Amazon public relations manager Jonathan Hillson said The edge in an email that “the 2% Seller Fulfilled Prime fee was intended to cover our costs,” but added that the company decided not to move forward because it feared “seller sentiment related to the fee” could affect participation. in the program.

Hillson went on to say that Amazon is “committed to supporting the success of sellers, including listening to their feedback.” According to a Bloomberg reportAmazon did not offer an explanation for the fee when it told merchants in August.

The charge would have only affected those in the Seller Fulfilled Prime program, which gives sellers the option to continue shipping their own products. Without giving up the coveted “Prime” label that comes with the promise of delivery in one or two days. This could appeal to companies that want more control over how their products are handled rather than handing them over to another company’s increasingly disgruntled employees.

The Federal Trade Commission is planning a lawsuit alleging that Amazon is forcing its sellers to accept deals they would rather not be a part of. FTC expected to file antitrust lawsuit fixed on that same idea. The regulator is already suing the company over allegations that it tricks customers into signing up for its Prime service.

Update September 20, 2023, 7:40 pm ET: Updated with a link to Bloomberg’s reports.