This article explains how to configure shipping to use Amazon.
NOTE: These steps are a necessary prerequisite whether you are connecting to Amazon through a listing tool or through our direct integration.
Creating or Updating a Template
It's up to you whether you want to create a new template or edit an existing one. If you do create a new template and are asked about Shipping Settings Automation, click 'Cancel' and confirm that the Shipping Settings Automation toggle is off for this template (Here's why).
Update Shipping Templates
- Log in to Amazon Seller Central
- Go to Settings > Shipping Settings
- Select the tab that says Shipping Templates and click "edit" at the top right-hand corner.
- NOTE: If you already have Shipping Templates assigned to FBM SKUs, you can also edit/update these templates.
- NOTE: If you already have Shipping Templates assigned to FBM SKUs, you can also edit/update these templates.
- Under Transit Time choose a minimum of 3 days for Standard Shipping (See the screenshot below). This is so we can fulfill your order within the promised delivery time.
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NOTE: If you are using a direct integration with Amazon, the handling time automatically updates to 3 business days. This is done at the product level whenever we update your inventory levels during regular catalog syncs (items not inbounded are not affected).
- Total Delivery Time = Handling Time + Transit Time (+ any holidays and weekends)
- 3-5 day transit time + 3 day handling time will ingest orders with a Standard Service Level, 5-7 days.
- We do not recommend expedited transit time options below.
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- Next, remove the following United States regions from the template that we do not support:
- Puerto Rico
- US Virgin Islands
- APO & FPO
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- Optional: Edit or exclude any other US regions that you do not wish to ship to. Set up shipping fees if desired.
Update Shipping Settings
- Go to Amazon Seller Central, and then Settings > Shipping Settings > General Shipping Settings.
- Set a default shipping address in the Eastern Time Zone of the United States.
- Enter an address that is relevant for your business or use the "General Delivery" address shown in the screenshot below.
- NOTE: For non-US-based sellers, using this address lets Amazon know that your orders are being shipped from the US. Therefore, your customers will see accurate shipping times.
- NOTE: For non-US-based sellers, using this address lets Amazon know that your orders are being shipped from the US. Therefore, your customers will see accurate shipping times.
- Enter an address that is relevant for your business or use the "General Delivery" address shown in the screenshot below.
- Verify your order fulfillment settings.
- Set same-day delivery cutoff times to 10am. In general, same day delivery is not supported.
- Set all other delivery service levels to a 2pm cutoff time.
- Operating days should be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The fulfillment centers generally do not operate on Saturday or Sunday.
- Set an account-level default of 2 business days for handling time for all of your products. You can learn more on this here.
- Why: Handling time is important. A proper handling time will align your account with standard order handling. Setting a lower handling time will show a faster delivery date to buyers, but can put you at risk of missing OTS (on-time shipping) requirements from Amazon. For this reason, we recommend a slower but safer delivery time for your Amazon orders.
- Optional but recommended:
- If you are using a direct integration with Amazon, the handling time to 3 business days automatically updates at a product level when we update the inventory levels (items not inbounded are not affected). This overrides the account-level default you set below. Therefore, setting the account-level default below is optional but recommended for safety to avoid problems with OTS.
- If you are using a listing tool to connect to Amazon, please contact your listing tool support to see how they set the handling time.
- Why: Handling time is important. A proper handling time will align your account with standard order handling. Setting a lower handling time will show a faster delivery date to buyers, but can put you at risk of missing OTS (on-time shipping) requirements from Amazon. For this reason, we recommend a slower but safer delivery time for your Amazon orders.
Additional Notes
Shipping Setting Automation: No need to enable shipping setting automation in Amazon Seller Central. Unfortunately, this will not work as intended because a fulfillment location only appears as one warehouse from Amazon's point of view.
Order Handling Capacity: No need to set Order Handling Capacity limits in Amazon Seller Central. You can set this as a way to throttle your orders without any ill effect, but we cannot guarantee to import new Ship By dates (and adjust accordingly) after an order has already been imported.