Amazon Buy Shipping rates way too HIGH!!
Amazon buy shipping costs are ridiculous since this new OTDR, Automatic Handling Time, and Shipping Setting Automation were changed.
We cannot control what the carriers do with the orders after they leave our facility. We cannot assume the orders will be delivered on time.
We can only control when we ship the orders (by the ship date).
But these shipping costs are ridiculous since Amazon made all these changes.
See the screenshots of the bs we saw this morning.
Why should we have to pay higher shipping costs to have our OTDR protected?
We don't ever use FedEx, but yet it's always popping up.
If we choose the cheaper shipping cost, then that will affect our OTDR if items are not delivered on time?
This is absolutely absurd.
Amazon needs to let the sellers run their FBM orders the way they see fit for their business.
If we ship by the date Amazon says we have to, then we should ALWAYS be protected and sellers shouldn't take the hit for the carriers who cannot deliver on time or take the hit when Amazon FBA orders are late, missing parts, etc.


3 replies
Seller_AF6uF6gvn0yie
They are extremely high right now and senseless. We had a pending order for two days and by the time it became ready to ship the promise date didn’t change. The cost to ship from FL to CA was $13 on a product that we sell for $18.69. Ship on Monday to arrive on Wednesday. We had to take the hit to meet the requirements but we can’t keep doing it every time. We lost two days of transit for Pending Payment Verification. How is that my fault? The customer should be informed that since they couldn’t verify the payment quickly the new ETA changed. Then they should have the option to cancel the order or wait two more days to receive it.
Dominic_Amazon
Hi @Seller_tzb0Adb4whsRu,
Dominic from Amazon here, you do not need to use buy shipping if you find shipping at a lower cost outside of buy shipping.
Best,
Dominic
Seller_R2dP7Hunjcdj0
Very True!
BUT...
You forgot to mention that IF you follow that advice you also give-up ALL Amazon Seller protections against A-Z Claims for INR.
I believe that is an important factor in making the decision.
The PROBLEM is this:
IF WE SHIP AN ASIN SAME-DAY OR NEXT-DAY WE MAY BE REQUIRED BY AMAZON TO ALWAYS SHIP THAT ASIN IN THAT MANNER.
BUT...
IF WE WAIT TO SHIP THE ASIN ON DAY 2, WE ARE OFTEN LEFT WITH FEWER CARRIER OPTIONS, AND ALWAYS HIGHER POSTAGE RATES.
Do you understand the problem now? EITHER WAY WE CHOOSE IS A LOSS FOR US. It is literally a "Lose-Lose" proposition.
After all, the actual Postage Rate to ship from the Seller location to the Buyer Delivery address does NOT increase with the passage of 1 day.
It appears that the ONLY option Amazon provides for us is to switch from FBM to FBA. This MAY be the entire POINT of Amazon's OTDR metric Policy that has become SUCH a fiasco!
While FBA may be a viable option for SOME Businesses, it is NOT a viable option for ALL Businesses (mine included).
Secondly, IF a Seller purchases Postage using "Amazon Buy Shipping" AND they ship "On-Time" as defined by Amazon, WHY then does Amazon PUNISH Sellers for things that are COMPLETELY OUT OF THEIR CONTROL (such as "Late" Deliveries)? I am aware of the AHT program, HOWEVER, just because a Seller signs-up for this does NOT change the actual Delivery of the packages, it only provides a little more "Grace period" for Sellers.
But when a Seller agrees to the AHT restrictions, they LOSE their ability to arrange their own work schedule to allow for other things in Life besides being an Amazon Seller.
There is also the fact that a "Late" Delivery IS covered by the Amazon Seller Protection Policy for A-Z Claims arising from a "Problem with Delivery", but it DOES NOT protect Sellers from taking an OTDR "Hit". Amazon, WHY the inconsistency?
Amazon should NOT be "Punishing" it's 3rd Party "Selling Partners" in this way. IF we are operating within Amazon Policy, then Amazon should PROTECT us, not Punish us.
Here are the two things Amazon needs to do to "Fix" this problem:
1) Amazon NEEDS to adjust their software to allow for "DAY 2" shipments to have the SAME Carrier options at the SAME Postage Rate as would be available on "DAY 1" (or SAME-DAY) shipments.
2) Amazon NEEDS to extend OTDR Seller Protection on "Late" Deliveries for Sellers who purchase Postage using "Amazon Buy Shipping" and ship "On-Time" as scheduled by Amazon.
I eagerly await your response, and I very much hope that it is a meaningful response.