Amazon’s Message: “We’re Not Increasing Fees!”

Reality: Brace yourselves—fees are going up, just not where you’d expect.

Amazon’s 2025 fee updates for the EU and UK marketplaces have officially landed. While they’ve announced no increases to referral fees, a deeper dive reveals a host of changes that could significantly impact your margins. Here’s what every seller needs to know to prepare and stay ahead.
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1. Storage Fee Changes: Higher Costs for Popular Categories and Q4

Starting February 1, 2025, storage fees will rise for:

Clothing, Eyewear, Shoes, and Bags: Up to 15% increase for January–September storage.

Q4 (October–December): Across all categories, expect higher fees during the busiest time of the year.

Why This Matters:

Q4 has always been critical for sellers, but now it’s more expensive to hold inventory during this peak period. Sellers will need to optimize their inventory levels, turning stock faster to avoid higher fees.
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2. Aged Inventory Surcharge Expands: Watch Your Stock Age

Effective April 15, 2025, inventory aged 181–210 days will now incur a surcharge. Previously, fees applied only to inventory aged 271+ days.

Why This Matters:

Amazon is cracking down on stagnant inventory. This change makes it clear: slow-moving stock is a liability. Sellers must improve forecasting, implement strategic promotions, or consider liquidation to avoid paying extra fees.
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3. Removal and Disposal Fee Increases

Starting February 2025, per-unit costs for removing or disposing of inventory will rise:

Standard-Size Items: Up 10–15%.

Oversize Items: Similar percentage hikes.

Why This Matters:

If you’ve been holding on to unsellable or excess stock, now is the time to clear it out. Delays could cost you more in the long run.
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4. Returns Processing Fee Adjustments

For products with high return rates by category, sellers will now incur additional processing fees. This applies to FBA products with returns above a certain threshold in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

Key Details:

Fees apply per unit above the category return rate threshold.

Exemptions exist for products shipping fewer than 25 units per month.

Why This Matters:

Categories like clothing and footwear already have high return rates. Sellers in these spaces must evaluate their return policies and work on reducing unnecessary refunds to maintain profitability.
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5. A Silver Lining: Incentives and Lower Fulfillment Fees

It’s not all bad news! Amazon is offering:

Lower Fulfillment Fees: For parcel and oversize tiers in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

Enhanced Incentives: The FBA New Selection program now includes deeper discounts to encourage product launches and support new sellers.

Why This Matters:

If you’re launching new products or just starting out, these programs can offset some of the rising costs. Take advantage of these opportunities to stay competitive.
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What Sellers Should Do Now

1️⃣ Optimize Inventory Management

Focus on fast-moving SKUs and plan promotions for slow-moving inventory before the new aged inventory surcharges kick in.

2️⃣ Prepare for Higher Returns Costs

If you’re in a high-return category, refine your product descriptions, sizing guides, and customer support to reduce unnecessary returns.

3️⃣ Take Advantage of Incentives

Leverage the FBA New Selection program and lower fulfillment fees to offset operational costs and grow your product catalog.

4️⃣ Plan Ahead for Q4

With storage fees rising during the holiday season, a well-thought-out Q4 inventory strategy will be more important than ever.
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Closing Thoughts

Amazon’s fee updates may not explicitly raise referral fees, but the ripple effects are undeniable. From higher storage and returns costs to expanded surcharges, sellers must act strategically to protect their bottom line in 2025.

At the same time, Amazon is doubling down on rewarding efficiency and new product growth. The key is to align with their incentives while navigating the rising costs.

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