Valid Tracking Rate update starting tomorrow, January 15, 2025 🚩
Hello Sellers,
I want to remind you about tomorrow's significant update to the Valid Tracking Rate (VTR) policy and calculation for seller-fulfilled orders.
This update, announced on October 15, 2024, introduces important changes:
- VTR will now include ALL shipping service providers, not just those integrated with Amazon for scan information
- Cross-border shipments between European marketplaces (DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, PT, PL, AT, SE) will be included in VTR calculations. Exception: Orders under €20 (including shipping, excluding VAT) using 'letter' shipping methods.
Updated Resources (Available from January 15):
We are aware that some orders using Amazon's "Buy Shipping" service through Royal Mail are being incorrectly flagged as untracked. The technical team is actively working to resolve this issue.
I'm in direct contact with the responsible team and am here to address any questions or concerns you may have. Please feel free to post them below.
Best regards, Ezra.
124 replies
Seller_xLwNMCbCJK72d
Why cant Amazon have a "Technical Issues" box on the seller central dashboard that advise sellers of current known major IT issues.
Then we would all know there is an issue and its being worked on, rather than having to trawl the forums to see if others are experiencing same problems and duplicate topics
Seller_RguKGMHvWFmo3
Its been over 24 hours - do we have an estimated time of a fix? Also do you think you could suggest to management about sending out bulletins to the home page and also to Seller Support of any site wide technical issues.
As I can guarantee that there was a huge amount of wasted time from both sellers and Amazon SS yesterday, on something that could not be resolved in any way.
Also can you ensure that this VTR issue is not effecting sellers sales as I have seen many comments about a huge drop in sales since this issue.
Seller_YdYWopTxpvyDo
Hi
The drop in VTR has impacted our ability to offer Premium Shipping. We too have seen a drop in sales. Surely while this problem is waiting to be resolved VTR should be omitted from metrics that it adversely affects.
Seller_lzs7hBA9Beyl3
Does anything change for domestic delivery confirmation services such as Royal Mail 48?
The VTR FAQ (https://sellercentral.amazon.co.uk/help/hub/reference/G202014610) still states that: '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 methods such as Royal Mail 24, Royal Mail 48, Royal Mail first class or Royal Mail second class. Postage stamps and other untracked services are exempted when measuring your Valid Tracking Rate.'
Seller_W0UadCH7lVBVG
Ezra
There is some confusion, if you look at the line 3.b below, it contradicts what you say.
You say in your message above:
'VTR will now include ALL shipping service providers, not just those integrated with Amazon for scan information
However the VTR page says :
3. 'We will not calculate your Valid Tracking Rate for the following shipments (“VTR-exempt shipments”):
a. Your shipments which are not Fulfilled by Merchant shipments;
b. Your domestic shipments delivered by non-integrated delivery service providers;
So, what is the correct answer please?
Thanks
Seller_QuM1AZgzfU9x4
For those that have found the VTR page to be lacking an update, the draft version of the changes can be found at https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/02/UK/Valid_Tracking_Rate_redline_UK_102024.pdf
Seller_RAXEWLxQ2dbmN
I notice it still states the following:
Untracked Royal Mail 1st and 2nd Class Letter stamps and franking are exempt from VTR if purchased through Amazon Buy Shipping (at no extra cost)
Which indicates that those sellers using Buy Shipping who found their VTR dropping were victims of a glitch.
How did you find that PDF, by the way?
Seller_QuM1AZgzfU9x4
Generally when Amazon announce changes to one of the larger policies they provide the redline version in advance. It was linked in the original news article back in October. At least they provided a link to the "upcoming changes" page which has the link.
Seller_dWNwGFQJPwusm
Hi, @Ezra_Amazon
Orders that used the Amazon's "Buy Shipping" service were flagged as untracked, resulting in a substandard Valid Tracking Rate that is now affecting sales in certain categories. Could you help us fix it as soon as possible?
Seller_8LVwo9zMW6nUy
Pfff. VTR always been 100%. Yesterday it dropped to 67% for no apparent reason. Today it has no VTR at all...just says N/A. Amateurish.
Seller_HKRFhxMYICFJp
This has been resolved for my account now, by the looks of it, i hope everyone else is in the same boat.
Thank goodness.
Seller_YdYWopTxpvyDo
Royal Mail problem appears to be resolved now, however we now have the same problem for 2 DPD deliveries.
Biggest problem is the resolution has not rectified Premium Delivery Eligibility which was a knock on from the original issue.
