Is Seller Fulfilled Prime Worth the Cost - Pros & Cons
Amazon Prime has revolutionized the way we shop online. Customers have higher expectations about delivery times, affordability, customer service, and customer service. Amazon currently has more than 100,000,000 Prime subscribers all over the globe. They are all looking for the best product and the lowest prices from trusted sellers. How can you be this type of seller? And how can you make your listings Prime-eligible for sale? In the past, Prime status could only be achieved by sellers using Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA). Today, however, sellers can now use the Seller Fulfilled Prime program to display the Prime badge, gain access to Prime members, and increase their sales.
What is Seller Fulfilled Prime? Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP), an Amazon order fulfillment program, allows third-party sellers to ship Prime orders to customers within 2 days. This is in line with Amazon Seller Fulfilled Prime requirements. A seller can benefit from the Amazon SFP program by making their listings more visible and displaying the Prime badge. Amazon claims that Prime-eligible listings that are Seller Fulfilled Prime eligible experienced an average sales increase of over 50%.
How do you qualify for SFP Sellers must fulfill the following Prime performance requirements during the Amazon Seller Fulfilled Prime trial period.
Get Premium Shipping Options To offer customers fast and guaranteed shipping, SFP sellers must use Amazon Premium Shipping.
Over 99% of all orders shipped on time Prime trial orders must be shipped on time at a minimum of 99% These orders must be shipped the same day they are received.
Order cancellation rates below 0.5% Cancellation rates are another indicator of customer satisfaction. Prime trial orders must have a cancellation rate less than 0.5%.
Amazon Buy Shipping Services: Minimum 98.5% on all orders Amazon's Buy Shipping allows you to purchase shipping labels in bulk or individually, track your shipments, and ship and confirm your orders. Amazon's trusted shipping partners ensure that your products reach your customers with Buy Shipping.
Amazon Fulfilled Prime Carriers are able to deliver orders Sellers should work with the carriers Amazon determines for them. These can vary from country to country.
You agree to the Amazon Returns Policy Amazon will automatically approve returns for professional sellers that are within its return policy. You must comply with Amazon seller return policy to ensure consistent customer experience.
Amazon will take care of all customer service queries All customer questions must be directed to Amazon by sellers.
Seller fulfilled Prime shipping rates
Participation in the SFP program can result in high shipping costs for sellers. Seller Fulfilled Prime shipping costs depend primarily on the order volume, the packaging size, and the location. Prime orders require sellers to offer standard shipping at no charge. This can increase shipping costs. Although the SFP program is more cost-effective than Fulfillment by Amazon, (FBA), both programs require sellers to pay a referral fee of an average 15% of the product's selling price.
Pros of Seller Fulfilled Prime SFP is still a great way to fulfill Amazon Prime orders, even though the seller is responsible for more of the work than FBA. Amazon stores inventory and ships it to the seller.
1. The trusted Prime logo will increase sales and profits. After a seller passes the trial period, the Prime logo is added to their listings. This gives sellers a greater visibility to their products for Prime members and regular Amazon shoppers. It also shows that they are trustworthy, reliable, and have high-quality products.
2. Amazon customer service is available Amazon's Seller Fulfilled prime program gives sellers and customers access to Amazon's 24 hour after-sales customer service. Amazon's highly-trained customer service representatives will provide outstanding service for you. Customers will be able track their orders and submit returns to Amazon.
3. FBA is less expensive Amazon Seller Fulfilled Prime allows you to eliminate FBA shipping, handling and storage fees that are often considered excessive. FBA was the only way to attain "Prime Status". This resulted in businesses losing a lot of their profits. FBA sellers were required to split shipments among three fulfillment centers or to pay a fee per item for the Inventory Placement Service, which ensures that shipments are only sent to one fulfillment center. SFP sellers are able to distribute products from their warehouses and reap the benefits of Amazon Prime without paying expensive fees.
4. FBA offers more control and options
Amazon Seller Fulfilled Prime gives your brand more opportunities to grow because it is in your control, not Amazon's. You will have less Amazon logos on your package, greater control over the products and more visibility of your inventory from within your warehouse. All this while still maintaining Prime status.
Cons of Seller Fulfilled Prime SFP is not without its risks, especially in terms of scalability. These are the top considerations that third-party sellers must not forget.
1. To maintain eligibility, strict rules SFP is a very exclusive product. Amazon's strict guidelines are in place to ensure customer satisfaction. They can be difficult for sellers to follow, especially as they have become more complex over time. Sellers who fail to meet these requirements will lose their Prime status.
2. It is becoming increasingly difficult to fulfill increasing numbers of orders SFP gives you full control of the fulfillment process. This is a valuable asset. If you don't have a well-designed process, you can face problems when operations scale up and you deal with larger orders volumes. Sellers must invest in their fulfillment infrastructure to ensure that they can fulfill orders efficiently and keep the SFP eligibility status. They also need to employ the right strategies to package and determine the cut-off time for 2-day shipping.
3. Shipping rates are higher Higher service levels can be costly. A seller may lose out on benefits such as next-day delivery. Seller Fulfilled Prime shipping rates can be expensive so sellers should limit the distance they ship with Prime delivery.
Conclusion Amazon has revolutionized the industry and customers' expectations. Although it can be difficult to make your business stand out on Amazon's marketplace, FBA and SFP are options that may help.
It can be difficult to decide between Fulfillment through Amazon and Seller Fulfilled Prime. However, it comes down to the products you are selling and how your company will manage its operations. Read More : How To Find Clearance And Discounted Products On Amazon