How to manage Amazon Merchant Fulfilled prime orders in ShipStation.
For US- and UK-based accounts shipping Amazon Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders through ShipStation, you are required to create your labels using the Amazon Buy Shipping API integration.
ShipStation Amazon Buy Shipping API services are available in your Service drop-down and Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders from a connected Amazon store will import into the Awaiting Shipment status.
Review our Amazon Buy Shipping API integration article for details on integration requirements, features, and limitations.
Before you start shipping your Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders in ShipStation, make sure you are aware of the following limitations:
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If Amazon determines the selected service will not guarantee the shipment's arrival in the required time frame, Amazon will return an alert and prevent you from creating the label for that order. In these cases, you will need to select a faster service.
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Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders should not be split or combined in ShipStation.
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End of Day forms, return labels, and multi-package shipments are not available when using the Amazon Buy Shipping API. Multi-package shipments and End of Day forms can be created directly through Amazon Seller Central.
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Amazon will always use the Ship To Address in Amazon when creating labels. Updating the Ship To Address in ShipStation will have no effect on the label.
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Delayed notifications are not available for shipments created with the Amazon Buy Shipping API. Since the label is created through Amazon's system, Amazon is aware of the shipment as soon as the label is generated.
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If using ChannelAdvisor to import your Amazon Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders, the Amazon Buy Shipping API integration will only function for orders from a single Amazon account.
ShipStation will use the most recently created Amazon store when determining which credentials to submit to Amazon in reference to ChannelAdvisor orders.
You can create labels for Amazon Merchant Fulfilled orders that import from either an Amazon store or a ChannelAdvisor store. If you are importing your Prime orders via ChannelAdvisor, make sure you review the Shipping Prime Orders Imported from ChannelAdvisor section below, as these orders have some special considerations.
When the Amazon Buy Shipping API is not connected, your Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders will import into the Pending Fulfillment status. This is a view-only status, which means you cannot create labels for orders in that status.
Once the Amazon Buy Shipping API is connected to your account, the Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders will instead import into the Awaiting Shipment status. You can then ship these orders via ShipStation using the services in the Services drop-down menu listed under the Amazon Buy Shipping heading.
If Amazon determines the selected service will not guarantee the shipment's arrival in the required time frame, Amazon will return an alert to ShipStation and prevent you from creating the label for that order. In these cases, you will need to select a faster service.
Additionally, ShipStation will automatically identify your Prime orders and tag them with a new Amazon Prime Order tag. You can then use the Amazon Prime Order tag to filter your orders and trigger Automation Rules.
If you have an Amazon store that is approved for Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders connected to ChannelAdvisor, Amazon Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders will import into ShipStation from ChannelAdvisor just like standard merchant fulfilled orders.
Do you have a workflow that looks like this graphic below? If so, read on!
While you can ship these orders just like any other order, due to Amazon's requirements for the Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders, we recommend you use the Amazon Buy Shipping API services for these labels.
Before you can set up the Amazon Buy Shipping API to create labels for Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders imported from ChannelAdvisor, you'll need to do the following:
Required: Connect the Amazon Store to ShipStation
If using ChannelAdvisor to import Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders into ShipStation, you must still connect the Amazon store to ShipStation and add your email address to its Branding settings. Once connected, you can set the store to inactive to avoid importing the same orders more than once.
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Connect the Amazon.com account with access to Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders directly to ShipStation.
You can review the instructions for connecting an Amazon seller account to ShipStationShipStation, if needed.
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Go to the Branding tab in Store Settings, enter your email address into the Email field, and Save Changes.
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Click the link to Verify this email address.
In the pop-up that appears, click Send Confirmation Email. You should receive an email to that address shortly.
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Follow the instructions in that email to complete the email verification process.
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Refresh the browser page.
The note under the email address will update to read, This email address has been verified for your account.
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Go to the Store Settings tab of the Amazon store settings, uncheck the Is Active? store setting, then Save Changes.
Important
This step is to ensure you do not import duplicate orders into ShipStation from ChannelAdvisor and Amazon.
Please note, this process is specific to ChannelAdvisor's integration. If you are NOT USING ChannelAdvisor, these steps do not apply.
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Connect your ChannelAdvisor account to ShipStation, if you haven't already done so.
You'll use ChannelAdvisor to import orders into ShipStation and you'll use the Amazon Buy Shipping API to create labels for Amazon Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders that import through ChannelAdvisor.
Unlike Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders that import from an Amazon store, ShipStation will not auto-tag Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders that import from ChannelAdvisor. However, you can create an automation rule to do this for you. Review the section below to learn how to do this.
When ShipStation enables the Amazon Buy Shipping API integration on your account, ShipStation also creates an "Amazon Prime Order" tag that you can use to tag these orders, which is helpful in identifying them for your shippers. However, to get ShipStation to auto-tag these orders, you must create an automation rule.
For Merchant Fulfilled Prime orders, the Requested Shipping Service will always include the word Prime, so you can use this as the Criteria in the rule.
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Go to
Settings > Automation > Automation Rules. -
Click Create a Rule.
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Set the criteria to:
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Only apply these actions to orders that match specific criteria
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Marketplace :: Equals... :: ChannelAdvisor
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Requested Service :: Contains... :: Prime
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Set the action to Add a Tag... and select the Amazon Prime Order tag from the list of available tags.
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Name the rule and save.
Going forward, all prime orders that import from your ChannelAdvisor store will be automatically tagged (orders that have already imported will not be tagged unless you click the Reprocess Automation Rules button).
To prevent services you do not use from displaying in the Service drop-down for the Amazon Buy Shipping API:
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Go to
Settings > Shipping > Carriers. -
Click the Services link for the Amazon carrier to show the selected services.
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Deselect any services you do not wish to use.
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Click Update.
Your Services drop-down will now only show the selected services you wish to use.