Amazon Reminds Sellers of FBA Inbound Deadlines for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Amazon reminded sellers to monitor FBA inbound timing before Black Friday and Cyber Monday and arrange inventory according to the deadlines.
What are the key facts?
- 1Minimum-split FBA inbound deadline: October 21, 2026
- 2Amazon-optimized split deadline: October 28
- 3Sellers are advised to use Capacity Monitor to check storage capacity
- 4Sellers are advised to maintain approximately 28 days of inventory for each ASIN
- 5Sellers are advised to consider Amazon Warehousing & Distribution for replenishment
- 6The reminder primarily affects cross-border sellers relying on FBA and planning to participate in Q4 promotions
What happened?
Amazon Seller Central’s seller forum published a Q4 preparation reminder on October 21, urging sellers to monitor FBA inbound timing before Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The announcement listed two dates: the deadline for minimum-split FBA inbound shipments is October 21, 2026, and the deadline for Amazon-optimized splits is October 28. Sellers were also advised to use Capacity Monitor to check storage capacity and maintain approximately 28 days of inventory for each ASIN, while considering Amazon Warehousing & Distribution for replenishment. The reminder primarily concerns cross-border sellers relying on FBA, planning to participate in Q4 promotions, and sourcing inventory from China or other overseas production locations. Missing the relevant dates could prevent inventory from reaching the applicable fulfillment centers on time, affecting Prime delivery, promotion eligibility, and estimated delivery dates. Scheduling should therefore account not only for the freight forwarder’s estimated arrival date, but also ocean transport, customs clearance, inbound appointment scheduling, Amazon receiving delays, and time for handling exceptions.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
Sellers relying on FBA and participating in Q4 promotions need to incorporate inbound deadlines, logistics, and Amazon receiving delays into a single schedule. Missing the dates could affect inventory reaching fulfillment centers, Prime delivery, promotion eligibility, and estimated delivery dates.
What should sellers do now?
- 1This week, create an inbound schedule for each ASIN at FBA stores participating in Q4 promotions, including ocean transport, customs clearance, appointment scheduling, and receiving delays. Completion standard: each ASIN schedule identifies the October 21 or October 28 deadline.Procurement List
- 2This week, check storage capacity in Capacity Monitor for FBA stores participating in promotions and verify inventory coverage by ASIN. Completion standard: each ASIN has at least approximately 28 days of inventory; list those below the threshold for replenishment.
- 3This week, review logistics and appointment status for inventory from China or other overseas production locations, identify potentially delayed FBA shipments, and assess replenishment through Amazon Warehousing & Distribution. Completion standard: create an exception-shipment list and assign an owner.