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OTDR Protection is Active, here is what needs to be done.
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.
8 replies
Seller_4zBzdtgCyS9EI
Oh you are about to REALLY hurt yourself.
Seller_14o3oVAXRYtJd
After implementing the changes I described above, my sales have increased, and my OTDR is now at 99.7%. I wasn’t expecting this to happen, but it did. I took the time to understand the process, and it paid off.
Many sellers are concerned that their OTDR will be affected if Automatic Handling Time is enabled, but the reality is that Amazon is using the calculation for shipping and delivery time to the seller's advantage. Please keep in mind that I am now shipping all packages using Amazon Buy Shipping, which covers me for any late shipments.
I hope this information helps.
Seller_0xdtD36hDLHBC
@Seller_14o3oVAXRYtJdsaid Enable Automatic Handling Time:
Please tell us, do you have to ship all of your orders same or next day now?
Seller_14o3oVAXRYtJd
Here’s what I did:
When I found out that an On-Time Delivery Rate (OTDR) below 90% could lead to deactivation, I asked Amazon to enable the Category Template Report and changed all my listings to a 4-5 day handling time. I made this change because my OTDR was at 93.3% and dropping quickly. Although I updated all products to a 4-5 day handling time, once I processed the orders, the handling time was automatically changed to 1 day.
I contacted Amazon, and they informed me that all Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM) orders would be changed to a Automated handling time, leaving me no choice but to accept Automated Handling Time. I went to the shipping template settings and enabled Automated Handling Time, then I changed my settings to Shipping Settings Automation (SSA).
Here’s the process I followed:
- Enable Automated Handling Time: This can be done in the shipping settings.
- Convert Your Shipping Templates to Shipping Settings Automation (SSA): This is the most difficult part, so make sure to read all the instructions carefully. I only ship using ground standard, so I did not include any express shipping options.
- Buy All Labels via Amazon Buy Shipping: This ensures compliance with Amazon's policies.
Important Notes:
- Not all products are set to a 1-day handling time, contrary to what some believe. Handling time is based on historical data and the time previous orders have taken to be delivered to customers.
- If there isn't enough history for a product to determine handling and delivery time, Amazon uses the time specified in the product information. This only applies to products where both handling and delivery times are known.
I checked my OTDR, and it is now at 100%. My shipping and handling times have not changed, and my processes and procedures remain the same.
I hope this helps anyone facing similar issues!
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