I think they were referring to the "end-buyer" price.
I think what GP missed is that this price is likely going to get baked into the end-buyer price, but not by Amazon.
The reason it's likely not baked by Amazon is because Amazon's fulfillment has costs that don't get recouped until an item is sold. If Amazon moves seller goods back and forth through its warehouses, Amazon might never make the money back on the fulfillment service if the item never sells.
Sellers will wind up conveying this additional charge back into their item's price.
Good points. I just wonder why Amazon wouldn't raise the base rate they charge sellers rather than tacking on a "surcharge." It's not as if inflation is transitory :D
Same reason B2C companies do it all the time. While Amazon is notionally B2B, it's got lots of small sellers that probably behave more like consumers, and the business that don't just won't care how the price is characterized.
I think what GP missed is that this price is likely going to get baked into the end-buyer price, but not by Amazon.
The reason it's likely not baked by Amazon is because Amazon's fulfillment has costs that don't get recouped until an item is sold. If Amazon moves seller goods back and forth through its warehouses, Amazon might never make the money back on the fulfillment service if the item never sells.
Sellers will wind up conveying this additional charge back into their item's price.