Prime Day is usually a no-brainer. Big discounts, bigger traffic, and a shot at a serious sales spike. But this year? A growing number of Amazon sellers are saying “no thanks.” Some Sellers Are Sitting Out Prime Day
And honestly, they might be onto something. The reason comes down to two words: tariff costs.
Tariffs Are Changing the Math
With import fees on the rise, profit margins are already tighter than usual. Add in the deep discounts Amazon pushes for Prime Day, and it’s a tough ask. Offering 25 percent off might be doable in a low-cost year. But when you’re paying more to source, ship, and store your inventory, promotions can quickly turn into losses.
This year, plenty of sellers are taking a hard look at the numbers and deciding to sit it out.
The Volume Play Doesn’t Work for Everyone
For big brands with deep stock and huge reach, Prime Day is still a volume game. But if you’re a small or mid-sized seller, the math changes. Deep discounts without wide margins can crush your ability to reorder, restock, or fulfill on time.
Sitting out is strategy.
How to Stay Competitive Without Joining the Promo Rush
Not running a Prime Day deal? You’re not alone. And you’re not stuck, either. Here are a few seller-smart moves that don’t require slashing your prices:
- Double down on channels you own – Your website, your email list, your loyal repeat buyers.
- Create bundles or exclusive product drops – Add value without racing to the bottom.
- Use inventory data to plan ahead – Push what’s profitable, not just what’s trending.
Sometimes, the best sales strategy is knowing when not to run a sale.
Your Backend Should Be as Smart as Your Strategy
Skipping a major promo event only works if your operations are flexible. The more nimble your fulfillment setup, the easier it is to switch gears without scrambling.
Ordoro helps sellers manage inventory across multiple channels, automate workflows, and ship smarter. When the market shifts, your backend needs to shift too and we’re here to help you do just that.
Want to stress less over promo planning? Talk to an Ordoro expert and make sure your systems are ready for the strategy that works best for your business.