Overview

Amazon has elevated its Outlet program to a core solution for FBA sellers who are wrestling with surplus stock and rising storage fees. The feature lets sellers list overstocked items in a dedicated clearance storefront for a fixed two‑week markdown, giving slow‑moving products a chance to sell before long‑term storage surcharges apply. New automated eligibility tools now surface qualifying SKUs directly in Seller Central, removing much of the manual effort traditionally required to identify outlet‑ready inventory.

Key Points

• Two‑Week Fixed Promotion — Each Outlet deal runs for exactly 14 days, after which the discounted price reverts to the original listing.
• FBA‑Only Requirement — Only items stored in Amazon’s fulfillment network can be entered; merchant‑fulfilled inventory is excluded.
• Seller‑Defined Discount — Sellers set the markdown themselves, but Amazon enforces a minimum discount (typically 15 % off the current price) before approval.
• Automated Eligibility Alerts — A new algorithm scans inventory age, sales velocity, and stock levels, flagging eligible ASINs on the Seller Central dashboard.
• Storage Fee Mitigation — Running an Outlet deal can offset upcoming long‑term storage surcharges that kick in after 181 days and intensify after 271 days.
• Higher Conversion Audience — The Outlet storefront attracts shoppers actively seeking clearance deals, resulting in conversion rates that often exceed those of standard coupons or Lightning Deals.

How Amazon Outlet Deals Work

1. Eligibility Scan — The system evaluates every FBA SKU against criteria such as days in storage, average weekly sales, and minimum inventory thresholds. For example, a 120‑day‑old unit of a kitchen gadget with 30 % of its allocated space still unsold will appear with an “Outlet‑eligible” badge.
2. Deal Creation — Sellers select the flagged SKU, input a discount (e.g., 25 % off a $29.99 price), and submit the proposal through the Outlet interface. Amazon then checks that the discount meets the minimum requirement and that the product complies with category restrictions.