“Ecommerce Briefs” is my occasional sequence on information and developments that influence on-line retailers. On this installment, I tackle Amazon’s vacation payment enhance, new Prime advantages, and the corporate’s ongoing competitors with Walmart in subscription companies and healthcare.
New Vacation FBA Charges
Amazon just lately introduced it’s elevating charges for Success by Amazon sellers through the vacation purchasing season because it struggles with rising prices. From October 15 via January 14, sellers who use FBA can pay a 35-cent surcharge per merchandise bought within the U.S. or Canada. That is the primary time Amazon has elevated vendor charges for the vacations.
The corporate advised sellers in an e mail that it’s implementing the surcharge as a result of “…bills are reaching new heights.” It’s the second new payment levied on retailers this yr. In April, Amazon imposed a 5% gas and inflation surcharge.
Perks Competitors
In August, Amazon introduced new perks for its U.S. Prime members. They will now store for merchandise from sure retailers on the Amazon app and Amazon.com and have the products delivered the identical day to pick ZIP codes in additional than 10 cities.
The partnerships are with omnichannel attire service provider Pacsun, well being and vitamin retailer GNC, kitchen items supplier Sur La Desk, world clothes retailer Superdry, and omnichannel attire model Diesel. Manufacturers and retailers promoting via Prime may have entry to Amazon’s logistics and achievement functionality along with quick supply to customers.
Amazon values the perk at $59. Additionally in August, Amazon partnered with meals supply agency Grubhub to present Prime members a Grubhub+ membership for one yr. Usually the membership prices $9.99 a month.
Amazon is increasing Prime advantages to safe member retention at a time when the variety of new subscribers is dwindling. Development in subscription income was 10% in Q2 2022 in comparison with 30% in the identical quarter of 2021. Amazon is trying to offer extra worth to Prime members and maintain members from leaving. Amazon first provided its Prime subscription in 2005 at $79 yearly and remained at that stage for years.
In February 2022, Amazon raised the subscription worth from $119 to $139. Some members are evaluating whether or not Prime remains to be worth. In April of this yr, in a letter to shareholders, Amazon mentioned Prime had greater than 200 million members. Shopper Intelligence Analysis Companions has estimated the quantity at 172 million.
Walmart, alternatively, has stored its Walmart+ program at $98 per yr. It just lately introduced a partnership with Paramount for a streaming service to Walmart+ members: a Paramount+ Important subscription (with ads) at no further price.
Amazon and Walmart will seemingly proceed to compete for subscribers by enriching their respective choices via 2023.
Walmart+ members now obtain a free Paramount+ Important subscription.
Healthcare
Two weeks in the past, Amazon disclosed that it might shut down its much-heralded telehealth service, Amazon Care, on December 31. The service — which affords digital pressing care companies, free telehealth consults, and in-home visits from nurses — started in 2019 as a pilot program for Amazon workers in Seattle.
This previous February, the corporate expanded the digital choices nationwide for its workers and in addition to enterprise corporations. Nonetheless, in an announcement to workers asserting this system’s finish, the corporate mentioned Amazon Care “…shouldn’t be a whole sufficient providing for the big enterprise prospects we’ve been focusing on and wasn’t going to work long-term.” However, CEO Andy Jassy has said that as ecommerce progress slows, Amazon is trying to healthcare for extra income.
Whereas Amazon is ending its digital care program, Walmart introduced on September 7 that it might broaden digital healthcare companies in 2023. Walmart and healthcare conglomerate UnitedHealth Group are becoming a member of forces in a 10-year plan to offer preventive care to seniors 65 and up in sure Medicare Benefit plans and digital healthcare for all age teams — beginning with 15 Walmart Well being areas in Florida and Georgia. This system will finally embrace different areas.
