The EU Adds a Second Fee to Every Temu, Shein and AliExpress Parcel, Amazon's CEO Says Investors Are Sleeping on Its Stores
2 min read · November 2, 2026 · Covering November 1 · 5 stories from 3 sources
Yesterday in ecommerce: a new EU fee landed on parcels from Temu, Shein and AliExpress, and Amazon's CEO pushed back on doubts about its stores business, pointing to Alexa for Shopping. 5 stories, about 2 minutes.
01Regulation
The EU adds a second fee to every Temu, Shein and AliExpress parcel
A new 2 euro processing fee took effect on parcels entering the EU from outside the bloc, stacking on the 3 euro import charge in place since July. The fee applies per item type, so a parcel with a T-shirt and a watch costs 4 euros. EU officials say it funds customs checks and curbs the flood of cheap parcels from Shein, Temu and AliExpress, about five million a day.
For your store:If you ship into the EU from outside it, costs keep rising. If you compete with Temu or Shein there, this narrows their price edge a bit more.
Amazon's CEO says investors are sleeping on its stores business
On Amazon's Q3 earnings call, CEO Andy Jassy said "some folks are sleeping a bit" on how far its stores business has progressed, calling it a business of hundreds of billions of dollars with double digit operating margins once ads are included. He pointed to Alexa for Shopping and to fresh groceries and everyday essentials, which grew roughly three times faster than the rest of the stores business.
For your store:Jassy's number worth borrowing: US shoppers using Alexa for Shopping spend 50% more per order. If voice or chat ordering fits your store, it's worth testing.
Most shoppers still aren't starting their search with AI, survey finds
Only 10% of US consumers currently begin product discovery with AI, and just 14% of Gen Z and millennials do, according to AlixPartners' 2026 Consumer Sentiment Index of over 9,000 shoppers. Adoption splits sharply by income: nearly 70% of those earning $150,000 or more call AI shopping important, versus 53% of those earning under $45,000. Most shoppers still aren't ready to let an AI agent complete a purchase for them.
For your store:AI search is growing but not yet a mass habit. Keep your product data clean and structured now, so you're ready when more shoppers start there.
Breuninger expands its online store from 13 to 24 European markets
German department store group Breuninger added 11 markets to its online store, including Finland, Ireland, Portugal, Greece and the Baltic states, each with its own English-language storefront. Its marketplace, live in Germany since 2020, is also expanding into Poland, Austria and the Netherlands, alongside its BEYOND loyalty program. CEO Holger Blecker called it "a major and important step" in the retailer's internationalization.
For your store:Smaller markets with less competition can be easier to win than saturated ones. If you already ship internationally, check demand in these countries before rivals arrive.
Amazon brings no-return refunds to FBA sellers across the UK and EU
Amazon extended FBA Returnless Resolutions, which refunds customers without requiring them to send items back, to the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain. Sellers set a price ceiling between 1 and 75 euros and can apply it to their whole catalog or chosen listings; Amazon decides which returns qualify based on price, return history and account standing. Sellers get no compensation for items customers are allowed to keep.
For your store:This can cut return shipping and storage costs on cheap items, but you absorb the lost stock. Model it on your lowest-margin, bulkiest SKUs first.
The Daily Checkout is a daily summary written by KonvertiQ. Every story links to its original source, where you will find full reporting and context. Covered today: Ecommerce News Europe, Retail Dive, TodoAlicante.