Breaking: Amazon Delays Seller Payouts with Controversial DD+7 Policy

Recently, Amazon announced a change to its payout schedule. Starting March 12, 2026, sellers will have their funds released seven days after confirmed delivery - a shift from previous practices. Amazon frames it as a standardization move, but many in the seller community are bracing for serious cash flow challenges.

What Exactly Is DD+7?

Here’s how Amazon describes DD+7:

• Once an order is delivered, Amazon will withhold funds for seven days to allow customers time to inspect their purchase and raise issues.

• For example: if you sell something on January 1, it’s delivered January 3, your funds become eligible to be disbursed on January 11.

• Until that point, the funds sit as a “reserve” - meaning even though the sale is complete, you can’t access that money yet.

Amazon justifies this change by saying it's aligning payouts with common practices across global marketplaces and allowing time to account for fees, refunds, or disputes.

Why Sellers Are Alarmed

This adjustment is sparking frustration. Below are the recurring concerns raised by sellers in the thread:

1. Cash flow hit
   Some sellers rely on quick turnover. Holding money an extra week messes with their ability to restock, pay suppliers, or cover daily expenses.

2. Accountability for carrier issues
   A few raised a valid point: what if a delivery scan gets delayed or never recorded? Does that mean Amazon never releases the funds even if the package did arrive?

3. Increasing pressure on FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant)
   Several voices see this as part of a larger push by Amazon to nudge sellers toward FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon). By tightening terms for FBM sellers, Amazon creates stronger incentives to switch.

4. "In line with your feedback" rhetoric
   Some reacted sarcastically to Amazon’s messaging, questioning how withholding funds longer is supposedly in response to seller input.

5. Long, loyal sellers feel blindsided
   Multiple sellers with years of “excellent account health” said they never had reserves and see this as an arbitrary shift. One comment:

What Sellers Are Asking

As the pushback grows, several key questions are emerging:

• Does DD+7 apply only to FBM orders, or all orders? (Amazon Seller Central)

• If a package is delivered but not scanned, will Amazon ever release the funds? (Amazon Seller Central)

• How should sellers prepare financially for this transition?

• Is there leverage for negotiation, especially for longstanding sellers with strong performance?

How to Prepare Your Business

If you’re selling on Amazon (especially FBM), here are some steps to minimize pain:

• Build a cash buffer
  This change means you’ll occasionally sit on unliquid funds. If your margins are thin, that buffer becomes critical.

• Track delivery scans closely
  Keep proof of delivery, timestamped images, or carrier logs. If a scan is delayed, this could help dispute the reserve hold.

• Audit your cash cycles
  Run projections with the extra 7-day delay baked in. See how this affects restocking, supplier payments, and operational costs.

• Consider FBA where it makes sense
  If this change disproportionately affects your FBM business, it may tip the balance toward FBA for certain SKUs.

• Speak up in seller communities
  The more unified the feedback, the more Amazon may adjust or grant exemptions.

Final Word

Amazon’s shift to DD+7 is not just a technical change. It shifts when sellers can access their money—and that makes real difference in how you run your supply chain, cash flow, and holding patterns. Many sellers are rightly skeptical of messaging like “in line with your feedback.” At the end of the day, they’ll judge Amazon by its actions, not its words.