Hello Sellers,

The holiday season is approaching fast. If you want your inventory to be Prime-eligible and ready for buyers during Prime Big Deal Days and Black Friday/Cyber Monday, it needs to arrive at fulfillment centers by specific dates.

Here's what you need to know.

🗓️ Prime Big Deal Days: Inventory Cutoff Dates

• September 2: Amazon Warehousing & Distribution (AWD) shipments
• September 9: FBA "minimal shipment splits" shipments
• 'September 16: FBA "Amazon-optimized shipment splits" shipments

🗓️ Black Friday / Cyber Monday: Inventory Cutoff Dates

• October 14: AWD shipments
• October 21: FBA "minimal shipment splits" shipments
• October 28: FBA "Amazon-optimized shipment splits" shipments

⚠️ Why These Dates Matter

Inventory arriving after these cutoff dates isn't guaranteed to be processed in time.

Our fulfillment center teams focus on receiving shipments in September and October, then shift to processing customer orders in November and December. You may see lower estimated capacity limits for October and November as inbound delivery window slots become limited.

💰 AWD: Your Peak Season Advantage

If you're expecting higher holiday volume, Amazon Warehousing & Distribution (AWD) offers key benefits during peak:

• No additional AWD fees during peak (unlike FBA peak fulfillment fees, which apply Oct 15, 2026 through Jan 14, 2027)
• AWD auto-replenished inventory is NOT subject to FBA capacity limits during peak
• Stores your bulk inventory and automatically replenishes fulfillment centers based on demand

⚡ Tips to Get Your Inventory Received Faster

• Schedule delivery appointments at least 7 days before cutoff dates. If using Amazon Partnered Carriers, schedule pickup at least 14 days before.
• Provide accurate box content information through Send to Amazon. Omitting this can disqualify your shipment from auto-receiving and incur a manual processing fee.
• Use Amazon Partnered Carriers or Amazon Freight. We can work directly with partner carriers to redirect freight and reduce delays.
• Book off-peak delivery appointments. Fulfillment centers have lower demand during off-peak hours and weekends, which means faster processing.
• Consolidate deal inventory in dedicated boxes, separate from non-deal inventory, for faster processing.
• Update your delivery window if you expect delays. Accurate tracking helps us plan receiving and makes your inventory available for sale sooner.

🛠️ Helpful Resources

• Q4 2026 peak readiness playbook - Your one-stop shop for all things Peak
• Capacity Monitor — Check your monthly storage limits
• Capacity Manager — Request additional storage for fast-selling products
• Amazon Warehousing & Distribution (AWD) — Store bulk inventory with no peak fees
• Shipment Performance Dashboard — Monitor how your shipments are performing
• Send to Amazon — Streamlined shipment creation workflow

💬 What's your Q4 shipping strategy?

Have you already started shipping inventory for peak season?

What's your biggest challenge when preparing for the holidays: capacity limits, carrier delays, or something else?

Share your strategy below. 👇