Overview

Amazon has released new guidance for seller‑fulfilled merchants to protect their performance metrics when regional public holidays occur. The advice centers on adjusting handling times, using vacation mode, and planning ahead to avoid late shipments that could push the Late Shipment Rate (LSR) above Amazon’s 4 % limit. Sellers who ignore these steps risk account health warnings, loss of the Buy Box, or even temporary deactivation.

Key Points

• LSR ceiling – 4 % — Sellers must keep the Late Shipment Rate under 4 % or face possible account suspension.
• Regional holidays aren’t auto‑included — Amazon’s delivery estimate only adds national holidays, so state‑specific days can create hidden delays.
• Handling‑time buffer — Extending handling time before a regional holiday shifts the buyer‑facing delivery date, giving the warehouse extra days to ship.
• Vacation mode eliminates new orders — Activating vacation settings removes seller‑fulfilled listings temporarily, preventing any order from arriving during a shutdown.
• Carrier closures matter too — Even if a seller works through a holiday, a carrier’s holiday schedule can cause the same late‑shipment penalties.
• Proactive calendar saves metrics — Mapping all regional holidays and setting reminders ensures adjustments happen before the holiday, not after a missed shipment.

How to Adjust Handling Time and Use Vacation Settings

1. Identify the holiday date — Look up the next regional public holiday for your state; for example, a Texas seller notes that “San Jacinto Day” falls on April 21, a non‑national holiday.
2. Extend handling time the day before — Increase the handling‑time setting from 1 business day to 3 business days on April 20, which pushes the estimated delivery date shown to buyers forward by two extra days.
3. Verify the new delivery estimate — Open a test listing, add the item to the cart, and confirm the checkout page now displays a later delivery window that accounts for the holiday.