It’s almost that time of the year – Amazon will begin disposing any meltable units being stored at their fulfillment centers starting April 15, act fast to avoid unwanted disposals!
What does Amazon Consider "Meltable" Inventory?
Meltable products include anything that melts in temperatures between 75° – 155° degrees F (23° – 67° degrees C). Amazon provides the following definition: "Meltable refers to all heat-sensitive products, such as chocolate, gummies, and select jelly- and wax-based products.”
In our experience, this has impacted products such as lotions, creams, cleansers, and consumables. Sellers can download the meltable ASIN list here.
What is the Impact of Amazon’s Meltable Inventory Policy on FBA Sellers?
Although removal orders are a better option than Amazon outright disposing of your meltable units, it’s still an unwanted fee. Depending on how many meltable products you sell (and their size/weight) this could have a significant impact on your bottom line.
How Does Amazon’s Meltable Product Policy Impact Merchant-Fulfilled Sellers?
Merchant-Fulfilled sellers on Amazon must ensure that their products arrive to customers in a fully intact, non-melted condition from April 15 to October 15.
In 2022, Amazon rolled out a policy covering this specifically:
Repeated complaints can result in your selling account being shut down eventually. If FBM sellers can't guarantee that meltable products will arrive to the customer intact, it’s a good idea to consider closing the listings during these warmer months.
Avoiding Meltable Inventory Removal Fees & Unwanted Disposals on Amazon:
At this point, sellers should have Amazon’s meltable product calendar built into their yearly inventory maintenance and overall strategy. It’s important to identify which of your products are impacted and think ahead.
If you strategize your inventory replenishment correctly, you should begin to pull back on meltable products before April 15, to avoid the need to place large removal orders, or worse, face disposals.
With the constant updates in online marketplaces, it’s important to stay up to date with the latest changes. If you are a client looking for additional information, contact your Account Team. If you are interested in learning more about how Retail Bloom can assist your brand efforts in online marketplaces, schedule a consultation with our team.