Q4 2026 for Online Sellers in Germany: FBA Fees, Deadlines, Discount Pricing Rules and a Checklist to Christmas

In 2026, Black Friday falls on Friday, 27 November, and Cyber Monday on 30 November. Christmas Eve is a Thursday. For online sellers this means the key deadlines come earlier than it feels. Some of them run out this week.

This guide collects what has been officially published for the 2026 holiday season and turns it into a checklist through January. Where there is no official information for 2026 yet, we say so. All information as of 19 October 2026.

Amazon FBA: what costs more in peak season

Fulfilment fees. According to Amazon's European rate card (valid from 1 July 2026), peak-season fulfilment fees apply to Fulfilment by Amazon from 15 October 2026 to 14 January 2027, excluding apparel. From 15 January 2027 the regular rates apply again, unchanged from 2026.

Amazon puts the surcharge for Germany at an average of €0.27 per item. It applies to small and standard parcels. According to Amazon, oversize items, Low-Price FBA items and deliveries to customers in other EU countries are excluded. For how this compares with last year, see our E-Commerce kompakt of 13 October (in German).

An example from the rate card: a standard parcel up to 900 g shipped from Germany only costs €3.66 instead of €3.44, i.e. €0.22 more. The average is useful for rough planning. For your pricing, use the rates for your own size and weight tiers.

On top of that comes the 1.5% fuel and logistics surcharge on FBA fulfilment fees, which Amazon has charged in the German store, among others, since 17 April 2026. It also applies during peak season.

Storage fees. Monthly storage fees rise every year from October to December. According to the rate card, for non-dangerous standard-size goods (excluding apparel, shoes, eyewear and bags):

• January to September: €27.54 per m³ per month
• October to December: €52.20 per m³ per month

For oversize items the rates are €21.78 and €34.49. A storage utilisation surcharge may be added if your stock is high relative to your sales over the last 13 weeks. This argues against stocking up "just in case": every cubic metre that does not sell by December costs almost twice as much in these months.

Amazon deadlines for Black Friday week

Amazon has published the deadlines for peak 2026 in the Seller Forums:

• 21 October 2026: stock must be in European fulfilment centres to be offered with the Prime badge during Black Friday week.
• 18 November 2026: deadline for submitting deals for Black Friday week.
• Promotion fees in Germany: €16 flat per promotion plus 0.75% of promotion sales, capped at €1,000.

The 21 October deadline concerns the Prime badge during the event week. Stock that arrives later may not be available in time for the event.

Capacity: Amazon does not publish specific capacity limits. According to the announcement, fulfilment centres focus on receiving inbound shipments in September and October and on customer orders in November and December. During peak there are only limited time windows for inbound deliveries. Sellers expecting more volume can request additional space through Capacity Manager. Your current limits are shown in Seller Central.

Discount advertising: the 30-day lowest price

If you advertise a price reduction in Germany, for example with a strike-through price or "-20%", § 11 of the Price Indication Ordinance (PAngV) requires you to state the lowest total price you charged consumers in the 30 days before the reduction.

On 26 September 2024 the Court of Justice of the EU (case C-330/23, Aldi Süd) clarified that the advertised reduction itself must be based on this 30-day lowest price, not on the price charged most recently. A note in the small print is not enough.

For Black Friday this means:

• For a promotion starting on 27 November, the relevant period is 28 October to 26 November.
• If you were cheaper at any point in that period, that price is the reference. Raising the price shortly before the promotion does not give you a bigger discount.
• Keep a record of your price history per item and channel so you can prove the reference price.

§ 11(4) PAngV lists exceptions, including individual price reductions and perishable goods. A special rule applies to gradual price reductions (§ 11(2)).

Returns during the holiday season

Amazon: Last year Amazon extended the return window for purchases between 1 November and 25 December. The rule also applied to Marketplace sellers. As of 19 October 2026 we have not found an announcement for 2026 in official sources. Do not carry over last year's rules without checking: watch the announcements in Seller Central and update your return policy once the 2026 rules are confirmed.

Your own shop: Since 19 June 2026, § 356a of the German Civil Code (BGB) applies. If you conclude distance contracts with consumers online, you must provide an electronic withdrawal function labelled "Vertrag widerrufen" ("withdraw from contract") or an equivalent. Check before the rush that it works and is easy to find.

Kaufland, eBay, Otto: We had no official information on extended return windows for 2026 at the time of writing. Check each marketplace's seller area.

Shipping cut-off before Christmas

DHL has published its 2026 deadlines: with a regular pickup up to and including Tuesday, 22 December, DHL parcels within Germany are generally delivered by Thursday, 24 December. There are generally no pickups on 24 December.

Note:

• DHL recommends handing parcels over 1 to 3 days earlier.
• DHL Kleinpaket and bulky goods are not covered by this promise.
• For islands, remote areas and bulky goods, DHL recommends 2 to 3 days' extra lead time.
• International shipments have earlier deadlines, staggered by destination (between 7 and 21 December according to DHL).

Communicate your own order cut-off for delivery before Christmas in your shop and listings, with a buffer before pickup.

Checklist: week by week to January

By 21 October

• FBA stock for Black Friday week must be in European fulfilment centres.
• Factor peak fees (since 15 October) and the 1.5% surcharge into your prices.

26 October to 8 November

• Set prices for promotion items. The 30-day window for Black Friday discounts starts on 28 October.
• Save price history per item and channel.
• Review stock levels: anything unsold by December incurs higher storage fees.

9 to 22 November

• Submit deals for Black Friday week by 18 November.
• Check strike-through prices and discount claims against the 30-day lowest price.
• Test the withdrawal function and returns information in your own shop.

23 to 30 November

• Black Friday (27 Nov) and Cyber Monday (30 Nov): check stock, orders and price changes daily.
• Handle customer enquiries and cancellations promptly.

1 to 13 December

• Check Amazon's holiday returns announcement and update your return policy.
• Plan final replenishments and finish international shipping early.
• Announce your order cut-off for pre-Christmas delivery in your shop and listings.

14 to 24 December

• Plan merchant-fulfilled shipping so parcels are picked up a few days before 22 December.
• On 22 December, apply the order cut-off for delivery by Christmas Eve.

January 2027

• Lower storage fees apply again from 1 January, regular FBA fulfilment fees from 15 January.
• Process holiday returns quickly and review the season.

Keep an eye on orders on the go

At peak, what matters is spotting problems early. The Seller2Go app shows orders with payment and shipping status on your smartphone and alerts you if a shop unexpectedly loses its connection.

Note: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Fees and deadlines may change. The current information in Seller Central and from your carrier is authoritative. As of 19 October 2026.