Chris Grant covers the new Amazon business hour delivery rate for merchant fulfilled orders, Q4 inventory deadlines and peak fees, Prime Day 2025 spending stats, and answers seller questions on prep centers, MAP pricing, IP complaints, and low inventory fees. He also shares a motivational segment on balancing fear and confidence in business.
A short editorial from the FLOWNIB team on why this content matters.
This Q&A delivers essential Amazon policy updates and practical seller strategies, emphasizing the rising operational bar for merchant fulfillment and strategic Q4 planning.
Unlike generic tips, it tackles real dilemmas like prep center economics and brand negotiations, reinforced by a Steph Curry mindset that directly addresses seller fear of uncertainty.
Amazon sellers should watch to stay ahead of new metrics and apply the 'appropriate fear plus confidence' approach to scale their business without being paralyzed by risk.
Amazon's B2B marketplace where business customers purchase from sellers, subject to separate delivery metrics.
Orders shipped directly by the seller rather than through FBA, now subject to a business hour delivery rate.
A metric measuring percentage of seller-fulfilled shipments to business customers delivered within their specified operating hours.
Amazon's October sales event, requiring inventory to be in FBA by early September.
Higher fulfillment fees applied from Oct 15 to Jan 14, averaging $0.32 more per unit plus a fuel surcharge.
A fee charged when a product's inventory is below 28 days of supply and sales activity meets thresholds.
Third-party service that receives, preps, and ships inventory to Amazon FBA, often offsetting sales tax costs.
Minimum Advertised Price; a brand's policy that sellers may voluntarily follow but is not legally binding without an agreement.
What is the new business hour delivery rate?
Starting Sept 30, 2026, merchant fulfilled orders to Amazon business customers must be delivered within the customer's operating hours at least 90% of the time, tracked over a 14-day rolling period.
Will the 3.5% fuel surcharge ever go away?
No, it's unlikely to be removed as Amazon's previous fuel surcharge never went away; expect it to remain.
Does Amazon charge a fee for low inventory levels?
Yes, a low inventory level fee applies when both long-term and short-term days of supply are below 28 days, and you've sold at least 20 units in the past 7 days.
How can I find low inventory level charges?
Check the Payments Transaction View report, the SKU Economics report, or Profit Analytics in Seller Central.
What are the Q4 inventory deadlines for FBA?
For Prime Big Deal Days: minimal splits by Sept 9, optimized splits by Sept 16. For Black Friday/Cyber Monday: minimal splits by Oct 21, optimized splits by Oct 28.
A brand is calling me daily about selling their product but hasn't filed an IP complaint. What can they do?
They can file an IP complaint at any time. Use this as an opportunity to open a dialogue, solve their concerns, and potentially negotiate a direct deal.
Do I have to comply with MAP pricing if the brand asks but there's no agreement?
No, you are not obligated, but it's wise to comply if all other sellers do. Raise your price and negotiate with the brand to become their solution.
At what sales level does it make sense to use a prep center?
There's no specific sales level; it depends on your time value and tax situation. In many states, prep costs can be offset by sales tax savings, making it cost-effective even at low volume.
How do I remove CPC for toys from account health after deleting the listing?
You cannot remove them early; they will fall off after 120 days. You can either acknowledge them or wait.
What was the key takeaway from Prime Day 2025?
Prime Day hit $26.4 billion, with high-ticket item sales growing 19%. Consumers used it for planned purchases, and the $30-$70 price point sweet spot performed well.