In the heart of Seattle’s Denny Triangle, Amazon’s clandestine subsidiary, Big River Services International, operates under the guise of a bustling ecommerce enterprise, the Wall Street Journal reports, republished on LessWrong.com. But behind this facade lies a secretive mission: Project Curiosity. Since its inception in 2015, Project Curiosity has orchestrated stealthy corporate strategies aimed at infiltrating ecommerce platforms and gathering critical intelligence on competitors. Under the cloak of fictitious brands and covert operations, Amazon has deployed Big River to penetrate rival m ..read more

In his annual letter to Amazon shareholders released April 11, CEO Andy Jassy expressed even greater enthusiasm for Amazon’s future, citing a remarkable 12% increase in revenue for 2023. The letter also covered “continued customer experience improvements across our businesses,” including the transformative potential of Generative AI and the advantages of Amazon’s regionalized warehouse network. Jassy also highlighted the company’s ongoing efforts to cut costs, underscoring its commitment to efficiency and growth. Although Amazon has yet to announce a date for its first-quarter earnings report ..read more

In recent developments, Amazon finds itself amidst several controversies, highlighting various concerns across different fronts. From owing over $500 million for patent infringement to facing scrutiny over FDA warning letters, the eComm giant is in hot water.  Moreover, Amazon’s legal battles extend globally, with fines in Poland for deceptive practices and regulatory investigations in the US for alleged unlawful marketing.  Read on as we deep dive into the intricacies of these unfolding events and their implications. 1. Amazon Web Services Slapped with $525 Million Fine for Patent ..read more

From postponing new fees to implementing stricter safety standards, sellers continue to have to navigate through Amazon’s ever-changing policies. For some product categories, Amazon is implementing compliance changes, including one for dietary supplements that became effective immediately upon release of the policy. Be sure you are prepared for these changes. Read on to learn more about how they could affect your Amazon business. 1. Amazon Halts Rollout of Controversial Fee Amazon has decided to postpone the recently introduced low-inventory-level fee for sellers utilizing its FBA service aft ..read more

With the introduction of the UK Procurement Act, a new era of opportunity has emerged for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) businesses in the UK. Let’s delve into what the UK Procurement Act entails, and the significant implications and benefits it offers for SMEs across the country. This effort demonstrates Britain’s commitment to strengthening this business segment. Defining the UK Procurement Act The UK Procurement Act, enacted in 2023, is a comprehensive legislative framework designed to govern the procurement process within the public sector. It sets out the rules and regulations ..read more

Amazon has just dropped a new set of tools and compliance updates. Here is a roundup of what’s new. If you sell in the UK, be sure your products comply with the latest Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations for packaged goods in the UK. This could me additional fees or cost and non-compliance may result in listing suspension so be sure you understand exactly what is needed. Amazon has also launched a new “Pay on Behalf” program to make compliance smoother for sellers. Navigate the complexities of Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) integration with a new Amazon tool to ensure that you ..read more

UPDATE 02/28/2024: Thrasio, one of the biggest Amazon aggregators, has finally taken the step of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a New Jersey court.  When a company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it seeks court-supervised restructuring to alleviate financial distress while continuing its operations. This type of bankruptcy is commonly used by businesses looking to address overwhelming debt, negotiate with creditors, and develop a plan to emerge as a financially viable entity. What happens next? The Massachusetts-based company is embarking on a path of financial restructu ..read more

Amazon is rolling out key features to enhance the seller and customer experience. We will dive into these features and what you need to know and can expect from them.  Highlights include the Build Your Brand page which introduces new metrics to empower sellers with insights to strengthen their brand strategies, instant replacements for seller-fulfilled returns and a dedicated page for recalls and product safety alerts in EU customer accounts. We also touch on the new Ships in Product Packaging program for fee savings and increased sustainability and the Premium Navigation Carousel offeri ..read more

As consumer preferences and digital marketplaces maintain their rapid pace of change, what trends are expected to influence sellers in 2024? Channel Shopping A new study by Rithum, an ecommerce network and platform, reveals that three in four consumer now explore three different marketplaces when making online purchases. Despite the growing popularity of challengers, Amazon retains significant trust, with 42% of consumers expressing confidence in the platform, while 34% go to a merchant’s direct-to-consumer site, and 21% explore other private marketplaces. Ecommerce execs, reflecting on 2023 ..read more

In a recent move to enhance the integrity of its review system, Amazon appears to have initiated an automated process to remove product reviews from buyers who have been found to violate the platform’s customer review policy.  Below is an email screenshot shared by a seller on social media. Several other sellers confirmed that they had also received similar messages from Amazon. The email stated that Amazon took action to remove product reviews from bad actors. Sellers previously reported receiving such notifications back in October 2023, as seen on this YouTube channel hosted by My Ama ..read more