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Amazon’s been busy this week—from rolling out a new returns dashboard that finally gives sellers clearer visibility, to industry insiders claiming Amazon “isn’t a retailer anymore” (and honestly, they’re not wrong).

Plus, with BFCM in full swing, a fresh wave of avoidable mistakes is catching sellers off-guard. Here’s what you need to know before it hits your bottom line.

• The new returns dashboard is now live 👀 

• Something’s blocking your FBA breakout 🧱

• Surprise—Amazon’s not a retailer anymore? 🤔 

• Last minute BFCM mistakes to avoid ❌ 

TRENDING TOPIC

The new returns dashboard is now live

It’s the holiday rush season. 🎄 

And that means a surge in sales, but it can mean a surge in returns, too.

Amazon rolled out a centralized dashboard for sellers to track returns, recover inventory value, and spot trends.

📊 Dashboard goodies

The new dashboard comes just in time for the extended holiday returns.

(ICYMI: items purchased between November 1 and December 31, 2025, can be returned until January 31, 2026.)

The features should make returns easier to manage.

• ASIN insights: Learn top return reasons and tips to reduce returns

• Performance check: View return trends and critical review rates

• Recovery boost: If you’re enrolled in Grade & Resell, you may review sales metrics like net recovery and sold units

• Resource hub: Manage reports, feedback, and returned inventory

• Settings control: Adjust returns for FBA & Merchant-Fulfilled items

You’ll also gain easier access to metrics that would help you understand your returns better. This includes total returns and return rate, refunds issues (with or without return), critical review rate, Grade & resell totals, and net recovery.

Returns can tank profits and reputation. This dashboard gives sellers like you more control and insight to protect both.

TOGETHER WITH SELLER INTERACTIVE

What’s really holding your Amazon growth back?

You’ve optimized listings. You’re running PPC. You’ve read all the blogs. So… why isn’t it translating into real growth?

That’s where Seller Interactive comes in.

We’re not here to sell you a magic hack. We’re here to show you exactly what your current strategy is missing.

From underperforming keywords to untapped ad opportunities, our team of Amazon experts will walk you through what’s actually going on inside your account—and where your next wins are hiding.

Our full-service team manages over $2M in monthly ad spend across categories like health & wellness, home & kitchen, supplements, and more. And we don’t just launch ideas—we back them with data, test them, and scale what works.

Think of us as the partner who brings clarity and execution to your Amazon strategy.

BITES OF THE WEEK

• Prime Enrollment Update: Amazon separates SFP eligibility by size tier and adds precise delivery dates for improved shipping management.

• Cyber Monday Preview: Amazon’s 2025 deals run from November 20 – December 1, featuring AI tools, gift guides, and exclusive Prime savings.

• Haul Goes Global: Amazon Haul expands worldwide with over a million ultra-low-priced items, AI shopping tools, and major $1 deals.

• Lens Live Debuts: Amazon introduces AI-powered Lens Live for instant scanning, real-time product matches, and smart shopping insights.

AMAZON NEWS

Wait… is Amazon even a retailer anymore?

Amazon’s retail sales are only 40.5% of their total revenue.

That’s kinda low, right?

So where are they making the majority of the sales?

The rest comes from services like third-party seller fees, advertising, subscriptions, and AWS. 

🏧 Sellers are the new engine

Amazon is really selling infrastructure, not just products. And the main money makers on their platforms are their sellers.

Sellers now drive 62% of units sold, with Amazon collecting roughly half in fees. So it’s no wonder why they’re jacking off their fees so much. They’re still making money through these sellers fees! Minimal effort but great profit.

• Ads pay the bills: $17.7B in Q3 ad revenue supports the business—and gives sellers big opportunities to boost visibility.

• Ship anywhere, sell everywhere: Multi-Channel Fulfillment grew 70% in 2024, shipping for Shopify, TikTok, Shein, and more.

• Business is booming: Amazon Business likely tops $50B, offering more B2B opportunities for sellers.

🚀 Retail and beyond

Retail is just the tip of Amazon’s iceberg. Its real growth is in services and infrastructure, meaning sellers are now partners in a giant commerce ecosystem.

BLACK MARKET

Last minute BFCM mistakes you can avoid

BFCM 2024 shattered records—but many brands also made costly mistakes. 

This big sale event is just around the corner.

You succeeding or failing is all up to how much you’ve prepared for this. But since it’s way past BFCM prep period, we’ll tackle more of how you can avoid costly mistakes during and after the BFCM hype!

Here’s a friendly heads-up on what to watch for and how to avoid these pitfalls in 2025.

💥 Common mistakes & quick fixes

• Neglecting preparation: Failing to plan leads to crashes & chaos. Start 2–3 months early, stress-test your site, and prep inventory & teams.

• Ignoring push notifications: Missing instant customer alerts. Use targeted push campaigns for flash sales and stock updates.

• Weak urgency: Generic messaging kills conversions. Add countdown timers, stock alerts, and action-driven CTAs.

• Ignoring past data: Repeating mistakes from last year. Analyze prior BFCM results and adjust campaigns accordingly.

• Poor mobile optimization: Slow or clunky mobile sites. Prioritize fast, smooth mobile checkout and app-exclusive deals.

• Skipping UGC: Only branded content loses trust. Showcase reviews, unboxings, and social proof across channels.

• Generic marketing strategy: One-size-fits-all campaigns fail. Segment audiences, A/B test offers, and personalize messaging.

• Limited marketplace presence: Selling only DTC loses traffic. Optimize listings across Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and other marketplaces.

• Failing customer expectations: Poor support & unclear policies. Staff up, automate chat, and communicate shipping/returns clearly.

• Ignoring cash flow: Revenue spikes don’t equal profit. Track all fees, expenses, and maintain a cash buffer.

• No post-BFCM follow-up: Missing retention opportunities. Send welcome campaigns, survey customers, and nurture repeat buyers.

Fingers crossed that everyone’s going to have a fun time during this BFCM season! Spreading sales dust to everyone ✨ ✨ 

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