Latest Articles from Seller Essentials

Amazon just gave FBM sellers a rare piece of good news. Your Account Health Rating can now earn extra points for good customer service, up to 12 of them, and Amazon says weak numbers won't cost you anything. Here's how the new customer service points work and how to earn them.

Starting November 2, 2026, Amazon is closing two gaps in its seller insurance policy: sellers in children's, cosmetic, ingestible, and lithium-battery categories must carry $1 million in liability coverage no matter how little they sell, and sellers based in Mainland China must buy through Amazon's own insurer network. Here's what changed, what stays the same, and why Amazon is pointing this one at China.

Amazon FBA prep services grew from a dozen informal operations into a global industry. Here's how prep centers evolved from 2013 to 2026 — the sourcing strategies that fueled them, the truth about tax-free states, and the fee changes that made prep more essential than ever.

Amazon FBA long-term storage fees are now assessed monthly under the aged inventory surcharge, starting at 181 days. With updated 2026 rates and steep Q4 storage costs, this guide breaks down the current fee tiers, real dollar impact, and five actionable options to clear at-risk stock before monthly assessment deadlines.

Amazon's Seller Assistant now shows why you're not in the Buy Box (Featured Offer): the 4 factors it checks — and how to fix each one.

Win the Buy Box in one region and lose it in another? Here's why the Featured Offer is regional — and what FBA and FBM sellers can do about it.

Enrolling in Amazon’s Tax Exemption Program takes about 15 minutes. This guide covers what a resale exemption actually covers, which documents Amazon rejects, and the records you need so the savings hold up.

FBA Operations · 2026 Guide How to Check and Act On Your Amazon FBA Returns Report (2026 Guide) The report tells you what came back. Deciding what to do with each unit — and knowing what that decision actually costs — is separate, and Amazon [...]

Amazon Buy Shipping now supports linking your own carrier accounts for USPS, UPS Roadie, UPS Mail Innovations, OnTrac, and DHL eCommerce — so self-shippers can apply their negotiated rates while keeping Buy Shipping's delivery protections.

AWD and a 3PL reserve warehouse do the same job — hold your bulk inventory and feed FBA — but one hands replenishment to Amazon's algorithm and the other keeps you in control. We compare real 2026 rate cards from both coasts and show which model fits which seller.

On July 12, 2026, USPS collapsed four sub-1-lb Ground Advantage price tiers into one — the top rate. To rural ZIP codes, a 4 oz package now costs the same as a 15.99 oz one. Here's the real math, who actually gets hit, whether FBA moved, and how to protect your margin.

Carriers and platforms quietly back-charge seller accounts after delivery — FedEx One Rate audits, UPS return adjustments, Amazon’s own FBA re-measurements, and the new USPS $50 hazmat fee. Here’s exactly where these charges hide on Amazon, eBay, and Walmart, and how to audit, dispute, and prevent them.