Announcement reposted from Amazon:
We’re updating our Valid Tracking Rate policy . Merchant-fulfilled shipments sent using untracked
Royal Mail 1st and 2nd class letter stamps and stamps equivalents will only be exempt from Valid
Tracking Rate calculation if you buy them through Amazon Buy Shipping (available at no extra cost).
When you provide tracking details for your shipments, customers know when to expect their order
and are less likely to give negative feedback, which helps to protect your account health metrics. A
tracking ID also can help reduce order defect rate and is taken into consideration in addressing A-Z
claims.
This update allows us to confirm whether an untracked ship method was used and if the shipment
can be exempted from your Valid Tracking Rate.
The changes will come into effect on March 1, 2023, with a grace period until March 31, 2023, to
allow you to make the required adjustments. The changes will only impact shipments dispatched
from March 31, 2023 onwards.
Note: These changes do not apply to Royal Mail 1st and 2nd class large letters. You’re still required to provide barcode IDs for large letters to comply with existing Valid Tracking Rate policy.
There are no further changes to our VTR calculation, but we’ve revised our policy wording to help
make VTR requirements clearer.
We encourage you to review the details available under the changes to programme policies page.
Your continued use of Selling Services after the date of effectiveness constitutes your acceptance of
the changes.
For more information, go to these help pages:
Discover the benefits of using Buy Shipping services today
We’ve heard your feedback that you’d like more clarity on this policy change, and we are sharing
answers to FAQs below:
Which ship methods are affected by the Valid Tracking Rate (VTR) policy update?
The upcoming changes to our VTR policy for Royal Mail stamps and franking apply to the following
ship methods:
- Royal Mail 1st Class letter stamps
- Royal Mail 2nd Class letter stamps
- Franking of Royal Mail 1st/2nd class letter stamps equivalents
These untracked ship methods must be bought via Buy Shipping to be exempted from VTR
calculation. This update allows us to confirm whether an untracked ship method was used with
Royal Mail and if the shipment can be exempted from your Valid Tracking Rate calculation.
These changes do not apply to Royal Mail’s 1st/2nd class large letters. You’re still required to
provide barcode IDs for large letters to comply with existing Valid Tracking Rate policy.
With this update, are the 1st/2nd Class letter stamps bought elsewhere no longer exempted from
VTR calculation?
Correct. When the new policy comes into effect, only Royal Mail 1st and 2nd class letter stamp
equivalents bought through Amazon Buy Shipping will be exempt from VTR calculation. If you use
Royal Mail 1st and 2nd class letter stamps or stamp equivalents bought elsewhere, they will be
calculated as invalid shipments towards your valid tracking rate.
Will Amazon now receive tracking for RM stamps bought through Amazon Buy Shipping?
No. Royal Mail stamps and stamp equivalents don’t provide tracking data. The aim of this policy
update is to confirm whether an untracked ship method was used so we can determine if the
shipment should be exempted from your Valid Tracking Rate.
Do I need a Royal Mail account to buy stamps through Amazon Buy Shipping?
No. You can purchase stamp equivalents on Amazon Buy Shipping without a Royal Mail Account.
Royal Mail 1st and 2nd class letter stamp equivalents can be bought through Amazon Buy Shipping
at no extra cost.
However, if you’ve already linked Amazon Buy Shipping to your RM Online Business Account (OBA)
you can purchase your labels as usual through Amazon Buy Shipping.
For more details on how to use Amazon Buy Shipping, go to:
https://sellercentral.amazon.co.uk/help/hub/reference/G200202280
When will this policy change come into effect?
Our updated VTR policy will come into effect on March 1st, 2023, with a grace period until March
31st, 2023, to allow you to make the required adjustments. The change will only impact shipments
dispatched from March 31st, 2023 onwards.
Where can I see details of the updated policy?
To give you advanced notice of upcoming policy changes, we publish a “redlined version” of the
upcoming policy which clearly highlights which parts are due to be changed.
The updated VTR policy is available in advance in the Changes to Programme Policies page in Seller
Central showing the changes in redline.