Amazon Outlet Deals vs. Outlet Sales: A Seller's Guide to Clearing Excess FBA Inventory
Amazon offers two free clearance tools for FBA sellers — Outlet Deals and Outlet Sales — each with different discount requirements, scheduling, and cancellation rules. Understanding both programs helps sellers reduce storage costs and move excess inventory efficiently.
Overview
Amazon provides two built-in clearance programs for FBA sellers who need to move overstocked or slow-moving inventory: Outlet Deals and Outlet Sales. Both tools place discounted products on Amazon's dedicated Outlet storefront, but they work differently in terms of setup, duration, and discount requirements. Knowing when and how to use each option can help sellers reduce storage fees, free up capital, and avoid costly aged-inventory surcharges.
What's the Difference?
- Outlet Deals — Run automatically until inventory sells out or two weeks pass, whichever comes first. Amazon handles the scheduling.
- Outlet Sales — Amazon selects which products to display based on customer demand. Sellers set the start and end dates manually, and products typically appear for no more than two consecutive weeks.
- Discount thresholds — Outlet Deals generally require at least 20% off the current price, while Outlet Sales typically require around 30% off. Exact requirements vary by marketplace.
- No extra fees — Neither program charges promotional fees beyond standard referral and shipping costs.
Eligibility Requirements
Not every product qualifies. To be eligible for either program, a product must be fulfilled through FBA and have an established sales history on the platform. The product needs a review rating of three stars or higher, or no reviews at all. The seller's overall account rating must be at least 3.5 stars.
Products currently enrolled in other active deals or promotions are excluded. Sellers should also check their specific marketplace's help documentation, since discount thresholds and eligibility details can differ across regions.
How to Set Up Each Promotion
Both programs are managed through the FBA Outlet tool in Seller Central, accessible from the Inventory drop-down menu on the homepage.
For Outlet Deals, filter your eligible inventory using the Outlet Deal option, select the product, and enter your deal price. Amazon automatically sets the start and end dates, so no manual scheduling is needed. One important caveat: avoid changing the item's regular price while a deal is active. Amazon may interpret a price change as a loss of customer trust and could remove all of the seller's Outlet Deals and associated ASINs from the program.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
Rising FBA storage fees and aged-inventory surcharges make clearing excess stock a financial priority. These built-in Outlet programs give sellers a free, structured way to liquidate overstocked products without resorting to costly removals or third-party liquidation services.
Key Takeaways
- Outlet Deals require ~20% off and run automatically for up to two weeks; Outlet Sales require ~30% off with seller-set dates but no guaranteed placement
- Both programs are free — no additional promotional fees beyond standard referral and shipping costs
- Never change your regular price during an active Outlet Deal, as Amazon may remove all your deals and ASINs from the program
- Products must have 3+ star ratings (or no reviews), FBA fulfillment, and established sales history to qualify
Recommended Actions
- →Check the FBA Outlet tool in Seller Central's Inventory menu to see which of your products currently qualify for Outlet Deals or Sales
- →Calculate your margins at 20-30% off before creating promotions — compare against the cost of continued storage fees and potential aged-inventory surcharges
- →Use Outlet Deals as your first option since they have a lower discount threshold and guaranteed placement, reserving Outlet Sales for products where you need scheduling control
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