Amazon is placing a new burden on sellers who use its FBA fulfillment service. When sending inventory to FBA fulfillment centers, sellers must now inform Amazon when their shipping carriers will miss delivery appointments.
Sellers discussing the announcement had many questions. One seller pointed out there was no mechanism for merchants to share such information with Amazon. "Only carriers can make appointments and communicate about them. How should we alert Amazon that our carrier will be unable to meet their delivery appointment?"
Others asked if sellers who used Amazon Partnered Carriers were excluded from the new policy. Why doesn't Amazon simply implement this with the carrier, asked another?
One merchant said Amazon doesn't provide information in Seller Central to enable sellers to confirm and track if a carrier misses delivery appointments.
Another merchant turned the tables and suggested Amazon should compensate sellers for delays resulting from their cancellations and rescheduling of deliveries.
One seller described how Amazon couldn't keep its delivery appointment for a shipment scheduled for delivery at a fulfillment center last week, telling the carrier there would be a 5-hour delay before Amazon workers could unload the shipment.
Once arrived, inbound shipments can sit in Amazon fulfillment centers for weeks before being checked in - what about that problem, asked one merchant.
Amazon published the announcement on September 1, but the new policy went into effect on August 25. No Amazon moderators had gone into the comments to answer seller questions as of Sunday evening.
Policy change for missed FBA shipping appointments
September 1, 2020 2:25 pm
"We are continuously working to make FBA products available to customers faster. When carriers miss delivery appointments at our fulfillment centers, processing time for all FBA shipments can increase.
"As of August 25, 2020, consistent failure to meet appointments may result in a suspension of FBA shipping privileges. If your carrier is unable to make the FBA shipment delivery appointment, we request that you notify us at least 24 hours in advance.
"For more information, visit Carrier requirements for LTL and FTL deliveries."
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Amazon FBA Puts New Shipping Burden on Sellers 
by: toolguy