Amazon provides estimated delivery times to buyers, calculated based on handling time and transit time. Handling time refers to the duration between when a buyer places an order and when you hand it over to your carrier.
Types of Handling Time
There are different types of handling time settings on Amazon:
- Automated Handling Time: Amazon sets handling time based on your account’s historic performance, ensuring accurate delivery estimates and potentially boosting sales.
- SKU-level Handling Time: Set unique handling times for specific SKUs to override default settings.
- Default Handling Time: Account-level setting that applies to products without SKU-specific or template-specific handling times.
Automated Handling Time
Follow these steps to enable automated handling time:
- Go to Settings → Shipping settings → General shipping settings.
- Scroll to Handling time and click Edit.
- Select Automated handling time and click Save.
- You can also set your order handling capacity to manage high order volumes effectively.
SKU-level Handling Time
To set SKU-specific handling times:
- Go to Inventory → Manage all inventory.
- Locate the SKU and click Edit → Offer → Handling time.
- You can also use feed files via Feeds API or Seller Central for bulk updates.
Default Handling Time
Set default handling time at the account level:
- Go to Settings → Shipping settings → General shipping settings.
- Scroll to Handling time and click Edit.
- Choose Same day (0 day) or 1-day handling time and click Save.
Impact on Account Performance
Handling time affects the expected ship date and late shipment rate (LSR) performance metrics. Ensure timely shipment to meet Amazon’s requirements:
- Ship orders by the expected ship date to avoid late shipments.
- For Same-day handling time, ship orders before the cut-off time to meet delivery promises.
- Monitor and update handling times regularly to support accurate delivery estimates.
Seller Fulfilled Prime and Premium Shipping Orders
Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) and Premium Shipping require same-day shipping for orders received before the cut-off time.
Product Level Handling Time Recommendations
Amazon provides handling time recommendations based on your actual performance:
- Go to Inventory → Manage seller-fulfilled products.
- Click the Recommendations tab to view suggested handling time updates.
- Accept or ignore recommendations to optimize delivery estimates.
By managing handling time effectively, sellers can enhance customer satisfaction and maintain performance metrics on Amazon.