If you have previously not sold on Amazon before or used to use FBA but are starting to use Amazon Merchant Fulfilled Shipping – shipping products from your own warehouse, then the following tips will help you get set up and navigate the Amazon platform.
Add estimated delivery time and configure your shipping rates
The first thing to do if you haven’t already is to update your listings with an estimated delivery time and configure your shipping rates. Amazon provides an estimated delivery time to customers on the offer and checkout pages so buyers know when to expect an item they have ordered from you. They determine the estimated delivery time from the moment a buyer places an order until that order is delivered, taking into consideration handling and transit times.
- You can modify your handling time and transit time by following the instructions in the Manage your delivery time page.
- Next, use Shipping Settings to set the default shipping service levels that you will use for orders you deliver to buyers (for example, standard, expedited, or two day shipping).
Fulfilling an order using Amazon Merchant Fulfilled Shipping
When using the Amazon Merchant Fulfilled Shipping option, you are responsible for managing orders and delivering directly to customers. The Manage Orders page on Seller Central has step-by-step instructions for how to manage, fulfil, and deliver your orders. Once a customer places an order, Amazon will send you a notification via email. If you prefer not to rely on email notifications, you can also check your Manage Orders page or Orders reports.
How do I find the customer’s delivery address?
You can find the delivery address in one of the following locations: Order details page, an Orders report, or an Unshipped Orders report.
Why do I need to confirm delivery after Amazon sends me the notification?
Confirming the delivery provides the customer with more information about their order, such as tracking information. In addition, if you do not confirm the delivery within 30 days of the order date, Amazon will automatically cancel the order and will not charge the customer, even if you already shipped the order.
What if I need to contact the customer?
You can communicate with customers using the Amazon Buyer-Seller Messaging Service, which lets you contact customers through Seller Central or your personal or business email. You should only contact customers to complete orders or respond to customer service questions. For more information, see the Buyer-Seller Messaging Service overview.
How to handle cancellations, returns, and refunds
If you are fulfilling your own orders, you will also be responsible for processing order cancellation requests, returns, and refunds.
Cancellations
You can cancel any undelivered items or orders from your Manage orders page when you determine you will not be able to fulfil the item or order. If you realise you are unable to fulfil any orders, you can place your account in vacation status or take additional steps to manage your inventory. For additional information see:
Returns
Unlike FBA, when using Amazon Merchant Fulfilled Shipping, you will be responsible for managing returns from buyers. For professional sellers, Amazon automatically authorises returns that fall within Amazon’s return policies. Amazon will only send you return requests when these are outside of our policy, or are exempt from prepaid returns. If a customer requests a return, Amazon will send you an email stating the reason for the return and we will inform you if the customer’s request does not comply with our return policies. For more information on how to process return requests see:
Refunds
When using Amazon Merchant Fulfilled Shipping, you are responsible for refunds for which a couple of options are available:
- Returnless refunds You issue a refund and let the buyer keep the product.
- Standard refund: You issue a refund after you receive the product back. A refund is partial if it does not match the item price that the customer was charged. You may issue a partial refund and withhold a restocking fee or the return shipping cost depending on the return circumstances.
The Amazon A-to-z Guarantee protects customers when they purchase items that are sold and fulfilled directly by sellers. Amazon’s guarantee covers both the timely delivery and the condition of items you sell. If customers are unsatisfied with either and cannot reach a resolution directly with you, we enable them to file a claim with Amazon 48 hours after they contact you.
You can learn more about claim eligibility policies on the A-to-z Guarantee customer page. For more information on how to process A-to-z Guarantee claims see:
- Respond to an A-to-z Guarantee claim notification
- Appeal an A-to-z Guarantee claim
- About A-to-z Guarantee claims
You can monitor your performance using the Account Health page. The Account Health page provides an overview of your seller account’s adherence to the performance targets and policies required to sell on Amazon. See the Monitor your account health page for more information on the metrics Amazon monitor for MFN sellers, as well as target thresholds.
