Seller Shipping: Overview and Services

Summary

What are the key requirements and steps for sellers to manage shipping and order fulfillment on TikTok Shop’s US domestic Seller Shipping program?

  • Sellers must confirm, pick, pack, and upload valid tracking numbers within the handling time set in Seller Center, varying by shipment type (e.g., Standard vs. Made-to-Order).
  • Tracking info must be accurate; mistakes can be edited once before contacting support. Sellers must select a supported shipping provider and ensure all shipment details are correct to avoid penalties.
  • Sellers provide their own logistics carriers (Seller Shipping) and must upload tracking info promptly after order placement to mark orders as “Ready to Ship.”

What are the shipping options, delivery timeframes, and performance standards sellers must meet on TikTok Shop?

  • Express shipping requires delivery within 3 business days with a 95% on-time rate; Standard and Free Economy require delivery attempts within 6 business days and must cover all 48 states (Alaska/Hawaii optional).
  • Free Economy is a zero-cost shipping option for customers but at sellers’ expense and cannot be modified.
  • Orders are considered lost if no carrier scans occur for 10 calendar days or 7 business days, potentially triggering refunds or order cancellations.

How should sellers handle tracking updates, errors, and support requests related to shipping information?

  • Sellers can make one-time edits to tracking numbers; if unable to update, they must submit a support ticket within 30 days of order date with original and new tracking/carrier info.
  • Cross-border orders are not supported on the US platform; only local-to-local domestic shipments are allowed.
  • Accurate tracking and carrier info are critical to avoid losses and penalties; sellers bear responsibility for discrepancies.

What are the implications of shipment status and delivery confirmation for sellers on TikTok Shop?

  • Delivery status updates come from the shipping provider; sellers must monitor shipment progress and ensure timely delivery to maintain compliance.
  • Once delivered, the status updates to “Delivered” in Seller Center, confirming order fulfillment.
  • Abnormal delivery events (lost, damaged, delayed) may lead to order cancellation and customer refunds, impacting seller performance and reputation.

1.Overview

Note: This manual is only applicable to US local to local (Domestic) logistics services. This manual is only applicable to merchant self-shipping scenarios (Seller Shipping).

1.1 Definitions

  • Ready to Ship: After a consumer places an order, the merchant uploads the tracking number in the Seller Center. This can be done either by filling in the logistics tracking number on the back-end or importing the logistics tracking number in bulk, etc. The shipping time of the merchant shall be based on the operation shipping time recorded in the seller center.
  • Seller Shipping: Sellers provide order fulfillment through their own selected/preferred logistics carriers.
  • Shipment in Transit: The first shipping information of the order updated on its corresponding logistics company's official website, will be regarded as package collection.
Important: Marking an item as Ready to Ship or Transit to Ship constitutes confirmation of shipping.

2. Logistics Service Level

2.1 Shipping Options and SLA Requirements

For all shipping options, 95% of orders must be delivered on or before the business day requirements to be eligible to ship with the desired option.
Shipping OptionsEnd-to-End Delivery Requirement
Express3 Business Days
Standard & Economy
6 Business Days

3.Shipping Orders

3.1 Order Handling

  • Sellers are required to confirm, pick, pack and enter valid tracking numbers for all orders within the selected Order Handling Time on Fulfillment Settings page of Seller Center. This handling time could be different for various shipment types. For example, Standard Shipments have shorter handling times compared to Made-to-Order Shipments. Please refer to TikTok Shop Customer Order Shipping Policy for more information.

3.2 Ready to Ship

  • Tracking Number
    • Merchants are required to upload valid shipment tracking information for the order into the seller center.
    • Please check and ensure tracking information provided for the shipment is correct.
    • If there are any discrepancies in the tracking information or no tracking information is provided, the merchant will be responsible for the related losses and penalties as a result.
    • Please note: Sellers must enter tracking information carefully. If a mistake is made, seller can make a one-time edit and should try to correct it before seeking help from customer service.
  • Shipping Provider:
    • Selecting a Shipping Provider is a required field for merchants.
    • The supported TikTok Shop logistics partners that merchants may select from are:
A. Duie PyleEasy ExpressPitt Ohio
AAA Cooper TransportationEstes Express LinesPS Logistics
ABF FreightFastfrate GroupR+L Carriers
ACI LogistixFedExRoadrunner Freight
Amazon LogisticsFedEx FreightSaia Inc.
Averitt ExpressForwardairSoutheastern Freight Lines
JitsuFreightquote by C.H. RobinsonSpee-Dee Delivery
Better TrucksGlobal Parcel Service (GPS)SpeedX
Cainiao USGLS USTax-Air
Central TransportGLS USATazmanian Freight Systems
CEVA LogisticsGofo ExpressTForce
CirroJP ExpressTusk Logistics
CrossCountry Freight SolutionsLasershipUnited Delivery Service
Day & Ross FreightLone Star OvernightUniUni
Daylight TransportMainfreightUPS
Dayton Freight LinesMetropolitansUPS Heavyweight
Deliver-itOak Harbor Freight LinesUSPS
DeliverDirectOld Dominion Freight LineVeho
DHL ECommerceOntracWestern Post
DHL ExpressOSM WorldwideWizmo
DHL HeavyweightPiggyShipXmiles
DoorDashPilot Freight ServicesYanwen US
Maersk Too EXPRESS
XPO
JD Worldwide
SwiftX
  • Please check and ensure the information provided in the Shipping Provider section is correct. If there are any inaccuracies in the shipment logistics information, the merchant will be responsible for the related losses and penalties as a result.
  • Please note: Sellers must enter tracking information carefully. If a mistake is made, seller can make a one-time edit and should try to correct it before seeking help from customer service.
    In case you are no longer able to update the tracking/carrier information, you can open a ticket to our Support Team for assistance. For each Order ID that needs an update, please provide the original as well as the new tracking number and/or carrier name. Please note:
    • You must file your request no later than 30 days from order date for our Support Team to update your order information
    • We are unable to update tracking for Cross-Border orders as they are not permitted on our US platform at this time. Only local to local (domestic) is supported.

    3.3 Delivery

    All deliveries are handled by the shipping provider from package dispatch to delivery confirmation. Sellers should pay close attention to the status of shipment in progress. Once the order is successfully delivered, the shipping provider will update the shipment status on seller center to "Delivered".
    • Express: March 14, 2025, shoppers should receive their orders within 3 business days of placing them, and sellers are required to maintain a 95% on-time delivery rate for Express orders shipped within this timeframe.
    • Standard: requires a first delivery attempt within 6 business days after the order was placed. Standard cannot be deselected and requires shipping to all 48 states (with Alaska and Hawaii optional).
    • Free Economy: requires a first delivery attempt within 6 business days after the order was placed. The Free Economy shipping option is a free shipping service for TikTok Shop customers at the sellers' expense. The shipping fee is 0 and can not be changed. Free Economy requires shipping to all 48 states (with Alaska and Hawaii optional).
    • A package will be deemed "lost" if there have been no carrier scans for 10 calendar days or 7 business days.
    • If an abnormal delivery occurs, such as damaged package(s), lost package(s), or delayed shipping, we may cancel the order and notify the customer to initiate a refund.