Helium 10 Buzz 6/1/22: Changes in Remote Fulfillment with FBA Fees
On June 1 2022 Amazon raised the Remote Fulfillment base charge to $0.40, increased the per‑pound rate to $0.55 and added a $0.10 handling surcharge for oversize items. Fees are now converted daily using the Amazon FX rate, and new weight brackets (0‑1 lb, >1‑2 lb, >2‑5 lb, etc.) affect cost calculations.
Overview
On June 1 2022 Amazon updated the fee schedule for Remote Fulfillment (RF) orders that travel through the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) network. The revision touches the flat per‑order charge, the weight‑tier rates, handling surcharges, and the way currency conversion is applied. Sellers who ship internationally via RF must understand these changes to keep their profit margins intact and to adjust pricing, packaging, and inventory placement accordingly.
Key Points
- Higher flat fee — The mandatory base charge for every RF shipment has been increased, adding a larger fixed cost to each cross‑border order.
- New weight brackets — Amazon introduced revised weight ranges, moving many items into higher‑priced tiers and altering the per‑pound cost calculation.
- Added handling surcharge — Products that exceed standard dimensions or need special packaging now incur an extra fee on top of the weight charge.
- Daily FX conversion — Fees are converted to the seller’s settlement currency using the Amazon FX rate on the shipment date rather than a weekly average, leading to more frequent rate swings.
- Broader product eligibility — Additional categories such as select apparel and accessories can now use RF, but they are subject to the updated fee structure.
- Dedicated fee reporting — The FBA reports now feature a separate “Remote Fulfillment Fees” column, giving sellers clearer insight into the cost of each international shipment.
How the Revised Remote Fulfillment Fees Work
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Base order charge — Amazon adds a fixed amount to every RF order before any weight‑related fees are calculated.
- Example: A seller sending a 1‑lb electronic gadget to Canada now pays the new base charge plus the weight fee, whereas previously only the weight component applied.
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Weight‑tier calculation — Items are sorted into new weight intervals (e.g., 0‑1 lb, >1‑2 lb, >2‑5 lb, etc.), each with its own per‑pound rate.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
The combined fee increase pushes a typical 1.5‑lb shipment from $1.05 to $1.33 – about a 25 % rise – forcing sellers to adjust prices or packaging. Daily FX conversion can add volatility, and the new weight tiers move many SKUs into higher‑priced brackets, impacting international profitability.
Key Takeaways
- Base RF fee increased from $0.30 to $0.40 per order on 2022‑06‑01.
- Per‑pound charge rose to $0.55 and new weight brackets (0‑1 lb, >1‑2 lb, >2‑5 lb) were introduced.
- A $0.10 handling surcharge now applies to items classified as oversize.
- Fees are converted to the seller’s settlement currency using the Amazon FX rate on the shipment date rather than a weekly average.
Recommended Actions
- →In Seller Central, open Settings > Fulfillment by Amazon > Remote Fulfillment to update pricing models with the new $0.40 base and $0.55 per‑pound ...
- →Review product dimensions in Inventory > Manage Inventory; repackage items exceeding size limits to avoid the $0.10 handling surcharge.
- →Set up a daily FX monitoring rule in Pricing > Automated Pricing to adjust list prices when the Amazon FX rate moves >2 % from your baseline.
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