Hey everyone,

I've been struggling with On-Time Delivery Rate (OTDR) dropping lately (from 91 to 88.40 in 5 days). Today, while purchasing a shipping label on Amazon, I stumbled upon something called OTDR Protection. After diving into the documentation, here’s what I found:

From Amazon “If you purchase this shipping label and used Automated Handling Time (AHT) and Shipping Settings Automation (SSA), your OTDR will not be negatively impacted by late deliveries. Learn more here:”

1. Enable Automatic Handling Time: This feature adjusts handling time automatically based on shipment data. For new SKUs, the default handling time will apply until there are enough shipments to calculate an automated handling time.

2. Enable Shipping Settings Automation (SSA): You can activate this on your shipping templates. It took me a while to figure it out.

3. Use Amazon Buy Shipping: This seems crucial for OTDR Protection. It’s worth noting that this protection is only available for Professional sellers shipping from the US. Unfortunately, it’s not available for Individual selling plans or sellers outside the US.

My catalog includes 10 SKUs, with some items requiring from 1-day handling time and others needing 5 days. According to Amazon's documentation, handling time is calculated based on shipping history. Therefore, if a package is late, and I purchased the label with Amazon it won't count against my OTDR.

I hope this information helps anyone else facing similar issues with their OTDR.

I am a little confused. I am under the impression the new FBM OTDR protections requiring all 3 conditions to be met (Amazon Buy shipping, automated handling time (AHT), and shipping setting automation) do not begin until September 25. Until then, the only requirement for OTDR protection to be met is Amazon Buy Shipping (and making the sure the package is scanned on time upon receipt at USPS, UPS, etc). I have 3 shipments that have been deemed "late" by Amazon, yet I have the OTDR protection badge, I purchased labels using Amazon Buy Shipping, and my items were received/scanned on time by the shipping service (USPS and UPS). What gives? Have I misunderstood something?

I have been reading everything I can get my hands on about the new OTDR calculations and I'll admit that I'm super confused! I just enabled the required automation settings to be eligible for "Buy Shipping Protection"...at least I think I'm protected!

Having the OTDR protection badge on the "buy shipping" page is so misleading. Why is it there if we aren't actually protected?

Thank you to the sellers who took the time to explain that there is no protection if the automated settings are disabled. I always ship on time and have never had any customers complain about their packages arriving early! (I'm personally THRILLED when items I order are received earlier than expected!) I don't understand Amazon's logic, as usual!!!

I'm just going to do my best and if my Amazon acct ends up deactivated, I guess it is what it is.

Selling on Amazon is utterly exhausting nowadays. I'm so tired of the nonsense. Just tired.