Flipkart Introduces Alternate-Day Pickup Model for Low-Volume Sellers

Flipkart has launched a new Alternate-Day Pickup Model for selected sellers who receive a low number of daily orders. Under this system, courier partners no longer visit every day. Instead, pickups are scheduled only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

The new model is designed to improve logistics efficiency, reduce operational costs, and optimize delivery routes in areas where daily pickup demand is low.

However, many sellers have raised concerns about delayed dispatches, customer cancellations, and the lack of flexibility.

In this article, we explain everything you need to know about Flipkart’s Alternate-Day Pickup Model, including eligibility, pickup schedule, advantages, disadvantages, and best practices.

What is Flipkart’s Alternate-Day Pickup Model?

The Alternate-Day Pickup Model is a logistics policy where eligible Flipkart sellers receive courier pickups only three days per week instead of daily.

Pickup Schedule

The holidays appear automatically inside the Flipkart Seller Hub calendar.

Why Did Flipkart Introduce This Model?

Flipkart states that this initiative helps:

• Optimize courier routes
• Reduce logistics costs
• Improve vehicle utilization
• Increase pickup efficiency
• Minimize unnecessary courier visits

This model is mainly applicable in regions where courier partners collect very few shipments daily.

Which Sellers Are Eligible?

Generally, this model applies to sellers who:

• Receive low daily orders
• Have limited pickup demand
• Operate from locations with fewer courier collections
• Do not consistently dispatch high shipment volumes

Although Flipkart has not publicly disclosed an exact eligibility formula, many sellers report being shifted to this model when their daily orders remain relatively low.

Can Orders Still Be Received on Holiday Dates?

Yes.

One important point is that orders continue to arrive every day, even on the days marked as pickup holidays.

For example:

• Customer places an order on Monday.
• Monday has no pickup.
• Shipment waits until Tuesday.
• Pickup happens on Tuesday.

This increases the overall processing time compared to daily pickups.

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Should Sellers Remove These Holidays?

No.

Flipkart automatically adds these holidays.

Removing or modifying them may lead to:

• Dispatch breaches
• Pickup failures
• SLA violations
• Negative account health
• Late shipment metrics

It is recommended to keep the automatically assigned pickup calendar unchanged unless instructed otherwise by Flipkart.

Possible Challenges for Sellers

Many sellers have expressed concerns regarding the alternate-day model.

Some common issues include:

1. Longer Dispatch Time

Orders may wait an extra day before pickup.

2. Higher Cancellation Risk

Customers expecting faster delivery may cancel orders before dispatch.

3. Increased Refunds

Delayed dispatch can sometimes result in customer refund requests.

4. Inventory Blocking

Products remain packed and unavailable for resale until pickup.

5. Customer Dissatisfaction

Longer handling times may negatively impact customer experience.

Weekly Off Configuration

Apart from Flipkart’s automatic holidays, sellers should also verify that their weekly off settings are configured correctly in Seller Hub.

Incorrect calendar settings may cause:

• Pickup confusion
• Missed collections
• Dispatch delays
• SLA issues

Always review your calendar after any policy update.

When Will Daily Pickups Return?

According to seller discussions and available information, Flipkart may review your account once order volume increases.

Many sellers report that daily pickups can return after consistently receiving approximately:

• 20–30 orders per day

However, this is not an officially guaranteed threshold and may vary depending on:

• Location
• Courier availability
• Logistics capacity
• Seller performance
• Regional demand

Tips to Increase Daily Orders

If you want daily pickups restored, focus on growing your order volume.

Improve Product Listings

• Use SEO-friendly product titles.
• Add high-quality images.
• Write detailed descriptions.
• Include relevant keywords.

Run Promotions

• Participate in Flipkart sales.
• Offer discounts.
• Use coupons.
• Join advertising campaigns.

Improve Seller Ratings

• Ship orders quickly.
• Reduce cancellations.
• Maintain good packaging quality.
• Provide accurate product information.

Expand Your Catalog

Adding more products can increase visibility and daily sales.

Seller Suggestions to Flipkart

Many marketplace sellers believe Flipkart should provide more flexibility.

Some commonly suggested improvements include:

• Self-drop facility at courier hubs
• Manual shipment handover option
• Seller-controlled pickup scheduling
• Paid same-day pickup requests
• Option to request additional pickups during high sales periods

Such features could help reduce shipment delays while still allowing Flipkart to optimize logistics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does Flipkart stop receiving orders on pickup holidays?

No. Customers can place orders every day.

Will my courier pickup happen every day?

Not if your account is enrolled in the Alternate-Day Pickup Model.

Can I remove the holidays from Seller Hub?

No. These holidays are automatically configured and should not be removed.

Does this model affect customer delivery time?

It can increase dispatch time because shipments wait until the next scheduled pickup.

Who is affected?

Mostly low-volume sellers with limited daily pickup demand.

Can daily pickups return?

Yes. Flipkart may review eligible accounts when daily order volumes increase, though approval is at Flipkart’s discretion.