🛑DHL Freezes High-Value US Orders

Hey hustlers, wild week ahead! 💣

DHL’s tariff-driven policy shift is sending cross-border merchants scrambling. eBay’s new AI tool cuts listing time in half. Retailers are battling shrinkage with smart stores. Acquirers are fighting back with fraud-busting AI, and SMBs are bundling up to survive financial stress.

Let’s unpack it all. 🧳

ECOMMERCE NEWS

📦 DHL Halts $800+ Orders to U.S. Amid Tariff Turbulence

Starting April 21, DHL will pause all shipments over $800 sent to U.S. consumers, citing new customs rules tied to recent tariff hikes. The move follows changes that now require formal entry processing for packages above $800 down from the previous $2,500 threshold.

DHL is the first major logistics player to take this step, potentially signaling broader disruptions across international eCommerce.

💥 Key Impacts:

• Millions of global parcels face delays and added costs

• U.S. consumers may pay more as platforms adjust pricing or add fees

• Business-to-business shipments will continue, but slower processing is likely

Amazon is surveying its sellers to assess the tariff impact, while Shein and Temu are already planning price hikes in response to the de minimis rule rollback.

With inflation and tariffs reshaping global eCommerce, digital wallets are emerging as a crucial cushion, helping retailers preserve smooth checkout experiences as pricing pressure intensifies.

SPONSORED BY SARL

Influencers Are the New Billboards, Are You Showing Up?

In today's DTC world, influencers are where attention lives and SARAL is how smart brands are scaling their presence.

SARAL’s all-in-one platform helps you find niche influencers, automate your outreach, manage relationships, ship products, and track results—all without needing a dozen different tools.

What you’ll love:

• Fast onboarding—start seeing results in days, not months

• Affordable pricing—no confusing tiers or hidden fees

• Real support—monthly strategy sessions + instant Slack access

• Results that scale—brands like Obvi, Salud, Branch, Solawave use SARAL to get hundreds of creators talking about them,

Paid ads are getting more expensive. Influencer content is authentic, high-converting, and cost-effective. With SARAL, you own the relationship, the content, and the results.

👉 Book a free demo today.

ECOMMERCE AI

🤖 eBay’s AI Listing Tool Slashes Seller Workload by 50%

eBay is leaning into AI and it’s making life a lot easier for sellers. The company says its new AI-powered “magical listing tool” has cut the steps to create a listing in half on mobile.

The tool, now rolling out in the U.S., U.K., and Germany, auto-fills item details after a seller uploads just a product photo and title. Sellers then simply review and approve suggestions.

📱 Why it matters:

• 50% fewer steps means faster listings

• Designed with mobile-first simplicity

• Early testing showed quicker turnaround and better listing quality

Over 10 million sellers globally have used eBay’s AI features, helping create over 100 million listings and billions in gross merchandise value (GMV).

This is part of a broader push: eBay is also using AI for bulk listings, enhanced backgrounds, and even agent-based shopping tools through a partnership with OpenAI Operator.

The company expects to keep updating its tools for even greater accuracy throughout 2025, making it easier than ever to hustle on eBay.

ECOMMERCE TRENDS

📱 Inside the Quiet Boom of Retail Lockers and Smart Shelves

Retailers are quietly reinventing convenience and cutting down on theft with Smart Stores, retail lockers, and contactless shelves.

These small-footprint setups are popping up in airports, gyms, military bases, and even pickleball courts. Shoppers tap to pay, unlock cabinets, and grab what they need, with no scanning, no cash, and no checkout lines.

🧠 What’s powering the shift?

• AI-driven shelves that track inventory in real time

• Weight sensors that instantly detect what’s taken

• Telematics that recommend better merchandising

🎯 Self-service setups also solve labor shortages and offer 24/7 access, something post-pandemic shoppers increasingly expect. From quick-service restaurants to military bases, frictionless retail is booming. Expect these smart setups to multiply fast.

DIGITAL PAYMENTS

🛡️ Acquirers Step Up Battle Against Fraud With GenAI, Biometrics Push

Fraud is evolving and so are acquirers. As mobile payments and omnichannel demand rise, acquirers are upgrading their tech to keep up.

A new study found that more than 40% of acquirers reported rising fraud over the past year, especially among smaller players. The top culprits? AI-powered scams, cyberattacks, and deepfakes.

🔍 What’s changing?

• 80% of acquirers now deploy AI, ML, and automated fraud responses

• 72% say fraud and payment issues block unified commerce goals

• 55% already support biometrics, fingerprint or facial scan authentication

📈 What's next:

• 47% of acquirers want to adopt GenAI for fraud detection

• 30% plan to implement behavioral analytics

• Most tech will come from plug-and-play third-party tools

As faster payments outpace legacy defenses, real-time, intelligent fraud prevention is no longer optional — it’s mission-critical.

ECOMMERCE TRENDS

💼 Small Businesses Embrace Simplicity to Survive Financial Complexity

As economic uncertainty rises, cash flow clarity is king — and small businesses are turning to bundled financial tools to stay ahead.

SMBs face rising complexity from inflation, labor challenges, and shifting consumer habits. The solution? Integrated banking + payments tools that streamline operations and unlock capital.

💳 What's changing:

• SMBs are increasingly using credit (even personal cards) to stretch working capital

• 80% of consumers are cutting back on spending, causing downstream pressure

• Bundled services help SMBs settle payments faster, manage A/R, and open secured credit lines

📦 Bonus: Businesses can negotiate better supplier deals when they have faster visibility and access to funds.

This “choose your own adventure” approach to financial management lets small businesses control their money flow from a single dashboard. It’s not just survival — it’s smarter, leaner growth.

Signing off,

The Merchant @CartHustle