Amazon to Charge 3.5% Fuel Surcharge to Online Sellers Later this month. Amazon (AMZN.O) will begin charging sellers using its fulfillment services a 3.5% "fuel and logistics" surcharge, joining a growing number of logistics companies raising shipping costs due to rising oil prices caused by the Iran war. For Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) customers, the fee will take effect on April 17 in the United States and Canada. Starting May 2, Amazon will charge the surcharge on goods shipped by merchants selling on its own website or through other retailers. An Amazon spokesperson said in a statement Thursday, "Rising fuel and logistics costs have increased operating costs across the industry. We have absorbed these cost increases so far, but like other major logistics companies, we implement temporary surcharges to partially offset these costs when they remain high." More than 60% of the products on Amazon's platform are sold by independent merchants who pay Amazon sales commissions as well as warehousing and fulfillment fees. This additional fee demonstrates that Amazon is using its marketplace model to pass on rising costs to merchants rather than consumers.
