Prime Moves to One-Day Shipping: What FBA Sellers Should Do

Amazon just told the world that Prime is moving from two-day to one-day shipping as the standard in the US. It will roll out over the coming months, and Amazon is investing heavily to make it happen. For shoppers, it is great news. For sellers, it raises some real questions.

Here is what we expect the change to mean for FBA sellers, merchant fulfilled sellers and your inventory plans.

Why this matters

Delivery speed has a direct effect on conversion. When a shopper sees “Get it tomorrow”, they are more likely to buy, and less likely to go look elsewhere. As one-day delivery becomes normal, products that take longer will look slow next to the rest of the search results.

What it means for FBA sellers

If you use Fulfillment by Amazon, you are in the best spot. Amazon controls the delivery, so your products should benefit as the network gets faster.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Inventory placement matters more. One-day delivery works when stock is close to the customer. Amazon may spread your units across more warehouses.
• Stockouts hurt more. When your product is out of stock in nearby warehouses, delivery dates slip and conversion drops. Keep healthy stock levels.
• Small, light items win first. Faster delivery tends to reach standard size products before large or heavy ones.

What it means for merchant fulfilled sellers

If you ship orders yourself, you will feel more pressure. Shoppers will compare your delivery date to one-day Prime offers. If you use Seller Fulfilled Prime, expect the standards to get tougher over time.

Options to consider:

• Move your best sellers into FBA, at least in part.
• Use a fulfillment partner with warehouses in several regions.
• Keep your handling time as short as possible and set accurate delivery templates.

Plan your inventory differently

We suggest reviewing three things now.

1. Reorder points. Add a buffer so you never run low. A product that drops out of one-day delivery can lose sales fast.
2. Lead times. Know how long it takes from order to Amazon warehouse, including shipping and check-in time.
3. Your IPI score. Amazon’s Inventory Performance Index affects your storage limits. Keeping it healthy gives you room to hold more stock. Check it every week in Seller Central.

Advertising and delivery speed

Faster delivery should help conversion rate, and higher conversion makes your ads more efficient. If your products become eligible for one-day delivery, keep an eye on your ad results. You may be able to bid a little higher on key terms and still hit your targets.

On the other hand, if delivery on your products slows down because of low stock, cut bids until stock is back. Paying for clicks on a product that shows a slow delivery date is often wasted money.

The bottom line

Fast delivery is becoming the baseline on Amazon. FBA sellers with steady stock will benefit. Merchant fulfilled sellers should plan how to keep up. Either way, inventory planning just became more important. If you want help reviewing your setup, request a free audit or see our full service account management.

FAQs

Will one-day shipping apply to all FBA products?

Amazon is rolling it out over time. Smaller, lighter products and products stored close to customers are likely to qualify first.

Does one-day shipping cost sellers more?

Amazon has not announced a separate fee for sellers tied to the change. Watch for updates to FBA fees and inventory rules.

What should merchant fulfilled sellers do?

Consider moving top sellers to FBA, using a fulfillment partner with several warehouses, and keeping handling times short with accurate delivery settings.