Amazon Seller Vacation Mode
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As an Amazon seller, it can be challenging to take a vacation. You're constantly stressed with searching for new deals, product sourcing, and inventory management. But what if there was a way to take a break without having to worry about your business?
Amazon Seller Vacation Mode is the perfect solution for busy sellers who need to take some time off.
In this post, we'll explain everything you need to know about Amazon Seller Vacation Mode, including how to activate it and get back to business when you return.
What Is Amazon Seller Vacation Mode?
Amazon Seller Vacation Mode is a feature that allows sellers to temporarily suspend their offers from being displayed in search results and purchased by customers. That can be useful for sellers who are going on vacation, need to take a break from selling, or are experiencing family emergencies.
When your account is in Vacation Mode, Amazon stops accepting new orders for your merchant-fulfilled orders. However, your FBA offers will still be available for purchase.
When a seller activates Vacation Mode, they can choose to set a specific date range for when they want their offers to be inactive, or they can leave the end date open-ended. Sellers can also customize the message that customers see when they try to purchase a product that is in Vacation Mode.
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Benefits of Amazon Seller Vacation Mode
Amazon Seller Vacation Mode is a valuable tool for sellers who need to take time out of their business. Here are some of the benefits of using Amazon Seller Vacation Mode.
Take a break without falling behind
Vacation Mode allows you to suspend your merchant-fulfilled orders for a specific period. They will not appear in search results and the products will not be purchased by customers. That means you can take a vacation, focus on other priorities, or deal with unexpected issues without worrying about your business legging behind.
Reduce your workload
When you set a Vacation Mode, you won't have to worry about processing new orders, shipping products, or responding to customer inquiries. That can free up your time so you can focus on other activities.
Improve your customer service
When setting your listing status to inactive because you cannot fulfill orders on time, you can avoid customer complaints and negative feedback. That can help maintain a positive reputation for your business.
Seller Vacation Mode is an excellent solution to handle a break or an extended absence, and manage your FBM offers without disrupting the entire store. However, there are important aspects to keep in mind about how Vacation Mode functions and its implications for your seller account.
Vacation mode only applies to FBM
Vacation Mode on Amazon only affects merchant-fulfilled offers, meaning that your inventory stored and shipped by Amazon through FBA remains available for purchase. This ensures that your FBA products continue to be sold even when you are unable to manage your FBM offers.
Pre-activated orders must be fulfilled
When you activate Vacation Mode, it does not affect orders placed before the mode was turned on. You are still responsible for fulfilling these orders according to Amazon’s guidelines. This allows you to complete pending sales and maintain your seller rating.
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You can access Seller Central
Even when your account is in Vacation Mode, you can still access your Seller Central account. This means you can make changes to your offers, manage your inventory, and adjust settings as needed, ensuring your account is always up to date.
You must process returns and respond to messages
Despite having your listings inactive, you are required to process return requests and respond to customer messages within 24 hours. Maintaining prompt communication is crucial for customer satisfaction and preserving your seller reputation.
Subscription fee continues
If you hold a professional seller account, you must continue to pay the monthly subscription fee, regardless of whether you are in Vacation Mode. This fee is necessary to keep your account active and ready for when you return.
Offer reactivation time
After deactivating Vacation Mode, it can take up to twenty-four hours for Amazon to start accepting new orders on your merchant-fulfilled offers. Planning ahead is essential to ensure your offers are back online when you are ready to resume selling.
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How Does Amazon Seller Vacation Mode Work?
When you activate Amazon Seller Vacation Mode, you temporarily suspend your merchant-fulfilled offers. Once your offers are in Vacation Mode, they will no longer appear in search results, and customers will not be able to purchase them.
However, you will still be able to fulfill orders placed before you’ve activated Vacation Mode. You can also access your Seller Central account and make changes to your listings, inventory, and settings.
Sellers can activate Vacation Mode in their Seller Central account. To do so, they must follow the steps below.
Setting up Vacation Mode step by step
- Step 1. Log in to your Seller Central, and go to Settings > Account Info.
- Step 2. Hover over to Listing Status > “Going on a vacation?”
- Step 3. Mark the status of all marketplaces you want to temporarily suspend as “Inactive.”
You can change your settings for one or several marketplaces, as described below.
- Step 4. Wait for 24 hours until Amazon enables Vacation Mode.
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Key Things to Do Before Setting a Vacation Mode
Sellers must prepare in advance for Amazon Seller Vacation Mode. By doing so, you can ensure that your Amazon Seller Vacation Mode experience is smooth and seamless. Here is what is important to do before setting up Amazon Seller Vacation Mode.
Fulfill all pending orders
Make sure to fulfill all pending orders before you activate Vacation Mode. That will help avoid customer complaints and negative feedback.
Set a realistic date range
When you activate Vacation Mode, you will need to specify a date range for when you want your listings to be inactive. Be sure to set a realistic date range, taking into account the time it will take you to fulfill all pending orders and prepare for your vacation.
Set a custom message
You can customize the message that customers see when they try to purchase a product that is in Vacation Mode. Be sure to set a clear and concise message that explains why your listings are inactive and when they will be available again.
Make arrangements for customer service
If you will be unavailable to answer customer inquiries while you are on vacation, be sure to make arrangements for someone else to handle customer service. That could involve hiring a virtual assistant or asking a friend or family member to help out.
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How to Get Back to Business When You Return?
To end Vacation Mode, sellers need to go to their Seller Central account and navigate to Settings > Account Info. From there, they can click on the End Vacation Mode button.
Amazon will then start accepting new orders for the seller's merchant-fulfilled offers within twenty-four hours.
FAQ
Can you put your Amazon seller account on Vacation Mode?
Yes, you can put your Amazon seller account on Vacation Mode. That will temporarily suspend your merchant-fulfilled listings from being displayed in search results and purchased by customers.
How do I pause my Amazon seller account for vacation?
To pause your Amazon seller account for vacation, go to Settings > Account Info > Going on vacation? button and select the dates when you want your listings to be inactive.
How do I turn off holiday mode on Amazon Seller Central?
To turn off Vacation Mode on Amazon Seller Central, go to Settings > Account Info > Going on vacation? button and click the End Vacation Mode button.
Does vacation mode affect FBA?
No, Vacation Mode does not affect FBA. FBA listings will still be available for purchase even when your account is in Vacation Mode.
Can I use my Amazon vacation time anytime?
Yes, as an Amazon seller, you can use your vacation anytime. There are no restrictions on when you can activate or deactivate Vacation Mode.
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Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Amazon Seller Vacation Mode can help sellers get a well-deserved break, deal with unforeseen personal matters, or simply go on vacation with your family.
Remember to plan ahead, communicate effectively with your customers, and ensure that your inventory and fulfillment methods are in order before activating Vacation Mode.
Whether on vacation or not, while you are in the Amazon business, the key to high profits is the right products. You can source such products with Seller Assistant. This effective product research tool offers all the must-have features to help you choose the best deals for Amazon Holiday Season. It combines Price List Analyzer, Seller Spy, Side Panel View, FBM&FBA Profit Calculator, Quick View, ASIN Grabber, UPC/EAN to ASIN converter, Stock Checker, IP Alert, Restrictions Checker, and other features that allow to quickly identify high-profit deals.
