Policy Reference
What Happens to Your TikTok Shop Metrics After the FBT Transition
Your Compliance Metrics Don’t Reset on Feb 25
TikTok Shop ends Seller Shipping on February 25, 2026. Your LDR doesn’t vanish overnight. Your AHR doesn’t reset. Some metrics shift responsibility to TikTok, some stay exactly the same, and some behave differently depending on which fulfillment method you chose. Here’s the exact metric-by-metric, day-by-day reality for the 35-day transition window.
Don’t Let a Single Late Dispatch Derail Your Transition
SellerOps Watcher sends T-24, T-12, and T-4 hour alerts before every dispatch deadline so no order slips through the cracks while you learn the new system.
Start 14-day free trialIn early 2026, TikTok Shop announced that Seller Shipping would end on February 25. Within days, seller forums exploded with the same question: “What happens to my metrics?”
The answer is more complicated than TikTok’s announcement suggested.
On February 25, 2026, TikTok Shop permanently removes Seller Shipping for US sellers. After that date, every order must flow through one of three TikTok-managed fulfillment methods: Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT), Upgraded TikTok Shipping, or Collections by TikTok (CBT).
Your Late Dispatch Rate doesn’t vanish overnight. Your Account Health Rating doesn’t reset. Some metrics shift responsibility to TikTok, some stay exactly the same, and some behave differently depending on which fulfillment method you chose.
This guide covers the exact operational reality – date by date, metric by metric, day by day – so you can navigate the transition without tripping a single enforcement threshold.
If you need to compare FBT, Upgraded TikTok Shipping, and CBT side by side before reading this, start with our TikTok Shop Fulfillment Changes 2026 guide first. This article assumes you’ve already chosen your method and are now asking: “What happens next?”
What happens to TikTok Shop seller metrics during the FBT transition?
As of February 2026, TikTok has postponed the mandatory FBT enrollment deadline indefinitely; the original February 25 date is no longer in effect. When TikTok eventually enforces the transition, compliance metrics will not reset. According to TikTok’s Account Health Rating documentation (updated February 2026), your existing Late Dispatch Rate, Seller-Fault Cancellation Rate, Valid Tracking Rate, On-Time Delivery Rate, and AHR scores carry forward into any transition period within the rolling 180-day assessment window. What will change is how each metric applies under the three mandatory fulfillment methods. Under Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT), LDR and SFCR receive partial formula treatment: FBT orders are excluded from the numerator but remain in the denominator, effectively diluting your rate. OTDR and VTR are fully exempt under FBT. Under Upgraded TikTok Shipping and Collections by TikTok (CBT), LDR and SFCR fully apply because the seller still handles packing and carrier handoff. VTR becomes exempt across all three methods since TikTok generates tracking automatically. Your AHR score, violation history, listing status, and payout schedule remain unchanged regardless of transition timing.
The Transition Timeline: Every Key Date and What Changes
The transition isn’t a single switch-flip. It’s a phased rollout across three critical dates.
February 9, 2026 – Onboarding Cutoff (Per TikTok Announcement)
Per TikTok’s announcement to existing sellers, this was the last day new sellers could onboard with Seller Shipping access. If you created your TikTok Shop account after February 9, you never had Seller Shipping. You’re already on one of the three mandatory methods.
If you onboarded before February 9: You received a transition window. Continue reading.
February 25, 2026 – Seller Shipping Ends
This is the hard cutoff. On this date:
- Seller Shipping disappears from Seller Center. You can no longer generate your own labels or use your negotiated carrier rates for TikTok orders.
- All new orders must use FBT, Upgraded TikTok Shipping, or Collections by TikTok (CBT). No exceptions.
- Orders already in your pipeline before Feb 25 that were placed under the old system can still be fulfilled under their original terms, but only if they haven’t expired.
- Your existing compliance metrics carry forward. Your LDR, SFCR, VTR, OTDR, and AHR scores from the Seller Shipping era don’t reset. They roll into the transition period.
Your Account Health Rating (AHR) score, your violation history, your listing status, your enrollment in campaigns or promotions, and your payout schedule all remain exactly the same.
March 31, 2026 – Full Enforcement (Per Transition Timeline)
By this date, the transition window closes completely.
- No grandfathering. Every active order must comply with TikTok Shop Logistics Services.
- Performance penalties apply for any seller who hasn’t completed the transition.
- Sellers who fail to comply face order cancellations, decreased visibility, and potential account restrictions.
This is when your metrics behave most unpredictably, and when most sellers make the mistakes that cost them AHR points.
Your Three Fulfillment Methods: What Each Means for Your Metrics
Before diving into the metric-by-metric breakdown, here’s a summary of how each method works. For the full comparison including fees, setup steps, and pros and cons, see our complete fulfillment changes guide.
Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT)
You send inventory to TikTok’s warehouses. TikTok picks, packs, ships, and handles delivery. You control nothing after the inbound shipment arrives.
FBT Metric Impact
Most fulfillment metrics shift to TikTok’s responsibility. But not all, and the exceptions matter.
Higher conversion rate with FBT’s “Free 3-Day Delivery” tag
Increase in daily product views with FBT badge
Upgraded TikTok Shipping
You fulfill orders from your own facility or 3PL. TikTok generates the shipping label and selects the carrier. You still pack and hand off the package. Upgraded TikTok Shipping offers up to 20% savings on shipping costs compared to standard rates.
Metric impact: You’re still responsible for dispatch speed. TikTok controls the carrier and tracking.
Collections by TikTok (CBT)
You pack orders at your facility. TikTok arranges carrier pickup from your location. CBT offers up to 30% additional savings beyond standard TikTok Shipping rates.
Your warehouse must be in an eligible zip code (Greater Los Angeles, East Coast, or Texas), and you need an average daily order volume greater than 50 orders within the past 30 days.
Amazon’s restrictions on third-party labels mean FBA facilities cannot process TikTok orders. If you run FBA alongside TikTok Shop, you’ll need a separate fulfillment location for TikTok orders.
Which TikTok Shop metrics still apply under Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT)?
As of February 2026, switching to FBT does not eliminate all compliance obligations. According to TikTok’s Fulfillment Policy documentation (updated February 2026), FBT fully exempts sellers from On-Time Delivery Rate (OTDR) and Valid Tracking Rate (VTR) calculations since TikTok handles delivery and tracking end-to-end. However, Late Dispatch Rate (LDR) receives partial formula treatment: FBT orders are excluded from the LDR numerator (late orders) but remain in the denominator (total dispatch-eligible orders). This means FBT dilutes your LDR by inflating the denominator while removing late-risk orders from the numerator. Seller-Fault Cancellation Rate (SFCR) also receives partial treatment: if a seller cancels an FBT-eligible order before it enters the warehouse workflow, that cancellation still counts toward SFCR. Account Health Rating (AHR) applies equally across FBT, Upgraded TikTok Shipping, and CBT. Listing violations, including prohibited items and misleading descriptions, are enforced identically regardless of fulfillment method. The threshold for SFCR remains at or below 2.5%, and LDR enforcement triggers above 10%.
The Metric Shift Matrix: What Changes Under Each Fulfillment Method
This is the section most sellers get wrong. There’s a persistent myth that switching to FBT makes all your compliance metrics disappear. That’s not true.
Here’s the exact breakdown, metric by metric, as of February 2026. For the complete canonical reference with every edge case, see our Metric Applicability Matrix.
Late Dispatch Rate (LDR) – Threshold: Recommended <=4%, Enforcement >10%
What LDR measures: The percentage of non-FBT orders not reaching “In Transit” status (carrier scan) within the dispatch SLA (2 business days of order creation). The key word is carrier scan. Printing a label does not stop the clock. The carrier must physically scan the package.
LDR = (Non-FBT Late Orders ÷ Total Dispatch-Eligible Orders Including FBT) × 100
For the full breakdown of why the carrier scan distinction matters, see our Carrier Scan Trap guide.
| Fulfillment Method | LDR Treatment |
|---|---|
| FBT | Partial formula treatment FBT orders are excluded from the LDR numerator (late orders), but FBT orders remain in the denominator (total dispatch-eligible orders). FBT dilutes your LDR rate by increasing the denominator while removing potential late orders from the numerator. |
| Upgraded TikTok Shipping | Fully applies You are responsible for packing and handing off to the carrier within the dispatch SLA. If the carrier doesn’t scan the package in time, it counts against your LDR. |
| Collections by TikTok (CBT) | Fully applies You must have the order packed and ready for TikTok’s carrier pickup within the dispatch window. If pickup is missed or delayed on your end, it affects LDR. |
The official LDR formula keeps FBT orders in the denominator, so the math actually helps hybrid sellers: a seller processing 1,000 orders/month who moves 900 to FBT still has all 1,000 orders in the denominator. Four late dispatches = 0.4% LDR regardless of the FBT split. The real risk is operational, not mathematical. Sellers who move 80% of inventory to FBT sometimes relax their dispatch discipline on the remaining Upgraded TikTok Shipping orders. For the full analysis, see our Hybrid Fulfillment Trap guide.
For business day calculations during the transition, including how weekends and federal holidays affect your dispatch deadline, use our Business Days & Deadline Calculator.
On-Time Delivery Rate (OTDR) – Threshold: >=80%
What OTDR measures: The percentage of orders delivered within the promised delivery window, calculated weekly.
| Fulfillment Method | OTDR Treatment |
|---|---|
| FBT | Exempt TikTok manages the entire delivery process. FBT orders are excluded from your OTDR calculations. |
| Upgraded TikTok Shipping | Conditional TikTok selects the carrier, so delivery timing is partially outside your control. If the delivery delay was carrier-caused (not seller-caused from a late handoff), enforcement provides relief. |
| Collections by TikTok (CBT) | Conditional Same principle. TikTok arranges pickup and delivery. If the delay originated from a late seller handoff, it may still count. |
Valid Tracking Rate (VTR) – Threshold: >=95%
What VTR measures: The percentage of orders with valid, scannable tracking numbers that show delivery progress.
| Fulfillment Method | VTR Treatment |
|---|---|
| FBT | Exempt TikTok provides tracking automatically. |
| Upgraded TikTok Shipping | Exempt TikTok generates the label and tracking number. |
| Collections by TikTok (CBT) | Exempt TikTok manages carrier and tracking end-to-end. |
If you were struggling with VTR under Seller Shipping, this is fixed automatically. Under the new system, TikTok controls tracking across all three methods. No action required. For details on what replaces VTR as the metric to watch, see our VTR Is the New LDR guide.
Seller-Fault Cancellation Rate (SFCR) – Threshold: <=2.5%
What SFCR measures: The percentage of orders canceled due to seller fault (out of stock, unable to fulfill, pricing errors) divided by total orders in the “Awaiting Shipment” stage.
| Fulfillment Method | SFCR Treatment |
|---|---|
| FBT | Partial formula treatment FBT orders are excluded from the seller-fault cancellation numerator, but FBT orders are included in the total confirmed order denominator. If you cancel an FBT-eligible order before it enters the warehouse workflow, that cancellation can still count. |
| Upgraded TikTok Shipping | Fully applies If you cancel an order because you can’t fulfill it, it counts against SFCR exactly as it did under Seller Shipping. |
| Collections by TikTok (CBT) | Fully applies Same as Upgraded. Seller-initiated cancellations count. |
Sellers moving inventory to FBT warehouses sometimes forget to deactivate listings for SKUs that are in transit to the warehouse but not yet received. An order comes in, the seller can’t fulfill it (inventory is on a truck to FBT), and they cancel, triggering an SFCR hit.
Before sending inventory to FBT, temporarily reduce stock counts for those SKUs in Seller Center. Only restore full availability once TikTok confirms receipt at the warehouse.
Account Health Rating (AHR) – Scale: 0-1000
It applies equally to FBT, Upgraded TikTok Shipping, and CBT sellers.
The AHR is a 0-1000 scale where higher is healthier. You start at 200 points. Points are earned through perfect orders (4 points per 200 finished orders, capped at 20 points/week maximum) and lost through violations.
| AHR Score | Status | Enforcement Action |
|---|---|---|
| 200+ | Green (Healthy) | No restrictions |
| 150 | Orange (At Risk) | No new mega campaigns for 7 days, no new listings for 7 days |
| 100 | Orange (At Risk) | No new mega campaigns for 14 days, no new listings for 14 days |
| 50 | Red (Critical) | No new mega campaigns for 28 days, no new listings for 28 days |
| 0 | Deactivated | Account permanently deactivated |
What triggers AHR point loss:
- Metric violations (LDR exceeding 10% enforcement threshold, OTDR below 80%, SFCR above 2.5%)
- Listing policy violations (prohibited items, misleading descriptions, IP infringement)
- Customer service violations (unresponsive to buyer messages, refund delays)
For the complete breakdown of how AHR scoring works, including recovery strategies, see our Account Health Rating guide.
Listing Violations – Still Apply Across All Methods
Listing violations are separate from fulfillment metrics. They cover prohibited product listings, misleading product descriptions or images, intellectual property infringement, price gouging flags, and restricted category violations. These apply identically regardless of whether you use FBT, Upgraded TikTok Shipping, or CBT.
The Complete Metric Summary Table
| Metric | Threshold | FBT | Upgraded TikTok Shipping | Collections by TikTok |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LDR | <=4% rec; >10% enforce | Partial formula | Fully applies | Fully applies |
| OTDR | >=80% | Exempt | Conditional | Conditional |
| VTR | >=95% | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| SFCR | <=2.5% | Partial formula | Fully applies | Fully applies |
| AHR | 0-1000 | Applies | Applies | Applies |
| Listing violations | – | Applies | Applies | Applies |
For the complete reference table with every edge case, formula detail, and worked example, see our Metric Applicability Matrix.
What was the originally planned TikTok Shop transition timeline?
As of February 2026, TikTok has postponed the mandatory transition from Seller Shipping to TikTok-managed fulfillment indefinitely. According to TikTok’s original announcement to existing US sellers (January 2026), the plan included three key dates, all now suspended. February 9 was the onboarding cutoff, meaning new sellers after that date would not have had Seller Shipping access. February 25, 2026 was announced as the hard cutoff when Seller Shipping would be permanently removed from Seller Center, requiring all new orders to route through FBT, Upgraded TikTok Shipping, or Collections by TikTok. March 31, 2026 was the full enforcement date when every active order would need to comply with TikTok Shop Logistics Services. TikTok communicated directly to sellers in mid-February 2026: “Seller Shipping remains unchanged, and previously shared deadlines are not going into effect.” No replacement timeline has been announced. The transition risks described in the original timeline — mixed fulfillment confusion, ERP integration challenges, and metric unpredictability — remain relevant for whenever the mandate is reinstated.
What Changes Immediately on Feb 25 vs. What Remains During Transition
Changes on Feb 25
- Seller Shipping option removed from Seller Center. The “Ship with your own label” flow disappears. You can no longer upload your own tracking numbers or use third-party shipping labels for TikTok orders. TikTok has also tightened enforcement against unauthorized or counterfeit USPS labels on the platform.
- New order routing. All incoming orders route to your active fulfillment method (FBT, Upgraded, or CBT). The system defaults to FBT inventory first.
- Label generation. TikTok generates labels for Upgraded/CBT orders. FBT handles everything including labels. You no longer purchase, print, or upload shipping labels independently.
- Carrier selection. Under Upgraded and CBT, TikTok selects the carrier based on package size, weight, and destination. Your UPS/FedEx/USPS negotiated rates no longer apply to TikTok orders.
- Metric formulas begin shifting. FBT orders are excluded from the LDR numerator (late orders) and are fully exempt from OTDR. But your historical Seller Shipping metrics still count within the rolling assessment window.
What Remains During Transition
- Your historical metrics. LDR, OTDR, VTR, and SFCR from the Seller Shipping era are still on your record and still factor into AHR calculations during the 180-day rolling assessment window.
- In-flight Seller Shipping orders. Any order placed before Feb 25 that you already started fulfilling under Seller Shipping will complete under its original terms. These still count toward your metrics.
- AHR score and history. No reset. If you were at 180 AHR before Feb 25, you’re at 180 AHR on Feb 26.
- Campaign enrollments. Active promotions, flash sales, and mega deal participations continue uninterrupted.
- Listing status. All active, paused, or flagged listings maintain their current state.
The Daily Transition Checklist: Feb 25 Through Mar 31
Use this checklist every day during the 35-day transition window. The first two weeks matter most. This is when inventory is still moving, systems are still syncing, and mistakes are most expensive.
For a deeper look at which metrics deserve the most attention in a post-FBT environment, see our VTR Is the New LDR monitoring guide.
Every Morning (Before 10 AM PST)
Midday (12 PM – 2 PM PST)
End of Day
Weekly (Every Monday Morning)
Week-by-Week Transition Guide
Immediate Stabilization
Priority: Confirm your fulfillment method is active and orders are flowing.
Day 1 (Feb 25): Log into Seller Center immediately after the changeover. Verify your selected fulfillment method is active. Check that incoming orders are routing correctly. If using FBT: Confirm inventory is showing as available. If using Upgraded/CBT: Process your first order through the new workflow end-to-end.
Days 2-3: Monitor for orders stuck in “Awaiting Shipment.” Check for inventory discrepancies. Review carrier assignment issues. Watch for phantom violations: system errors during switchover can trigger false late dispatch flags. See our Phantom Violations guide for documentation steps.
Days 4-7: Run your first post-transition metric check. Address any SFCR spikes from canceled orders during the switchover.
Workflow Optimization
Priority: Smooth out the daily operational flow.
Fine-tune your packing/dispatch process. Optimize FBT replenishment cadence. Address recurring carrier pickup issues (CBT sellers). Begin tracking which SKUs perform best under FBT vs. self-fulfilled. Monitor LDR closely if running hybrid (FBT + Upgraded).
Metric Normalization
Priority: Your metrics should be stabilizing. If not, investigate.
LDR should be trending down if FBT is absorbing significant volume. OTDR should be within range. SFCR should be stable. VTR should be at or near 100%. AHR should be stable or improving.
Full Compliance
Priority: Ensure zero compliance gaps before the March 31 hard deadline.
All orders must be flowing through TikTok-managed fulfillment. Run a final comprehensive metric audit. Verify no stale Seller Shipping orders remain. Confirm FBT inventory levels can sustain your daily order volume through April. Document your new standard operating procedures.
The issue likely isn’t the fulfillment transition. It’s a listing violation or customer service gap. Investigate those separately. See our Violation Recovery Center for diagnosis steps.
FBT Inventory Management During the Transition
If you chose FBT as your primary fulfillment method, the transition period introduces a unique operational challenge: maintaining continuous inventory availability while your warehouse workflow is still new.
The Inbound Shipment Pipeline
FBT requires you to create inbound shipments through Seller Center, ship your products to TikTok’s fulfillment warehouses, and then wait for processing. As of February 2026, the typical timeline:
- Shipment creation: 15-30 minutes in Seller Center
- Transit to warehouse: 2-5 business days
- Warehouse receiving and processing: Estimated 3-7 business days (varies by warehouse volume; not specified in official documentation)
- Total lead time: 5-12 business days from shipment creation to sellable inventory
That means if you run out of a SKU on a Monday, the fastest you can replenish is roughly 7 business days, and that’s under ideal conditions.
The Stock-Out Cascade
1. The listing goes inactive – you lose visibility and organic ranking. 2. Orders placed before the stock-out may need to be canceled, hitting your SFCR. 3. Your sales velocity drops as TikTok’s algorithm deprioritizes products with inconsistent availability. 4. Restock takes 5-12 business days of lost revenue per SKU.
Potential lost revenue from a stock-out on your top 3 SKUs (for a seller doing $5,000/day across 20 SKUs)
The Replenishment Formula
Trigger Point = (Daily Sales Velocity × Lead Time Days) + Safety Buffer
Example Calculation
Daily sales: 40 units/day. Lead time: 10 business days. Safety buffer: 3 days.
Trigger point: 40 × (10 + 3) = 520 units. When FBT inventory hits this number, send next inbound shipment.
Add an extra 3-5 days beyond your normal buffer for the first 60 days. Warehouse processing times are less predictable while TikTok onboards thousands of new FBT sellers simultaneously.
Multi-SKU Batching Strategy
- Batch similar SKUs into a single inbound shipment
- Prioritize high-velocity SKUs in your first shipments
- Stagger shipments. Send a new batch every 5-7 days rather than one massive shipment monthly
- Label correctly. Mislabeled inbound shipments cause processing delays and potential inventory mismatches
FBT offers 60 days of free storage per inbound shipment. Use that window strategically. Send enough inventory to cover 14-21 days of sales, with the first replenishment shipment already in transit before the initial stock depletes.
What happens if sellers are not ready when TikTok enforces the FBT mandate?
As of February 2026, TikTok has postponed the enforcement date indefinitely, but the consequences of non-compliance remain relevant for planning purposes. According to TikTok’s Fulfillment Policy (updated February 2026), sellers who have not fully transitioned when enforcement begins will face consequences: orders that cannot be fulfilled through an approved method are automatically canceled, each one counting against Seller-Fault Cancellation Rate (SFCR). TikTok may apply separate enforcement actions for non-compliance, and product listings may be deprioritized or suppressed in search results. The compounding effect is severe. Canceled orders spike SFCR above the 2.5% threshold, which triggers AHR point loss, which triggers enforcement milestone restrictions on new listings and campaigns, which reduces revenue, which reduces the opportunity to recover metrics through perfect fulfillment. A seller processing 500 orders per month who cannot fulfill for one week would accumulate roughly 125 canceled orders, creating a 25% SFCR. That alone could drop a healthy account from above 200 AHR points to the 100-point milestone, triggering 14-day restrictions.
What Happens If You Miss the March 31 Deadline
The transition window isn’t a suggestion. March 31 is a hard enforcement date.
Immediate Consequences
Order cancellations hit your SFCR. Performance penalties apply for non-compliance. Product listings may be deprioritized or suppressed. Continued non-compliance can trigger AHR milestone enforcement, potentially leading to listing creation blocks, campaign enrollment blocks, or account review. Sellers with 30+ days of no successful fulfillment or a 90%+ cancellation rate face order volume limits up to complete suspension of new orders.
The Compounding Problem
The Cascade Effect
1. Orders get canceled – SFCR spikes above 2.5%
2. SFCR spike triggers AHR point loss – AHR drops toward enforcement milestones
3. AHR milestone enforcement blocks new listings and campaigns – revenue drops
4. Revenue drops mean fewer orders – less opportunity to recover through perfect fulfillment
5. Account enters review – potential deactivation
SFCR for a 500 orders/month seller who can’t fulfill for one week post-March 31 (~125 canceled orders). That’s ten times the 2.5% threshold.
If You’re Behind: Emergency Transition Steps
Set up your Upgraded TikTok Shipping account. This is the fastest method to activate. No inventory shipment required, no warehouse processing wait time.
Begin fulfilling new orders through Upgraded TikTok Shipping while you set up FBT for your long-term strategy.
Create your first FBT inbound shipment for your top 10 SKUs by volume.
Gradually shift order volume from Upgraded to FBT as warehouse inventory becomes available.
You need to be on any approved method. Upgraded TikTok Shipping requires zero setup lead time beyond activation. Use it as your bridge while FBT inventory processes.
How does Late Dispatch Rate (LDR) work for hybrid FBT and Upgraded TikTok Shipping sellers?
As of February 2026, the LDR formula creates a counterintuitive dynamic for hybrid sellers. According to TikTok’s LDR documentation (updated February 2026), LDR measures the percentage of non-FBT orders not reaching “In Transit” status (carrier scan, not just label print) within the 2-business-day dispatch SLA. The published formula uses non-FBT late orders as the numerator and total dispatch-eligible orders including FBT as the denominator. This means FBT orders inflate the denominator while being excluded from the numerator, which mathematically helps hybrid sellers. A seller processing 1,000 orders per month who moves 900 to FBT still has all 1,000 orders in the denominator. Four late dispatches equal 0.4% LDR regardless of the FBT split. The real risk is operational, not mathematical. Sellers who move 80-90% of inventory to FBT often relax dispatch discipline on the remaining Upgraded TikTok Shipping orders. With only 100 orders needing manual dispatch, missed carrier pickups and scheduling gaps become more likely. The recommended LDR operating target is at or below 4%, with formal enforcement escalating above 10%.
Common Transition Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
The myth: “I switched to FBT, so I don’t need to worry about metrics anymore.”
The reality: FBT removes your responsibility for dispatch and delivery, but your AHR still applies, listing violations still apply, and SFCR has partial formula treatment (not full exemption). If you cancel an order before it enters the FBT workflow, that cancellation still counts.
Fix: Monitor AHR and SFCR even after full FBT migration.
The myth: “I moved 90% to FBT, so the remaining 10% on Upgraded won’t matter.”
The reality: The official LDR formula keeps FBT orders in the denominator. Four late dispatches out of 1,000 total orders = 0.4% LDR whether you’re running 100% Upgraded or 90% FBT. The real risk is operational: with only 100 orders needing manual dispatch, sellers lose the muscle memory and process discipline they built handling 1,000.
Fix: Treat your non-FBT orders with even more dispatch urgency. See our Hybrid Fulfillment Trap guide. For dispatch deadline calculations, use our 48-Hour Deadline guide.
The reality: FBT inbound processing can take estimated 3-7 business days. During that time, your listings still show the old inventory count. Orders come in, you can’t fulfill them, and you cancel, spiking your SFCR.
Fix: Before sending an FBT inbound shipment, reduce listed stock for those SKUs to match only what you physically have available for non-FBT orders. Restore full availability only after TikTok confirms warehouse receipt.
The reality: Orders placed before Feb 25 under Seller Shipping that haven’t been fulfilled yet are still your responsibility under the original terms. If you miss the dispatch deadline on a pre-Feb-25 order, that late dispatch still hits your LDR.
Fix: On Feb 25, first priority is clearing your backlog of Seller Shipping orders. If a system error causes a false late dispatch flag, document it using our Phantom Violations framework and prepare your evidence using the Appeal Playbook.
The reality: FBT inventory depletes as orders ship. If you’re selling 50 units/day of a SKU and you sent 200 units to the warehouse, you have 4 days of stock. When FBT runs out, the listing goes inactive (lost sales) or orders get canceled (SFCR hit).
Fix: Monitor FBT inventory levels daily during transition. Set a replenishment trigger at 7 days of stock remaining. Aim to always have 14-21 days of inventory in FBT warehouses.
Track Every Metric That Matters During the Transition
SellerOps Watcher monitors your LDR, SFCR, and AHR in real time and sends alerts before you hit any threshold. Built for sellers navigating the post-FBT compliance landscape.
Start 14-day free trialFAQ
Does my AHR reset when I switch to FBT?
No. Your Account Health Rating carries forward with your full violation history. Switching fulfillment methods doesn’t reset, boost, or penalize your AHR score. If you’re at 175 AHR on Feb 24, you’re at 175 AHR on Feb 26. Improvement comes from maintaining clean metrics over time, not from the switch itself. For details on AHR scoring and recovery, see our Account Health Rating guide.
What happens to orders placed on Feb 24 that I haven’t shipped yet?
Orders placed under Seller Shipping before Feb 25 must still be fulfilled under their original dispatch SLA. Your 2-business-day deadline still applies. If Feb 24 is a Tuesday (which it is in 2026), those orders must reach “In Transit” status within 2 business days, regardless of the fulfillment transition happening on Feb 25. Do not let the system changeover distract you from active dispatch deadlines.
Can I use FBT for some products and Upgraded TikTok Shipping for others?
Yes. Many sellers run hybrid fulfillment: FBT for high-volume SKUs with predictable demand, Upgraded or CBT for bulky, fragile, or slow-moving items. The metric implications differ per method (see the metric matrix above), so track each fulfillment channel’s impact on your LDR and SFCR separately.
What if TikTok’s carrier delivers late under Upgraded TikTok Shipping? Does that count against me?
OTDR has conditional treatment under Upgraded TikTok Shipping and CBT. If the delivery delay was caused by the TikTok-selected carrier (not by a late seller handoff), policy language indicates relief from OTDR penalties. If you believe a carrier-caused delay was unfairly attributed to you, document the handoff timestamp and file a dispute through Seller Center. For step-by-step appeal instructions, see our Appeal Playbook.
My LDR spiked in the first week of transition. Is that normal?
It depends. A temporary spike can happen if orders fell through the cracks during the switchover. Check for any orders stuck in “Awaiting Shipment” during the Feb 25 cutover. If the spike is from genuine late dispatches on Upgraded/CBT orders, tighten your packing workflow. If your LDR exceeds 10% and your AHR is approaching 150, take immediate action. If the violations were caused by system errors, see our Phantom Violations guide.
How long does FBT inbound processing take?
Based on seller reports, plan for an estimated 3-7 business days from when your shipment arrives at TikTok’s warehouse until inventory is available for sale. Official TikTok documentation does not specify exact processing timelines. During peak periods or the Feb-Mar transition when thousands of sellers are simultaneously onboarding, processing may take longer. Do not list inventory as available until TikTok confirms receipt in your FBT dashboard.
Will Collections by TikTok (CBT) be available in my area?
CBT availability depends on your location relative to TikTok’s carrier pickup network. As of February 2026, eligible areas include Greater Los Angeles, East Coast, and Texas. You also need an average daily order volume greater than 50 orders within the past 30 days. Check your eligibility in Seller Center under logistics settings. If CBT isn’t available, your options are FBT or Upgraded TikTok Shipping.
What’s the fastest way to get compliant if I haven’t started the transition?
Activate Upgraded TikTok Shipping. It requires no inventory shipment and no warehouse processing wait. You can begin fulfilling orders through Upgraded on the same day you activate it. Use Upgraded as your bridge while you set up FBT for your long-term strategy. You do NOT need to be 100% FBT by March 31. You just need to be on an approved method.
Complete fulfillment comparison: For a side-by-side breakdown of FBT vs. Upgraded vs. CBT, including fees, setup steps, and which method is best for your product catalog, see our TikTok Shop Fulfillment Changes 2026 guide.
AHR deep-dive: For the complete breakdown of how Account Health Rating scoring works, including milestone enforcement actions, point recovery strategies, and the 180-day assessment window, see our Account Health Rating guide.
Dispatch deadline help: For exact business day calculations during the transition, including how Presidents’ Day (Feb 16) and other holidays affect your dispatch window, use our Business Days & Deadline Calculator.
As of February 2026, the information in this guide reflects current TikTok Shop US seller policies. TikTok periodically updates fulfillment requirements and metric thresholds. Check Seller Center for the latest policy documentation.
Need policy alerts in one dashboard?
Watcher tracks risk metrics so your team can act before penalties escalate.