Amazon hiking some prices; blames higher fuel costs

Retailer Amazon will be adding a new 3.5% surcharge on third-party sellers starting this month. The change comes as a part of the rising energy cost as the conflict with Iran continues. 

What we know:

Amazon told the Associated Press, the charge is expected to take effect starting on April 17 for many of the sellers who use Amazon’s fulfillment services. 

The surcharge is due to sustained elevated costs. The retailer said up until now they have absorbed these increases in costs, but the temporary surcharges will be necessary to partially recover these costs. 

What they’re saying:

“Elevated costs in fuel and logistics have increased the cost of operating across the industry,” Amazon said in a statement.

Dig deeper:

According to the Associated Press, the fuel and logistics-related surcharge will apply to U.S. and Canadian sellers that use the Fulfillment by Amazon option. However, on May 2 the surcharge will begin to impact sellers  using the Buy with Prime and Multi-Channel Fulfillment options.