Are you relying solely on Amazon FBA to handle your fulfillment? You might want to rethink that decision, because what will you do if FBA delivery delays happen?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, FBA delivery delays hit hard due to Amazon prioritizing “essential” items like consumables and beauty products. As a result, many FBA sellers were left scrambling, trying to figure out how to fulfill orders and keep their listings alive.
TL;DR FBA shipping delays can seriously disrupt your Amazon business, as seen during the 2020 pandemic when non-essential items were delayed for weeks. This article breaks down what happened and offers actionable tips, like activating FBM, to help sellers stay prepared and protect their sales.
Struggling With FBA Shipping Delays?
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The FBA Meltdown Sellers Didn’t See Coming
Back in 2020, COVID-19 hit hard, and Amazon’s FBA system cracked under the pressure. The company halted shipments of non-essential goods for 30 days, leaving sellers with inventory stuck in limbo and no way to fulfill orders.
The impact was brutal. Products like tweezers were delayed, while consumables like coffee were still getting through with shorter windows, sometimes even in the same category, showing how inconsistent the system was.
Sellers were left guessing, and the chaos made it clear that Amazon’s definition of “essential” was being decided by algorithms with little human oversight. For many, this wasn’t just a hiccup but a revenue killer that wiped out weeks of sales and tanked keyword rankings.
How to Stay Prepared When an Amazon Shipping Delay Hits
When the pandemic hit and Amazon froze shipments of non-essential items, a lot of sellers panicked. They had no idea what to do next, and for many, that panic turned into major losses.
This is why being prepared and informed as an Amazon seller is essential. When delays and platform issues strike, your ability to act fast can be the difference between keeping your business running and stalling out.
Here are some tips on what sellers should do when FBA delivery problems like this arise:
- Check your Seller Central account to see which SKUs have delayed delivery dates.
- If your products are delayed, determine whether you can fulfill them through your own warehouse or a 3PL.
- Activate those listings as Merchant Fulfilled (FBM) if you’re able to ship them directly.
- Set your FBM prices slightly lower than your FBA offer to stay competitive and win the Buy Box.
- Don’t assume Amazon will fix the issue in time; get ahead of it by keeping your listings available through FBM.
Stay informed by regularly checking shipment updates, account health notifications, and fulfillment emails from Amazon.
Pandemic or Not, FBA Delivery Delays Still Happen
Even though the pandemic is over, FBA delivery delays haven’t disappeared. Sellers still experience unexpected slowdowns when Amazon shifts priorities, deals with warehouse overflow, or reworks its internal logistics.
This is why following best practices and staying prepared should be second nature for Amazon sellers. You never want to be caught off guard when Amazon decides to reclassify your items or throttle shipments without warning.
Having a backup plan like FBM, monitoring delivery windows, and pricing smartly isn’t just a temporary fix, but a long-term strategy. The sellers who adapt quickly are the ones who keep their sales and rankings stable, no matter what Amazon throws at them.
FBA Shipping Delays Can Make or Break Your Business
FBA shipping delays are a huge issue that could hit any seller, but what separates a good seller from a struggling one is how they handle problems like this. Being prepared is what keeps your listings active, your sales steady, and your brand from falling apart.
Need help managing your Amazon FBA business during disruptions like these? Reach out to our Amazon agency today!
Don’t Let FBA Delays Derail Your Business
If Amazon shipping delays are slowing you down, our team knows exactly how to get you back on track. We’ll help you set up FBM, optimize your listings, and keep your sales flowing.
