Sent Items #230: Amazon's 3.5% Surcharge, FedEx Returns & The $130B Limbo

Welcome to the April 5th edition of Sent Items.

Happy Passover and Easter to those who celebrate!

A massive thank you to everyone who joined us for the Miami VIP Dinner on Tuesday. We packed the room with a group of 30 incredible supply chain leaders, operators, brand founders, 3PLs, carriers and logistics tech companies.

While we were enjoying good food and conversations in Miami, the macro environment threw a few more curveballs. Amazon just quietly slapped a 3.5% fuel surcharge on sellers, the UN is sounding the alarm on global trade due to the Strait of Hormuz closure, and the $130 billion tariff refund queue is turning into an existential crisis for SMBs.

But it’s not all headwinds - we also saw one of the most surprising logistics partnerships of the decade form this week between Amazon and FedEx.

Let’s get into it.

- Matt

Amazon & FedEx: Frenemies on Returns In a move nobody had on their 2026 bingo card, Amazon and FedEx are teaming up. GeekWire reports that the two logistics giants - who famously severed ties years ago - are collaborating on a new e-commerce returns initiative. Amazon will now allow customers to drop off unboxed returns at thousands of FedEx Office locations. For Amazon, it’s a necessary expansion of its consolidated returns network. for FedEx, it’s a desperate play for foot traffic and volume as they battle UPS. Source: GeekWire

Amazon's 3.5% Surcharge Hits Sellers Just as brands were modeling their Q2 margins, Amazon announced a new 3.5% fuel and inflation surcharge for sellers using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). With ocean rates climbing and domestic carriers hiking costs, Amazon is simply passing the buck down the chain. If you rely heavily on FBA, you need to re-evaluate your pricing strategy immediately.

The Tariff Refund Crisis: Waiting is the Hardest Part The Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs, but the victory is ringing hollow for many. The WSJ highlights several businesses that are currently in crisis mode. The estimated $130 billion in illegally collected duties is stuck in an administrative bottleneck at Customs and Border Protection (CBP). For brands that drained their cash reserves to pay the tariffs in the first place, waiting 12 to 18 months for the refund check might be a death sentence. Source: WSJ

Hormuz Closure Strangles Global Trade The geopolitical situation in the Middle East has reached a tipping point. Following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran conflict, a U.N. agency is officially projecting a "big drop" in global trade. With roughly 20% of the world's oil and massive volumes of container traffic forced to reroute, the cascading delays and fuel spikes will be felt by every importer well into Q3. Source: UN Trade and Development

Third Person Updates & Content

Applications Open: The September Retreat (Sept 28-30) We are already building our next Logistics & Leadership Retreat, and applications are officially open for our fall event (Sept 28-30) here in Nashville. If you are an operator looking to connect with the best in the business, apply now. We have begun accepting folks, and applications officially close in two weeks. (Note: We also have a few select sponsorship opportunities open for September - reply to this email if you are interested in more info).

MATT’S CHATS Webinar: Mark your calendars for next Wednesday. We are hosting our monthly MATT’S CHATS webinar discussing how the rules of global commerce are shifting. Join me on Wednesday, April 8th, with leaders from Passport Global, MasonHub and TomboyX for a strategic breakdown of how modern brands are turning regulatory challenges into competitive advantages. REGISTER HERE

The Last Mile Lens: UniUni Interview I recently sat down with the team at UniUni for Part 1 of their Last Mile Lens series. We discussed the massive shifts in the alternative carrier market, why regional networks are winning, and what brands need to look for when diversifying away from the Big Two. 👉 Read the Interview Here

Where I'll Be

🏙️ SubSummit (Kansas City | May 13-15) I’m heading to KC in May for SubSummit, the biggest and most valuable event for subscription brands. I have an exclusive promo code coming for brands who want to attend. Comped tickets for brands (incl travel stipend). Reach out for an intro.

🚚 Home Delivery World (Nashville | May 20-21) HDW is coming to our backyard! Third Person will once again have a booth in the Startup Zone on the floor. We are also hosting a dinner and happy hour throughout the week. If you are coming to Nashville for the show, let me know so we can get you on the list.

Have a great week!

- Matt

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