In October, Amazon restricted its bundling policy, but acknowledged this week that sellers needed more clarity. The new policy that took effect on October 14, 2024, restricted sellers from listing bundles to those created and offered by the original manufacturer, who had to be the brand owner for all of the items in the bundle.
On Tuesday, Amazon offered the following clarification:
- All bundles must be product configurations packaged by the original manufacturer or brand. For example, you can list a bundle that includes Dawn dish spray and dish spray refills which was originally packaged by Dawn. However, you cannot list a bundle of Dawn dish spray and dish spray refills that you have re-packaged. You also cannot create your own bundle combining Dawn products with gloves and sponges from other manufacturers or brands.
- Products may be reconfigured and repackaged as bundles if you have a Letter of Authorization from a brand owner or manufacturer granting permission to repackage. All products in a bundle must belong to the same brand, and the bundle must be branded with the same brand name as the products.
- Gift items listed within the gift basket category may contain products from multiple brands that are physically bundled together for customers in a manner suitable for gifting.
The clarification takes immediate effect for all new consumables bundles, and Amazon will begin enforcing the new policy for existing bundles on January 1, 2025. Amazon said it would notify sellers through email and the Account Health dashboard for those who have non-compliant bundles that are scheduled to be suppressed.
However, sellers had additional questions. One seller asked Amazon to clarify how it defined “gift basket,” and others called on the company to give sellers more time to adjust, especially since the policy took effect as sellers had been sending inventory to FBA warehouses at a time of year when it took longer for them to be received – such as a seller who wrote:
“Amazon, please allow more time for sellers to adjust to the new policy. Updating a policy on the first day of Q4 and expecting sellers to comply by January 1st lacks common sense, especially when sellers need to ship more inventory in preparation for the busy holiday season. We kindly ask for a reasonable adjustment period. Thank you!”
Amazon sellers can learn more about the policy and see examples by visiting the Product Bundling Policy on Amazon Seller Central.
Amazon DIDNT clarify this “new policy”, simply because its yet another disgusting spit in the face of small sellers – or so Im told, do delay delay and hopefully the uproar will subside.
As Im not one whos impacted by this, it doesnt effect me directly, but it does to many people I know well – sellers who do lots of business on Amazon and have been for many years.
It didnt come from DAWN, and its REALLY not about packaging “Chinese baby wipes” with a bottle of DAWN dish washing liquid, its about manufacturers complaining to Amazon that “letting sellers create bundles where all the items are not ours, lets sellers skirt MAP policies and its something that while %100 legal – WE DONT LIKE.
MAP isnt something Amazon should be involved with, yet like eBay – money talks and BS walks – and if theres money to be made – the SELLER will get thrown under the bus – despite their rights, thoughts and opinions.
Canon, Sony, Nikon, Most baby carriage companies and many others have flexed their muscles on this and Amazon ….. no matter who you are or whom you know – will NOT tell NIKON (as an example) … NO. Sellers (according to some here) have zero rights OR only have ones bestowed upon them and the whim and leisure of the companies they do business with.
I wondered why all of a sudden, alof of distributors “all of a sudden” had bundles of items for sale. Its something they NEVER did in the past. As a buyer, I was always offered items individually, and all of a sudden …. bundles. I was offered a microphone package (as an example) “now” with a windscreen, stand, headphones, and software … all DIFFERENT makers.
The same thing happened when I was offered a car stereo bundle … the head unit, speakers, wiring, and a wiring tool – ALL from different makers.
This “availability” had happened in many areas – too many to be a coincidence.
More sellers abuse in 2025, this time by Amazon.