Overview

The holiday season brings a significant surge in order volume for Amazon sellers, making advance preparation essential for maintaining account health and delivering a strong customer experience. This Seller Central reference page outlines best practices for managing seller-fulfilled orders during peak periods, covering everything from shipping and inventory management to handling returns and A-to-z claims. Whether or not you have deals planned, increased site traffic alone can drive higher-than-normal sales.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Expect higher volumes even without promotions - Increased holiday traffic to Amazon means more orders regardless of whether you are running deals or seasonal promotions.
• Account health is non-negotiable - You must ship on time, confirm shipments promptly, and maintain strong performance metrics throughout the season.
• Buy Shipping through Amazon when possible - Using Amazon's Buy Shipping service provides account protection for delivery issues and access to pre-negotiated carrier rates.
• Inventory management prevents cancellations - Keeping stock levels accurate across all channels helps avoid the costly mistake of overselling during peak demand.
• Monitor A-to-z claims daily - Proactive claim management during the holidays can protect your account standing and prevent unnecessary reimbursements.

Shipping and Fulfillment Best Practices

Sellers should purchase shipping labels through Amazon's Buy Shipping service to gain account protection on delivery-related issues. You can use either Amazon's pre-negotiated carrier rates or connect your own carrier accounts. If you purchase labels outside of Buy Shipping, make sure to select integrated carriers from the drop-down menu when confirming orders, as these carriers provide real-time tracking updates to Amazon. Always verify that the carrier name, shipping service, and tracking ID are entered correctly and belong to the same carrier. Hand packages over to carriers the same day you purchase labels, and confirm that the carrier has scanned your package to ensure tracking begins immediately.

Review your shipping templates before the season begins and verify that you can realistically comply with the transit times you have set. Enable shipping settings automation on your templates to generate more accurate delivery estimates based on customer location, warehouse location, and current carrier performance. Ship orders before the estimated ship date whenever possible, and consider adjusting your handling time to add buffer capacity when order limits are reached.