Amazon phrases of service have undergone many modifications in 2025. Click on right here to make sure compliance and keep away from potential points.
There’s a purpose why so many sellers select to promote on Amazon. The common impartial vendor earned $290,000 yearly, with the larger names incomes considerably extra.
Whereas promoting on Amazon has its perks, eCommerce retailer house owners even have many duties. For instance, {the marketplace} has clear phrases of service that sellers should abide by.
These phrases differ from stock administration to packaging your gadgets, they’re continually altering, and maintaining may be strenuous.
Amazon Phrases of Service in 2025
Amazon’s phrases of service might change for varied causes, reminiscent of to supply larger transparency and to satisfy present buyer calls for. Listed below are the most recent modifications to Amazon’s phrases of service in 2025.
Packaging for Sharp Merchandise
Whereas Amazon’s packaging necessities haven’t modified drastically, they’ve up to date their insurance policies on packaging sharp merchandise and people with pointed ends.
Probably the most vital change is how Amazon supplied prep companies, however they not do. All retailer house owners who promote sharp-pointed merchandise are liable for their very own packaging.
For FBA sellers, this implies your sharp objects have to be in compliant and shipment-ready packaging once they arrive at Amazon warehouses.
All sharp objects have to be packaged in puncture-resistant packaging, reminiscent of blister packs or hardened plastic. Failure to conform will end in quick disposal of things with out eligibility for reimbursement.
Whereas this isn’t listed within the insurance policies, corporations promoting sharp objects ought to embrace correct warnings and product compliance documentation to keep away from any accidents.
FBA Broken or Misplaced Stock Reimbursement
If a buyer’s order has been misplaced or broken, they obtain a refund based mostly on the promoting value. However what if the merchandise was misplaced or broken earlier than the order was positioned?
Beforehand, Amazon dealt with refunds for sellers in the identical method ― if an merchandise had been misplaced or broken throughout transit to the warehouses, Amazon would refund the merchandise’s gross sales value.
Nevertheless, this methodology isn’t at all times sensible. For instance, producers should contemplate the manufacturing and provide chain prices, and refunding the promoting value might not cowl these bills.
Now, if an merchandise is misplaced or broken throughout transit, Amazon will refund all manufacturing prices to sellers, besides delivery and dealing with expenses. Sellers can enter manufacturing prices instantly; in the event that they don’t, Amazon will use an estimate based mostly on competing or related merchandise.
New Stolen Items Coverage
Amazon’s market has extra impersonated companies than its rivals. Consequently, Amazon frequently updates its fraud safety to remain forward of the most recent scams and assaults.
Amazon’s newest coverage change is the way it handles the sale of stolen items. Whereas Amazon at all times investigated sketchy sellers and listings, it now has a person Stolen Items Coverage that every one sellers should abide by.
To remain compliant, sellers should disclose the small print of their provide chain. It’s additionally finest to stick to all Amazon high quality requirements to show that your merchandise are distinctive and of the best high quality. When you don’t abide by this coverage, Amazon might revoke your promoting privileges.
Associated content material: The right way to Use Amazon Transparency
MCF Program Information Processing
Amazon’s multi-channel success (MCF) service is a handy possibility for sellers who function on a number of eCommerce marketplaces. The MCF program permits sellers to make the most of Amazon as their main success methodology, even once they promote on different platforms.
Amazon launched this program in 2007, and so they’re continually updating and bettering it. The newest addition is their Information Processing Addendum (DPA). This DPA particularly addresses processing private info.
Low-Value Retailer Program
The low-cost retailer program is what it seems like ― a program for eCommerce corporations promoting gadgets for $20 or much less. Nevertheless, this program is present process two vital modifications:
- This system is now known as Amazon Haul
- Amazon expanded the international locations through which this program is accessible
When you’re already enrolled in Amazon Haul, there are not any further actions to take. Nevertheless, it’s important to notice that you would be able to now promote within the new international locations Amazon has added.
Vendor-Fulfilled Prime and Premium Transport Program
Vendor-Fulfilled Prime (SFP) is a handy program that allows eCommerce corporations to deal with their very own delivery whereas remaining eligible for Prime. Nevertheless, Amazon is making modifications to this program.
Below the brand new SFP, Amazon would require all sellers to finish a trial. Amazon offers you three makes an attempt to move in a single calendar yr, excluding any main gross sales occasions (reminiscent of the vacations and Prime Day).
What for those who’re already enrolled in Vendor-Fulfilled Prime? You don’t must move this trial, however there are further modifications to know:
- When you don’t ship 100 SFP packages in a single month, Amazon will prohibit your most Prime every day order restrict.
- Amazon will revoke your program membership for those who obtain two warnings for not assembly delivery efficiency requirements.
- When you misclassify any merchandise, Amazon might pause or revoke your Prime eligibility.
- Any disruptions from main community carriers (reminiscent of pure disasters) won’t have an effect on your Prime eligibility.
- So long as you ship your parcels on time, you’ll obtain One-Time Supply Fee safety.
- Sellers can submit an enchantment two weeks after receiving a warning or revocation electronic mail.
Distant Success Return Credit
Distant Success is among the finest methods for sellers to increase to totally different international locations. With this program, sellers could make their US-based stock accessible to Mexico, Canada, and Brazil, with out storing merchandise in these nations. Plus, they may nonetheless be eligible for Prime delivery.
However what occurs if a global buyer returns an merchandise? How can sellers cowl the return charges? Luckily, Amazon is providing return credit to sellers. This ensures you pay the identical charges throughout all marketplaces, whatever the nation.
The right way to Keep Compliant
Sellers ought to overview every of those modifications and make any essential modifications to adjust to the Amazon phrases of service. That stated, there are common finest practices that every one sellers should observe:
- Replace packaging. Even for those who don’t promote sharp objects, puncture-resistant packaging ensures your merchandise arrive with minimal harm and are simpler for Amazon employees to select and pack. If essential, coordinate together with your packaging suppliers or suppliers.
- Evaluation prices. Many of those coverage modifications cowl returns, delivery, and FBA or Prime packages. All these include prices, and sellers ought to overview them carefully to make sure promoting on Amazon isn’t consuming into earnings.
- Educate your group. Since noncompliance carries critical penalties, it’s finest to contain your total group. Inform your employees and any third-party suppliers, producers, or logistics groups of the up to date Amazon insurance policies that can have an effect on your organization.
- Monitor deadlines. A few of these new insurance policies, reminiscent of Vendor-Fulfilled Prime trials, include deadlines. Monitor these deadlines to remain on high of any duties that Amazon wants from you.
When you’re nonetheless caught, you may as well search assist from a trusted Amazon guide.
Are You Struggling to Hold Up?
Because the world’s largest market, the Amazon phrases of service for sellers is strict and all corporations should adhere to it. That stated, there are at all times modifications to those situations, and it may be difficult to maintain up.
When you’re struggling to maintain up, we can assist. With our Accelerator Program, we offer strategic steering and assist on all issues Amazon-related, full with weekly conferences to make sure you keep up-to-date.
Creator
Stephanie Jensen has been writing ecommerce content material for seven years, and her copy has helped quite a few shops rank on Amazon. Observe her on LinkedIn for extra perception into freelance writing and creating high-quality content material.