Overview

Amazon has introduced Shipping Settings Automation, a new system that replaces static transit‑time tables for seller‑fulfilled (FBM) merchants with real‑time, data‑driven delivery promises. The upgrade also embeds automatic protection against negative feedback that results from late deliveries, a frequent source of Order Defect Rate (ODR) spikes for FBM sellers. The change went live in March 2024, and sellers who rely on their own shipping processes need to understand how the automation works and what actions are required to stay compliant.

Key Points

• Dynamic delivery windows — Amazon calculates each promise by blending the seller’s warehouse zip code, the buyer’s address, and live carrier transit metrics, so a shipment from Dallas to Chicago might show a 2‑3 day window while the same carrier from Dallas to Seattle shows 4‑5 days.
• Built‑in feedback shield — If an order meets all eligibility rules, Amazon automatically removes any “late delivery” negative feedback, preventing it from affecting the seller’s ODR.
• Domestic‑only coverage — The protection applies solely to shipments within the United States; cross‑border orders continue to follow the legacy feedback process.
• Performance dashboard — A new insights panel displays promised versus actual delivery dates, highlighting regions or carriers where promises are regularly missed.
• Automatic updates — When carrier performance shifts—such as during holiday peaks or network outages—the system revises its delivery calculations without any seller intervention.
• Eligibility strictness — Sellers must ship on the promised ship‑date, provide valid tracking, and use a service equal to or faster than the one Amazon used to generate the promise; any downgrade or missing tracking voids the protection.

How Feedback Protection Works

1. Promise generation — Amazon pulls the seller’s listed processing time, the warehouse location, and the buyer’s zip code, then queries carrier APIs for current transit speeds. For example, a seller in Phoenix shipping via UPS Ground to a buyer in Denver might receive a promise of “Delivery by March 20, 2024.”