We keep getting FBM orders with free shipping via FedEx and UPS that are not in our shipping template.
We keep getting FBM orders with free shipping via FedEx and UPS that are not in our shipping template.
Even though the shipping cost may be cheaper than USPS - the cost consideration does not cover a pickup charge. In fact, we do not offer expedited shipping because it leaves us open ro late delivery issues.
But the bottom line is why is Amazon requiring UPS and FedEx shipments that are not on our shipping table.
We end up having to cancel the orders due to the shipping cost.
We keep getting FBM orders with free shipping via FedEx and UPS that are not in our shipping template.
We keep getting FBM orders with free shipping via FedEx and UPS that are not in our shipping template.
Even though the shipping cost may be cheaper than USPS - the cost consideration does not cover a pickup charge. In fact, we do not offer expedited shipping because it leaves us open ro late delivery issues.
But the bottom line is why is Amazon requiring UPS and FedEx shipments that are not on our shipping table.
We end up having to cancel the orders due to the shipping cost.
10 replies
Seller_DdmPiA1p1S2Wu
Orders on Amazon aren't tied to a specific carrier or service. You can use the Automated Shipping to have Amazon calculate an estimated shipping time based on your preferred shipping services, but that is all. So, if you have say just USPS Ground Advantage selected to calculate the estimated time, then you should have at least that shipping option to ship by. Sometimes Amazon pads the time the USPS says it will take when purchasing the label, but doesn't pad it when calculating what they tell the buyer, however, so you can get into a situation where Amazon doesn't allow you to ship by the shipping method that you told them to use to calculate how long it would take because it "wouldn't arrive in time", which is absurd, but that's Amazon for you. Another possibility is that the address you are shipping to isn't serviced by the USPS, or Amazon doesn't think they are, anyway. Yet another possibility is that the buyers operating days show they won't be open on the date that Amazon is estimating the USPS shipping option will arrive. You need to look at the unavailable shipping options on one of the orders you are having the issue with and see why it is not allowing you to ship by it. It will says, "Does not meet business hours", "Late Risk", or "Not an eligible ship method for this order" which will help you figure out what is going on. You said that you are cancelling orders because of the shipping cost, but you better be really careful. If your cancellation rate gets too high, you will lose your Amazon selling account. It's generally better to take a bit on the shipping cost than get a hit on your metrics for cancelling.
Seller_sNfwyhTSKGB7S
- "Free Shipping" is a deception... a marketing tool that should and will be challenged on a market-wide scale.
- There is no "Free shipping" therefore if you find undesirable results from applying this deceptive marketing phrase, be it no surprise.
- Amazon itself discontinued the use of the phrase "Free shipping" a couple years ago... "Free delivery" is still a bit deceptive however not such a direct untruth.
- After the upcoming class action litigation settles, "Shipping included" or similar phrase will be the standard.
- Where does anyone actually obtain "Free Shipping" ? Boy oh boy it sure sounds good, please let me in on your secret...!
Seller_w6aLwkKdfu3L0
Amazon use to filter the "preferred carriers" first and only when the preferred carriers aren't available do more options show up. They stopped that a couple of years ago (not sure why as it was actually a pretty useful feature). Our assumption, the amount of businesses that use "Buy Shipping" and volume processed through Amazon's web portal is small number compared to the volume being used by larger businesses using API and their own custom software. So by reducing the task on Amazon's Web Services for something that can be visually done by a shipper in a second by hundreds of thousands of sellers, it reduces the burden on their servers.
Part of federal services that taxes pay for is that USPS can delivery to "all" locations in the US to a degree (rural locations for example might go to a community location that the citizens have to pick up at). If FEDex or UPS or Amazon are the only option to ship, it might be because the buyer had issues with specific carriers or the carrier blacklisted the address. We were told by UPS once that they had a recipient claim INR when the drivers remember the person because they claimed it so much that ID was required for delivery and when that happened with USPS, they held packages at their facility for a year to be picked up and verified as punishment. Recipient learned their lesson as it was a hassle to go to the post office for all their mail.
The other more common case could be that if they're forcing you to use a specific service it could be that it is the only service that meets the promised delivery date when the buyer made the order. For example if the buyer placed an order and it said maximum 5 days and you waited 2 days to process, only services that can deliver to that location in 3 days are available to select.
Seller_3U37OhOjkVT5E
We had an order today that is expected to be delivered tomorrow! We include shipping in our prices and there is no way I can eat an overnight delivery. Our template is set up for a 10 day delivery window, yet Amazon promises ridiculous delivery dates on a regular basis! I wish I knew how to fix this!
