Overview

Amazon's Premium Shipping program allows eligible sellers to offer expedited delivery options, including same-day and one-day shipping, directly to customers. Understanding how the program works — from handling time rules to eligibility requirements — is essential for sellers who want to compete with faster delivery expectations on the marketplace.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Handling time is fixed at same-day — Sellers enrolled in Premium Shipping cannot customize handling time for their expedited offers. Regardless of any default or seller-set handling time configured in your account, Premium Shipping orders require same-day handling.

• Cutoff times determine your shipping window — There is a daily cutoff time after which orders roll over to the next business day. Sellers can adjust their cutoff time, but it must be set no earlier than 2:00 PM local time.

• Pending orders may receive updated delivery dates — If a customer places a Premium Shipping order before the cutoff but the order status changes from "pending" to "unshipped" after the cutoff, Amazon may assign a new estimated delivery date and communicate it to the customer. However, sellers should still make every effort to meet original delivery expectations.

• No exemptions are granted — Amazon does not offer exemptions for sellers who cannot meet the program's eligibility requirements. You must fully qualify to participate.

• Only approved carriers are supported — Amazon validates tracking through a select list of supported carriers. If your carrier does not provide tracking information or is not on Amazon's approved list, you cannot offer Premium Shipping options.

How the Program Works

Premium Shipping enables sellers to provide customers with faster delivery choices at checkout, such as same-day or next-day delivery. When a seller is enrolled, their eligible listings display these expedited options to buyers. The program requires that sellers process and ship orders on the same day they are received, provided the order comes in before the designated cutoff time. This same-day handling requirement is non-negotiable and overrides any other handling time settings a seller may have configured in Seller Central. The goal is to ensure customers receive their orders within the tight delivery windows that Premium Shipping promises.