Overview

Amazon has instantly stopped accepting new heavy‑or‑bulky items for its Vine early‑review program. The rule applies only to fresh enrollments; any ASINs already in the pipeline will continue to receive Vine feedback until the current enrollment expires. Sellers of oversized goods must now redesign their launch plans because the most trusted source of early reviews is no longer available for those products.

Key Points

• New enrollments blocked — Any product that triggers Amazon’s “heavy‑and‑bulky” surcharge can no longer be submitted to Vine, meaning a kitchen island that weighs 70 lb or a patio swing set will be rejected today.
• Existing enrollments survive — Items that were already approved before the policy change will keep receiving reviews until the originally agreed‑upon review window closes, so no immediate disruption for those ASINs.
• Eligibility guide updated — Amazon has refreshed the Vine FAQ in Seller Central, adding a dedicated section that lists the size‑tier thresholds and the new exclusion criteria.
• Cost‑driven rationale – Amazon cites higher freight expenses, special handling, and return‑processing complexity for oversized shipments as the primary reason for the restriction.
• Impact concentrated on specific categories — Furniture, large‑format fitness equipment, outdoor structures, and other bulk goods lose a key marketing lever, forcing sellers to rely on alternative review‑building tactics.

What's Changing

1. Enrollment gate closes for heavy items — When a seller attempts to add a 120‑lb treadmill to Vine, the system now returns an ineligibility error, preventing the submission.
2. Legacy enrollments run to completion — A previously approved ergonomic office chair that entered Vine two weeks ago will still be sent to Vine Voices, and the scheduled reviews will appear on the product page as planned.
3. Documentation and FAQ reflect new limits — The updated Vine FAQ now contains a table showing the exact weight (≥ 50 lb) and dimension (any side > 18 in) thresholds; sellers can cross‑check a 30‑in‑wide bookshelf against this table to confirm its status.