REAL STAMPS not postage through buy shipping
Hello,
On March 1, 2023, we updated our Valid tracking rate policy for Royal Mail stamps and franking.
Seller-fulfilled shipments are now exempt from VTR calculation only if stamps are purchased via Amazon Buy Shipping. This applies to shipments sent through untracked Royal Mail 1st and 2nd Class letter stamps and equivalents.
Note: The grace period allowed to make the required changes ended on March 31, 2023. These changes will only affect shipments dispatched from March 31, 2023, onwards.
For information about the frequently asked questions on VTR policy, go to:
Discover the benefits of using Buy Shipping services by clicking the link below:
https://sellercentral-europe.amazon.com/gc/grow-your-business/buy-shipping
For more information, go to "Valid Tracking Rate (VTR)":
https://sellercentral-europe.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/G201817070
The Amazon Services Europe team
REAL STAMPS not postage through buy shipping
Hello,
On March 1, 2023, we updated our Valid tracking rate policy for Royal Mail stamps and franking.
Seller-fulfilled shipments are now exempt from VTR calculation only if stamps are purchased via Amazon Buy Shipping. This applies to shipments sent through untracked Royal Mail 1st and 2nd Class letter stamps and equivalents.
Note: The grace period allowed to make the required changes ended on March 31, 2023. These changes will only affect shipments dispatched from March 31, 2023, onwards.
For information about the frequently asked questions on VTR policy, go to:
Discover the benefits of using Buy Shipping services by clicking the link below:
https://sellercentral-europe.amazon.com/gc/grow-your-business/buy-shipping
For more information, go to "Valid Tracking Rate (VTR)":
https://sellercentral-europe.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/G201817070
The Amazon Services Europe team
112 replies
Seller_iKk317eGnCUs4
How are you supposd to use up your old stamps, what if you have thousands of pounds worth ?
Seller_iKk317eGnCUs4
If you send untracked on Etsy with stamps you have to wait 45 days before your sales money is released which is a better idea for low value items
Seller_2KShTY0hZcmi8
I got this email today, it’s the first I’ve heard about any of this, I recently bought around £600 of royal mail stamps (1st and 1st LL, just before the increase), I only use them on amazon. Why would I want to buy stamps (labels) from amazon? I’d rather give my stamp money to the young family who run the local post office and who always go out of their way to help.
Last time I wanted to buy labels through amazon, it was such a ball ache that I just stuck with stamps, not to mention stamps are cheaper. I only do a handful of amazon sales a day so simply write the envelopes, this is more toner, more label stock, more waste, more time.
I genuinely think I’m about done with amazon.
Seller_Xtb6vIhzOSaXT
Surely everyone affected should be contacting customer service to say this affects them.
I have a 3 year contract with a franking company and not about to start buying from Amazon.
To be honest I have never liked the policy of holding on to your money for ages (who would and no other platform does) so I would have to work harder on other platforms to gain business as much of mine is repeat, very important , mostly for funerals, but inexpensive .Mine are always sent quickly and it is an extremely rare occurrence one ddoes not arrive. All sent, bar a few larger orders, 1st class royal mail.
I will be contacting them myself. It would be a shame to lose the business but it is my business and I have to run as I see fit and beneficial to me.
ETSY do not hold onto your money by the way and do not ask how you are sending orders.
Seller_Xtb6vIhzOSaXT
Actually I did write to them and posted on one of these threads I was told I did not have to worry
I will carry on until I am chucked off I suppose but have written again today.
Seller_UZWvYDXHBkgwt
For items of small value, such as most CDs - stamps are and remain a convenient and popular way to send them. I sell probably five CDs a month here and stamps are perfect for that. I’ve got perfect rating and everyone is happy.
There should be some kind of value or volume cut-off as it becomes too much of a faff to bother here otherwise. I’m gradually moving my volume now to a popular music discography site and have seen an uptick in sales there recently.
I’ve had a good run here over the years, but I don’t think it improves the experience at all for customers - I’ve never had a CD go missing in UK (and I used to sell a lot more). I sold one today, used stamps and it didn’t impact by VTR - but that will come I’m sure.
I can probably ride it out on my volumes anyway, use stamps, accept lower VTR rate and it will clear itself - but many will not be able to. If it got too complex, I’d just leave now. Constantly having to print and affix labels is far more complex than just adding the right amount in stamps and popping it to the post box.
Like many small sellers, I’ll likely be gone from here. Physical music and such as DVD products from third parties have dried up considerably here now anyway. DVDs are getting hard to resell here too as copyright holders seem to restrict even selling one old DVD (especially old Dr Who ones of my kids for some reason).
Seller_EhpwkxuyINl4s
I was deflated by this notice today like many of you. I then read the policy and found this para.
These changes do not apply to Royal Mail’s 1st/2nd class large letters. You’re still required to provide barcode IDs for large letters to comply with existing Valid Tracking Rate policy.
Utterly confused, so if you can use stamps for large letters how do you get a barcode.
Seller_vAXf2738MYIZZ
Surly this is discrimination, an attack on all UK business sellers. I really do not get why Amazon continually want total control of every single metric.
Seller_v01AdLB8W7zJQ
Will just add something here maybe a little off topic.
I have had to move to buy shipping as i send mostly letters. I used to use stamps at the Post office. When i spoke to the person who ran the Post Office and warned him what might be happening he said they make very little on stamps, they make more on anything they have to print a label, So he was happy to scan my buy shipping QR codes. Everything i can i still pay for at the post office counter ( signed for basically).
For anyone with loads of spare stamps and who normally posts stuff at the post office. why dont you use stamps for signed for items and then just pay the extra. So for example if you sending a 1st class signed for letter which is now £2.60. put two stamps on which is £2.20 and then get the cashier just to charge you the extra 40p. Its no more work for them than normal i don’t believe.
Seller_u4N7CLUxByftJ
Does anyone here know if you can edit the tracking numbers and if these count against the VTR? Im aware you can’t if the items been delivered already, but say if you need to change couriers and send using another courier but you’ve already confirmed it dispatched then would this be okay?
