Amazon will be implementing a major shift involving all FBA merchants participating in the Partnered Carrier Program. From June 12, 2025, sellers will be charged or refunded an amount based on their inbound shipment actual weight and dimensions as recorded by the carrier, instead of figures inputted at the time of shipment creation. The change is intended to minimize discrepancies in freight declarations and simplify logistics—but also adds a new level of responsibility for sellers.
In this article, we’ll dissect what this change is all about, how it will affect your bottom line, how to not get penalized, and what you can do to be accurate from now on.
Understanding Fee Adjustment Policy
Under the new scheme, when sellers prepare an FBA shipment through Amazon’s Partnered Carrier Program—either through Small Parcel Delivery (SPD) or Less-than-Truckload (LTL)—the sellers manually enter each package or pallet’s weight and dimensions themselves. These self-reported numbers are then used to determine shipping charges.
Historically, Amazon and its contracted carriers have taken small discrepancies between actual and declared measurements. Discrepancies have grown expensive, however, when sellers regularly underreport. To counteract this, Amazon is moving toward a more accurate measurement system to make fees reflect reality.
Beginning June 12, 2025, Amazon will compare your declared values against what the carrier measures at pickup:
If your input is bigger or heavier than actual, Amazon will reimburse the difference.
If your input is smaller than actual measurement, Amazon will bill the difference to your account.
This change presents a threat and an opportunity for sellers. Sellers who regularly report incorrect weights and measurements will be penalized, while sellers who overreport can recover overpaid fees.
What is Amazon doing here?
This is just a part of Amazon’s broader initiative to operate both accurately and efficiently across its fulfillment network. Amazon processes billions of products and inbound shipments every year. Minor inaccuracies create bottlenecks, unexpected storage limitations, and operational problems.
By holding sellers accountable for shipping data accuracy, Amazon reduces unnecessary handling time, increases warehouse productivity, and ensures fair cost distribution.
Also, this policy discourages sellers from intentionally under-declaring shipment weight and dimensions to keep advance freight charges low—a practice that has assisted in creating logistic inefficiencies and financial losses for Amazon.
How It Affects FBA Sellers
The effect of this policy will largely depend on your business practices. For sellers who have already established rigorous shipping practices and calibrated equipment, the adjustments will be minimal. However, for those who estimate, guess, or rely on aged data, the monetary impact could be great.
Let’s examine an example.
Suppose you’re shipping in a Small Parcel Delivery to an Amazon Fulfillment Center. You declare every box at 30 lbs and 18 x 18 x 18 inches. Based on this, Amazon estimates a shipping fee of $6 per box.
Yet, it’s actually 36 lbs, and the dimensions are 20 x 20 x 20 inches. The carrier then reports the true dimensions after pickup, and Amazon re-computes the fee at $8.25 a box.
You will be charged extra $2.25 a box—over 100 boxes, that’s $225 lost due to a mere error.
And then think about the reverse: if your actual box is lighter and compact, you’ll get refunded for the excess you overpaid, essentially reducing your shipping price.
How to See Discrepancies
Amazon provides a simple means of viewing shipment discrepancies in your Inbound Performance Dashboard. The feature is important for being current and handling issues as soon as possible.
Here is how to see the data:
1.Log into your Seller Central account.
2.Navigate to the Inbound Performance dashboard.
3.Under the Defect Group, select Inaccurate transportation weight/dims.
4.Click View details to see shipment-specific discrepancies and how they affected your fees.
This dashboard provides insight into where mistakes are being made, which can help determine if the issue is with your warehouse employees, your measuring equipment, or an external prep facility.
Why Accuracy Matters More Than Ever
With rising fulfillment and storage fees, shrinking margins, and increasing competition, FBA sellers need to optimize every part of their operation. Accurate weights and dimensions are no longer just about compliance—they’re now a profitability lever.
Sellers who ignore this update risk facing frequent and unpredictable charges, adding unnecessary cost and complexity to their operations. On the other hand, those who invest in accurate measuring tools and tight shipping protocols can not only avoid charges but also recoup past overpayments.
How to Track Discrepancies
Amazon provides a simple means of reviewing shipment discrepancies on your Inbound Performance Dashboard. The tool is essential for remaining current and actively resolving issues.
This is how you can look at the data:
Best Practices for Remaining Compliant
In order to reduce risk and fully benefit from possible refunds, here are some concrete actions you should take right away:
Invest in Professional Equipment
Home bathroom scales and eyeballing won’t suffice. Invest in high-grade weighing equipment and dimension measurement systems that can accurately compute package specifications. Opt for equipment certified by NTEP to provide commercial levels of accuracy.
Develop a Pre-shipment Audit Checklist
Prior to creating shipping labels, check:
.Package size with a measuring tape or scanner
.Weight on calibrated scales
.Each item is properly labeled and assigned to the shipment plan
A quick audit can save you hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars in penalty fees down the line.
Train Your Prep or Warehouse Team
If you hire a third-party logistics (3PL) provider or team, ensure they know about the new policy. Give them explicit SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) that involve double-verifying weights and dimensions for every shipment.
Monitor Historical Discrepancy Data
Use the Inbound Performance dashboard regularly to identify recurring issues. If you’re repeatedly seeing charges for underreported dimensions on certain SKUs or boxes, adjust your shipment templates to correct the data moving forward.
What This Means for 3PL and Prep Center Users
If you rely on external logistics partners, you’ll need to ensure they are aligned with this policy. Since Amazon will charge your seller account directly, you’ll be responsible—even if the prep center made the error.
Reach out to your partners and request documentation on their weight/dimension verification processes. If necessary, consider switching to a provider that guarantees compliance and uses automated systems for accuracy.
Will This Affect Non-Partnered Shipments?
No. This policy change only applies to shipments sent using the Amazon Partnered Carrier Program. However, the logic behind the change may foreshadow similar policies in other areas of FBA or even affect storage or removal fees in the future. Keeping a mindset of accuracy and accountability is increasingly important across all FBA operations.
Final Thoughts: Use This Change to Your Advantage
While this policy may feel like an additional burden at first glance, it’s also an opportunity to tighten your operations and recover unnecessary shipping costs.
By embracing this change, sellers can:
Prevent unexpected charges and margin loss
Gain refunds from over-declared shipments
Improve their performance metrics with Amazon
Build long-term profitability through accurate operations
Like many Amazon policy updates, this one rewards precision and punishes shortcuts. The sellers who win will be those who adapt quickly, audit carefully, and prioritize operational excellence.
