Amazon's FBA Small and Light Program Has Ended: What Sellers Need to Know About Low-Price FBA Rates
Amazon ended the FBA Small and Light program on August 29 2023 and introduced an automatic low‑price fulfillment fee tier that applies to items priced ≤ $15 and under weight limits, removing enrollment. The new schedule reduces pick‑and‑pack charges (e.g., $2.00 for a 4 oz $12 toy vs $3.50 standard) and exempts eligible SKUs from peak‑season surcharges for the rest of 2023.
Overview
On August 29 2023 Amazon discontinued its FBA Small and Light program and introduced a streamlined low‑price fulfillment fee schedule. The change automatically applies reduced fees to qualifying lightweight, low‑cost items, eliminating the need for separate enrollment. Sellers with Small and Light inventory must understand the new mechanics to keep margins intact.
Key Points
- Program termination date — Small and Light ceased operations on August 29 2023, and all active enrollments were deactivated that day.
- New automatic fee tier — Amazon now offers a low‑price fulfillment rate that triggers automatically for items that meet price‑and‑size thresholds, removing the enrollment step entirely.
- Final enrollment deadline — The last day to add new ASINs to Small and Light was June 17 2023; after that date no additional products could be submitted to the program.
- Transition window — From June 18 through August 28 2023, products already in Small and Light continued to enjoy the legacy rates before the switch took effect.
- Peak‑season surcharge exemption — For the remainder of 2023, eligible low‑price items were not subject to the usual peak‑period fulfillment surcharges, delivering cost relief during the holiday rush.
- No seller action required — Amazon determines eligibility based on a product’s list price and dimensions, and applies the discounted fee without any manual steps from the seller.
How the New Low‑Price FBA Rates Work
- Eligibility assessment — Amazon scans each catalog item; if the selling price is at or below the defined low‑price ceiling (for example, $15 for a 6 oz product), the system flags it for the reduced fee tier.
- Fee calculation — Once flagged, the fulfillment fee is computed using the new low‑price schedule, which typically combines a lower pick‑and‑pack charge with a modest weight‑based component. For instance, a 4 oz toy priced at $12 might incur a $2.00 fulfillment fee instead of the standard $3.50.
- Automatic application — The adjusted fee is applied to every order of the qualifying SKU without the seller needing to opt‑in or modify the listing. A seller who lists a new $9 kitchen gadget will see the low‑price fee reflected on the next fulfillment invoice automatically.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
Sellers lose the Small and Light enrollment step but must re‑evaluate pricing because the low‑price fee can be higher than the legacy rate (e.g., $2.10 vs $1.80 for a $10 accessory). Items staying under the $15 ceiling avoid the 10‑15 % peak‑season surcharge, improving cash flow during holiday months.
Key Takeaways
- Small and Light program terminated on August 29 2023; all enrollments were deactivated.
- New low‑price fee automatically applies to SKUs priced at $15 or less and meeting weight limits.
- A 4 oz toy priced at $12 now incurs a $2.00 fulfillment fee versus the standard $3.50.
- Low‑price items are exempt from peak‑season surcharges for the remainder of 2023, saving 10‑15 % on holiday orders.
Recommended Actions
- →In Seller Central, go to Reports > Fulfillment > Fee Preview and filter SKUs ≤ $15 to compare new low‑price fees with legacy Small and Light rates.
- →In Manage Inventory, increase list prices for higher‑margin products above $15 if the new fee reduces profitability.
- →Create a monthly reminder in Seller Central (Settings > Notification Preferences) to review the FBA fee schedule for any threshold or rate updates.
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