Amazon uses Automated Handling Time (AHT) to adjust your product handling times based on how quickly you’ve been fulfilling orders. This feature aims to offer faster delivery promises to customers. It’s important to understand how it works, how it affects your Printful integration, and what you can (and can’t) control.
What is Automated Handling Time?
- Amazon compares your set handling time with your actual fulfillment performance (usually over the past 30–40 days) at both the account and SKU levels.
- If your handling time is two or more days slower than your actual shipping behavior, AHT may kick in and automatically reduce your handling time.
- Once enabled, Amazon overrides your set values with automatically calculated times; you won’t be able to manually adjust them anymore.
- AHT aims to improve customer experience by displaying faster delivery promises and helps prevent listing deactivation from temporary fulfillment delays.
What this means for Printful users
- Printful’s average production time is up to 5 business days, though some categories take longer; for example, all-over prints may take up to 7 business days, and knitwear can take up to 12 business days. Amazon’s Automated Handling Time (AHT) system doesn’t factor in this manufacturing time; it only measures your shipping speed.
- If AHT shortens your handling time and you can't meet those deadlines, you risk late shipments, which could lead to account penalties or suspensions.
- That’s why it’s important to ensure your handling time matches Printful’s capabilities before Amazon intervenes.
Can you turn Automated Handling Time off?
It depends on your account status:
| Situation | Can you turn off AHT? |
| AHT is not yet enabled | Yes, you can keep it disabled manually |
| AHT is already active (auto-enrolled) | No, you can’t disable it anymore |
How to check and manage your AHT settings
To manage handling time and avoid auto-enrollment:
- Go to Amazon Seller Central → Settings → Shipping Settings
- Click General shipping settings, then Order handling settings
- Under Automated handling time, make sure the toggle is set to Not active
- You may see a preview link to “handling time settings” for SKU-level views
- Scroll down to set your Default handling time (we recommend 6 days for Printful)
- If you offer faster fulfillment for some SKUs, you can override the default per product
What if I need more time?
If you sell made-to-order, custom, bulky, or handmade items, and you need a longer handling window, Amazon allows you to request a Handling Time Exception. This lets you set longer handling times even if AHT is active, but only for eligible product categories.
To request one:
- Contact Amazon Seller Support and explain your fulfillment setup
- Provide details about your product type and expected processing time
Summary
| Feature | What to know |
| Automated Handling Time | Adjusts handling time based on actual shipping speed |
| Auto-enrollment trigger | Happens if your set handling time is 2+ days slower than real speed |
| Can I turn it off? | Only before AHT is auto-enabled |
| How to avoid auto-enrollment | Set accurate handling times at the account or SKU level |
| Request exception? | Yes, through Amazon Seller Support if you qualify |
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