VTR when using RM48 Service
Hi everyone,
I use RM48 to dispatch the vast majority of my items; most of them are Large Letter size and less than £5 in cost so to use any other service simply isn’t financially viable.
With the RM48 service, the items only receive a final delivery scan from the postperson when the item is delivered and no other scans during their journey to the customer. For the tracking number that I upload to be ‘valid’ for the VTR metric, it has to receive a scan which technically they should do when the item is delivered. However, in around 20% - 25% of cases the postperson doesn’t actually scan the items so Amazon mark this is an ‘invalid’ tracking number and as such, my VTR rate hovers between 70% and 80%.
Does anybody else solely use the RM48 service and do you know of a way to get around this?
Any advice anybody has on the subject would be greatly received!
Many thanks
0 replies
Seller_7VbclcPFFRTnc
This is the bit from their policy that applies to your RM48 items however, I note you say you use RM48 fir the vast majority - what are the other ones ?
What happens if my shipping service provider fails to scan my packages?
- Check your tracking/parcel ID: Always make sure you or your integrator provides the correct name of your delivery service provider, the delivery service used, and the tracking or parcel ID. You may receive a VTR warning as a result of low scan rate. However, we will validate ‘unscanned’ tracking or parcel IDs with the integrated delivery service provider prior to suspending your offers in the affected category. Your offers will not be suspended if you have provided valid IDs, including for all parcels that have not been scanned by the carrier. This includes delivery confirmation only delivery methods (for example, RM 24 / 48 or 1st Class 2nd Class). As mentioned in FAQ 3, postage stamps and other untracked services are not taken into account when measuring your Valid Tracking Rate.
Seller_hQEi0cf2R1Pi4
Hi,
Thanks for the rapid reply!
My other items are sent with Hermes on a tracked service so these are all no problem. I also send some items using Letters but I have been through and meticulously checked that these aren’t the problem. When I download the report on my VTR metric page, it just shows the RM48 items with their respective tracking numbers that are the problem.
I am 100% sure the tracking numbers that are being provided are correct as it is done automatically and there is no “copying and pasting” involved! Having said that, I am unable to verify with RM that the tracking numbers are correct because when you enter it on their tracking site, it says “An update will only be provided when we attempt to deliver your item,” which if there’s no final delivery scan, there will be no update!
I have had a few warnings about the low rate (and even a phone call) but no listings have been suspended (yet!) but I am concerned that all the while Amazon class the tracking numbers as ‘invalid’ I’m running the risk of suspensions etc.
Thanks for your help!
Seller_hQEi0cf2R1Pi4
Thanks -
Without being too nosey (tell me if I am) is your VTR above the 95% threshold and if it’s below, have you had any phone calls from Amazon trying to get you to get your carrier to scan more items?
Seller_hQEi0cf2R1Pi4
Sorry to double message, but I have just received an email from Amazon stating that they have suspended some items with the following message
“Upon checking your account health, we we’re able to determine that your listing has been ineligible for seller-fulfillment due to Valid Tracking issues in which Electronics (73%) , Home Improvement (75%), Wireless (77%), and Home (83%) categories have been affected.”
and that I need to submit a PoA to get them reinstated!
Seller_hQEi0cf2R1Pi4
I don’t use Amazon to buy postage. I have an API that generates postage labels for me that is linked to my Click and Drop account. At the end of the day when my mail is collected, the API automatically updates Amazon with the shipper, service used and the tracking information.
These are the affected listings
And this is the reason why I cannot fulfil the items myself
Seller_hQEi0cf2R1Pi4
Yes, 100% sure they are all RM48 service.
I’ve zoomed out as much as possible so you can still see the service and you can see they are all RM48.
My VTR is currently sat at 75% and they have started suspended listings saying that I don’t meet their performance criteria in the VTR metric. All my other metrics are fine and have no other warnings so can only be this. The mail I received in the SS case supports this as well.
Seller_ZQyopdiwkUHOZ
Yeah, this is looking bad.
Just double checking to be sure, but your listings were MFN and not Seller Fulfilled Prime?
What is your VTR % right now?
Edit - Also are the RM48 you’re using being billed as CRL?
Seller_ZQyopdiwkUHOZ
Long shot, but is there a chance the tracking numbers for any of them were added after the PDD for the item?
Does anyone know whether it treats a tracking number as invalid if it’s entered at a time after the order has been marked as shipped?
