Amazon Shipping Temporarily Suspended in Wake of COVID-19 Demand

The drastic surge in online orders of groceries, household products, and other essential items related to the COVID-19 crisis has overwhelmed Amazon’s fulfillment network, resulting in Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) delivery delays, order cancellations, and inventory shortages. 

As a result, the company said it will temporarily suspend its Amazon Shipping service beginning in June. The pilot program, which launched in 2018, was only available in select cities including Los Angeles and New York and directly competes with major players FedEx and UPS. 

For Amazon sellers that have been affected by the FBA shipment restrictions and delivery delays, or for those that lack their own fulfillment capabilities, Amazon Shipping served as an alternate third-party shipping method by which Amazon would pick up and deliver orders for third-party merchants that sell on Amazon but do not store products at Amazon’s warehouses. 

According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon is suspending the service so it can allocate its staff and capacity to accommodate the surge in its own customers’ orders. The company in March suspended shipments of non-essential items to its FBA warehouses to prioritize essential products during the COVID-19 outbreak, and said it plans to hire 100,000 warehouse workers to help accelerate delivery windows. 

For Amazon sellers impacted by the Amazon Shipping suspension, now more than ever, it is important to incorporate a revisit to your Amazon fulfillment method to maintain your momentum and avoid poor customer experiences. 

For more information on the coronavirus crisis and its impact on the Amazon marketplace, visit our COVID-19 resource center.