Amazon Sellers Stage One-Day Ad Boycott Over Payment Policy Changes

Amazon recently changed its seller payment and fee mechanisms, including delaying disbursements, deducting advertising costs directly from sales proceeds and introducing a fuel surcharge. Large sellers say slower payments will squeeze working capital, while the change in how advertising is paid for will reduce credit-card rewards and hinder merchants’ cash management.

Hundreds of large Amazon sellers launched a one-day advertising boycott on April 15, pausing spending on Amazon’s advertising platform to protest the policy changes. Participants have not disclosed the total amount of advertising covered by the boycott or a standard amount for the fuel surcharge. They warned, however, that several costs rising at once could intensify cash-flow and financing pressure.