📦 🚚 Drop Shipping on Amazon: Let's Clear the Air!
Hey Amazon sellers!
One of the most frequently discussed topics in our community is drop shipping - and for good reason! While it can be an attractive way to scale your business, understanding Amazon's policies is crucial to protect your selling privileges and maintain customer trust.
Before we dive into the specifics, let's address why this matters: improper drop shipping practices can lead to account suspension, negative customer experiences, and potential legal issues. Getting it right from the start is essential for your business's long-term success.
What exactly is drop shipping on Amazon? It's when you use a third party to fulfill orders directly to customers. Here's the key thing to remember: this is only allowed when you're clearly identified as the seller of record.
✅ The Right Way to Drop Ship:
When using a third-party fulfillment service, always ensure:
- You're the only seller identified on all packaging, invoices, and documentation
- Your business removes or replaces any third-party identifying information before shipping
- You handle all customer returns and comply with Amazon's policies
- You maintain full responsibility as outlined in the Business Solutions Agreement (BSA)
❌ What's Not Allowed:
- Purchasing products from another seller (including Amazon) and having them ship directly to customers
- Allowing third-party supplier information to appear on any customer-facing materials
- Using packing slips or invoices with anyone else's business name or contact details
Want to learn more? Check out these valuable resources:
Have experience with compliant drop shipping? Share your insights below! Your experience could help fellow sellers avoid common pitfalls and build sustainable businesses.
P.S. Found a comment particularly helpful? Give it an upvote to help other sellers find valuable information quickly!
📦 🚚 Drop Shipping on Amazon: Let's Clear the Air!
Hey Amazon sellers!
One of the most frequently discussed topics in our community is drop shipping - and for good reason! While it can be an attractive way to scale your business, understanding Amazon's policies is crucial to protect your selling privileges and maintain customer trust.
Before we dive into the specifics, let's address why this matters: improper drop shipping practices can lead to account suspension, negative customer experiences, and potential legal issues. Getting it right from the start is essential for your business's long-term success.
What exactly is drop shipping on Amazon? It's when you use a third party to fulfill orders directly to customers. Here's the key thing to remember: this is only allowed when you're clearly identified as the seller of record.
✅ The Right Way to Drop Ship:
When using a third-party fulfillment service, always ensure:
- You're the only seller identified on all packaging, invoices, and documentation
- Your business removes or replaces any third-party identifying information before shipping
- You handle all customer returns and comply with Amazon's policies
- You maintain full responsibility as outlined in the Business Solutions Agreement (BSA)
❌ What's Not Allowed:
- Purchasing products from another seller (including Amazon) and having them ship directly to customers
- Allowing third-party supplier information to appear on any customer-facing materials
- Using packing slips or invoices with anyone else's business name or contact details
Want to learn more? Check out these valuable resources:
Have experience with compliant drop shipping? Share your insights below! Your experience could help fellow sellers avoid common pitfalls and build sustainable businesses.
P.S. Found a comment particularly helpful? Give it an upvote to help other sellers find valuable information quickly!
0 replies
Seller_CW0P5hgbsiqWX
Nice post @Bryce_Amazon.
Heads, you are correct:
- When using a third-party fulfillment service, always ensure:
- You're the only seller identified on all packaging, invoices, and documentation
- Your business removes or replaces any third-party identifying information before shipping
- You handle all customer returns and comply with Amazon's policies
- You maintain full responsibility as outlined in the Business Solutions Agreement (BSA)
Tales, issue not addressed:
What to do when a buyer uses you as a drop shipped to send product for them.
PURPLE PONY is a blind buyer who does not use his real name. I have no access to who he really is, and Amazon will not say.
- PURPLE PONY buys New Product A and has it sent to New York
- PURPLE PONY buys New Product A and has it sent to Miami, different Address
- PURPLE PONY buys New Product A and has it sent to Denver, different Address
- PURPLE PONY buys New Product A and has it sent to Chicago, different address
The Purple Pony should be responsible for the return. Purple Pony claims the New York product is defective, the Miami product is not as described, claims the Denver product smells bad, and claims the Chicago product in No Longer needed.
I, the seller, pays for all 4 returns for a product Purple Pony has never laid eyes on. Purple pony receives a full refund on each. I receive 4 broken- different products sent back by Purple Pony, not the recipient in 4 different cities. I submit Safe-T claims, and they are denied because they are all seller fault.
Now. can you address the Amazon drop shipping scam used on sellers that is not addressed on Amazon. It goes on every week.
Seller_rGcQW1yb6ZWbC
The air is still a bit cloudy for me.
Why can’t we use Amazon when we need immediate replacement inventory and drop ship?
We used to be able to as long as the drop shipped item was new, directly from Amazon, or from a third party seller, in better condition than what we originally planned on sending from our own inventory.
I can understand not drop shipping from an other retailer. But why does Amazon not allow us to drop ship from them?
You tell us the consequences for doing so, but you don’t tell us why.
It’s a simple question.
Bryce_Amazon
Greetings,
What change are you referring to? The drop shipping policy content created in this a reflection of existing Amazon Drop Shipping policy, and has previously been stated in the forums.
Seller_9yQUzZAP34cYw
Bryce,
Thank you for writing on this subject. We have had problems with sellers finding a loop-hole to this. Instead of having us ship directly to the customer they have us ship to an 3rd party Amazon fulfillment service. This way they show customer service they aren't violating the BSA. We've lost a few A to Z Claims because of this. Companies like OneAmz exploit this loophole.
The 3rd party seller lists the product on Amazon for shipping to Canada. They buy from us, ship to OneAmz, and then claim the product was never received, even though it was signed for. They make the sale and we pay for the inventory.
What can be done about this?
We've tried reporting the individuals that do this but you can guess how that went.
Seller_tzb0Adb4whsRu
Sellers should NOT be allowed to buy from another seller PERIOD and resell especially if you are the Brand Owner.
Allowing other sellers to sell our brand on Amazon without our authorization as the Brand Owner is not good for the Brand Owner.
These sellers could destroy the Brand by NOT following policies and simply being bad actors.
When will Amazon stick to their own policies?
Why can't Brand Owners be more protected.
Drop Shipping shouldn't be allowed either.
This platform ruins the honest hard working small businesses and it doesn't get any better each year.
Seller_NTtgyr4S9sRAA
I want this policy was actually enforced against the dude with 30+ accounts who not only is drop shipping from Dic/ks Sportings Goods (with his feedback FULL of complaints to that effect), but doing so with 20-30 different accounts that all enter and leave an ASIN based on the in stock levels at DSGs websites.
Or the dude on thousands of ASINS with 17% positive feedback who is still somehow winning the buybox all over the toy department when his feedback is nothing but "item not received/item received from walmart etc".
It's madness how hard it is to run a legitimate business especially during christmas with these dudes on every listing able to sell at ridiculous prices because they aren't paying for shipping.
And before it gets suggested, yes I have reported these accounts. I wonder if Amazon views them as a "wink wink" way to keep prices low, even if the customer experience is bad.
Seller_LFkcBs5YkkhhM
Give 1 good reason why an Amazon book seller should not be allowed to do the following;
1. They have a book listed in inventory for sale, listed date recorded.
2. They sell the book to an Amazon's customer, all are Amazon Customers.
3. They can't find the book, it is misplaced or lost.
4. They buy a new book from Amazon and use the buyer's address.
5. Shazamm. The buyer gets a new book from Amazon
6. Amazon sells a new book to someone who is already one of their
customers by virtue of them buying from from said seller.
7. They don't have to bother the buyer with a refund process.
8. They may loose a few dollars but everyone [should be] is happy
Please Moderator's, is there any reasonable answer???
Seller_O5n7ll893bJK0
One of the most annoying issues are ebay sellers drop shipping products from amazon.
There is software which is pulling Amazon listings and then sellers use these listings to drop ship[ to ebay at higher margins.
This has the effect that the brand then receives returns and a concept that their products are overpriced.It also opens the brand up to re-seller abuse.
Iknow this is happening as I only sell onAmazon and I see these unauthorised resellers with mine amongst hundreds of miscelaneous products. and in many cases it says in the listing fullfillled by amazon.
One reseller said he couldnt remove it asit automatically renews.
I know there ebay seller and amazon buyer identities will be different .
Interested on what is Amazons stand on this.
