Question:
Can one sell products on Amazon that are fulfilled by Amazon when the product is listed with “Prime 2-hour shipping” and one knows with certainty that it will be shipped on Shabbos? Is this more problematic than regular fulfillment, where an independent contractor has the choice of when to deliver, versus here, where the agreement with Amazon requires fast Prime shipping, which will inevitably happen on Shabbos?
Answer:
Hello,
My understanding is that Amazon is not giving the seller a choice not to ship that day and wants to ship it right away. That being the case, it is Amazon’s desire to ship it specifically on Shabbos that would be permitted, since they are a kablan who elected to do the work specifically on Shabbos. Therefore, after telling Amazon that you would rather that all Shabbos orders be shipped later, if they insist on advertising that it be shipped earlier and do so, you don’t have to worry about it.
Best wishes
Sources:
See “Commerce and Shabbos” (R’ Yosef Kushner) pg. 192-197. ואגב ע' ג"כ אג"מ או"ח ח"ד ס' נ"ד
