In classic Amazon fashion, a major change is coming for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) sellers, but it wasn’t widely announced. Instead, many sellers only learned about it from a Reddit thread discussing an email notification sent on January 21, 2025—a full three months after Amazon's official 2025 fee update announcement.

And what’s this hidden change?

• Partial Shipment Splits for standard-size products are going away on February 20, 2025.

If this is your first time hearing about it, you're not alone.
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Breaking Down the Changes

1. Amazon is lowering some inbound placement fees

Sellers of large bulky-size products can expect an average $0.58 per unit reduction in inbound placement fees for minimally split shipments, effective January 15, 2025.

Great news, right? Yes, but there’s a catch.

2. Amazon is removing Partial Shipment Splits for standard-size products

If you're selling standard-size products, this is where the change could affect you.

• Previously:

Partial Shipment Splits allowed sellers to send inventory to fewer inbound locations than Amazon-optimized splits at a reduced fee. This gave sellers more flexibility in managing fulfillment costs.

• Now:

Starting February 20, 2025, this option will no longer be available for standard-size products.
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What does this mean for sellers?

Amazon is pushing sellers toward two remaining inbound shipment options, both of which come with trade-offs:

The Two Remaining Options for Sellers

1️⃣ Minimal Shipment Splits:

Pay a fee to send inventory to the fewest possible locations (usually one).

Good for: Sellers who prioritize convenience over cost savings.

2️⃣ Amazon-Optimized Shipment Splits:

Send inventory to multiple inbound locations at no fee, but it has strict requirements.

To qualify, shipments must include at least five identical cartons or pallets per item.

Good for: Sellers with high inventory volumes can comply with Amazon’s stricter fulfillment rules.
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Why This Matters for FBA Sellers

For those who relied on partial shipment splits to balance cost and efficiency, this change could force them to pay higher fees or engage in more complex fulfillment logistics.

Some key impacts to consider:

• Higher Costs for Standard-Size Sellers – If you can’t meet the Amazon-Optimized Split criteria, you may be stuck paying inbound placement fees that cut into your margins.

• More Shipping Complexities – Sellers may need to adjust their logistics strategy to comply with Amazon’s fulfillment structure.

• Bulky Products Win, Standard Products Adjust – You get a small break if you sell bulky products. If you sell standard-size items, your shipment strategy might need serious rethinking.
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What Should Sellers Do Now?

Since this change takes effect on February 20, 2025, now is the time to:

• Review your fulfillment strategy – Understand which shipment split option makes the most sense for your business.

• Plan ahead for inbound shipments – Any shipment plans created before February 20 will still be processed under the old system, so get your shipments in now if Partial Splits were working for you.

• Monitor Amazon’s fee updates closely – This change wasn’t widely announced, which raises concerns about how transparent future fulfillment updates will be.

Amazon’s fee updates often come with wins and hidden costs—this is a perfect example. While some sellers may benefit from the fee reduction on bulky shipments, removing Partial Shipment Splits creates new challenges for standard-size sellers.
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📌 The lesson? Always read the fine print. Or, in this case, the Reddit threads.

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