Amazon wants sellers to be more precise with handling times

Amazon will begin enforcing more accurate handling times for seller‑fulfilled SKUs starting June 29, flagging SKUs consistently shipped at least one day faster than stated and requiring sellers to update times within 30 days. If sellers fail to provide accurate handling times, Amazon said it will manage those SKUs and grant late‑shipment‑rate protection for 180 days. The policy pushes sellers toward automated handling‑time settings or SKU‑level adjustments and excludes custom, handmade and bulky LTL items. Market impact: the move is aimed at improving delivery promise accuracy and customer trust — Amazon cites that 87% of U.S. seller‑fulfilled orders are handled within a day and that each one‑day improvement in promised delivery raises sales by ~5%. This could boost Amazon’s competitiveness and sales but may raise operating pressure or costs for third‑party sellers and accelerate shifts toward Amazon‑managed fulfillment or higher automation. Overall it’s a strategic operational policy with mixed implications for sellers and potential modest upside for Amazon’s top‑line through better conversion.