Yes, Amazon is peeking at your off-Amazon prices [MDSR #47]

Hot Off The Presses 📰

One third of MDSR readers say they’re actively shifting supply chains away from China despite the tariff pause, and nearly just as many are front-loading inventory while they can. Only a small slice is sitting back to “wait and see.” 

Reading between the lines? Uncertainty isn’t stalling smart sellers — it’s accelerating their strategy.

This week, we’re digging into the policies, platform shifts, and cost-control plays sellers must keep an eye on as Prime Day looms — and the tariff pause ticks down.

⚙️ Amazon's shifting infrastructure raises the stakes for sellers 

New compliance headaches → Amazon is now using AI to scan sellers’ own websites for compliance violations — especially related to price parity and branding guidelines. If you have a DTC website, this is the time to audit with a fine-tooth comb to avoid unintentional infractions.

Seller-Fulfilled Prime (SFP) tightens → Amazon has imposed new restrictions on SFP eligibility, affecting sellers who relied on it to avoid FBA constraints. The move could funnel more merchants back into FBA, right as space and inventory management become even more contested. Needless to say, sellers are going off about this in a discussion thread on Amazon Seller Central. 

Inventory limits block hoarding efforts → Amazon’s restrictive inventory caps are now compounding tariff-related challenges and discouraging sellers from using Amazon’s fulfillment centers to stockpile goods during the tariff pause. Yet another headache for third-party sellers leading up to crucial shopping periods like Prime Day. 

🌏 The latest tariff talk 

Trump’s trade truce isn’t offering enough relief to importers → Even with the steepest tariffs paused, the new trade deal isn’t the reprieve retailers were hoping for — in fact, they’re facing “stacked” import duties that send the true cost well above 30%. Perfect example of why supplier diversification is always a good idea no matter what global trade chaos is unfolding…

Logistics and inventory nightmares begin → Sellers and big-box retailers are front-loading inventory to hedge against future tariff hikes — though overstocking carries its own risks with reverse logistics and warehousing costs rising. You have been warned… 

Absorb tariff costs or pay the price → No amount of public bullying, even from the president, can stop retail giants from raising prices — even Walmart and Nike have signaled upcoming price hikes tied to tariffs. If you’re selling in affected categories (e.g., shoes, apparel, electronics), consider your price elasticity and test customer tolerance now.

📉Seller opportunities within in the Amazon ecosystem

The Amazon marketplace is getting less competitive → The number of new sellers joining Amazon is slowing, and long-time sellers are seeing higher average revenue. In other words, the delta is widening — great news if you're already established, and a call to double down on product differentiation and defensible listings.

Independent sellers are thriving → Despite rising platform control, independent Amazon sellers are growing sales and increasingly adopting generative AI for listings, support, and optimization. If you haven’t already, this is your sign to test AI tools — especially those baked into Seller Central.

These 10 new Amazon app features can help sellers reach more customers → Amazon’s latest shopping app update comes with new AI features designed to unify search, content, and buying journeys — and sellers can use all of them to drive free traffic to their products. Time to review how your listings appear in the new mobile experience and optimize accordingly.

Now over to you for a quick poll —

Million Dollar Advice 💸 

If you’re serious about scaling on Amazon in 2025, don’t underestimate the power of proximity. Getting in the room with fellow high-level sellers, cutting-edge tech providers, and 8-figure operators isn’t optional — it’s a growth strategy. 

The insights, partnerships, and game-changing tactics shared at Amazon-specific events can shortcut your learning curve by months (or years).

Wondering which events are actually worth your time? We’ve rounded up the best Amazon seller conferences to hit in 2025: Read the full list here.

Crash course in AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization) 🤖

Are your Amazon listings shopping agent and ChatGPT-ready? AI shopping tools like ChatGPT are fast becoming a new way customers find and choose products. These agents don't just search — they understand, compare, and recommend. 

These tools pull product recommendations from listings that are clear, complete, and content-rich, so if your detail page is missing key info or structured poorly, you’re likely invisible.

Amazon sellers who optimize early will have the edge. So, how do you make sure your listings show up?

✅ Make sure ChatGPT can crawl your products
For your products to be discoverable in ChatGPT, make sure you haven’t opted out of OpenAI’s search crawler. Check your robots.txt file to ensure you’re not blocking OAI-SearchBot. While you’re at it, you should also sign up to be notified when ChatGPT opens product feed submissions.

✅ Write like a human, think like a bot
Current SEO best practices still apply in AIO. Use natural, conversational language in your titles and bullets — and make sure a real human proofreads your listings if you generate the first draft with AI to avoid any risks. AI tools respond well to everyday phrases shoppers actually type (e.g. “best running shoes for flat feet” vs. just “men’s shoes”).

✅ Front-load key attributes
List important specs early in your listing copy — think: size, color, compatibility, material, etc. AI models prioritize clear, structured data, and it helps to put those product attributes first.

✅ Answer real customer questions
Consumers are increasingly turning to AI for specific answers about products, so use your bullets and description to preemptively answer FAQs: “Is this dishwasher safe?”, “What’s the battery life?”, “Will it fit in a carry-on?” — all of these provide the context-rich content that AI tools are designed to seek out. 

✅ Use alt text in A+ Content (where possible)
Even enhanced content should be machine-readable. Make sure any images or comparison charts include descriptive alt text.

✅ Keep backend keywords updated
AI agents scan this metadata too — optimize it like you would for traditional search, using long-tail phrases and synonyms your customer might use. 

This is more than SEO — it's AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization). Get in early, get found first.

Think this is helpful?

Networking for serious Amazon sellers 🤝

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📍New York City
 📅 Wednesday, June 18th, 2025
🎟️ Limited tickets available — secure your spot now

Upcoming FREE Million Dollar Meetups 📆 

MDS is hosting free, in-person events in cities in the US and beyond, designed exclusively for eCommerce pros looking to rub elbows and learn from the experts doing $1M+ in annual sales.

These casual meetups are your chance to connect over drinks and good food with other high-performing sellers across Amazon, Shopify, TikTok, and more. 

No pitches. No pressure. Just real conversations with people who get the game.

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📍Miami Seller Social | Thursday June 19th, 2025

📍Singapore ecombrunch | Friday June 20th, 2025

📍Charlotte Seller Social | Friday June 27th, 2025

Did you see that post 📲

Oh, the compliance headaches 🫡

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, 

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*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]