Starting March 31, 2022, the new FBA and referral fees for Amazon Europe will take effect. The marketplace has indicated that it will adjust Amazon’s fulfillment fees to partially offset the increased ongoing operating costs it will face in the future.
We have compiled everything you need to know about the main changes in Amazon fees, continue reading to find out about them.
Changes to Amazon Fee Size and Weight Categories
Amazon has indicated that it will increase and remove certain size and weight categories from its fulfillment fee schedules, with Envelope, Package, and Oversized categories being affected.
What are the changes of the “Envelope” size category?
The marketplace has indicated that it will reduce the size of the Large 960g Envelope from 33 x 25 x 5cm to 33 x 25 x 4cm or smaller. In addition, it will include a new size category, which will be called Envelope Extra Large 960g and will have dimensions of 33 x 25 x 6 cm or less.
What are the “Package” size category changes?
Regarding the size of the package, Amazon has mentioned that it will include a new category of size and weight of small packages, thus having a total of 2 categories within the packages.
| Dimensions prior to March 31, 2022 | Dimensions as of March 31, 2022 | |
| Small package | not applicable | ≤35 x 25 x 12 cm |
| Standard package | ≤45 x 34 x 26 cm | ≤45 x 34 x 26 cm |
It is worth mentioning that Small Packages will have the following weight categories:
- ≤150 g
- ≤400 g
- ≤900 g
- ≤1,40 kg
- ≤1,90 kg
- ≤3,90 kg
What are the “Large” size category changes?
Amazon will use the product’s dimensions and unit weight to identify the “Large” size category (small, standard, and large products). However, this change will not be applied to special category oversized products.
The marketplace will determine the weight category of the product, taking the weight per unit or dimension as a reference in the following cases:
| Size category | Peso del envío |
|---|---|
| Envelopes and packages | Weight per unit |
| Large size (small, standard and large) | Between the weight per unit and and dimensional weight, whichever is greater will be used. |
| Large size (special) | Weight per unit |
Also, the dimensional weight in kilograms will be calculated by dividing the product dimensions (length x width x height in cm3) by 5000.
Here are two examples:
| ASIN Unit Weight | ASIN Dimensions | ASIN Dimensional Weight | Between the unit weight and the dimensional weight, the greater will be used | Weight and size category before March 31, 2022 | Weight and size category as of March 31, 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 g | 40 x 35 x 30 cm | (40 x 35 x 30) /5000 = 8,4 kg | Dimensional weight: 8,4 kg | Large size (small): 1,76 kg | Large size (small): 8,76 kg |
| 1500 g | 48 x 10 x 10 cm | (48 x 10 x 10)/5000 = 0,96 kg | Weight per unit: 1,5 kg | Large size (small): 1,76 kg | Large size (small): 1,76 kg |
Other changes that will be implemented for this category are the introduction of new weight categories, which are the following:
Size large (small) >1.76 kg.
Size Large (Standard) >29.76 kg.
Large Size (Large) >29.76 kg,
On the other hand, Amazon has mentioned that the maximum unit weight limits will remain at 1.76 kg for large (small) size products, 29.76 kg for large (standard) size products and 31.5 kg for size big big).
Changes to Amazon Fulfillment Fees
The marketplace will also change the logistics management fees of the different programs available in Amazon’s European stores. It is important at this point to highlight that Amazon will offer a 20% discount on the rates of the European logistics network between the EU (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) and the United Kingdom during a promotional period of one year.
National level and Pan-European Program
On the one hand, for the Pan-European Program the same surcharge per unit will be maintained for the logistics management of large-sized products; while for Special Large ASINs, this surcharge will be increased from £15/€15 to £25/€25.
European logistics network
Amazon has indicated that it will charge an additional amount to sellers who have FBA inventory stored in Germany and are not participating in the Marketplace Fulfillment Network Expansion.
This additional amount will be €0.25, £0.25, kr2.50 or PLN1.15 and will be charged as part of the fulfillment fee for each FBA unit shipped from a German fulfillment center for both Standard Fulfillment by Amazon as for Small and Light Products.
It is for this reason that Amazon recommends signing up for Amazon Fulfillment Network Expansion to avoid being charged these additional fees. You can find more information about the expansion here.
Changes in the Small and Light products program
For the Amazon Fulfillment Small and Light Program, two important changes will be implemented:
The first change is related to the increase in the price requirement threshold, which will increase from €10 to €11 in Amazon stores in France, Italy and Spain. While for UK and German stores it will remain £9 and €10 respectively.
Secondly, it is related to the size and weight requirements of this category of products. Amazon, with the goal of continuing to offer a low-cost alternative to FBA’s standard fulfillment fees, will expand the maximum size and weight requirements for envelopes up to 13 x 9 x 2.5 inches and 8 ounces. It will also launch a new size and weight category for 35 x 25 x 12cm, 150g and 400g small packs.
To learn more about these changes, you can visit the Amazon blog at the following link
What will happen to products ordered before March 31?
Items ordered and shipped before March 31 will not be charged at Amazon’s new rates. However, if these orders are shipped on or after this date, Amazon calculates and charges the new fees regardless of whether your items were purchased before March 31.
Now that we’ve covered the changes to Amazon’s Fulfillment Fulfillment fees, it’s also important to be aware of the cost changes to the FBA monthly inventory holding fee and old inventory surcharge.
Changes to Amazon's monthly fee for inventory storage
Starting March 31, 2022, Amazon’s monthly inventory storage fees will increase for all standard-size items, except dangerous goods.
However, you will be able to see the collection of these new rates reflected in the May 2022 charges for storage in April of the same year. It should be added that these new rates do not apply to large-sized products.
Review the full list of Amazon fee changes in the table below:
| Before March 31, 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Storage month | Standard-size products in the Clothing & Accessories and Shoes & Accessories categories | Standard size products in all other categories, except dangerous goods |
| January to September | €15.60 per cubic meter per month | €26 per cubic meter per month |
| From October to December | €21.60 per cubic meter per month | €36 per cubic meter per month |
| As of March 31, 2022 | ||
| Storage month | Standard-size products in the Clothing & Accessories and Shoes & Accessories categories | Standard size products in all other categories, except dangerous goods |
| January to September | €16.69 per cubic meter per month | €27.82 per cubic meter per month |
| From October to December | €23.11 per cubic meter per month | €38.52 per cubic meter per month |
What are the old inventory fees that Amazon will charge?
Starting May 15, 2022, Amazon will charge an old inventory surcharge for units that have been stored in fulfillment centers for between 331 and 365 days. However, these rates will not apply to products that are within the categories of Clothing and accessories, Shoes and accessories, Luggage, Watches and Jewelry.
In addition, you will need to continue to pay an old inventory fee, formerly known as a “long-term storage fee,” for units that Amazon stores for more than 365 days.
| Before May 15, 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Assessment Date | Products that have been in logistics centers between 331 and 365 days | Products that have been in a logistics center for 365 days or more |
| Monthly (on the 15th of every month) | Not applicable | €170 per cubic meter or €0.10 per unit (whichever is greater) |
| As of May 15, 2022 | ||
| Inventory Assessment Date | Products that have been in logistics centers between 331 and 365 days | Products that have been in a logistics center for 365 days or more |
| Monthly (on the 15th of every month) | €37 per cubic meter per month | €170 per cubic meter or €0.10 per unit (whichever is greater) |
For more information about these changes, you can review the page “Monthly inventory storage fee and surcharge for old inventory of FBA in 2022”
Changes to fees for returning inventory and making inventory available to Amazon
Amazon will also be making changes to its return inventory fees, which will be calculated based on the size category and weight of the shipment.
These fees are calculated when the order is placed and collected when shipments leave the hubs. This means that if a request is made before March 31, but the inventory is picked up or made available to Amazon on or after that date, the new FBA fees will not apply.
Return Fees
| Before March 31, 2022 | As of March 31, 2022 | ||
| Size category | Shipping Weight | Return fee per unit | Return fee per unit |
| Standard size | From 0 to 200 g | 0.25€ | 0.29€ |
| From 201 g to 500 g | 0.30€ | 0.39€ | |
| From 501 g to 1000 g | 0.55€ | 0.78€ | |
| From 1001g | €0.65 + €0.50 for each kg over 1 kg | €0.97 + €0.57 for each kg over 1 kg | |
| Products of large size and that require special handling | From 0 to 500 g | 0.65€ | 0.97€ |
| From 501 g to 1000 g | 1.30€ | 1.94€ | |
| From 1001 g to 2000 g | 1.95€ | 2.36€ | |
| From 2001 g to 5000 g | 3.25€ | 3.32€ | |
| From 5001 g | €3.90 + €0.50 for each kg over 5 kg | €3.90 + €0.57 for each kg over 5 kg | |
Fee for making inventory available to Amazon
| Before March 31, 2022 | As of March 31, 2022 | ||
| Size category | Peso del envío | Fee for making inventory available to Amazon, per unitd | Fee for making inventory available to Amazon, per unit |
Standard size | From 0 to 200 g | 0,28€ | 0,32€ |
| From 201 g to 500 g | 0,40€ | 0,50€ | |
| From 501 g to 1000 g | 0,60€ | 0,90€ | |
| From 1001 g | €0.65 + €0.50 for each kg over 1 kg | €1.04 + €0.65 for each kg over 1 kg | |
Products of large size and that require special handling | From 0 to 500 g | 0,70€ | 1,05€ |
| From 501 g to 1000 g | 1,35€ | 2,16€ | |
| From 1001 g to 2000 g | 2€ | 3,19€ | |
| From 2001 g to 5000 g | 3,40€ | 5,44€ | |
| From 5001 g | €4.05 + €0.55 for each kg over 5 kg | €6.47 + €0.65 for each kg over 5 kg | |
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I'm Paola Veintimilla, Marketing Assistant at Década Studio. I like to find creative solutions to problems and I am always looking for new challenges. For me, social networks are a great tool not only to promote brands, but they are also an opportunity to connect with the audience. But in my spare time I'm just a cat lover.
