2025 is touted as a year of transformation. Take a look at the Amazon policy changes 2025 has in store for you, and you can be sure that growth is in the cards for you.
“Growth and renewal”- words that describe the year 2025 in several cultures. To find out if they’ll prove prophetic, we’ve put together a list of Amazon policy changes for 2025. From extended return policies to new fee schedules, the upcoming changes herald a revamped shopping experience, burgeoning markets, and a thriving seller community.
Major Amazon Policy Changes in 2025
1. Extended Holiday Returns
Every year, Amazon sets a timeframe for customer returns. Thankfully, this year’s time limit is nowhere near as generous as the one buyers enjoyed in 2022. If they want to return MFN, FBA, or Amazon Retail items until the end of January, buyers can only go back as far as November with their orders.
However, this year, the cut-off isn’t Christmas Day. Even something bought on the last day of the year could qualify as an unwanted gift and end up in the post-holiday returns pile-up in February, with a full refund to boot. The only items with a shorter return window are Apple products.
What does this Amazon returns policy update mean for you? For one thing, it will take longer to finalize sales, reconcile inventory, and close the books. Then there’s the rise in return rates, Amazon fees, and restocking costs. Here are a few tips for managing Amazon returns in 2025:
- Invest in tools to manage returns efficiently and minimize losses.
- Set up a system for reselling returned products, especially in “Like New” conditionProducts can only be listed on Amazon if… More.
- Update your return policy with the holiday return window to reduce confusion.
- Review restocking fee guidelines and draw attention to them in your return policy.
- Request exemptions from Amazon on high-value items.
- Set up a markup in your prices to compensate for the 20% refund administration fee.
2. Reimbursement for Lost and Damaged FBA Stock
One of the least expected changes to programme policies will affect sellers whose products are lost or damaged by Amazon. To start with, the eligibility window for a claim is being shortened from 18 to 2 months from Jan. 9, 2025, according to the new policy.
If eligible, items that are lost or damaged before an order is placed will be reimbursed up to a maximum of £2,000. From Mar. 10, 2025, the price will be based on the manufacturing cost- either provided by the seller on a new “Manage Your Manufacturing Cost” page, or estimated by Amazon.
If lost or damaged after an order is placed, items will no longer be reimbursed based on current, average, or list price. The refund will depend on the value of the refund or replacement item that the customer accepted, minus fees and taxes. Also, any items that were unsellable to begin with will be reimbursed at a discounted rate.
3. Fees for High Return Rates
There are unconfirmed reports that Amazon may charge sellers with high return rates a new fee from Jan. 1, 2025. It seems that sellers who ship less than 25 units per month will be exempt. But Amazon will charge everyone else extra for processing their returns, if they go over their return quota for the month.
This change shows that Amazon is trying to recoup its costs with reverse logistics. As of yet, there is no official Amazon returns policy update. But if we see these Amazon policy changes in 2025, return fees may rise by a few dollars, depending on the seller’s return rate.
So, efficiently managing Amazon returns in 2025 may be the only option for sellers who are routinely faced with wardrobing, bracketing, and other shady return tactics. This may involve turning to reverse logistics experts for inspection, repair, and overseas shipping.
4. New Funds Withholding Policy
Amazon can hold onto your funds if it suspects deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity. The policy on how funds are withheld says that it aims to set the funds aside so that it can settle any claims, chargebacks, returns, or refunds that may take place after a suspension. By now, some sellers will have noticed a change in this policy.
A link to the updated version of this policy is already available on the Program Policies page in Seller CentralAmazon Seller Central is a portal or a h… More. It gives you 60 days to file an appeal for disbursement The name of the payment Amazon ma… More. So, what’s changed? You used to have 90 days at your disposal. But if you miss the deadline, you can still write to disbursement-appeals@amazon.com to ask for a separate investigation.
5. Stability and Savings in Fee Structures
For the first time in a long while, fees will not rise at the start of the new year. For the sake of Amazon fee stability, in 2025, FBA fees and referral fees will stay the same. Also, an FBA bulky item fee reduction is in the works, along with many others.
Amazon is even willing to drop a few fees completely. Aside from time-limited discounts for new sellers, there are quite a few fee waivers. For instance, you don’t pay inbound fees on new products enrolled in the Amazon New Selection Program and new ASINs shipped to FBA in Q1.
What does this mean for sellers like you? You can rely on some degree of Amazon fee stability in 2025. This helps you keep costs down, make realistic budget forecasts, and price your items better. It also means you can diversify your inventory with bulky products and items that are new to the catalog.
If you’re wondering how to adapt to Amazon updates like these, you can start by ticking off some of these to-dos:
- Check if you can now make more profit on large or bulky items. You don’t need to worry about fee changes with a reliable sourcing app like Profit Bandit. It knows whenever a new fee, fulfillment, or storage criterion comes into play.
- Launch new products and list new ASINs while the promotions are on.
- Take another look at your margins and fine-tune your prices with tools like BuyBoxBuddy. It can help you gain a competitive edge over sellers who are not yet aware of the discounts and perks available to them.
6. Global Compliance
Next year, a whole host of new requirements will apply to merchants who sell abroad. For instance, there are new recycling regulations for electrical products in Europe. Amazon UK will report sales data from overseas sellers and make sure that they contribute toward the cost of recycling them.
What do UK recycling regulations on Amazon have to do with your business? It points to a shift in attitudes and a need for more accountability. As a seller, you must comply with recycling standards when you pack, label, or report on your processes, and to provide Amazon with any data it may need.
How do you cope with these new demands? Work closely with Amazon to ensure your products meet UK recycling standards and stay compliant. Monitor your costs and adjust prices, factoring in the cost of recycling. Also, keep up with Amazon’s guidelines and use all the official resources available to you.
Key Takeaways for Amazon Sellers
- Proactive Planning. Understand how new return policies and fee updates impact your operations and plan with that in mind.
- Seize Opportunities. Make the most of fee cuts and waivers to test new products and expand into high-demand categories.
- Stay Informed. Keep track of regulations, especially if you sell on other markets.
We’ve covered a lot of ground, but you can expect many more Amazon policy changes in 2025. Their aim is to improve customer experience and help sellers grow. As you comply and make space for these changes, you show that you’re ready to open up to customers, refine your strategies, and explore all the opportunities that 2025 has to offer.
Melanie takes an active interest in all things Amazon. She keeps an eye on the latest developments and keeps Amazon sellers up to speed.
