Thursday 8 October 2026News and analysis for online sellers
The Sourcing Herald Sourcing, wholesale & ecommerce insights.

Business Guides

Running an ecommerce business: cash flow, compliance, operations, and planning.

  1. FTC, Utah and Nevada sue Lens.com over a “Taxes & fees” checkout charge: what online sellers can learn

    The complaint alleges contact lens prices advertised in search ads roughly doubled at checkout through a mandatory charge placed below the visible screen. Lens.com has not been found liable.

  2. Amazon Prime settlement payments expand: cap rises from $51 to $200 and automatic payments start 1 October

    A revised court order extends FTC settlement payments to customers who used 11 to 20 Prime benefits. More than $845 million has been paid so far, and sellers who run subscriptions can read it as a lesson in enrolment and cancellation design.

  3. FTC settlements with Humboldt and Nuvei: why payment processors are screening online merchants harder

    Two payment processors agreed in September to pay a combined $16.85 million and to screen merchants more closely. The orders show what processors look for, and why a legitimate new seller may face more questions.

  4. Peak season 2026 compared: Amazon FBA, UPS, FedEx and USPS surcharge dates and amounts

    Four sets of holiday charges start between 27 September and 15 October. The per-parcel residential surcharge peaks at $0.75 at UPS and $0.80 at FedEx, and Amazon’s peak fulfilment add-on averages $0.32 a unit.

  5. The FTC’s proposed personalized-pricing statement: what online sellers need to know

    The FTC wants businesses that use personal data to set prices to say so clearly. The statement is not binding, comments now close on 25 September, and the line between personalized pricing and ordinary repricing matters to sellers.

  6. How to claim IEEPA tariff refunds through CBP’s CAPE portal: a guide for small importers

    Refunds of tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court are not automatic. Only the importer of record or its customs broker can file, the refund goes to an ACH account, and entries older than 80 days past liquidation may need a protest instead.