Overview

Amazon's Partnered Carrier program allows FBA sellers to ship inventory to fulfillment centers at discounted rates through Amazon's negotiated carrier partnerships. While the reduced shipping costs are a significant benefit, the arrangement comes with specific terms and conditions that every seller should understand before sending their first shipment. This agreement governs how costs are calculated, who bears responsibility during transit, and what happens when things go wrong.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Discounted rates are optional, not guaranteed — Amazon may choose to make partnered carrier rates available to sellers, but this is offered at Amazon's discretion and can change at any time.
• You pay for shipping — Even though Amazon negotiates the rates, the shipping expense is the seller's responsibility. These costs are deducted from your account or charged separately.
• Weight discrepancies can increase your costs — If the carrier determines your shipment weighs more than what you entered when generating the shipping estimate, you will be charged the higher amount based on actual weight.
• No refunds for lighter shipments — If your shipment turns out to weigh less than estimated, you are still charged the full estimated amount. There is no downward adjustment.
• Carrier account details are confidential — Sellers are strictly prohibited from sharing or using Amazon's carrier account numbers, rate information, or any related details for any purpose outside of the partnered carrier program.
• You bear all risk during transit — Title and risk of loss remain with the seller throughout the shipping process. Amazon assumes no liability for delays, damage, or lost packages during shipment.

How the Program Works

When creating an FBA shipment in Seller Central, sellers can choose to use Amazon's partnered carriers instead of arranging their own shipping. Amazon provides estimated shipping costs based on the weight and dimensions the seller enters during the shipment creation workflow. Sellers must follow Amazon's standard operating procedures, meet weight and size restrictions, and comply with all carrier-specific shipping requirements. Routing requirements must also be followed, which dictate how shipments are prepared, labeled, and delivered to the designated fulfillment center. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in shipments being refused or additional fees being applied.