Amazon Order Fulfillment Settings FAQ

Amazon's order fulfillment settings can be intricate, so here are answers to common questions that sellers often encounter:

Can I enable weekend operations for both Prime and non-Prime offers?

Enabling operation on either Saturday or Sunday is mandatory for Prime offers. For non-Prime offers, it's optional to enable operation on both Saturday and Sunday. You can set this under General Fulfillment Settings or Fulfillment Settings for Shipping Region Automation.

Can the delivery promise reflect Saturday deliveries by my carrier?

Amazon automatically adjusts the delivery promise based on configured shipping services that deliver on Saturdays or Sundays. If at least one shipping service supports weekend delivery, the delivery promise will reflect this.

Is the customer-facing cut-off time the same as the one I set?

No, customers see a cut-off time one hour earlier than the one you set to allow for order processing.

How can order cut-off times be adjusted?

If using Shipping Region Automation, adjust the last pick-up time for the shipping service. For non-automation, set the cut-off time under General Fulfillment Settings, which applies to all operational days.

What is the last pick-up time for shipping service used for?

The last pick-up time restricts the order cut-off time and affects shipping service availability when purchasing labels through Buy Shipping.

How are order cut-off times managed with multiple shipping services?

Configure order cut-off times for each shipping service based on carrier pick-up times to ensure timely processing and delivery.

How does Amazon handle order cut-off times with multiple warehouses?

Amazon automatically adjusts the promised delivery date based on customer location and shipping from multiple warehouses.

What if the carrier doesn't pick up on weekends despite my settings?

Ensure carriers pick up on selected weekend operation days to meet Amazon's shipping requirements, especially for Prime offers.

How can I activate weekend delivery promises?

Weekend delivery is automatically activated with eligible shipping services. Configure shipping regions accordingly to reflect weekend delivery promises.

Can I opt out of weekend delivery?

For Prime offers using Premium Shipping Options, weekend delivery is required. Configure shipping regions with non-weekend delivery services to opt out for non-Prime offers.

How does order cut-off time impact shipping requirements?

Orders before the cut-off time must ship the same day. Orders after ship the next business day. Adjusting the cut-off time affects the promised delivery date and performance requirements.

Understanding and correctly configuring order fulfillment settings is essential for meeting Amazon's delivery promises and maintaining performance metrics.

Guide: Amazon Order Fulfillment Settings

Amazon's order fulfillment settings allow sellers to customize operating days, delivery days, and order cut-off times, influencing the delivery promise displayed to customers and ensuring timely order processing and shipment.

General Fulfillment Settings

The general fulfillment settings apply to all shipping options that are not configured with shipping region automation. Here's how to manage these settings:

• Operating Days: By default, Monday to Friday are mandatory operating days. Optional weekend operation can be enabled for Prime offers. Weekend operation affects the Estimated Ship Date for all offers.
• Order Cut-off Times: Define the time after which orders received will be shipped the next business day. Set different cut-off times for Standard, Expedited, and Premium Shipping.

Enabling Weekend Operation (General Fulfillment Settings)

1. Go to Seller Central and click on Settings > Shipping Settings.
2. Under General Shipping Settings, locate Order Fulfillment Settings and click Edit.
3. Enable weekend operation by checking the box for Saturday or Sunday operations.
4. Save your changes.

Automated Fulfillment Settings (Seller Fulfilled Prime)

For sellers offering Prime products, automated fulfillment settings are crucial. They determine the delivery promise for Prime orders based on configured shipping regions and services.

• Operating Days: Prime offers require weekend operation. Choose either Saturday or Sunday as an additional operating day.
• Order Cut-off Times: Set specific pick-up and order cut-off times for each day of the week.

Configuring Automated Fulfillment Settings

1. Access Settings > Shipping Settings in Seller Central.
2. Under General Shipping Settings, locate Order Fulfillment Settings and click Edit.
3. Navigate to Fulfillment Settings for Shipping Region Automation.
4. Set carrier pick-up times and order cut-off times based on shipping services used.
5. Save your settings.

Delivery Days

Delivery days are determined by the configured operating days and shipping services. Here's what you need to know:

• Monday to Friday are delivery days for Seller Fulfilled Prime orders using Premium Shipping Options.
• Saturday delivery is optional for Non-Prime offers.
• Weekend delivery promises are shown based on the capability of selected shipping services.

Ensure you configure order fulfillment settings accurately to provide accurate delivery promises and meet customer expectations.

Guide: Premium Shipping on Amazon Seller Central

Amazon's Premium Shipping feature allows sellers to offer fast and reliable shipping options to customers, enhancing the overall shopping experience. By providing clear delivery expectations and tracking information, Premium Shipping can significantly improve customer satisfaction.

Eligibility Requirements for Premium Shipping

To be eligible to offer Premium Shipping options, sellers must meet the following requirements consistently over a 30-day period:

• Valid Tracking Rate: Maintain a valid tracking rate of 99% or higher for Premium Shipping orders.
• On-Time Delivery Score: Achieve an on-time delivery score of 97% or greater for Premium Shipping orders.
• Seller-Initiated Cancellation Rate: Keep the seller-initiated cancellation rate below 0.5% for Premium Shipping orders.

In addition to these performance metrics, sellers must have been actively selling on Amazon for more than 90 days to be eligible for Premium Shipping.

Premium Shipping Options

In the United States, Premium Shipping options include:

• One-Day Shipping
• Two-Day Shipping

These shipping options can be enabled and configured within your shipping settings on Amazon Seller Central.

Tracking Premium Shipping Eligibility

You can monitor your eligibility for Premium Shipping through the Premium Shipping Eligibility dashboard. Amazon evaluates your eligibility based on delivery performance metrics related to Premium Shipping orders.

Managing Premium Shipping

If you need to deactivate Premium Shipping, follow these steps:

1. Access Shipping Settings from the Settings menu on Seller Central.
2. Update the shipping templates to remove One-Day Delivery and Two-Day Delivery options.
3. Save your changes to apply the updates.

Performance Evaluation and Order Cutoff Times

Amazon measures seller performance for Premium Shipping based on a specific evaluation period. It's important to note:

• Performance is evaluated from day 40 to day 10, excluding Seller Fulfilled Prime orders from the evaluation.
• Order cutoff times for Premium Shipping must be set to 2:00 P.M. or later local time, with the time zone associated with the warehouse farthest east.

Revocation and Restoration of Eligibility

If a seller's performance falls below the Premium Shipping requirements, Amazon may revoke eligibility for Premium Shipping. In such cases:

• Premium Shipping options will be disabled on the seller's offers.
• Seller status will change to "not eligible" in the Premium Shipping Eligibility dashboard.
• Seller Fulfilled Prime offers remain unaffected by the revocation of Premium Shipping eligibility.

To restore eligibility for Premium Shipping, sellers must submit a Plan of Action detailing steps to address performance issues and improve eligibility.

Additional Resources

For more information about setting shipping rates for Premium Shipping orders and understanding performance metrics, refer to Amazon Seller Central's official documentation:

• Measuring Your Performance
• Set Your Shipping Rates

By optimizing Premium Shipping options and maintaining performance standards, sellers can enhance customer satisfaction and build trust on the Amazon marketplace.

Guide: Minimum Requirements for Creating Shipping Templates on Amazon Seller Central

When setting up shipping templates on Amazon Seller Central, it's important to ensure that each template meets the minimum requirements to avoid encountering error messages and to provide a smooth shipping experience for your customers. Below are the essential criteria for creating shipping templates:

Domestic Shipping Requirements

• Standard Shipping: Every shipping template must offer at least standard shipping. Regions that offer two-day delivery must also include standard shipping.
• Reach:
  • For standard shipping, coverage must include all states in the continental U.S. (excluding Hawaii, Alaska, and U.S. protectorates).
  • If you offer Free Economy shipping, it must cover all continental U.S. street addresses.
• Rates:
  • Shipping rates for standard shipping must be uniform across regions within the continental U.S. (excluding Hawaii, Alaska, and U.S. protectorates).
• Address:
  • Shipping to street addresses is mandatory; however, you can opt out of shipping to post office (P.O.) boxes.
  • You cannot vary shipping rates based on address type (e.g., residential vs. commercial).

Ensuring that your shipping templates meet these minimum requirements helps maintain consistency and transparency in your shipping policies, which contributes to a positive customer experience on Amazon.

Implementing Minimum Requirements

Follow these steps to implement the minimum requirements when creating or editing shipping templates:

1. Access Shipping Settings from the Settings menu on Seller Central.
2. Go to the Shipping Templates tab.
3. Create a new template or select an existing one to edit.
4. Include standard shipping as a shipping option.
5. Ensure coverage extends to all states in the continental U.S. for standard shipping (excluding Hawaii, Alaska, and U.S. protectorates).
6. If offering Free Economy shipping, confirm coverage for all continental U.S. street addresses.
7. Set uniform shipping rates for standard shipping across continental U.S. regions.
8. Opt for shipping to street addresses and consider excluding P.O. boxes if preferred.
9. Verify that shipping rates are consistent regardless of address type.
10. Save your changes to finalize the shipping template.

By adhering to these minimum requirements, you can enhance the efficiency of your shipping operations and ensure compliance with Amazon's guidelines for shipping templates.

For more details and troubleshooting assistance, refer to the official Amazon Seller Central documentation on Minimum Requirements to Create Shipping Templates.

Optimize your shipping setup on Amazon Seller Central to deliver a seamless shopping experience for your customers!

Guide: Setting Your Shipping Rates on Amazon Seller Central

Setting accurate and competitive shipping rates is crucial for attracting customers and optimizing sales on Amazon. This guide explains how to configure shipping rates using different rate models available in shipping templates on Seller Central.

Item or Weight-Based Shipping

With the item or weight-based rate model, you can charge shipping based on the total weight or number of items in an order:

• Example of Weight-Based Shipping:
  Set a flat per-shipment rate of $4.00 and a per-pound rate of $0.50. For an order containing a 25-pound television and a 1-pound DVD player:
  Total Shipping Charge = $4.00 + ($0.50 x (25 lb. + 1 lb.)) = $17.00.
• Example of Item-Based Shipping:
  Set a per-shipment flat rate of $4.00 and per-item rate of $1.00. For an order containing two items:
  Total Shipping Charge = $4.00 + ($1.00 x 2 items) = $6.00.

Price-Banded Shipping

Price-banded shipping allows you to create shipping rate bands based on order price ranges:

• Example of Price-Banded Shipping:
  Define price bands like:
  - $0.00 - $50.00: $10.00 shipping fee
  - $50.01 - $80.00: $5.00 shipping fee
  - $80.01 - up: $0.00 shipping fee
  For an order totaling $75:
  Total Shipping Charge = $5.00 (falls into the $50.01 - $80.00 band).

Weight-Tiered Shipping

Weight-tiered shipping is available in freight shipping templates (upon request) and allows you to set shipping rates based on order weight tiers:

• Example of Weight-Tiered Shipping:
  Define weight tiers like:
  - 0-100 lbs.: $0.50/lb.
  - Greater than 100 lbs.: $0.25/lb.
  - Flat rate: $5.00
  For an order with a total weight of 200 lbs.:
  Total Shipping Charge = $5.00 + (100 lbs. * $0.50/lb.) + (100 lbs. * $0.25/lb.) = $80.00.

Setting Shipping Rates

To set shipping rates on Amazon Seller Central:

1. Access Shipping Settings from the Settings menu.
2. Go to the Shipping Templates tab.
3. Select the desired template and choose a rate model (item/weight-based, price-banded, or weight-tiered).
4. Configure the specific rates according to the chosen model.
5. Save your changes to apply the updated shipping rates.

Utilizing these rate models allows you to customize shipping charges based on order characteristics, providing clarity and consistency for your customers while optimizing your shipping strategy.

For detailed instructions and further assistance, refer to the official Amazon Seller Central documentation on Setting Your Shipping Rates.

Optimize your Amazon business by implementing effective shipping rate strategies to enhance customer satisfaction and drive sales!

Guide: Setting or Changing the Default Shipping Template on Amazon Seller Central

Setting a default shipping template on Amazon Seller Central ensures that newly created SKUs automatically use this template unless assigned otherwise. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for setting or changing the default shipping template.

Set or Change Default Shipping Template

To set or change the default shipping template, follow these straightforward steps:

1. Log in to Seller Central and navigate to Shipping Settings.
2. Click on the Shipping Templates tab.
3. From the list of shipping templates on the left side of the page, select the desired template.
4. Next to Edit Template, click the drop-down menu.
5. Select Set As Default Template from the drop-down menu.
6. Click OK to confirm.

Upon setting or changing the default template, note the following:

• Existing SKUs assigned to the old default template will remain unchanged.
• Newly created SKUs that are not assigned to a specific template will use the newly set default template.

Remember, you cannot delete the default shipping template directly. If you wish to delete it, you must first change the default template to another option.

Utilize this functionality to streamline SKU creation and ensure consistent shipping settings for your products on Amazon.

For more information and detailed instructions, refer to the official Amazon Seller Central documentation on Setting or Changing the Default Shipping Template.

Optimize your shipping management process with a default shipping template on Amazon Seller Central!

Guide: Using Freight-Shipping Templates for Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Shipments on Amazon Seller Central

Freight-shipping templates offer a specialized solution for managing heavy and bulky item deliveries through less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments on Amazon. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on setting up and utilizing freight-shipping templates efficiently.

Delivery Options for Freight-Shipping Template

The freight-shipping template provides the following delivery options:

• Arranged Freight Delivery: Contact the customer within 2 business days to schedule a delivery appointment.
• Scheduled Delivery: Customers can select preferred delivery slots at checkout.

Requirements to Use the Freight-Shipping Template

Before using the freight-shipping template, ensure your shipments meet the following requirements:

• Package weight must be ≥ 50 lbs OR
• Package length must be ≥ 96 inches OR
• Package length + 2 *(package width + package height) must be ≥ 130 inches

Set Up a Freight-Shipping Template

To set up a freight-shipping template, follow these steps:

1. Request access to the freight-shipping template by completing this form.
2. Once enabled, go to Settings in Seller Central and select Shipping Settings.
3. Click Create New Shipping Template.
4. Choose Freight Shipping as the template type.
5. Enter a Shipping Template Name and assign a Rate Model (e.g., per item/weight-based).
6. Assign a residential shipping fee if applicable.
7. Set up Shipping Options, Regions, and Rates for Arranged Freight Delivery or Scheduled Delivery.
8. For Scheduled Delivery, specify Delivery Slot Type (Day Slot or Time Slot).
9. Save the template settings.
10. Assign SKUs to the new freight-shipping template.

For detailed instructions on adding SKUs and other setup details, refer to the official Amazon Seller Central documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping?
   Less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping is for freight that doesn't require a full trailer but is too large for parcel shipping (usually >150 lbs).
2. Which carriers provide tracking information to Amazon?
   Refer to the Valid Tracking Rate (VTR) help page for a list of carriers.
3. What should I do if I can't contact the customer?
   Attempt contact multiple times and use Buyer-Seller Messaging if needed.
4. What if my carrier can't deliver at the appointed time?
   Offer to reschedule with the customer or accommodate cancellation requests.
5. Can I use Amazon Buy Shipping for freight templates?
   No, Amazon Buy Shipping does not offer LTL ship methods.
6. What is the residential delivery charge?
   It's an additional fee for delivering to residential addresses.
7. Why can't I assign the freight shipping template to an ASIN?
   Check if your item meets the weight and dimension criteria.

Utilizing freight-shipping templates enhances your ability to sell large and heavy items on Amazon by offering convenient delivery options and specialized shipping rates. For more assistance, contact Amazon Seller Support.

For additional information and advanced setup details, refer to the official Amazon Seller Central documentation on Freight-Shipping Templates.

Make selling heavy items on Amazon easier with freight-shipping templates!

Guide: Assigning SKUs to Shipping Templates on Amazon Seller Central

Assigning SKUs to appropriate shipping templates is essential for managing shipping costs, transit times, and service levels for your products on Amazon. This guide will walk you through different methods to assign, change, and check shipping templates for your SKUs efficiently.

Assign SKUs to Shipping Templates

You have several options to assign SKUs to shipping templates based on your needs:

Option 1: Use Manage All Inventory Tool

1. Log in to Seller Central and go to Manage Inventory.
2. Select up to 50 SKUs you want to update.
3. Click Action on X selected in the top-left corner.
4. Choose Change shipping template.
5. Select the desired shipping template for the selected SKUs.

Note: Freight shipping templates are only applicable to heavy or bulky items meeting specific size and weight criteria.

Option 2: Use Feeds for Bulk Changes

• Excel Feed: Utilize the merchant_shipping_group_name column in the Inventory Loader to assign SKUs to Shipping Templates.
• XML Feeds: Use the MerchantShippingGroupName attribute in the product XML feed to assign SKUs to Shipping Templates.

Option 3: Use the Manage SFP Page (Seller Fulfilled Prime Participants)

• Visit the Manage SFP page under Inventory in Seller Central.
• On the Product List tab, change the shipping template to a Prime template at the SKU-level.
• Select the SKUs you want to assign to the Prime template and update accordingly.

Check the Shipping Template Assigned to a SKU

To verify which shipping template is assigned to a SKU, you can use the following methods:

From Manage All Inventory

1. In Manage All Inventory, the shipping template name is displayed in the Price and shipping cost column for each SKU.
2. Select a SKU and click Edit.
3. Scroll down to the Offer tab and locate the Merchant Shipping Group field to check or change the assigned shipping template.

Note: The shipping template field is visible only if the ASIN is set to "Fulfilled by Merchant."

From Active Listings Report

Download the Active Listings report from Inventory Reports and open it in Excel. Look for the merchant-shipping-group column to see the assigned shipping templates for each SKU.

From Manage SFP (Seller Fulfilled Prime Participants)

• Visit the Manage SFP page.
• On the Product List tab, view the shipping template assigned to each SKU in the right-hand column.
• To change the shipping template, select a new template from the dropdown menu at the SKU-level or use bulk actions.

By effectively assigning SKUs to shipping templates on Amazon Seller Central, you can ensure accurate shipping settings and provide a smooth fulfillment experience for your customers. Choose the method that best suits your needs and streamline your shipping management process today!

For more detailed instructions and additional information, refer to the official Amazon Seller Central documentation on Assigning SKUs to Shipping Templates.

Take control of your shipping configurations and optimize your selling experience on Amazon!

Guide: Creating, Editing, and Deleting Shipping Templates on Amazon Seller Central

Shipping templates are a vital tool for managing shipping options and rates for your products on Amazon. They allow you to customize transit times, service levels, and shipping costs based on specific criteria, helping you provide a seamless shopping experience for your customers.

Create a New Shipping Template

Before creating a new shipping template, ensure you meet the minimum requirements outlined by Amazon. Follow these steps to create a new shipping template:

1. From the Settings menu in Seller Central, click on Shipping Settings.
2. Verify your Default Shipping Address is correct.
3. Go to the Shipping Templates tab.
4. Click Create New Shipping Template or choose an option to copy from.
5. Enter a template name (e.g., "Free Shipping").
6. Choose a rate model for your shipping rates (Per item/weight-based, Price banded, or Weight-tiered).
7. Enable or disable Prime delivery if applicable.
8. Select Handling Time Settings.
9. Edit Shipping Options, Regions, and Rates based on your preferences.
10. Enable Domestic or International shipping options as needed.
11. Define Deliverable Regions and set Shipping Time.
12. Set your shipping rates and click Save.

Edit an Existing Shipping Template

To edit an existing shipping template, follow these steps:

1. From the Settings menu, navigate to Shipping Settings.
2. Under Shipping Templates, select the template you want to edit.
3. Click Edit Template on the right side of the screen.
4. Modify the template settings based on your requirements.
5. Click Save to apply the changes.

If you wish to review past changes, select the template and click Revision History to track revisions.

Delete an Existing Shipping Template

Before deleting a shipping template, re-assign SKUs to another template to avoid disruptions. Follow these steps to delete a shipping template:

1. Go to Shipping Settings from the Settings menu.
2. Under Shipping Templates, select the template you want to delete.
3. Click the drop-down menu next to Edit Template and choose Delete.

Note: Default shipping templates or migrated templates cannot be deleted.

By effectively managing shipping templates on Amazon Seller Central, you can optimize shipping strategies, enhance customer satisfaction, and streamline fulfillment processes. Leverage these tools to create tailored shipping options that meet the needs of your business and customers.

For more information and detailed instructions, refer to the official Amazon Seller Central documentation on Creating, Editing, or Deleting Shipping Templates.

Take control of your shipping settings today and elevate your selling experience on Amazon!

Managing Shipping Templates on Amazon Seller Central

Shipping templates are a powerful tool for customizing shipping options and setting fees for your products on Amazon. They allow you to tailor transit times, shipping costs, and service levels based on your business needs and the expectations of your customers.

What are Shipping Templates?

Shipping templates enable sellers to customize shipping settings for groups of products (ASINs) within their Amazon store. This customization includes setting transit times, shipping fees, and service levels for both domestic and international deliveries.

Here's what you can do with shipping templates:

• Assign multiple ASINs to each template for efficient management.
• Configure transit times and shipping fees based on different regions or countries.
• Offer expedited shipping options with specific pricing.
• Create up to 20 shipping templates to accommodate various product groups.

Accessing Shipping Templates

To manage shipping templates, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Amazon Seller Central account.
2. Click on Settings and then select Shipping Settings.
3. In the Shipping Settings page, navigate to the Shipping Templates tab.

Within the Shipping Templates tab, you can:

• Review and edit existing shipping templates.
• Create new shipping templates tailored to your requirements.
• Assign SKUs to specific shipping templates for streamlined management.

If you're new to creating shipping templates, it's essential to understand the minimum requirements outlined by Amazon. This ensures that your shipping options are compliant and efficient.

Additional Resources

Amazon provides various resources to help sellers master shipping templates:

• Documentation: Refer to the Create, edit, or delete shipping templates guide for detailed instructions.
• Seller University: Watch the Seller University video on shipping templates to learn more about optimizing your shipping strategy.

By utilizing shipping templates effectively, sellers can streamline their shipping operations, provide transparent delivery options to customers, and optimize costs associated with fulfillment.

For specific questions or assistance, Amazon Seller Support is available to provide personalized guidance based on your business needs.

Conclusion

Managing shipping templates on Amazon Seller Central empowers sellers to customize and optimize their shipping strategies. By leveraging these tools, sellers can enhance customer satisfaction, reduce shipping costs, and scale their operations efficiently within the Amazon marketplace.

Take advantage of the resources provided by Amazon to maximize the potential of shipping templates and elevate your selling experience on the platform.