October 23, 2026
Amazon charges a $39.99 monthly Professional plan plus referral fees; Walmart charges no monthly or setup fee, only referral fees. Most categories pay 15% on both. The real difference is FBA vs WFS fulfillment and storage, plus Amazon's 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge since April 17, 2026.
Source: Amazon "Amazon selling costs" (sell.amazon.com) and "How pricing works on Amazon.ca"; Amazon "Update to U.S. referral and Fulfillment by Amazon fees for 2026" (October 15, 2025); Amazon Seller Forums announcement on the fuel and logistics surcharge (April 2, 2026); Walmart Marketplace "Pricing"; Walmart Marketplace Learn "Referral fees" (updated March 9, 2026) and "WFS fees" (updated May 27, 2026); Walmart Marketplace Learn Canada "Commission or referral fees for contract categories" and "WFS Fees" (updated June 26, 2026). Read more: Amazon vs Walmart Seller Fees in 2026: USA and Canada Compared
October 20, 2026
In the Amazon Inventory Ledger, reason code M means misplaced and E means damaged by Amazon while sellable. Those are the claimable lines when the Unreconciled Quantity stays above zero. You have 60 days from the day Amazon records the loss. Codes H, K, U, 6 and 7 are rarely paid in full.
Source: Amazon Seller Central: Inventory Ledger report help page and "FBA inventory reimbursement policy"; Amazon Seller Forums announcements "New report simplifies FBA inventory information" and "Update on Reimbursement Automation and Eligibility Window" (October 23, 2024). Read more: Amazon Inventory Ledger Reason Codes: Which Lost and Damaged Units You Can Claim
October 16, 2026
WFS return disputes open late. A refunded return that was never processed can be disputed from day 90 after the return was initiated, for 45 days. A processed return that never reached you opens on day 45. Walmart allows one case per order, three attempts to supply documents and one appeal within 30 days.
Source: Walmart Marketplace Learn: "WFS customer returns, reimbursement and dispute processes" (updated April 2, 2026), "Walmart Marketplace Dispute Standards for customer returns" (updated December 10, 2025), "Appeal a dispute decision" (updated March 5, 2026), "Dispute a Walmart Customer Care refund", "Dispute a customer return in Seller Center"; Walmart Marketplace Learn Canada "Marketplace Returns Policy" and "Dispute an In-Store Return in Seller Center". Read more: Walmart Refunded the Customer but the Return Never Came Back: WFS Return Dispute Windows
October 13, 2026
Since March 31, 2025, Amazon reimburses lost and damaged FBA inventory at your sourcing cost, without shipping or duties, or at its own estimate when no cost is on file. Customer-return claims are still paid at the sale price minus fees. Enter your cost with an invoice and dispute a low payout within 60 days.
Source: Amazon Seller Central "FBA inventory reimbursement policy"; Amazon Seller Forums announcements "Update on Reimbursement Automation and Eligibility Window" (October 23, 2024) and "New effective date for FBA inventory reimbursement policy" (2025). Read more: Amazon Lost Inventory Reimbursement: Why the Payout Is Below Your Cost and How to Dispute It
October 9, 2026
If WFS receives fewer units than you shipped, you can open an investigation between day 10 and day 50 after delivery, once the shipping plan is Completed. Walmart asks for proof of delivery or a signed BOL, pays confirmed losses at average selling price, and accepts no appeals.
Source: Walmart Marketplace Learn: "Troubleshoot WFS receiving issues: open a dispute claim" (updated August 6, 2026), "Troubleshoot WFS shipments with receiving issues" (updated July 24, 2026), "Troubleshoot rejected or returned WFS inventory"; Walmart Marketplace Learn Canada guides. Read more: WFS Received Fewer Units Than You Shipped: How to File a Walmart Inbound Investigation
September 15, 2026
Since July 27, 2026, Amazon product titles in every category except media must be 75 characters or less, including spaces. The January 2025 rules still apply: no ! $ ? _ { } ^ ¬ ¦ unless part of the brand, and no word more than twice. Lead with brand, product type, key feature and size.
Source: Amazon Seller Central announcements: "New product title requirements effective January 21, 2025" and the July 27, 2026 title length notice; Amazon "Meet Alexa for Shopping" news release. Read more: Amazon’s 75-Character Title Limit: How to Rewrite Your Titles
September 15, 2026
Walmart's New-Seller Savings runs from February 2, 2026 to January 31, 2027 for first-time US sellers who go live after February 1, 2026. It's worth up to $75K: referral fee discounts up to $72K, 10% off WFS fulfillment fees up to $2K, up to $500 in ad credits and a 50% search marketing rebate up to $1K.
Source: Walmart Marketplace "New-Seller Savings 2026" page; Walmart Marketplace Learn "Walmart's New-Seller Savings Program" (updated September 2, 2026); Walmart Marketplace Learn Canada "New Seller Savings" (updated June 25, 2026) and FAQ. Read more: Walmart New-Seller Savings 2026: What You Get and Who Qualifies
September 15, 2026
WFS storage costs $0.75 per cubic foot per month, and from October to December items stored over 30 days pay $1.50 more. Since June 30, 2026, inventory held 366–450 days is charged $2.25 per cubic foot per month, and over 450 days $7.50, counted from the date Walmart received it.
Source: Walmart Marketplace Learn: "WFS fees" and "Understand storage fees for aged inventory" (both updated May 27, 2026); Walmart Marketplace Learn Canada "WFS Fees" (updated June 26, 2026). Read more: Walmart WFS Storage Fees in 2026: Long-Term Fees and the Q4 Surcharge
September 15, 2026
From October 15, 2026 to January 14, 2027, Amazon adds a holiday peak fulfillment fee averaging $0.32 per unit, with the 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge (in place since April 17, 2026) on top. The low-inventory-level fee applies when both 30-day and 90-day days of supply fall below 28 days.
Source: Amazon "Update to U.S. referral and Fulfillment by Amazon fees for 2026" (October 15, 2025); Seller Central announcements on the fuel and logistics surcharge, Holiday 2026 fees and 2026 Canada fees; Seller Central help "Low-inventory-level fee"; Amazon SP-API notice on Canada prep and labeling services. Read more: Amazon FBA Fees for Holiday 2026: Peak Fee, Fuel Surcharge and Low-Inventory Fee
September 15, 2026
IEEPA tariffs ended after the Supreme Court's February 20, 2026 ruling, and importers of record can claim refunds through CBP's CAPE tool. USTR's July 23, 2026 Section 301 action added a 10% or 12.5% tariff on goods from 60 economies, and the $800 de minimis exemption stays suspended.
Source: Supreme Court opinion No. 24-1287 (February 20, 2026); White House executive orders 14324, 14388 and 14389; Federal Register 2026-03824, 2026-12669, 2026-12670, 2026-15181; USTR Section 301 fact sheet (July 2026); CBP "IEEPA Duty Refunds" (updated September 2, 2026). Read more: Tariffs in 2026 for Amazon and Walmart Sellers: What Changed and What to Do