6 Amazon Shipping Options for Sellers

Streamlining the shipping process is an essential aspect of every eCommerce business. Suppose you are considering being a merchant on the giant eCommerce platform Amazon. In that case, you should know what Amazon seller shipping options are accessible to fulfill your customer orders quickly. 

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The correct shipping method would lead to efficient inventory management and satisfied customers. Choosing the proper shipping method would impact the speed of your sales cycle, reduce your overall shipping costs, simplify inventory management, and boost customers' reliability on your product deliveries. 

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Amazon offers some attractive shipping options depending on the seller program you use to conduct business on the platform. Each business program entitles sellers to utilize different shipping methods. Hence, sellers should acquaint themselves with various business dimensions of Amazon to increase their sales points. If you want to familiarize yourself with various seller shipping options on Amazon, you have come to the right place. Please read this guide to learn about Amazon's all shipping options for sellers to streamline customer order fulfillment. 

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Overview of Amazon Shipping Options for Sellers

Amazon offers several shipping methods for sellers to choose from. The two most well-known options are Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM). However, Amazon provides additional shipping options to empower sellers and meet customer demands. Here are the main Amazon shipping options sellers should understand:

1. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

With FBA, Amazon handles storage, packing, shipping, and customer service. Sellers send inventory to Amazon warehouses and Amazon takes care of the rest. FBA makes products eligible for Prime and Free Shipping, increasing exposure and sales.

Pros:

• Increased sales and exposure from Prime eligibility
• Easy handling of fulfillment and returns
• Access to Prime customers

Cons:

• Additional fees for Amazon's services
• Less control over shipping process
• Possibility of inventory damage

2. Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM)

With FBM, the seller handles inventory storage, order packing and shipping. Sellers have full control but do not get Prime eligibility. FBM allows selling on Amazon at lower cost for those with existing fulfillment operations.

Pros:

• Full control over fulfillment operations
• No Amazon storage fees
• Use own shipping rates

Cons:

• No Prime eligibility
• Lower sales compared to FBA
• Increased competition for Buy Box

Other Shipping Options

Amazon offers other niche shipping programs like Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP), Amazon Seller Central, FBA Onsite and Shipping with Amazon (SWA). Each program has specific requirements and fits certain seller needs around saving costs, maintaining control, or boosting sales. Sellers should review all options to choose the best fit.

Shipping Options for Amazon Customers

There are also some key end-customer shipping options that impact purchasing behavior and seller requirements:

• Amazon Prime Shipping - Free, fast shipping for Prime members. Highly popular so FBA enrollment critical.
• Amazon Premium Shipping - Same-day, one-day and two-day paid shipping options. Must maintain on-time delivery.
• Subscribe & Save - Subscription orders for consumables. Provides seller sales predictability.

Understanding all the Amazon shipping choices for customers and sellers is important when deciding which fulfillment approach to take.

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Recommended: How To Choose The Right Shipping Solution For Your eCommerce Business?