Listings Lounge: Difference between 'Merchant Release Date' and 'Offer Release Date' in Listing Offer tab
Welcome back to the Listings Lounge!
Are you wondering what the difference is between the merchant release date and the offer release date?
The merchant release date is the date the product was initially released. This can be left blank for most products, however if the date should be provided, please ensure it meets the requested formatting of MM-DD-YYYY and not YYYY-MM-DD.
The offer release start date is the first day you can start delivering your product to customers. Once the item is live in Amazon's store, customers can start placing orders for it beginning on this date.
These two dates are important for setting up pre-orders and making sure customers can get the new product as soon as it's available. The merchant release date kicks off the pre-order window, while the offer release start date marks the official launch when customers can start placing orders.
For instructions on how to set up pre-order products, check out List a pre-ordered or back-ordered product. Ensure that you can guarantee that your products will arrive to you before the pre-order or back order date you provide, as your metrics will be effected if you are not able to ship on the date that you specified.
UPVOTE 👍 / DOWNVOTE 👎 this post if you enjoy seeing content like this. Leave a comment on this post with questions you may have about this topic. Also, let us know what Selling on Amazon subject matters you want us to feature next!
Listings Lounge: Difference between 'Merchant Release Date' and 'Offer Release Date' in Listing Offer tab
Welcome back to the Listings Lounge!
Are you wondering what the difference is between the merchant release date and the offer release date?
The merchant release date is the date the product was initially released. This can be left blank for most products, however if the date should be provided, please ensure it meets the requested formatting of MM-DD-YYYY and not YYYY-MM-DD.
The offer release start date is the first day you can start delivering your product to customers. Once the item is live in Amazon's store, customers can start placing orders for it beginning on this date.
These two dates are important for setting up pre-orders and making sure customers can get the new product as soon as it's available. The merchant release date kicks off the pre-order window, while the offer release start date marks the official launch when customers can start placing orders.
For instructions on how to set up pre-order products, check out List a pre-ordered or back-ordered product. Ensure that you can guarantee that your products will arrive to you before the pre-order or back order date you provide, as your metrics will be effected if you are not able to ship on the date that you specified.
UPVOTE 👍 / DOWNVOTE 👎 this post if you enjoy seeing content like this. Leave a comment on this post with questions you may have about this topic. Also, let us know what Selling on Amazon subject matters you want us to feature next!
12 replies
Seller_asXyI6yX0MQp5
So we only list dated in those sections if we are doing a preorder or back-order?
What if we are launching a book for the first time and want it to launch on a particular date and sell on a particular date.
Michelle_Amazon
Hi @Seller_asXyI6yX0MQp5,
For the merchant release date, you would put the date you want to sell your items on Amazon. For example, I have my products, but I don't want to start shipping for a week, I would then put the merchant release date for the day next week that I want to sell it and my offer will not show up on Amazon until that time.
If you want to list your product on Amazon, but not sell it until a later date, then you would use the offer release date. That will be the date where your product is ready to ship to your customers, but they can place pre-orders before that date.
So in your case, you would put both the merchant release date and your offer release date as the same date.
I hope this helps explain things for you! Wishing you the best with your book launch!
Michelle_Amazon
Hi @Seller_asXyI6yX0MQp5,
I just found this news post that you may find helpful with your new book launch as well. If you are the author of your book, you may also want to check out Author Central, where your readers can learn more about you and having this allows you to add extra features like Look Inside the book.
Again, wishing you the best!
Seller_asXyI6yX0MQp5
Michelle Thank you so much of this Author Central info. I really appreciate you going the extra mile to provide me this additional information and help me.
I will definitely look into it.
I will reach out if I have any more questions.
Best,
Seller_asXyI6yX0MQp5
Yes that was a big help!
Thank you for wishing me the best with my book launch.
Thank you for your help.
Best,
Seller_asXyI6yX0MQp5
Should I do the Author Central Page after release or before?
Seller_asXyI6yX0MQp5
Hi Michelle,
I have another question regarding the "Product Details" tab in the listing section.
Do I also put the same date I will use for the merchant release date and my offer release date on the Product Site Launch Date?
What exactly is the Product Site Launch Date?
Best,
Michelle_Amazon
Hi @Seller_asXyI6yX0MQp5,
You can do this before or after. If you do it before, you will be able to add this information to your detail page at the same time as your product is launched, allowing your customers to find out more about you when they purchase it.
For the Product Details, you just provide a little information about your book without giving the entire story away, but enticing customers to want to purchase it.
The Product Site Launch Date is the same date that you want your book to be available on Amazon for your customers to purchase.
I hope this is helpful!
Seller_asXyI6yX0MQp5
Thank you Michelle,
How do I do the bullet points on my product details/description page?
I used bullet points but they didn't show up? Instead I have one large paragraph showing up.
Best,
Michelle_Amazon
Hi @Seller_asXyI6yX0MQp5,
For books, they don't have bullet points on the detail page, only product descriptions. That is why you are seeing everything all together. Also for your title, that should only include the title and the rest of the information should be under the product description.
If you have additional questions, please reach out to Seller Support and they will be able to assist you as I will be out of the office for the holidays until early January. If you need help after you contact Seller Support, please create a new discussion and provide your case ID and someone from my team will be able to assist you.
Happy Holidays!
Michelle
Seller_asXyI6yX0MQp5
Ok. Thank you.
Wishing you Happy Holidays!
Best,
Michelle_Amazon
Happy Holidays to you too, @Seller_asXyI6yX0MQp5!
