can read the summary.
- Reminder
Ten days until deal sourcing closes
Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal sourcing closes on November 13.
via Seller Central News, Black Friday Cyber Monday deals deadline extended - Deals
Amazon posts a Black Friday readiness checklist
Check inventory, listings, deal pricing, Account Health and advertising before the event, starting from Manage Promotions.
via Seller Central News, Get your account ready now for Black Friday and Cyber Monday - FBA
More time for international FBA shipments
Plans created Aug 1 to Nov 30 get 45 days for related shipments and a 90-day closure window. Fees already charged on eligible shipments are reimbursed.
via Seller Central News, Temporary peak season extensions for international FBA shipments
Follow for more
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One short email when a new issue lands. Amazon's news without the press-release voice, and one move worth making that week. No upsells, no "ultimate guides."
Section 07
Straight answers
The questions sellers are typing into search bars and chatbots this week, answered in under a minute each. Every answer is grounded in Amazon's own announcement, linked below it.
What is Amazon's peak season extension for international FBA shipments?
For international shipment plans created August 1 to November 30, 2026, Amazon extended the window for related shipments in a multi-destination plan to arrive after the first receive from 30 to 45 days, and extended the automatic shipment closure window to 90 days. No action is required.
Source: Seller Central News, Temporary peak season extensions for international FBA shipments
Will Amazon refund inbound defect fees on delayed international shipments?
Yes, for eligible shipments. Amazon says any deleted or abandoned inbound defect fees already charged on international plans created August 1 to November 30, 2026 will be reimbursed automatically. You can see the details in your Reimbursement report. The defect is still flagged on the Inbound Performance Dashboard.
Source: Seller Central News, Temporary peak season extensions for international FBA shipments
When do Amazon seller-fulfilled returns need a prepaid return label?
Starting December 18, 2026, most US returns on seller-fulfilled orders need a prepaid return shipping label, with a temporary exception for heavy and bulky items. Within seven calendar days of the request you must upload a prepaid label in Manage seller-fulfilled returns or issue a full returnless refund.
Source: Seller Forums, Amazon's prepaid return label notice and moderator clarification
What happens if I don't upload a prepaid return label in time?
If neither a prepaid return label nor a returnless refund is provided within seven calendar days, Amazon may automatically issue a returnless refund and deduct the balance from your selling account. Labels sent through Buyer-Seller Messaging or other channels outside the Manage Returns workflow don't meet the requirement.
Source: Seller Forums, Amazon's prepaid return label notice and moderator clarification
What should I check before Black Friday on Amazon?
Amazon's readiness list covers five areas: deal ASINs in stock and received at fulfillment centers, listing quality including images, titles, bullets and A+ Content, deal pricing that meets the minimum discount, Account Health with no open warnings, and ad campaigns live or scheduled. Start from Manage Promotions.
Source: Seller Central News, Get your account ready now for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Why does handling time matter for Amazon sales?
Amazon says every one-day improvement in promised delivery time leads to an average 5% increase in sales, and over 87% of US seller-fulfilled orders are handled within one day. Since June 29, 2026, SKU handling times must be accurate, and Automated Handling Time sets them from your shipping history.
Source: Seller Central News, New handling time requirements for seller-fulfilled products
What is new in Amazon's Responsive eCommerce Creative?
Amazon Ads added in-banner video, multi-image carousels of three to six products, conversational prompts powered by Alexa for Shopping in the US, delivery on Alexa+ and Fire Tablet, and brand identity controls for logos, colors, imagery and copy guardrails. It is available to sellers and vendors who are endemic advertisers.
Source: Amazon Ads, Responsive eCommerce Creative reimagined