Technologies

Amazon to Add 3.5% Fulfillment Surcharge as Fuel Costs Rise

The new surcharge will be added to fees paid by third-party sellers in the US and Canada.

Amazon will add a 3.5% fuel and logistics-related surcharge to fulfillment fees it charges third-party merchants, as the war in the Middle East, which began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran at the end of February, continues to drive up fuel costs.

The fee will be applied to third-party sellers across Fulfillment by Amazonin the US and Canada beginning April 17, Amazon said in a note to sellers on Thursday.

«Elevated costs in fulfillment and logistics have increased the cost of operating across the industry,» Amazon wrote in its announcement. «We have absorbed these increased costs so far. However, similar to other major carriers, when costs remain elevated, we implement temporary surcharges on our fulfillment fees to recover a portion of the actual cost increases we are experiencing.»

Amazon said the new surcharge is «meaningfully lower» than what is charged by other major carriers. Its surcharge will average about 17 cents per unit in the US, but the cost will vary based on the item’s size, Amazon said.

Amazon’s announcement comes amid surging gas prices across much of the globe as the war escalates. The national average price for a gallon of gas exceeded $4 per gallon at the end of March for the first time since August 2022, an increase of more than $1 per gallon in one month.

Amazon’s new fee follows a similar surcharge proposed last month by the US Postal Service. The USPS said it will implement a temporary 8% surcharge beginning in April «to better align its costs of transportation with the market.» The proposed increase, which requires the approval of the Postal Regulatory Commission, will affect Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select.

Shipping competitors, such as FedEx and United Parcel Service, have had fuel surcharges in place for years. Due to the ongoing oil crisis and rise in gas prices, they have increased these fees in recent weeks.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im