Exactly. What gets lost every time prices go up is that these “temporary” surcharges are almost never temporary. Once it’s in place, it’s not going anywhere. If costs drop later, they don’t roll it back, they just keep the extra margin because customers have already been conditioned to accept it. That’s the part people ignore, these increases aren’t just reactions, they’re opportunities for sellers and once companies realize they can charge more without losing business, they have zero incentive to ever give it back.
1336
arstechnophile5 days ago
+381
Airline baggage fees were introduced as a "temporary" measure ~~after 9/11 to help airlines "recover" from the incident, the temporary shutdown of flights, etc.~~
Edit: I have been informed I'm wrong about this - it was actually in 2008 as a result of the Great Recession. However, as u/Sonamdrukpa posted, the baggage fees never went away even when the price of fuel did eventually come back down, so the overall point isn't completely wrong.
https://checkyourfact.com/2021/09/17/fact-check-airlines-us-baggage-fees-9-11/
We didn't pay baggage fees in the 90s. We've been paying them for *almost twenty years* as a "temporary" measure.
381
shadrap5 days ago
+70
There is no such thing as "a temporary tax" or "a special fund."
70
Javasteam5 days ago
+15
Sure they’re temporary!
They’ll be cancelled at the same time as the heat death of the universe!
/s
15
Paranitis5 days ago
+10
No, they are absolutely temporary, like all prices are. Until they go up again.
If I was charging you $1 for something and I started charging $1.50 as a temporary price increase and then started charging $2, the $1.50 was clearly temporary.
10
Basic_Barnacle47195 days ago
+68
Hell now you can't even bring carry on bags onto the major airlines without paying a fee to upgrade to a higher fare class. Capitalism is just a race to the bottom.
68
mootfoot4 days ago
+10
Well this is just patently wrong. Not sure how it's being upvoted. Only budget airlines charge for carryons, at least in the US
10
raindropdroptopz4 days ago
+25
It’s very common for non budget airlines in the US to sell ”basic economy” tickets that are cheaper than a “standard economy” ticket that do not include carry ons without an additional fee.
25
Soft-Bike75994 days ago
+17
My Southwest flight next month is only allowing me to bring a personal item that fits under the seat in front of me. I have to pay for a carry on, which is a first.
17
adorablefuzzykitten4 days ago
+2
Wearing 12 layers of clothes prevents the need for a carry-on and also makes the seat more comfortable
2
jardex224 days ago
+2
Good packing techniques and vacuum bags also helps.
2
Paranitis5 days ago
+14
In California, we voted to get rid of single-use plastic bags at grocery stores, so they replaced them with thicker plastic bags with this stupid idea that people would come together and actually reuse the bags instead of throw them away after a single use. We were also supposed to charge for the bags now, which we weren't doing before. I didn't charge out of principle, and found out it was only something corporate had as a policy, not that we had to do it by way of a law, so I didn't feel bad about not charging for bags, even though the money was supposed to go into recycling programs for the bags themselves. Turns out it is just cheaper to make new bags instead of recycle the old ones, so it was abandoned.
Then this year the law changed so that NO plastic bags were allowed to be given anymore in California. It must be paper or reusables, but we couldn't have the reusables at the check stand anymore, for who the f*** knows what reason. And the paper bags have handles that come off easily, and the bags easily tear. And if it rains? Forget it.
But now it is mandatory that we charge for the bags BY LAW. And where is the money going? Not into any kind of recycling programs like before, it is mandated BY LAW to go back to the store in order for them to recoup costs of supplying the bags to customers.
Literally something that was considered "the cost of doing business" when you give out free bags was corrupted by special interests in order to force the customers to pay for what used to be a free convenience, and the bags we are charging for are absolute shit quality. I literally have to double-bag for every customer because these bags are ripping as they are being packed. But this time I only charge for 1 bag when I am doubling them because I just don't feel right charging them for a single that will most likely rip before they make it out of the store.
Stores are even being audited to make sure they are charging for the correct amount of bags. I can't wait to be arrested for not charging 10 cents to some very specific dipshit that was hired to rat out good people.
14
IHS19704 days ago
+8
before there were paper bag handles there were paper bags, we carried from the grocery store to our CAR!!! we put them in the trunk or back seat, anyone of a certain age KNOWS that the f****** handles will break. It rained in the 1970s and we knew to try and cover our paper bags as when paper get's wet it Rips!!!. Life before plastic bags which do polllute everywhere. As a kid I would double bag lotsa cans maybe paper was thicker in the 60s. I dunno. Is it so hard for people in CA to bring their own bags? In shit ass f****** Texas I'd say 50-60% of people bring their own bags.
8
Paranitis4 days ago
+3
I'll ask "Would you like some bags?" and their response is "I left my bags in the car". That's not an answer. I asked a yes or no question, and they didn't give me a yes or no answer. You don't answer in the affirmative, I don't bag. Then they get upset at me for not bagging their shit.
I'm sitting there thinking "You have bags, so roll your ass out to the car and use your bags at the car", but they can't comprehend that idea, so they get angry at me for them being stupid.
When I do try a follow-up of "So is that a yes or no?" they get upset because OBVIOUSLY it means they have bags already, or they get upset because OBVIOUSLY it means they need bags for their trip to the bags they won't use in their car.
Customers are f****** morons.
3
Sonamdrukpa4 days ago
+2
This is false, [standard baggage fees didn't start until gas spiked at the beginning of the Great Recession](https://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/airline-fees-bags-history/). They definitely didn't get dropped once the price of jet fuel dropped though
2
adorablefuzzykitten4 days ago
+2
That guy trying to light his shoe laces on fire made more money for airlines than all the airline CEOs combined.
2
A_Refill_of_Mr_Pibb5 days ago
+249
The only response is to just stop buying most non-essential shit
249
ConfederacyOfDunces_5 days ago
+122
I agree but that’s never going to happen. Hell, alot of people who purchase on Amazon are literally addicted to it.
122
IAMA_Plumber-AMA5 days ago
+86
I quit in 2024, and closed my account in Jan. 2025 the day I saw his bald ass behind Trump at the inauguration.
86
ZookeepergameSea23835 days ago
+63
I canceled Amazon when they started commercials on prime video after we had paid in advance for the year. All of a sudden you get commercials. That’s not what I paid for. I do not regret canceling at all.
Then I see bezos supporting MAGA and I wish everyone would cancel too.
63
DenikaMae5 days ago
+15
The ads on Amazon are insane. I really was enjoying that show Primo, but there’s so many commercials that it feels like a complete utter waste of time
15
FrostedPixel475 days ago
+2
Crazy that he have embraced the r/bald lifestyle even with all that money
2
IAMA_Plumber-AMA5 days ago
+8
To be fair, he looks better than Elon and his shitty hairplugs. And that's the only good thing I'll say about the guy.
8
bigdog7675 days ago
+6
Yep that’s pretty much my mom. Will buy on Amazon instead of going to a store in town to get the same thing. She’s perfectly capable of doing that.
6
ryaaan895 days ago
+47
I’m certainly not trying to take Amazon’s side here, the company and leadership suck ass, but it’s very very frustrating to go to several stores in town, nobody has what you needed, and you end up back at home buying it on Amazon that night anyways. Walmart wrecked local stores but Amazon managed to somehow even wreck other big box stores because it seems like nobody keeps hardly anything on their actual shelves anymore.
47
GoldandBlue5 days ago
+16
I dunno man. I asked my coworker is she wanted to go with me to the store at lunch because I wanted to buy this thing. And she says "why don't you just order it?"
And it's like, why would I order it when I can go get it right now? It's right there, in stock, half a mile away.
"Dunno, just seems easier". Thats just the mentality of some people.
16
Javasteam5 days ago
+9
To be fair, I can see her point as well though…
Unless you’re willing to spend the time to make Best Buy and others price match Amazon, they can screw you on price… example, a Panasonic shaver can be a hundred bucks more easily…. Not to mention how much they used to LOVE screwing consumers with stuff like Monster brand hdmi cables…
9
GoldandBlue5 days ago
+2
But that's not her point. Her point was "why go to the store when you can just order it?"
2
Digital_loop5 days ago
+2
Sometimes I shop local, I don't mind spending a bit more to go local and if something is wrong a return is easy... But I recently went looking for a kitchen hutch and Amazon was a third of the cost of local!
I could spend $750 for local and have it pre-built or $199 and spend a few hours building it myself.
I went with Amazon. Almost identical item, 1/3rd the cost.
2
2HDFloppyDisk5 days ago
+28
Imagine if people stopped buying gas every time companies jacked fuel prices up.
Crazy I remember a time when $5 filled my gas tank. Profit margins just weren’t good enough then.
28
Miserable-Mall-26475 days ago
+30
They said non-essential
Gas,food, medicine is essential everything else we buy just because
30
Timmy-05185 days ago
+12
Now to be fair on EXCLUSIVELY gas. They still don’t make jackshit in profit by themselves unless you live in an area that will pay more for gas such as California. They make all their money from the stuff they sell inside.
Literally anything else? Absolutely true
12
soraticat5 days ago
+6
There was a gas station near me when I lived in the pnw that always had the lowest prices by a good bit. I asked one of the workers how it was possible and he said the owner refused to sell for more than a penny above cost. He owned stations in the US, Canada, and Israel iirc.
6
Practical_Test55505 days ago
+9
I worked at a gas station when I was young and I remember the gas price was $0.25 a gallon We find a quarter and would be thrilled!
9
NorthernerWuwu5 days ago
+19
You haven't been young for a while! The last time gas was a quarter a gallon was 1947 (average price was .23/gl), which would be ~$2.75/gl in 2026 dollars.
19
iamfuturetrunks5 days ago
+3
I would like it if local stores sold the stuff I wanted to buy but they don't. I try to avoid buying at amazon as best I can. I also tend to wait until I have a number of things to buy so they all get grouped together instead of one or two things every now and again.
Unfortunately most local stores don't sell a lot of the stuff I want. If they did not only would I buy it locally I would also save money because I have seen most stuff are at the very least twice as expensive if not more than if I can buy it locally.
Just today I was looking up a chemical I want to get. Figured the local hardware stores would have it but nope, nobody here has it. I even went looking at trying to find any places within 300 miles of where I live and nope, not even the bigger cities seem to have it. But it's on amazon for at least $10 more and so later in the year when it gets warm enough out I will probably end up buying it off there (don't want to buy it and have it freeze during shipping which would happen for liquids).
Again it sucks, plus it doesn't help when a company sells something on amazon and it's cheaper there than on their own site. Usually also they don't offer free shipping unless you buy over $100 or something like that. Shipping wouldn't be that bad but it's usually like an extra $25-50 sometimes when the product itself is still more expensive than amazon's listing (which usually has free shipping if you buy $35 or more).
There is also places like walmart but screw that company to.
So yeah if you live in a small city out in the middle of no where you're pretty much forced to buy a lot of stuff with amazon because otherwise you can't have what you want/need.
3
DaedalusRaistlin5 days ago
+8
It's happening to essential stuff too like food. Food never went back down in price after Covid, and now it just increases at a larger yearly rate.
Being on gluten free food in Australia is even worse, my food was already like 4 times the price of regular food. So the yearly price increases hit me harder. It's a struggle just affording lately.
8
seven0feleven5 days ago
+7
Way ahead of you there! Haven't bought anything off Amazon for years now. It's turned into a garbage website anyways in the last 3-4 years. If it wasn't for Prime Video, i'd cancel my subscription altogether. I just might anyways if I can't watch anything without ads or having to buy it.
7
SelectKaleidoscope05 days ago
+6
I canceled prime the day they announced ads. Haven't missed it other than how hard they make it to check out without accidentally buying a "free trial" of prime on the rare occasion I order from amazon anymore.
6
KDR_11k5 days ago
+3
Don't worry, the crisis is making more and more people do exactly that.
3
throwitawaynownow15 days ago
+25
Prices for materials have gone up in my industry multiple times over the last year, the excuse always being tariffs. Which is bullshit because the first wave of increases were in anticipation of tariffs. Then several increases when they went into effect. And now that they've been reversed the prices have stayed the same. Just kidding, price increases last week because of increased fuel/freight costs.
25
Waffleskater84 days ago
+3
This is why I doubt pc parts ever come back “close” to what they were a year ago… 32GB of ram was $100 and I doubt we even see it near $200 when the bubble pops. I’m hoping we do but not too hopeful.
3
hordeoverseer4 days ago
+2
Same with those COVID tip rates to support the workers who came in during those times. Now it's normalized that take-out counters or places that don't even have servers even ask for tips.
2
Hugh_Jass_Clouds5 days ago
+71
It might knock out some of those alphabet soup brands, and other low quality sellers. It might even take out some other small, but quality sellers, sadly.
71
BizmarkiaNobilis5 days ago
+6
Remind me why anyone gives their money to a scumbag like Bezos again? I don’t. Haven’t for years. Even Eeros routers are Bezos. Ixnay on the Eeros…and every other granular level of Bezos and Amazon. This is on us folks to have some self respect.
6
Vecend5 days ago
+20
Sadly I live in the middle of nowhere where stuff I need has a supply of zero or is insanely expensive so I have to give Bezos money.
20
TACOlogy5 days ago
+7
Bezos has us by the sack for those that don’t even live in the middle of nowhere. I hate/love the convenience they provide and nothing competes with their service. My most recent example: needed replacement hvac filters, bicycle safety light, and replacement computer mouse because my dog chewed mine up. Either I go be stuck in traffic and spend time chasing said items at one or more stores or order while I’m at work and it arrives same day or next day. Pretty easy choice.
7
BenVarone4 days ago
+7
I follow a YouTube channel by a couple guys who run a hobby shop, and one of the things they said they learned through selling retail is that “No one appropriately values their time or gas.” If you have to drive 30 minutes or even make an extra stop to save a buck…nah, you didn’t.
A 3.5% surcharge on a $10 item is 35 cents. At most of the stores in my area, the price difference between them and Amazon is more like $5-10, not even factoring in the one-stop shopping and time. I’m not saying Bezos isn’t a b****** (he is) but his competition are also bastards, so it’s not like there’s some ethical/moral choice here unless you buy everything handmade at a farmer’s market.
7
IPDDoE4 days ago
+2
> his competition are also bastards
They may be bastards, but I wouldn't automatically blame the competition for higher prices (even as drastic as the ones you cited). Amazon has the ability to buy/produce things in such bulk, they can pass (some) of that savings on to the consumer. A local hardware store may buy 10-20 of an item per week, so they don't get the same bulk buy discounts. Now that's not a universal rule of course, I'm not giving a blanket excuse to all other companies, but it's just something to consider.
2
haltingpoint5 days ago
+23
Let's see if this shows up in inflation data.
23
xxx_sniper5 days ago
+4
just like covid
4
n0respect_5 days ago
+4
Or you can buy Amazon Double-Prime and get no-surcharge pricing!
[inb4 its real]
4
Kyonikos5 days ago
+3
I think I recall previous fuel surcharges by various companies going away after the cost of oil came back down.
But it's not like prices in general ever went back down. Eventually the surcharge gets folded into the new normal prices.
3
L_Cranston_Shadow4 days ago
+3
The EU has already gone after Amazon for having a two tier system where third party sellers are disadvantaged when selling items that are also sold directly by Amazon. I can't imagine they won't try to stop this if it goes on for too long.
3
rebbsitor5 days ago
+2
Just like the fuel surcharge they slapped on airfare 20 years ago.
2
DontWatchMeDancePlz5 days ago
+2
"Hell let's make it 5%!"
2
kyune5 days ago
+2
line must go up 😒
2
adorablefuzzykitten4 days ago
+2
too true.
2
pepsiblast083 days ago
+2
Yep, a lot of toll roads were supposed to be temporary til paid off and they became permanent.
2
lesigh5 days ago
+3018
Just a reminder Bezos gave Trump a million dollars for his inauguration fund, goes to Trump events at the White House and mar a lago
Bankrolled Melania "documentary" puff piece.
3018
zephyrtr5 days ago
+1077
Bezos forced the WaPo to not endorse Kamala.
1077
Bamboozleprime5 days ago
+223
Things like this will also not be a concern to Bezos because he will pass whatever costs this conflict has for him to either his customers or the taxpayers.
223
jeremydurden5 days ago
+42
It also shouldn't be a concern to him because he could lose 99.9% of his fortune and still live like a king, but I see your point.
42
sniper915 days ago
+208
Also bribed through that piece of shit Melania “documentary”
208
minyhumancalc5 days ago
+36
Its so dystopian that 1 million dollars is all you need to bribe him. Enough so 99.9% could never do it, but a rounding error to the .1%.
*not that there should be a price to bribe the President, but its such an insult of a number*
36
Krimreaper15 days ago
+69
Then raised the price of Prime Video after a billion tax cut.
69
LorderNile5 days ago
+64
Short term gain for long term pain.
64
franker5 days ago
+25
for consumers its short term pain for long term pain.
25
MrJoyless5 days ago
+17
How funny would it be if Iran kept hitting AWS server farms, ya know, to keep reminding Jeff whose side he is on.
17
AudibleNod5 days ago
+35
With friends like that, [who needs enemies](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/amazons-cloud-business-bahrain-damaged-iran-strike-ft-reports-2026-04-01/)?
35
3rd-party-intervener5 days ago
+15
And wouldn’t let sellers out trump tariff on their sales.
15
entr0picly5 days ago
+14
And Bezos has the blood of the Iranian schoolgirls on their hands. His money and platform has repeatedly supported the murder of schoolgirls.
14
jerkularcirc5 days ago
+3
*a million directly, that you know of
3
Deemarvelousone5 days ago
+3
A million to Bezos is equivalent to 10¢ to us normals
3
MaplewoodRabbit5 days ago
+389
How much you guys wanna bet that even after the war ends and prices begin to slowly return to normal, this surcharge is staying forever. Boycott Amazon.
389
ILikeCutePuppies5 days ago
+60
You think the straits is going to be opened without heavy surcharges added for the US or the US being blocked from using it?
60
C0UNT3RP01NT5 days ago
+6
Kinda sorta maybe?
It’s easy to say Iran controls the strait of Hormuz but the truth is both sides are contesting it. And by that I mean it’s not like the US is letting Iran use it either.
What I think is realistically gonna happen is the US is gonna spend a bunch of money on this war to get back to where they started. Inflation goes up, everybody’s upset, the rich get richer, and so on. But at the end of the day I dont think Iran can monopolize control over the strait and prevent the US from using it, while also bringing a permanent end to hostilities. They would have to be able to secure the strait regardless of the US’ opinion on the matter, and frankly they can’t.
6
HotelAmericana5 days ago
+15
Iran is indeed using the strait. Friends of Iran can use the straight, friends of the us get attacked in the strait
15
redletterday935 days ago
+9
Iran is currently in control of the Strait of Hormuz. That's an objective fact.
Trump said today "Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP"
9
C0UNT3RP01NT4 days ago
+2
Right because Trump wants it open so oil can make it to US allies. But it goes the opposite direction too. Iran needs to be able to use it to move their own oil, and the US is absolutely going to make sure they won’t be able to do that if they can’t do it too.
2
ILikeCutePuppies4 days ago
+2
Iran is charging some boats 2 million to let them get through. Even if it's not Iran money they are still getting paid. You think the US is gonna attack non Iranian ships?
2
godspareme5 days ago
+5
Itll go away. But all prices will suddenly be 3.5% higher (with a *very* temporary 5% d******* to hide the changes).
5
drtywater5 days ago
+533
What percentage of their delivery is EV this point?
533
clovisx5 days ago
+347
The last mile is but their major freight is still probably on semis.
347
Dodgson_here5 days ago
+91
I think they use everything. I recently saw a whole train on Amazon branded intermodal containers.
91
drtywater5 days ago
+49
The train is super efficient
49
legos_on_the_brain5 days ago
+28
Factorio really hammered that in for me
28
ClosPins5 days ago
+11
Also, NOT electric.
11
Hugh_Jass_Clouds5 days ago
+21
Kind of? They are diesel electric engines, and run at optimum RPMs for power generation to run the electric traction motors. In a way they are hybrids, but not in the same way a car can be.
21
Crossfire1245 days ago
+7
There are hybrid cars with electric power trains and a range extender generator that doesn't power the wheels directly. The only BMW i3 comes to mind
7
Hugh_Jass_Clouds5 days ago
+6
They all have batteries for propulsion. Locomotives don't have batteries for propulsion.
6
loganwachter5 days ago
+9
I just saw a train a few days ago with Amazon containers when I was driving to work. Looked like it was just Amazon and car haulers.
9
drtywater5 days ago
+60
A few things. First last mile is usually most expensive part of delivery. Next Amazon is a heavy user of freight rail for shipments over a few hundred miles. Look at rail spotter videos online some of the trains half of the containers are labeled Amazon. While freight rail pays diesel costs it is very minimal due to efficiency of rail.
60
Disney_World_Native5 days ago
+9
Fun fact. Trains are hybrid like. They use a diesel engine to power electric motors.
IIRC CSX averages over 500 tons miles per gallon (as in it can move 500 tons 1 mile on 1 gallon of diesel). Semis are under 150 tons miles per gallon
9
drtywater5 days ago
+2
Freight rails main issues are lack of additional trains and lack of capacity at freight yards. Unfortunately freight companies dont have incentives to make capex upgrades
2
LethalBacon5 days ago
+3
Live like 1000 ft from a major freight rail. Often seen a dozen + double stacked Amazon containers.
3
watercouch5 days ago
+18
3.5% surcharge is almost arbitrary because fuel costs are driven by size and weight, not retail price.
18
m_o_o_n5 days ago
+9
I’m an Amazon seller. This is a surcharge on FBA fees. These fees are set by a product’s size and weight, not price. The price to move product within Amazons fulfillment network and to the customer is going up, not the listing fee, which is based on retail price.
9
watercouch5 days ago
+5
Thanks. So the article headline is probably misleading.
5
Cephalopirate5 days ago
+2
Wait, is that everywhere? Rare Amazon win.
2
clovisx5 days ago
+5
Maybe not everywhere but around here most of their branded home delivery vehicles are those gray electric vans.
5
thephantom14925 days ago
+4
Quebec here. None.
All semis are diesel, and last mile is sub-contracted to intelcom.
4
KDR_11k5 days ago
+2
Electricity prices are going up too because those geniuses in governments worldwide keep pushing for fossil fuel power plants while trying to reduce renewable construction.
2
whowhodillybar5 days ago
+762
> The Seattle-based company said it has absorbed these increases so far but similar to other major carriers, when costs remain elevated, it implements temporary surcharges to partially recover these costs. It noted the charge is “meaningfully” lower than surcharges applied by other major carriers.
Bullshit. No way Bezos and shareholders absorb any of this.
762
youruswithwe5 days ago
+301
No way these will be temporary either
301
LazloHollifeld5 days ago
+83
Nope, the third party retailers were always going to end up getting the squeeze after they lulled everyone into parking all their inventory there. Now it will be too much hassle for most and they’ll just end up eating endless costs.
83
Sunshinetrooper875 days ago
+45
I dislike third party sellers as it's wading through a pile of shite mostly.
45
Worldly_Cap_64405 days ago
+12
Pretty much all the top selling items on Amazon are from third party sellers so it’s a bulk of their business. I know Amazon with time has been monopolizing categories with their own Amazon basics etc brands but majority of products are still 3rd party and there’s plenty of great ones
12
jewmas5 days ago
+33
Drop shipping garbage. Chinese garbage bought in bulk and sold at 5x the cost but slightly lower than comparable items
33
muttonchops2155 days ago
+12
There's nothing more permanent than a temporary fix.
12
PerpetualProtracting5 days ago
+25
Bezos is a scourge on a gnats ass, but yes, large companies absolutely will absorb costs in the short-term if they believe it will result in medium to long-term retention of customers.
I know it's easy to be cynical about this, but a major reason for so many stocks being down is because public companies are regularly reporting that exact behavior. My S&P 100 company did, too.
25
DrowningKrown5 days ago
+11
With the amount of "X item in your cart increased by X price" when most of what I buy is sold/shipped by Amazon tells me these fuckers ate 0 of these costs
11
-Badger3-5 days ago
+2
I mean, that isn't proof of anything, that was going to happen regardless.
The suppliers have to cover their increased overhead as well.
2
che85mor5 days ago
+2
That's why it says "on 3rd party sellers"? Because Amazon absorbs the cost? Damn, I was confused at first.
2
colemon19914 days ago
+2
Amazon already takes advantage of literally everyone for more profit and they have been absorbing the increases??
I too call BS.
2
gls22205 days ago
+36
It starts in May. This will put pressure on sellers to increase prices, though in some cases they may choose to absorb the additional cost in their margin. But, if the war keeps going and fuel prices keep increasing, prices on nearly everything will rise as well.
36
PazzoBread5 days ago
+205
One of the richest companies in the world
205
MoeSzyslakMonobrow5 days ago
+90
They didn't get there by not soaking their customers for everything they can.
Also, the huge majority of their money comes from AWS, not the store. Amazon stores are basically a small side gig compared to what they get from AWS.
90
pathofdumbasses5 days ago
+16
> They didn't get there by not soaking their customers for everything they can.
Actually, they didn't.
They got to be the biggest by doing the Wal-Mart method but online instead of brick and mortar. Razor thin profits (and sales tax exemptions at the beginning as the world wasn't ready for online sales), with billions of transactions over a long period of time.
They have since raised the prices and cut back on the service a bit to get profitable, but they still maintain small profit margins, they just do it on hundreds of billions of transactions now.
16
PPMD_IS_BACK5 days ago
+7
Yeah like 20 years ago or some shit "you can get it cheaper on Amazon" was pretty common.
7
pathofdumbasses5 days ago
+3
Even if it was the same price, which it wasn't, it was cheaper because you didn't have to pay sales tax. I literally bought EVERYTHING on Amazon back in 2004.
Now I don't buy much from them at all since it is mostly just c**** Chinese shit, and more importantly, they want almost $200 a year for membership. Costco is just infinitely better now as long as you don't mind going and planning the trip.
3
hakenwithbacon5 days ago
+9
Pretty sure AWS got impacted by the war too..
9
Stenthal5 days ago
+6
Several impacts, in fact.
[Amazon says drones damaged three facilities in UAE and Bahrain](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgk28nj0lrjo)
6
SaltonPrepper5 days ago
+18
Eh, it's popular to bash Amazon but in this case, we're going to see transportation rates increase industrywide. The US Postal Service is raising rates by 8%: [https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/0325-usps-announces-transportation-related-time-limited-price-change.htm](https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/0325-usps-announces-transportation-related-time-limited-price-change.htm)
If this is winning, can we start losing please? Is NOBODY willing to invoke the 25th amendment and get him out of office?!
18
DingerSinger20165 days ago
+7
>If this is winning, can we start losing please? Is NOBODY willing to invoke the 25th amendment and get him out of office?!
Clearly not
7
Tr0janSword5 days ago
+6
It’s basic unit economics, if oil/fuel is ~15-20% of their shipping cost and goes up 100%, then all of a sudden their retail profit falls 40%.
Airlines are the most extreme, but clearest example of this. United goes from $5-6 bn in operating profit to -10 bn with where fuel costs are without any offsets. American Airlines could go bankrupt.
6
teslastats5 days ago
+51
Amazon has already added a fuel charge a few years ago. They added the tarif tax only to hide it.
51
Shadowthron85 days ago
+15
Surprised the administration isn’t calling this a “hostile act” like it did when Amazon wanted to add tariff information
15
Scholar-Novice5 days ago
+15
Call it the Trump surcharge.
15
Modern_Bear5 days ago
+61
1. This is a surcharge on third-party sellers who use Amazon to deliver their products to customers, not a surcharge on third-party sellers for just existing. These sellers could use other carriers but they won't because of number 2 below.
2. Amazon isn't the only delivery service to add or increase fuel surcharges recently. UPS, FedEx, and USPS have also, and their charges are higher.
3. I don't know why people keep bringing up Jeff Bezos but he stepped down as CEO in 2021. Andy Jassy has been the CEO since. Bezos is still the Chairman of the Board and the largest share holder, but CEOs run the day to day operations of companies. I have a feeling that 3/4 of people think Bezos is still the CEO, just like a lot of people think Bill Gates still runs Microsoft.
4. Blame Donald Trump for this c***, not others. He started the war in Iran and is 100% responsible for repercussions for the war. If he didn't start this war, the Strait of Hormuz would be open, oil would be flowing, and the price of gas would be about the same as it was before the war. If you don't like all the increased prices, make sure you vote in November to remove Republicans from power in Congress. They have all sat by and let Trump do whatever he wants, including tariffs too. They are useless so make them find another job.
5. Read the damn articles before posting.
61
m_o_o_n5 days ago
+14
I’m an Amazon seller. This is a surcharge on FBA fees, to move product within Amazons fulfillment network and to the customer. Sellers don’t simply “use Amazon to deliver their products…” FBA is really the only way to sell competitively on Amazon. Only FBA products are eligible for Prime Delivery, unless a seller is willing to self fulfill orders expedited service for free. There are hundreds of FBA fulfillment centers across the US and it’s the reason why customers can get products so quickly.
Im not defending this surcharge, and I hate that Amazon has got a virtual monopoly on scale e-commerce logistics, but I just want people to understand the scope of the issue. I’m going to pay this 3.5% surcharge and try to not pass it on to my customers, because the alternative is to lose about $15k a day in net sales.
14
-007-bond5 days ago
+12
This reply is removing a lot of agency from Bezos and Amazon. He is responsible for selecting and keeping the CEO. He also selected the ceo for a reason. They have always taken advantage of all the parties that take part in the market place.
Why aren't they adding the surcharge to their own goods? They also require 3rd party companies to sell at the lowest price on Amazon to maintain their listings there, so it's going to squeeze the sellers even more.
Edit: this comment doesn't remove the responsibility of the voters or trump. Please read it carefully before responding
12
GimmeSweetSweetKarma5 days ago
+3
> Why aren't they adding the surcharge to their own goods?
Because they can just increase the prices directly?
3
Modern_Bear5 days ago
+11
Blaming anyone other than Donald Trump is flat out wrong. None of this negative stuff would be happening if he didn't start this war. These kind of price increases from everyone, on nearly everything, are all his fault. From his failed policies of tariffs on almost every country in the world, and now this stupid war, he has done massive damage very quickly. These increases in prices are way out of the norm we would see otherwise. Everyone trying to put blame elsewhere lets Trump off the hook, and he deserves no leeway.
As for why Amazon doesn't put the surcharges on themselves for delivering their own goods, I'm going to assume that taking money out of one hand to give it to the other doesn't make sense. What probably will happen soon if fuel prices continue to rise is Amazon will raise the price of Prime by $20-40 a year, because that free shipping is costing them a lot more now.
I will say this should be a lesson for all these people running mega companies to be careful who they support and donate to in the future. Supporting Trump is a painful mistake for monetary and PR reasons, and he will throw anyone under the bus once they stop grovelling to him for even a second.
11
Glasseshalf5 days ago
+2
You keep saying only Trump is to blame but you seem to forget that these companies are the reason we have him in the first place.
2
Modern_Bear4 days ago
+2
Voters are the reason we have him. Companies don't vote. People do.
2
nemec5 days ago
+1
> selecting and keeping the CEO
the CEO didn't bomb Iran. You're removing agency from the voters who elected these bozos (not to be confused with Bezos)
> Why aren't they adding the surcharge to their own goods?
Why do you think they aren't? Amazon has to announce this for third-party sellers because it affects business contracts, they don't have to announce raising the price on their own products. This surcharge isn't even saying, "we're raising the price of all third party products on our storefront by 3.5%" - sellers still set their own prices - though I think it's a safe bet that most sellers will eventually raise their own prices rather than eat into their profits.
1
-007-bond4 days ago
+2
Please reread my statement, I didn't say anything about the voters or trump, I was talking about a very specific aspect of OPs comment.
2
SufficientWhile54504 days ago
+6
Y’all remember when Amazon used to have 2 day shipping on anything on their site and wasn’t an increase in the price?
And that was literally their entire platform
Now 9/10 if your ordering something, you can go to the manufacturer website and get it cheaper, then pay shipping and it meets amazons price
My favorite I’ve found was buying a metal forge through Amazon, it was 3 times the price going thru Amazon because shipped from Brazil or something. But if order thru the manufacturer and pay standard shipping it was 400$ cheaper
So Amazon charged you for “prime”
Then they charge you the shipping, but disguise it as the price
Then they, probably, take a percentage of the profits of their sellers (idk this, just seems fitting and would be more surprising if they didn’t)
Straight up don’t even try to maintain 2 day shipping anymore
And now additional charges
Why the f*** is anyone still paying for Amazon prime
6
clintgreasewoood5 days ago
+19
Just a test run for future price gouging.
19
cpc20275 days ago
+22
Shop local if you can!
22
Jolly-Database42045 days ago
+81
Reminder... boycott Amazon.
81
UltraNoahXV5 days ago
+51
Can try but just note AWS is integrated into almost everything. They could probably lose all of us and still make a profit from web sevices alone.
Instead you should call your representatives in congress or even your local state representatives to pressure congress through resolutions (provided committees are still going). While it may seem pointless, it is an election year and some politicians may need to save face to bolster chances of remaining in office.
51
MrBigWaffles5 days ago
+14
If this keeps going it won't just be amazon man
14
CIDR-ClassB5 days ago
+5
..as you post on a website that’s hosted by Amazon (a company that runs 1/3 of the world’s internet).
5
Afraid-Sky-50525 days ago
+3
Between gas and tariffs! The GOPs are the most greedy, stupid, etc. vote blue at all levels!
3
MovieGuyMike5 days ago
+4
Sure now we are winning, yes? The winning has started?
4
Mysterious-1mportant5 days ago
+3
I wonder if any trump voters are experiencing buyer's remorse.
3
yeeting_my_meat694 days ago
+5
From what I am reading, it looks like the 3.5% is applied to the seller’s cut of the sale. Some sellers might raise prices to compensate, but I doubt most Amazon customers will notice much of a difference. Notably, it will only apply to products fulfilled from Amazon warehouses rather than seller fulfilled orders.
5
snakeayez5 days ago
+3
Some people can't fathom that gas prices are not the only aspect of the economy that's going to be affected and now..ouila!
3
SuburbanHell5 days ago
+3
As if the surcharge will go down whenever this war ends. Oh, Americans are used to paying it, let's line our pockets more instead.
3
ViolettaQueso5 days ago
+3
Amazon has completely spiraled and it sucks now.
Trump wrecked it too.
3
Javasteam5 days ago
+3
Too bad none of them have enough balls to call it the Trump Tax.
3
UraniumKnight5 days ago
+11
So they gonna stop co-mingling SKUs now so we can control which seller actually sells us the product? No? Thought not.
11
No_Hell_Below_Us4 days ago
+8
Actually, yes.
[Commingling practices will end effective March 31, 2026](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/seller-forums/discussions/t/106d0747-e5c6-44d8-86f3-7669f11238fe)
8
detectiverobert5 days ago
+4
This is Trump’s version of affordability I guess
4
WilyDeject5 days ago
+5
Just stop buying shit through them.
5
lLikeCats5 days ago
+6
I have stopped buying shit I do not absolutely need. If the economy doesn't give a f*** about me, I don't give a f*** about it.
I am saving every penny I can and retiring at 50.
6
Lost_Birthday_31385 days ago
+2
Not in the US you're not
2
_Kine5 days ago
+10
I dropped amazon and you can to.
10
RecipeSpecialist27455 days ago
+2
There are other providers that deliver other than Amazon.
2
Superb-Freedom71445 days ago
+2
Amazon compte augmenter de 3,5% Les frais sur les vendeurs tiers alors que la guerre fait monter les prix du carburant
2
StevenPopeMAG5 days ago
+2
Not excited for Amazon sellers I work with
Also ironic Amazon drives electric vehicles
2
Romek_himself5 days ago
+2
just buy 3.5% less. problem solved
2
DenikaMae5 days ago
+2
Of course they did. God forbid. They allowed their unprecedented billion dollars worth of profits. Be cut into cover cost difference. F****** cads.
2
GoochStubble4 days ago
+2
What happened to the cost of business? Everything is just passed on to someone else now
2
GreenerMark4 days ago
+2
Reason 1,083 not to buy from Amazon.
2
Shake095 days ago
+2
Keep in mind that third party sellers will incorporate this into their costs, and they will keep their margin. The 3.5% can turn into a 5 to 25%or more increase in the price to the end customer.
2
Miserable-Ticket-2445 days ago
+4
The tankers that left the Straight of Hormuz before the war are still traveling and some won’t arrive in places for another few weeks (mid-late April).
Oil tankers move slow as 💩. So some places, like here in the U.S) haven’t even seen the actual full delay of oil.
It’s about to get bad. And even if the Straight is opened up we still have weeks of delays…
👍
4
bwoah07_gp25 days ago
+3
>The temporary charge is effective April 17 for many of the sellers who use Amazon’s fulfillment services
That's not true. It's a permanent change. They will never remove it ever.
3
Smugg-Fruit5 days ago
+4
How about they take a 3.5% loss instead
After all, the orange embarrassment currently painting the oval office walls with his feces couldn't have gotten as far as he did without their ~~electoral interference~~ lobbying.
Maybe they should reap what they goddamn sow.
4
burnmenowz4 days ago
+4
Seems like they're intent on charging us multiple times for a war we didn't ask for.
4
OmgNoodles5 days ago
+2
He sure isn't going to lose money. Another tax on Americans. Bezos sure isn't going to take a hit on fuel prices for us. Americas winning! /s
2
TheFrogWife5 days ago
+2
I started buying from ebay, half of my stuff shows up in Amazon packaging.
2
RVelts5 days ago
+5
Drop shipping. Or package reuse.
5
Bizarrebazaars5 days ago
+2
I mean, at least they’re being reused…
2
rammstoon5 days ago
+2
But how can they slap
2
J3t5et5 days ago
+2
More like, Amazon to slap 3.5% surcharge to be passed on to consumers
2
OBDreams5 days ago
+2
Even though that company can afford to pay EVERYONES gas needs and still make a huge profit.
2
Apopletic_Disbelief5 days ago
+2
At this point I wish I knew a site that was just as convenient to get whatever you want in just a couple days. I'm pretty much over Amazon selling c**** knockoff stuff that looks nothing like the picture once it arrives. Now they are adding a surcharge because they know they can. There just isn't another player to challenge them. If there was I'd cut and run.
2
Necessary-Drag-80005 days ago
+2
Hey MAGA - tired of winning yet? I know I am
2
robustofilth5 days ago
+2
Call it the trump cost.
2
fightfire_withfire4 days ago
+2
Congratulations America!
F****** idiots
2
mrarming4 days ago
+2
And of course the surcharge will go away when the fuel prices come back down. Just like prices were lowered after COVID and inflation came down.
2
BruceStarcrest4 days ago
+2
Covenant only third party sellers?
Making their own sold by product cheaper?
Ergo driving said third parties out?
Like they aren’t making enough multi billion dollar profits.
This timeline sucks.
2
Hortjoob5 days ago
+1
And the prices are never to come down again.. oh wow...
1
Allthingsgaming275 days ago
+2
Richest f****** company has to charge buyers even more because god forbid they make slightly less money. Just like tariffs, inflation, and Covid, higher prices never come back down after whatever “crisis” is over
2
SleepingToDreaming5 days ago
+1
Salvage stores, people; make them your friends and tell these companies to f*** off.
189 Comments