This is your host, The Badger, providing you with the top Amazon news stories this week. Welcome to Amazon Weekly Digest!
Google has banned ads from specific cryptocurrency companies, SXSW takes over our hometown of Austin, and Amazon plans to shut down Vendor Express in May.
Vendor Express was a third seller option apart from Seller and Vendor Central that helped Amazon sellers sell in bulk. Vendor Express was created so small sellers didn’t have to go through the exclusivity of Vendor Central’s portal. As usual, Amazon didn’t say exactly why they’re getting rid of the three-year experiment, but said in an email, “We’re constantly looking for ways to improve the selling experience on Amazon. After careful evaluation, we’ve decided to retire Vendor Express and refocus the business on other selling programs.”
In other Amazon News:
Japanese regulators have accused Amazon of forcing sellers to offer “the lowest price and the richest lineup of goods” the customers visiting the eCommerce platform. This is the second time in two years Japan’s antitrust watchdog has raided Amazon’s Tokyo headquarters. Japan is a huge market for Amazon, with more than 75 million shoppers.
According to a Wells Fargo survey, Amazon accounted for 30% of all growth in retail last quarter and is making a push to be the destination for fashion retailers.
If you don’t feel like talking, Amazon is testing a mode on Alexa that responds in beeps.
Have a good weekend badgers!
