If I use a shipping template with Shipping Settings Automation enabled, how will the Promised Delivery Date be calculated?

The Promised Delivery Date will be calculated based on:

• The buyer’s location.
• The location or fulfillment center closest to the buyer.
• Up-to-date data for delivery times associated with the seller's preferred carriers.
• Location-specific order cut-off time and weekday operations settings.

How will the Promised Delivery Date be calculated for items that use manually calculated transit times (Templates where SSA is not enabled)?

The Promised Delivery Date will be calculated using the default Shipping Location’s order cut-off time and weekday operations settings.

Is there any limit to the number of locations I can create?

No, you can create as many locations as needed to manage your fulfillment operations efficiently.

Can I set different order cut-off times for locations in different time zones?

Yes, you can set different order cut-off times for locations in different time zones. However, these settings will only apply to products linked to a Shipping Template with Shipping Settings Automation (SSA) enabled. If SSA is not used, the cut-off time of your default fulfillment center will apply to all orders.

I have a shipping template tied to my default shipping address. How do I add more locations to this shipping template?

1. Go to Shipping Settings.
2. Click on Shipping Templates.
3. Locate your preferred shipping template and click "Edit."
4. Go to the Shipping Settings Automation section and click "Edit Information."
5. Add additional fulfillment centers or locations to your shipping template.
6. Configure your preferred shipping services.
7. Click "Save" to apply the changes.

I do not see an option to add Location addresses to my shipping template?

You must upgrade your shipping template by enabling Shipping Settings Automation (SSA) to add location addresses. To upgrade your shipping template:

1. Go to your preferred shipping template.
2. Click "Edit."
3. Enable the Shipping Settings Automation.

What changes should I make to assign an SKU to a new location?

To assign an SKU to a location, you can assign it to a shipping template. The delivery promise will be created based on the enabled locations on that shipping template, selecting the closest location to the buyer.

To assign an SKU to a shipping template:

• Go to "Assign SKUs to Shipping Templates."

Location-based Shipping Settings on Amazon Seller Central empower sellers to manage their order fulfillment preferences uniquely for each location or fulfillment center they operate from. This flexibility allows for more precise control over delivery options and customer experiences. Below, we'll explore the benefits of this feature and guide you through key actions such as creating, deactivating, and editing locations.

Benefits of Location-based Shipping Settings

• Show buyers more accurate delivery dates based on each location's fulfillment capabilities.
• Provide more precise delivery promises, which are typically shorter and lead to increased sales.
• Automatically calculate transit times based on the buyer's location and the closest warehouse with available inventory.
• Utilize up-to-date carrier delivery capabilities and each location's fulfillment settings for accurate estimates.

How to Create a New Location

1. Go to Settings and click Shipping Settings.
2. Select "Locations" from the menu.
3. Click on "Create a new Location."
4. Provide a unique name and fill in the address and contact information.
5. Choose Fulfillment Capabilities (Shipping or In-store Pickup).
6. Click "Create Location" to save your new location.

How to Deactivate an Existing Location

1. Go to Settings and click Shipping Settings.
2. Select "Locations" from the menu.
3. Locate the location you wish to deactivate.
4. Next to the location, click the drop-down arrow next to "Edit."
5. Choose "Deactivate all operations" from the options.

How to Edit Your Order Fulfillment Settings per Location for Locations where You Ship from

1. Go to Settings and click Shipping Settings.
2. Select "Locations" from the menu.
3. Find the location you want to update and click "Edit."
4. Under Shipping Fulfillment Capabilities, click "Edit" to update operating days, delivery days, and order cut-off times:
• If manually calculating Transit Time, edit the operating days and cut-off times for your default location (applies to all locations).
• If using Shipping Settings Automation (SSA), set cut-off and last pick-up times per carrier, per day, per location.
5. Click "Save order fulfillment settings" to apply changes.

How to Edit Your Order Fulfillment Settings per Location for Locations where You Offer In-store Pickup

1. Go to Settings and click Shipping Settings.
2. Select "Locations" from the menu.
3. Identify the location you want to update and click "Edit."
4. Under In-store Pickup Fulfillment Capabilities, click "Edit" to update:
• Pickup handling time and inventory hold period.
• Choose pickup methods (in-store or curbside).
• Set pickup hours for each day of the week.
5. Click "Save order fulfillment settings" to confirm changes.

Welcome to our guide on Optimized Seller-Set Transit (OST), a valuable feature that can enhance the delivery experience for your seller-fulfilled standard shipping orders on Amazon. Below, we'll explore what OST is, how to enable it, and address some frequently asked questions.

What is Optimized Seller-Set Transit Feature?

Optimized Seller-Set Transit (OST) is a tool designed to improve the accuracy and speed of delivery estimates for seller-fulfilled standard shipping orders. It achieves this by leveraging historical carrier shipping data to dynamically adjust transit times based on the distance between your default warehouse location and the customer's destination. By activating OST, you can offer more precise estimated delivery times to customers while utilizing your preferred carrier.

Please note that this feature is currently accessible to sellers by invitation only. Make sure your default shipping address is up to date, as OST relies on this information to calculate transit times accurately.

How to Enable the OST Feature

Follow these steps to enable OST:

1. Go to Settings on Seller Central and select Shipping Settings.
2. In the Shipping Settings section, navigate to Shipping Templates.
3. If you want to enable OST for an existing template, click "Edit Template" for that template. Scroll down to find the "Optimized Seller-Set Transit" option and toggle it on.
4. If you're creating a new template, click "Create a New Shipping Template," then activate the "Optimized Seller-Set Transit" toggle.
5. Save your changes to apply the OST feature to the selected shipping template.

Remember, the OST feature is exclusive to seller-fulfilled standard shipping settings.

Optimized Seller-Set Transit FAQ

What are the benefits of enabling OST?

Enabling OST allows you to provide more accurate and faster delivery times to customers. Customers prefer quicker deliveries and are more inclined to purchase products with shorter estimated delivery times. Additionally, products with faster delivery times are more likely to be featured prominently on product detail pages.

Do I need to re-enable OST after updating my default shipping address?

No, once you've enabled OST on your shipping templates, Amazon will automatically use your updated default shipping address for estimating delivery times. There's no need to re-enable OST every time you make changes to your default shipping address.

How can I edit my default shipping address?

Follow these steps to edit your default shipping address:

1. Click on the Settings dropdown menu at the top right corner of Seller Central.
2. Select "Shipping Settings." Under General Shipping Settings, click "Edit" in the Default Shipping Address section.
3. Choose the address you want to set as the new default shipping address or add a new address.
4. Click "Save" to apply the changes.

Can I use OST with Shipping Settings Automation (SSA) enabled?

No, it's not necessary to opt-in to OST on shipping templates where you have Shipping Settings Automation (SSA) enabled.

How can I opt-out of the OST feature?

To opt-out of OST, simply turn off the "Optimized Seller-Set Transit" toggle button on your shipping templates.

If I've opted out, can I opt back in?

Yes, you can opt back in at any time by toggling on the "Optimized Seller-Set Transit" feature on your shipping templates.

Amazon's Faster Regional Transit Time feature empowers sellers to provide quicker delivery promises to customers located close to their warehouses. By enabling this feature in your shipping templates for domestic self-fulfilled (non-Prime) standard shipping orders, you can enhance the overall shopping experience and increase customer satisfaction.

Enable Faster Transit Time on a Shipping Template

Follow these steps to enable faster transit time:

1. Click on Settings in the top-right menu of Seller Central and navigate to Shipping Settings.
2. On the Shipping Templates tab:
   • To create a new shipping template:
     • Click Create New Shipping Template.
     • Enter the template name and select a shipping rate model.
     • Edit and review shipping settings, including the faster transit time option.
     • Click Save.
   • To upgrade an existing shipping template:
     • Select the template and click Edit Template.
     • Review and update the shipping settings, including the faster transit time option.
     • Click Save.
3. Review and confirm your shipping settings, and click Save.

Faster Regional Transit Times FAQ

What is the benefit of enabling Faster Regional Transit Time feature?

Enabling this feature allows you to provide faster delivery promises to customers in close proximity to your warehouse, increasing the likelihood of purchases.

Can I enable Faster Regional Transit Time feature for customers in different regions?

No, currently this feature is only supported for customers located in the same region as your default shipping warehouse.

In what regions can I enable the Faster Regional Transit Time feature?

The feature applies to level two regions within the continental US where your default shipping address is located.

How can I opt out of the Faster Regional Transit Time feature?

You can opt out by updating the transit time of the shipping rule to a different value than the suggested faster transit time.

Understanding Amazon Shipping Settings Automation (SSA)

Amazon's Shipping Settings Automation (SSA) feature helps sellers to automate and streamline the calculation of accurate delivery dates for customers. SSA leverages data on warehouse locations, customer destinations, and carrier transit times to provide more precise delivery estimates, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and boosting sales.

Benefits of Shipping Settings Automation (SSA)

Customers value fast and reliable delivery. SSA simplifies the process of providing accurate delivery dates by automatically calculating transit times based on carrier data. This automation eliminates the need for manual transit time calculations, ensuring more attractive and reliable delivery promises for customers, thus increasing purchase likelihood.

SSA offers the following benefits:

• Automated and accurate transit time calculations.
• Enhanced delivery promises for improved customer satisfaction.
• Increased attractiveness of delivery estimates, leading to higher conversion rates.

Enable Shipping Settings Automation (SSA)

To enable SSA for your seller-fulfilled products, follow these steps:

1. Click on Settings in the top-right menu of Seller Central and navigate to Shipping Settings.
2. Go to the Shipping Templates tab.
3. To enable SSA for a new shipping template:
   • Click on Create New Shipping Template.
   • Enter the template name and select a shipping rate model.
   • Turn on the Shipping Settings Automation toggle.
   • Select your Ship-from location and continue through the prompts to automate your shipping settings.
4. To enable SSA for an existing shipping template:
   • Select the template and click Edit Template.
   • Turn on the Shipping Settings Automation toggle.
   • Follow the prompts to automate transit times and shipping settings.
5. Review and confirm your SSA preferences.
6. Save the template and assign SKUs accordingly.

Shipping Settings Automation (SSA) FAQ

Here are answers to common questions about SSA:

Will SSA consider changes in carrier delivery performance to calculate delivery time?

Yes, Amazon tracks carrier delivery performance and adjusts transit times accordingly.

What are the order fulfillment requirements for SSA orders?

You must use the specified shipping service to meet the delivery promise for SSA orders.

How does SSA calculate delivery promises with multiple warehouses or shipping services?

SSA calculates the fastest delivery promise from available warehouses and prioritizes shipping services based on user-defined rules.

Can I revert to manual transit time calculations?

Yes, you can disable SSA and revert to manual settings if needed.

Amazon's Shipping Region Automation feature simplifies the setup of delivery regions for One-Day Delivery and Two-Day Delivery based on the performance of your preferred shipping services and fulfillment center location. This automation eliminates the need for manual configuration of delivery regions for Premium Shipping Options.

Create a new Prime shipping template

1. Go to Settings → Shipping Settings from the top-right menu in Seller Central.
2. Click Create New Shipping Template on the Shipping Templates tab.
3. In the pop-up window, select Create a new shipping template and click OK.
4. Enter a name for your template (e.g., "Prime Shipping").
5. Choose a shipping rate model: Per Item/Weight-Based or Price Banded.
6. Enable Shipping Region Automation using the toggle.
7. Select your shipping address and preferred carriers.
8. If eligible for Prime, enable Prime for SKUs assigned to this template.
9. Choose Shipping services for Two-Day and One-Day delivery.
10. Select Delivery zone limits if applicable.
11. Review and confirm your Prime shipping settings.
12. Review and edit shipping rates for Non-Prime customers.
13. Click Save Template.
14. Assign SKUs to the Prime shipping template.

Upgrade an existing Prime shipping template

1. Access Settings → Shipping Settings from the top-right menu in Seller Central.
2. Go to the Shipping Templates tab and select the template you want to upgrade.
3. Click Edit Template on the right side of the screen.
4. Enable Shipping Region Automation using the toggle.
5. Select your shipping address and preferred carriers.
6. If eligible for Prime, enable Prime for SKUs assigned to this template.
7. Choose Shipping services for Two-Day and One-Day delivery.
8. Select Delivery zone limits if applicable.
9. Review and confirm your Prime shipping settings.
10. Review and edit shipping rates for Non-Prime customers.
11. Click Save Template.
12. Assign SKUs to the updated Prime shipping template.

Shipping Settings Automation FAQ

How does Amazon automate Prime shipping regions?

Prime regions are determined based on carrier delivery performance from your shipping location to customer destinations.

How many shipping locations can I select?

You can choose up to 10 shipping locations.

Shipping Settings Automation User Guide

1. Access Settings → Shipping Settings from Seller Central.
2. Click Create New Shipping Template.
3. Select a rate model and enable Set shipping regions based on ship-from location and ship services.
4. Ensure shipping location and carriers are correct.
5. Enable Prime offer for SKUs assigned to this template.
6. Select ship services for standard, Two-Day, and One-Day delivery.
7. Select Delivery zone limits if applicable.
8. Review selections and confirm.

Amazon provides tools to configure shipping rates and restrictions to optimize your selling experience and meet customer expectations. Below is a detailed guide on how to set up your shipping settings:

Shipping Service Levels

Amazon requires all sellers to offer standard shipping. Additional service levels are optional and can enhance customer satisfaction:

• Standard Shipping: Required for all sellers with a default transit time of 4 – 15 business days.
• Expedited Shipping: Offers a faster transit time of 2 – 6 business days.
• Two-Day Shipping: Available for eligible sellers. Learn how to qualify.
• One-Day Shipping: Not available for seller-fulfilled U.S. domestic orders but applicable for Fulfillment by Amazon orders.
• International Shipping: Transit time for international orders is typically 3 – 6 weeks.
• International Expedited Shipping: Provides quicker delivery within 3 – 7 business days for international orders.

View Your Shipping Settings

To access and customize your shipping settings, follow these steps:

1. From your seller account, navigate to Settings and select Shipping Settings.
2. Update your "Ships From" location or modify your shipping model as needed.
3. Adjust your shipping options for Books, Music, Video, and DVD products if applicable.

Methods for Calculating Shipping Rates

You can choose between two methods for calculating shipping rates:

• Per-Item/Weight-based Shipping: Set charges for each shipment and define per-pound or per-item handling charges.
• Price-Banded Shipping: Create shipping rates based on price ranges, such as $0 to $25, $25.01 to $50, etc.

Setting Shipping User Permissions

Manage user permissions to control access to shipping settings:

• View and Edit: Allows users to create and modify shipping configurations.
• View Only: Permits users to view shipping configurations without editing privileges.
• No Access: Denies access to the shipping settings feature.

Changing Shipping Methods

You can switch between item-based and price-tier shipping methods. Changes to shipping methods take effect after a latency period:

• Item-Based Shipping: Default method charged per shipment and per-pound or per-item.
• Price-Tier Shipping: Based on price ranges with customized shipping rates.

Steps to Configure Shipping Rates and Restrictions

1. Access Shipping Settings: Navigate to Settings > Shipping Settings in your seller account.
2. Choose Service Levels: Set default service levels for standard, expedited, and international shipping.
3. Customize Shipping Rates: Define rates using per-item/weight-based or price-banded models.
4. Manage User Permissions: Assign view/edit privileges to users based on their role.
5. Optimize Shipping Methods: Switch between item-based and price-tier shipping to align with your business needs.

Configuring shipping rates and restrictions is crucial for providing accurate shipping estimates and ensuring customer satisfaction. By leveraging Amazon's shipping settings, you can streamline operations and enhance the shopping experience for your customers.

Amazon is migrating Professional sellers to new shipping settings to enhance shipping management capabilities and streamline processes. If you haven't been migrated yet, it's recommended to take action and migrate yourself to leverage the benefits of the new settings. Here's how you can smoothly transition to the new shipping settings:

Migrate Your Account

1. Visit the Shipping Settings page in your Seller Central account.
2. Click on "Take the Tour" at the top of the page to watch a slideshow and familiarize yourself with the new settings.
3. After completing the slideshow, click on "Start migration" to initiate the migration process.
4. Your default shipping settings will be copied over, and you'll see the estimated migration time displayed.
5. For Books, Music, Video, and DVD products, shipping settings will be separated by category, and SKUs will be assigned to their respective templates.
6. The migration will apply across all Amazon stores where you have an account (e.g., US, Canada, Mexico).
7. Review your shipping templates for each store, including international transit times which may be adjusted based on your shipping country.
8. Click "Activate" to complete the migration.
9. Note that activation may take a few hours, especially if you have Books, Music, Video, and DVD SKUs, but this won't impact customer visibility of your current shipping settings.

Shipping Overrides

Shipping overrides will not be carried forward to the new shipping settings. Instead, they will be replaced by Shipping templates, which offer more flexibility in managing shipping preferences for different sets of SKUs.

All sellers are required to adhere to the minimum requirements set for shipping templates.

Additional Resources

For more detailed guidance on managing shipping templates, refer to the following resources:

• Create, Edit, or Delete Shipping Templates
• Assign SKUs to Shipping Templates

Transitioning to the new shipping settings is an important step towards optimizing your Amazon selling experience. Take advantage of these enhanced tools to provide efficient and accurate shipping options to your customers.