Starting December 18, 2026, Amazon requires a prepaid return shipping label on all US returns for seller-fulfilled (FBM) orders, except heavy and bulky items. Within seven calendar days of a return request, sellers must either upload a prepaid label in the Manage seller-fulfilled returns workflow or issue a full refund without requiring the item back. If neither happens, Amazon may issue a returnless refund and deduct it from the seller’s account.
What’s Changing on December 18, 2026
Until now, many FBM sellers could meet Amazon’s return policy with an address-only return label, where the customer paid to ship the item back. Amazon’s email to sellers, signed by the Amazon Services team, says that from December 18, 2026, “all US returns for seller-fulfilled orders (excluding heavy and bulky items) will require a prepaid return shipping label.” Address-only labels will no longer meet the requirement, except temporarily for heavy and bulky items. Amazon says the change creates a consistent process for US and international returns.
The 7-Day Rule and Your Two Options
| Requirement | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Effective date | December 18, 2026, US seller-fulfilled orders |
| Deadline | 7 calendar days, counted from the return request |
| Option 1 | Upload a prepaid return label against the request in Manage seller-fulfilled returns |
| Option 2 | Issue a full refund without requiring the customer to return the item |
| If you do neither | Amazon may issue a returnless refund and deduct it from your selling account |
| Not accepted | Labels sent through Buyer-Seller Messaging or other channels outside the Manage Returns workflow |
| Excluded for now | Heavy and bulky items |
Who This Affects Most
Wholesale resellers who fulfill standard-size products themselves are squarely affected. Beauty, health and household, grocery, and supplement SKUs are not covered by the heavy and bulky exclusion. If you sell the same wholesale-sourced inventory through both FBA and FBM, your FBM listings now carry a real return-shipping cost and a hard deadline. This sits alongside Amazon’s other FBM rules, including the FBM refund timing rules and FBM handling-time requirements.
How to Prepare Before December 18
- Review your return settings in Seller Central and make sure your team works returns from the Manage seller-fulfilled returns workflow, not from buyer messages.
- Add return shipping to your margin math. Build an expected return-shipping cost per unit into your landed cost calculation, especially for low-priced items where one label can wipe out the profit.
- Decide FBA vs. FBM by SKU. Low-margin, high-return items may now make more sense in FBA, where Amazon handles customer returns.
- Set a daily returns check. Seven calendar days goes quickly over weekends and holidays, and December 18 falls in peak holiday season.
- Keep your supplier return terms clear. If a product arrives damaged or defective, know how your distributor handles it. See our wholesale return policy guide.
Wholesale Distributors US supplies authentic bulk inventory with itemized invoices to Amazon FBA and FBM resellers across the USA. Apply for a wholesale account to see current stock and pricing.
FAQ
What is Amazon’s new prepaid return label requirement for FBM sellers?
Starting December 18, 2026, US returns on seller-fulfilled orders, except heavy and bulky items, require a prepaid return shipping label. An address-only label that makes the customer pay return shipping will no longer meet Amazon’s requirement.
How long do sellers have to provide the prepaid label?
Seven calendar days from the return request. Within that window you must either upload a prepaid label in the Manage seller-fulfilled returns workflow or issue a full refund without requiring the item back.
What happens if a seller misses the 7-day window?
According to Amazon’s email to sellers, a returnless refund may be issued automatically and the amount deducted from your selling account, and the customer keeps the item.
Can I send the return label through Buyer-Seller Messaging?
No. Amazon states that labels shared through Buyer-Seller Messaging or other channels outside the Manage Returns workflow do not meet the requirement.
Are all products affected?
Heavy and bulky items are temporarily excluded. Standard-size products, which covers most wholesale beauty, health, household, and grocery items, are not exempt.
Source: Amazon Services email to sellers, as quoted by PPC Land (October 19, 2026) and corroborated by other seller-industry publications. Check the Manage seller-fulfilled returns help page in Seller Central for the latest details. This article is general information, not legal advice.
Add a Comment