Amazon Marketplace

Amazon Marketplace launched in November 2000 and opened to third-party sellers the following year, allowing independent merchants to list new and used products alongside Amazon's own inventory at fixed prices. The platform was designed to expand Amazon's catalog without requiring the company to purchase or store additional inventory. By 2026, it had become one of Amazon's core business pillars, alongside Prime and AWS, with third-party seller services generating over $140 billion in annual revenue.

Sellers use Seller Central to manage listings, pricing, inventory, and fulfillment. The platform offers Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), where Amazon handles storage, packing, and shipping. New sellers can receive up to $50,000 in promotional credits. The marketplace operates in more than 20 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and India, and hosts millions of active sellers offering products across virtually every category.

Amazon Marketplace has faced significant controversies, including counterfeit goods, product safety issues, and antitrust scrutiny. In July 2026, a US Senate committee launched an investigation into potential Chinese influence on marketplace operations, while UK authorities warned that over 10,000 dangerous travel adaptors may have been sold on the platform. Despite these challenges, the marketplace remains a dominant force in global e-commerce, accounting for more than half of all Amazon unit sales. [edit]