Overview

Amazon’s Buy Shipping tool lets third‑party sellers generate and print carrier labels directly inside Seller Central, either one order at a time or in bulk. The service automatically records the shipment and uploads tracking data, helping sellers keep their performance metrics clean while tapping into carrier rates that are typically lower than retail prices. Sellers who fulfill orders themselves should care because the feature can cut shipping costs and reduce manual work that often leads to late‑shipment defects.

Key Points

• Access to pre‑negotiated carrier rates — The platform aggregates discounted pricing from UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL and Amazon’s own delivery network, delivering rates that many small sellers cannot secure on their own.
• Automatic shipment confirmation — Once a label is bought, Amazon instantly marks the order as shipped and adds the tracking number, eliminating the need for manual updates that can trigger late‑shipment warnings.
• USPS Commercial pricing for every domestic parcel — All U.S. shipments processed through Buy Shipping are billed at USPS Commercial rates, which are markedly below the standard retail postage most sellers pay at the post office.
• Single‑order and bulk label purchasing — Sellers can click “Buy Shipping” on an individual order or use the bulk workflow to generate labels for dozens of orders in a single session, a time‑saver during peak seasons.
• Domestic‑only coverage — The service currently supports shipments inside the United States; international orders must be handled with external carriers or Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).

How Buy Shipping Works

1. Locate the unshipped order — In Seller Central, go to the “Orders” tab, filter for “Unshipped,” and click the “Buy Shipping” button next to the order you want to fulfill. For example, a seller with a 3‑lb package destined for New York would see the option beside the order line.
2. Enter package details and view carrier options — Input the package’s weight, dimensions, and ship‑from address. The system then lists available carriers and service levels, displaying the exact cost for each based on the entered data. A seller might see UPS Ground at $7.45, USPS Priority Mail at $6.30, and FedEx Express at $9.20 for the same shipment.