Amazon Seller Updates: Amazon Drops Default Handling Time

Amazon has been pretty uptight with its policies for sellers, especially when it comes to delivery and fulfillment. Amazon’s delivery efficiency has been its USP for a long time; hence, they make sure that there are no delays or loopholes here. Around September 30th, sellers noticed a sudden change in the Default Handling Time. According to Amazon, “Sellers often set longer Handling Times than they actually need to prepare, pack, and hand over packages to carriers. This causes buyers browsing products to see longer than necessary delivery dates. In contrast, by setting more accurate Handling Times, buyers typically see more attractive delivery dates, which on average leads to more sales.” Hence, they have made alterations to the option, which would be discussed below, along with implications and an action plan for sellers. 

What Just Happened with Amazon's Default Handling Time?

Sellers across the Amazon marketplace do not have their default handling time set to two days. The time frame is now reduced to one or zero days by default. In case they wish to set it for a longer time span, manual intervention is required. While many sellers are confused and unable to understand why this has happened! Amazon provides a reason: 

“We have detected that 85% of the time, sellers fulfill orders within 1 day of receiving an order. For this reason, we are removing the 2-day Default Handling Time option, and all sellers who had 2-day as their default will be automatically switched to 1-day. However, to protect the account metrics for sellers that had set a 2-day Default Handling Time, Amazon will update your SKU-Specific Handling Time on your behalf.”

Amazon will handle the SKU-based timing on the following grounds: 

• Amazon will automatically create a 2-day SKU-Specific Handling Time for SKUs where sellers have historically taken more than a day to handle orders and do not have an SKU-level handling time set.
• Amazon won't assign an SKU-specific Handling Time for SKUs that have traditionally taken one day or less to handle orders and don't have an SKU-level handling time defined. 
• There won't be any modifications made to SKUs that previously had an SKU-Specific Handling Time.

Implications of the Change for Amazon Sellers 

There are certain implications of this step taken by the Amazon sales channel, which are discussed below: 

1. Automated Updates

Now, sellers have to lower their preparation and handling time, as the same will automatically be changed to a one-day default. Some SKUs with a same-day delivery history might even notice the change to a zero-day default setting. 

2. SKU-Specific Settings

The sales channel will analyze different SKUs owned by the Amazon seller and hence decide whether to change the default handling time. Also, the sellers have an option to make the changes themselves manually. 

3. Time-Taking Process

While there is an option to make the changes, the process itself can be very time-consuming and error-prone. Hence, the sellers with multiple products might face difficulty in making adjustments.  

Action Plan for Sellers 

With changes come alterations to strategy, and here’s what sellers need to do: 

1. Make Changes Carefully

While the process is time-consuming, sellers need to understand that it is essential to go through it. Amazon business owners need to make quick changes to the settings where the processing time is higher. In case a seller fails to do the same, the mistake would lead to poor account health and unsatisfied customers. 

2. Adjust through the Simple Process

While it might look like a very complicated process, it is relatively easy to execute. Sellers just need to go to ‘Settings’ and then ‘Shipping Settings’ to make the changes to the default time. 

3. Report analysis

Reports such as the "Category listings report" and a "Update Price & Quantity" template can be used to update the handling time for several SKUs simultaneously in bulk. For instance, you can set it to "1" for a single day in Amazon Seller Central.

4. Speed-Up Handling Process

While the change comes unannounced, sellers need to understand that they still have to abide by it. So, the ultimate way to deal with the situation is to speed up the process and if needed take help from automation software that can be integrated with Amazon for a better fulfillment partner. 

Amazon’s Latest Update to Change Customer Experience 

Meeting customer expectations has always been the point of focus for Amazon's sales channel. Hence, they are making changes to their setup and policies for sellers. The change might be unforeseen, but sellers will be able to experience a change in their future sales with better customer service and higher conversion with a low delivery time. This change might take time to incorporate into the selling system, but eventually it will reflect positively on the business.

FAQs

Q1. Why did Amazon remove the two-day default handling time?

Amazon noticed that sellers tend to process the orders in one day or the same day of order placement, which is why it has removed the two-day default handling time. 

Q2. Can I change the Default Handling time? 

Yes, the same can be changed from the Amazon Seller Central settings on applicable SKUs 

Q3. Can the default handling time stay unchanged for any SKU?  

Yes, if historically some SKU of yours have always taken a 2-day time, then the same will stay unchanged. 

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