Rufus remembers... but will shoppers remember you? đź’­ [MDSR #54]

Brought to you by MDS, helping you accelerate your sales and growth without reinventing the wheel.

Author

Million Dollar Sellers
September 05, 2025

Brought to you by:
An exclusive network of eCommerce sellers generating over 8 billion in annual sales.

If you’re feeling squeezed by Amazon ad costs, you’re not alone. Nearly half of MDSR readers said ad spend and rising fees are what’s hitting their margins hardest right now. 

Unfortunately, the rest of this week’s news won’t make your balance sheet breathe easier: tariffs are stacking up, Amazon is rewriting policies mid-season, and the broader retail landscape is shifting fast. Let’s get into it. 

Hot Off The Presses đź“°

As if rising fees weren’t enough, tariffs continue to pile on. Walmart admits costs are jumping every week, shoppers in NYC can’t swing back-to-school basics, and now that the de minimis exemption is gone? Marketplaces like Etsy and Shein are staring down import fees of up to 50%.

Big-box giants may weather the storm — Walmart, Amazon, and TJ Maxx are pulling ahead by dangling discounts — but smaller players are left balancing cost spikes against consumer fatigue.

Apart from the headline that 2025 peak-season fulfillment fees, Amazon is quietly reshaping the ground under sellers’ feet. But don’t miss the fine print: new damaged inventory policies shift liability back to sellers, unused variation themes are vanishing, and Rufus just got a shopping memory upgrade that could reshape how buyers discover (and rediscover) your products. 

Translation: Q4 success may hinge less on ad spend and more on whether your catalog “sticks” in Rufus’ mind.

Elsewhere in retail, the big platforms are adjusting their playbooks in ways sellers can’t ignore. Walmart is waiving peak storage fees to lure inventory. Shopify is upgrading its shipping for enterprise sellers. 

And Amazon’s one-time ad blackout looks more like a controlled experiment now that it has resumed Google Shopping ads abroad. Together, these moves signal a Q4 where delivery perks, fulfillment economics, and ad strategy will set the tone just as much as prices.

Finally, a few FYIs. The FAA is overhauling drone delivery regs, promising wider commercial rollouts. Consumers say they’ll pay up for faster delivery, which could shift margins in unexpected ways. And if you’re still trying to beat Google in search, brace yourself: Ahrefs is now tracking ChatGPT vs Google referral traffic.

Bottom line: tariffs are inflating costs, Amazon is rewriting policies with a smile, and the rest of retail is moving fast enough that sellers can’t afford to look away.

Which recent Amazon update is most likely to change how you operate this Q4?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Million Dollar Advice đź’¸ 

Few things sting sellers more than seeing carts fill up, only to watch those sales slip away.

The fix isn’t magic — it’s strategy. Streamline checkout, keep shipping costs transparent, and set up smart follow-ups that bring buyers back before they forget you. 

Treat cart abandonment as a system you can optimize, not a sunk cost, and you’ll unlock revenue that most sellers leave on the table.

Cut costs without cutting corners ✂️

If tariffs, fees, and shifting policies are squeezing margins, the smartest play isn’t just to chase more sales — it’s to get leaner on the expense side. A lot of sellers focus on topline growth, but in Q4 every dollar saved is a dollar earned back on your P&L.

So where do sellers actually find those savings?

  1. Shipping and fulfillment. Negotiating with carriers, batching orders, or shifting SKUs into lower-cost fulfillment methods can add up to thousands saved by year’s end. Don’t just accept peak surcharges as fixed costs.

  2. Advertising efficiency. Instead of scaling ad budgets blindly, drill into TACoS and cut spend on underperforming campaigns. Lean into branded terms and retargeting where conversion rates are higher.

  3. Inventory management. Overstock is dead weight — tying up capital and storage fees. Regularly audit aging SKUs and consider liquidation or bundles to free up space.

  4. Supplier relationships. Even modest renegotiations on unit costs or payment terms can buffer against tariff hits. Many suppliers will trade margin for loyalty if you approach them with data.

The takeaway: cost reduction isn’t about slashing essentials — it’s about smarter allocation. 

Sellers who audit aggressively now will be in a stronger position to absorb external shocks (and outlast less-disciplined competitors).

Think this is helpful? Feel free to pass it along 🙂 

Where playbooks get passed around đź““

Sure, Slack threads and Zoom calls are great — but the real breakthroughs happen face-to-face. 

That’s why MDS keeps stacking the calendar with events where founders can swap playbooks, forge partnerships, and walk away with ideas that actually move the needle.

🤝 MDS Connects 

Curated meetups timed with the industry’s biggest stages. 

🤝 Ecompreneur Socials

Laid-back settings. Sharp insights. 

⏳ Seats are limited — claim yours now: All Event Links

Highlights from MDS Summit Milan: Best Partner Award 🥇

The MDS Summit in Milan brought together sellers from across the globe — U.S., Europe, India, Asia, and Australia — for three days of learning, connection, and growth. 

One of the most memorable highlights? Hector AI, attending their first event outside of India, was voted Best Partner of the Summit.

Founder Meher Patel described the experience as “nothing short of inspiring,” praising the openness and grit of MDS members who shared their journeys face-to-face.

Congratulations to Hector on the recognition — and to the entire community for making Milan a true masterclass in scaling Amazon-first brands.

🌎 Couldn’t make it to the Milan summit? 🌎

Don’t worry — the next big gathering is already on the horizon.

Mark your calendars for MDS Summit Singapore, August 23–26, 2026, where the global seller community comes together again.

This is a members-only experience, so if you’re not yet part of the community, now’s the time.

đź“– Explore the summit

eCom Stock Watch đź“Š

Click on the table below or view the full size data here. 

Did you see that post 📲

Cutting costs is one way to protect margins. Cutting time-wasters is another. 

Sellers who treat AI as their assistant — not just a toy — will find themselves with more hours (and dollars) to reinvest where it counts.

Until Next Time ✌️

As always, thanks for sticking with us until the end. 

If you’d care to share your thoughts on this newsletter, we’re all ears. Just hit reply to sound off. 

See you next time with more of the latest and greatest content you need to succeed this year 🔥

Sincerely, 

Looking for a mastermind community?

Million Dollar Sellers (MDS) is an exclusive community of 700+ like-minded Amazon and DTC sellers from all over the world. Collectively, our members generate more than 8 billion in annual sales and dominate some of the biggest categories on Amazon. MDS offers world-class events, chapters, industry discounts, resource libraries full of SOPs, templates, and video recordings of private trainings, workshops, events and so much more.

If you are looking for a business professional community made for ecom entrepreneurs, then consider applying today. 

*To qualify, you must be a full-time seller or brand owner and do at least 1 million in verified annual revenue. Will Amazon’s Returnless Resolutions solve the returns debacle? [MDSR #30]