Amazon Tightens Grip on Seller Cash With Card Payment Overhaul

Amazon is changing how it bills sellers for advertising: ad charges will be deducted directly from seller sales proceeds (with cards as backup), shifting payment flows from credit-card networks to account-to-account (A2A) transfers. The move—originally due April 15 and delayed to Aug. 1 after seller pushback—reduces Amazon’s interchange costs, preserves float and card rewards for the platform, and tightens its control over seller liquidity. SMBs are likely to be hit hardest, losing short-term working capital and rewards that previously smoothed cash flow. Combined with recent DD+7 payout timing and a new 3.5% fuel/logistics surcharge, the policy could exacerbate cash pressures for marketplace sellers while signaling a broader industry shift toward marketplaces acting as financial gatekeepers.