Amazon Announces Restrictions on FBA Shipments

The effects of the COVID-19 virus, evolving CDC recommendations and other preventative measures continue to ripple across the economic landscape. 

While some consumers are still flocking to brick and mortar stores to stock up on household essentials, many more have shifted their shopping needs online to sites like Amazon. And this added pressure — especially in specific product categories such as household staples and medical supplies — is being felt throughout the supply chain.  

What Has Amazon Announced?

Due to increased demand, Amazon announced today that it has temporarily disabled shipment creations for FBA sellers across all but a few key categories through April 5, 2020, and it has taken a similar approach with its retail vendors. 

According to Amazon: “We are temporarily prioritizing household staples, medical supplies and other high-demand products coming into our fulfillment centers, so that we can quickly receive, restock, and deliver these products to consumers.” 

Products in the following categories are still being accepted by Amazon at this time: 

1. Baby Products
2. Health & Household
3. Beauty & Personal Care (including personal care appliances)
4. Grocery
5. Industrial & Scientific
6. Pet Supplies

The changes currently apply to the Amazon US and EU marketplaces. 

What About Other Products?

Any products outside the categories above can continue to be sold, as long as they are already being stored in one of Amazon’s fulfillment centers or en route to a fulfillment center. Any FBA shipments created before March 17, 2020, will still be received by Amazon.

Any vendors or retailers fulfilling their own products will still be able to sell them on Amazon during this period. 

These changes follow Amazon’s announcement yesterday that the company is adding 100,000 new full- and part-time positions to its fulfillment centers across the US to increase fulfillment capacity. 

More Information

If you have any questions about this Amazon announcement and how it might affect your business, please reach out to your Account Manager or contact support@channeladvisor.com.