TikTok Shop officially kills “Seller Shipping”
In a move that has been rumored for months, TikTok Shop US officially confirmed this week that the “Seller Shipping” option is being discontinued.
The details: As reported by Modern Retail and AMZ Prep this week, TikTok sent a memo to U.S. sellers stating that the ability to fulfill orders using their own carrier accounts will be phased out starting February 25, 2026, with a hard completion date of March 31, 2026. Sellers must migrate to “Fulfilled by TikTok” (FBT) or use the platform’s native shipping service.
The context: This mirrors Amazon’s strategy from the mid-2010s: control the logistics to control the customer experience. TikTok aims to standardize delivery times to compete with Prime, but this mandate forces brands with established 3PLs to either integrate complex APIs or physically move stock to TikTok’s warehouses.
Bottom line: If you currently self-fulfill TikTok orders, your operation is about to hit a wall. You have roughly 50 days to overhaul your fulfillment workflow before your listings are suppressed.
Amazon expands “Rural Delivery” network
Amazon is making a renewed push to own the last mile in America’s most remote zip codes.
The details: On Tuesday (Feb 3), Amazon announced a massive expansion of its rural delivery network, committing to transform rural delivery stations into “hybrid hubs.” These hubs will not only sort packages but also hold high-velocity inventory to enable Same-Day and Next-Day delivery in over 4,000 smaller cities and towns.
The context: This is a direct attack on the USPS and UPS, who have historically dominated rural delivery due to the high “cost to serve.” By keeping inventory closer to rural customers, Amazon reduces its reliance on expensive third-party final mile carriers.
Bottom line: If you sell to customers in the Midwest or rural South, Amazon’s delivery speed is about to get much faster, raising the bar for your own shipping promises.
Returns fraud hits 18% of global volume
A new report released this week confirms that returns are bleeding retailers faster than ever.
The details: ACI Worldwide’s latest data, released Tuesday (Feb 3), shows that global refund volumes surged 18.1% year-over-year in 2025. The growth in refunds is outpacing the growth in sales, driven largely by “policy abuse” (wardrobing) and organized retail crime.
The context: The “free returns” culture of the last decade is colliding with the economic reality of 2026. Retailers are increasingly being forced to implement restocking fees and shorter return windows to survive.
Bottom line: Review your return policy. If you are still offering a 30-day window with free return shipping, you are an outlier—and a target for fraud.
Maersk & Hapag-Lloyd launch “Gemini” Network
The new global shipping alliance officially began operations this week, promising a “hub and spoke” revolution for ocean freight.
The details: On Sunday (Feb 1), the “Gemini Cooperation” between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd officially went live. The alliance has immediately begun routing vessels through its new network of 29 mainliner services. Crucially, customer advisories this week confirmed they are testing a return to the Suez Canal for specific services to cut transit times.
The context: The shipping world has been waiting for this launch for a year. By using fewer “direct” port calls and more “shuttles” from massive hubs, Gemini aims to achieve 90% schedule reliability – a figure unheard of in ocean freight.
Bottom line: Watch your transit times closely in February. If the “hub and spoke” model has teething issues, cargo could get stuck at transshipment ports.
USPS reports improved holiday performance
The Postal Service released its peak season performance report this week, claiming a victory for service reliability despite rate hikes.
The details: On Wednesday (Feb 4), the USPS reported that it delivered 16 billion items during the holiday period with an average delivery time of 2.5 days, an improvement over last year.
The context: The USPS has successfully stabilized its network after the chaotic rollout of its “Delivering for America” plan. However, this service improvement comes at a cost: shippers are now feeling the full weight of the January 2026 rate increases on their daily invoices.
Bottom line: Service is better, but you are paying for it. The days of “cheap and slow” USPS are over; now it’s “reliable and market-rate.”
Target faces new global supply chain hurdles
Supply chain ethics are back in the spotlight this week.
The details: Modern Retail reported on Tuesday (Feb 3) that “ICE” (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) compliance has become a national issue for Target, impacting their global sourcing strategies.
The context: As the U.S. government tightens regulations on forced labor and supply chain transparency, major retailers like Target are being forced to audit their suppliers more aggressively than ever.
Bottom line: Expect these compliance requirements to trickle down. If you sell wholesale to Target (or want to), have your factory audits ready.
Note: This information is intended to inform Hermeslines clients and partners about industry developments, including decisions of courts and administrative bodies. Nothing in this update should be construed as legal advice, a legal opinion, or customs consulting. Readers should not act upon the information contained in this alert without seeking the advice of a licensed customs broker or legal counsel. Views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of Hermeslines or its clients. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Hermeslines does not claim ownership of the original reporting; please refer to the linked sources for full articles and original attribution. This content is intended for commentary, news reporting, and educational purposes under the Fair Use provisions of Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal or customs advice.
References
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TikTok Shop Ends Seller Shipping: Modern Retail (Jan 28, 2026). https://www.modernretail.co/operations/exclusive-some-tiktok-shop-sellers-are-pulling-back-as-the-platform-moves-to-end-independent-shipping-in-the-u-s/
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Amazon Rural Delivery: Business Wire (Feb 3, 2026). https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260203913728/en/Amazon-Sets-New-Prime-Delivery-Speed-Record-in-2025-With-Over-13-Billion-Items-Arriving-the-Same-or-Next-Day-Around-the-World
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Returns Fraud Report: ACI Worldwide (Feb 3, 2026). https://investor.aciworldwide.com/news-releases/news-release-details/aci-worldwide-report-global-refund-volumes-surge-18-retailers
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Maersk Gemini Launch: BusinessDay (Jan 31, 2026) https://www.maersk.com/news/articles/2025/01/31/maersk-to-launch-its-new-ocean-network#
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USPS Holiday Performance: Parcel and Postal Technology International (Feb 4, 2026). https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/delivery/usps-reports-faster-deliveries-and-higher-customer-satisfaction-during-holiday-peak.html
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Target Supply Chain Issue: Modern Retail (Feb 3, 2026). https://www.modernretail.co/operations/exclusive-some-tiktok-shop-sellers-are-pulling-back-as-the-platform-moves-to-end-independent-shipping-in-the-u-s/
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