VTR metrics with the use of Royal Mail 1st Class and 2nd Class
Need help with getting this VTR metrics right. So we use Royal Mail 1st Class and 2nd Class most for our shipping and these keep affecting our VTR. We were advised to add the parcel ID at the top of the 2D Barcode, however, this still affects our VTR metrics. Any support or anyone else facing this issue that has been resolved.
I have already had a chat with Seller Support and it doesn’t look like they understand the system either. Any help
136 replies
Seller_nT7psArrIHc2I
I posted about this yesterday as have been having the same issue. Spoke to someone at SS and they confirmed there is an issue with Royal mail postage. This is the reply I received today…
"Hello from Amazon Selling Partner Support,
We understand that you are concern regarding your orders that has traceable Tracking IDs that appeared as invalid in your VTR report.
We would like to inform you that we are currently experiencing a technical issue regarding orders related to Royal Mail that were marked having Invalid Tracking IDs in the VTR report.
We apologise for the inconvenience this causes. Our engineers are aware of this issue and are diligently working to resolve it. At this time, we are unable to provide an estimated time of resolution. We appreciate your patience while we correct this issue."
Seller_ki1N4rNPhbE5E
I’m still struggling to get my VTR above zero and not sure whether its the technical issue they’ve mentioned or my reporting. I’m thinking of trying going back over the last 30 days and amending the service from Royal Mail Second Class to Royal Mail Stamps/franking. Only thing is, when you amend the service and update it says “Your shipment has been updated and a new shipment confirmation e-mail has been sent to the customer.”
Anyone know if it really does actually send another email to the customer? Sounds like I may well potentially create a load of unnecessary queries.
Seller_ZQyopdiwkUHOZ
Seller Support were wrong. Royal Mail 1st Class and 2nd Class post has a parcel ID, but only the parcels have delivery confirmation, so if using for Large Letters or Letters entering the Parcel ID will always result in them being treated as Invalid.
Seller_DROodOAYHftnc
You’re right, SS do not understand, and you will get different answers everytime !
There are many threads about this, but at the moment when confirming shipment you need to use the 1st/2nd Class stamps/franking option. They changed this suddenly overnight - if you do this you will be OK, but be aware they may well change the goalposts again !
The alternative is to use Buy Shipping.
Seller_grgIjWuj1DLxa
I changed a bunch of orders yesterday and reconfirmed the shipments as using stamps/franking. Does anyone know if this will update eventually in VTR? I’m currently on 0% 
Seller_p27bs0l5E6QqD
I put that barcode on once and it wasn’t recognised as a valid tracking record.I hope we are not reaching the compulsory tracking requirement.Royal Mail is excellent and my non- delivered are probably at less than 1%, with a refund if required.The other alternatives do not convince me that it’s worth it ie:- a Royal Mail account or Amazon buy shipping or even FBA ,but Amazon may be pushing us that way.
Seller_Nx3Da5XPngGEm
Read the VTR page here: https://sellercentral-europe.amazon.com/gp/help/G201817070?ref=sp_st_vtr_summary&referral=A2SPV7QYIOY28U_A34BYKDC1L858F
It says and I quote " 3. Are Royal Mail 1st or 2nd class stamps considered for VTR?
Postage stamps are not a tracked service. If you are delivering your orders using an untracked delivery method, you are not required to provide us a tracking ID for domestic and cross-border deliveries."
So according to Amazon 2nd and 1st class standard are a tracked service? I think not! it’s exactly the same service as stamps/franking, but is just another way of sending it.
My VTR is now 0% because of this known issue. SS have pending cases open for me on this subject and are yet to respond. I guess they are working on this problem. I hope.
Seller_74bTuZfXj9SfE
For what it’s worth for months I was using “Royal Mail” and “1st class” and had n/a for my VTR. Overnight the clowns moved the goalposts and I went to 0%. I changed all my “faulty” consignments to “Royal Mail” and “Stamps / Franking” and VTR gradually reverted to n/a. Everything I send now, regardless of method, is sent as “Royal Mail”, “Stamps / Franking”. However, I’m sure it won’t be long before there is another movement of the goalposts.
Seller_PGl19dzTOXc2O
I am in EXACTLY this position (VTR now c. 75%). I am sending anything which I don’t send “signed for” as Stamps/Franking. I am writing the tracking number for anything I send ‘signed for’. I hope this works to raise number eventually. It has been going slowly up. I too do not want to send FBA or buy shipping from them. This maybe head-in-sand but I hope it will be enough to satisfy their wonderful metrics!
Seller_akKpthY7meBC0
I have exactly the same issue and have, in the last few days , started adding the same parcel ID at the top of the 2D barcode ( as instructed) and it seems to have made my VTR WORSE !! Don’t they understand that this is not an actual tracking number if they are punishing us to that effect. To purchase actual tracking is costly when Amazon allow only £2.80 regardless of service used !! All that after they are taking a huge chunk of the selling price . Please Amazon can you understand the REAL logistics here !! Why don’t introduce a tracked shipping service option for customers who are prepared to pay for it and just measure on that ??
