COVID-19 and Amazon FBA Restrictions: What Sellers Should Do Now

Last week Amazon told sellers it is temporarily prioritizing household staples, medical supplies and other high demand products coming into its warehouses. For most other products, FBA inbound shipments are paused for now. If your next shipment was on its way, you are probably wondering what to do.

No one knows exactly how long this will last. But there are clear steps you can take right now to protect your business.

What has changed

• FBA warehouses in the US and several European countries are only accepting priority product categories for now.
• Stock already in Amazon warehouses can still sell.
• Delivery dates for non-essential products are getting longer as Amazon focuses on essentials.
• Amazon has said it will update sellers as things change.

Step 1. Know exactly what stock you have

Check your inventory in FBA, in transit and in your own storage. Work out how many days of stock you have for each product at your current sales rate. That number drives every other decision.

Step 2. Make your FBA stock last

If you cannot send more stock in, you need to stretch what is there.

• Lower ad spend on products with little stock left. There is no point paying for clicks that will run you out early.
• Pause coupons and promotions on those products.
• Consider a small price increase to slow sales on items close to stocking out. Stay within Amazon’s fair pricing rules.

Step 3. Turn on merchant fulfillment as a backup

If you have stock outside Amazon, create a merchant fulfilled offer on the same listing. When your FBA units run out, shoppers can still buy from you. Set realistic handling times. Carriers are busy too.

A third-party warehouse or fulfillment partner can help if you do not have space or staff.

Step 4. Shift ad spend to what can sell

Put your ad budget on products that have stock and are still delivering on time. If you sell any products in priority categories, give them more attention now. Demand there is high.

Step 5. Talk to your suppliers

Production and shipping are disrupted in many places. Ask your suppliers about timelines, and plan for delays on your next orders. If you can, keep stock ready to ship as soon as Amazon opens inbound again.

Step 6. Use the time well

If sales are slower, this is a good moment for work that usually gets pushed aside.

• Improve your listings, images and Enhanced Brand Content.
• Clean up your ad campaigns and add negative keywords.
• Build or refresh your Amazon Store.
• Fix stranded or suppressed listings.

Look after your people

Finally, the most important point. Keep your team, your partners and yourself safe. Businesses can recover. Health comes first.

The bottom line

This is a hard time for many sellers, and the rules may keep changing. Protect your FBA stock, set up a merchant fulfilled backup, move ad spend to products that can sell, and use slower weeks to improve your listings. If you want a second opinion on your plan, we are happy to help with a free audit.

FAQs

Can I still sell products that are already in FBA?

Yes. Stock already in Amazon warehouses can still sell, though delivery times for non-essential products may be longer.

Should I stop Amazon ads during the FBA restrictions?

Not completely. Lower spend on products with little stock, and focus your budget on products that have stock and can deliver on time.

Can I fulfill orders myself on Amazon?

Yes. You can add a merchant fulfilled offer to your listing so you can keep selling if your FBA stock runs out.