Pre-Launch Announcement: Enhanced Sandbox Environment for Amazon Shipping API WW (OFF -Amazon)

We are excited to announce significant improvements to our Amazon Shipping APIs sandbox environment. These enhancements will provide a more robust testing experience with dynamic labels, real-time rates, and comprehensive end-to-end testing capabilities.

Why is this important?

Amazon Shipping API's current sandbox environment has limitations around static labels, fixed rates, and address validation capabilities, making it challenging for businesses to effectively test their integrations. These constraints have impacted developers' ability to thoroughly validate new features such as label customization, dangerous goods, and real-time rate calculations. These sandbox limitations have created challenges for businesses attempting to simulate real-world shipping scenarios before moving to production. As a result, integration timelines have been extended, causing delays in launching shipping operations and impacting overall business efficiency.

The enhanced sandbox environment addresses these limitations by providing robust testing capabilities necessary for confident integration with Amazon Shipping APIs and rapid adoption of new features while ensuring smooth transition to production, enabling businesses to focus on growth and customer satisfaction.

Key Updates:

Sandbox environment will support dynamic testing through two key APIs and it is scheduled launch date for the changes is set for August 30, 2025. This feature will be available WW across US, UK, FRITES and IN marketplaces.

• Get Rates API: Test real-time rate calculations with multiple scenarios.
• Purchase Shipment API: Generate dynamic test labels.

Key Features of Enhanced Sandbox Environment:

• Dynamic Rate Testing & Validation – Instantly calculate and verify shipping rates across multiple service types and scenarios. Validate responses for different package dimensions, weights, and destinations to ensure pricing accuracy before going live.
• Enhanced Label Generation – Create production-like labels with dynamic content, supporting all API features like label customization, dangerous goods handling, and special instructions — all in a safe testing space.
• Comprehensive API Validation – Mirror production-level checks including address validation, service availability, and parameter verification to catch integration issues early.
• Flexible Account Options – Test with or without onboarded shipper accounts, making it easier for both new integrators and experienced shippers to start testing immediately. Customers can test this just by using their sandbox developer app.
• Isolated Testing Environment – Conduct all testing in a protected sandbox with no impact on live shipping operations, while clearly marking all test outputs.

Important Notes:

• The change primarily impacts the sandbox environment behavior and there is no change in the sandbox endpoints.
• All sandbox-generated labels will include a distinct watermark to clearly differentiate them from production labels.

FAQs:

1. Do I need to modify my existing integration to use the enhanced sandbox?
   No code changes are required - existing API schemas and integration patterns remain unchanged. Please continue using the current sandbox endpoints as-is.
2. Will sandbox shipments impact my production capacity or metrics?
   No, Sandbox shipments are completely isolated from production systems and will not affect your capacity or performance metrics.
3. Can I test error scenarios and edge cases?
   Yes, the enhanced sandbox ecosystem supports comprehensive testing of various scenarios including error conditions and edge cases.
4. Is there a limit to the number of Sandbox API requests?
   Yes, Sandbox API requests are subject to throttling limits same as Production API requests.
5. What API operations are not included in this initial sandbox enhancement?
   The initial sandbox enhancement does not support OneClick Shipment, Get Tracking, Cancel Shipment, Get Shipment Documentation APIs; Support for these APIs and Amazon Marketplace (On Amazon) orders will follow in a future release.