Direct answer: TikTok Shop’s U.S. seller guidance, updated November 10, 2026, says four Shop Performance Score (SPS) metric scores receive temporary protection during the holiday rush. From November 13 through December 3, their effective scores can hold or rise. From December 4 through December 31, each metric score can fall by no more than 0.3 points per day. Normal evaluation resumes January 1, 2027. This is a scoring cushion for specified metrics, not a suspension of fulfillment or customer-service obligations.
Which metrics are covered?
The protection applies to Dispatch Time, Transit Time, Seller Fault Cancellation Rate (SFCR), and After-sales Handling Time (AHT). TikTok identifies these four by name. The announcement does not say that every component of SPS is protected, or that a shop’s overall SPS can never change during the period. Product quality and other performance signals still warrant attention.
What happens in each stage?
In the first stage, November 13–December 3, the effective score for each of the four metrics will not move down from its protected level even if actual performance worsens; an improvement can raise that level. TikTok says the initial baseline is expected to take effect November 13 in UTC+8, using its November 10 score partition, subject to the actual update time. In the second stage, December 4–31, the four scores move back toward normal evaluation with each individual daily decline capped at 0.3 points. From January 1, normal scoring rules apply.
What should an operator do now?
Capture the four metric scores in Seller Center before the first stage, then compare them with dispatch, carrier transit, seller-fault cancellations, and after-sales queues each day. Keep two views: the effective score shown by TikTok and the underlying service performance your team can control. A stable effective score can mask a real backlog that becomes visible as the buffer ends. This monitoring approach is Etail Rocket’s recommendation, not a new TikTok reporting requirement.
Set an escalation threshold for aging orders and unanswered after-sales requests. Reconcile carrier scans against shipped orders and investigate preventable cancellations. These checks protect the customer experience even while a metric score is buffered. Do not forecast a guaranteed SPS level, campaign eligibility, or sales lift from the protection; TikTok’s notice does not promise those outcomes.
The decision for brands
Use the temporary cushion to absorb normal peak volatility while maintaining capacity and service discipline. Before increasing creator or paid demand, confirm that inventory, warehouse cutoffs, and support coverage can handle the resulting orders. If those systems are strained, the score protection is not a substitute for fixing them. Etail Rocket can review a TikTok Shop fulfillment and performance dashboard with your team if you want an independent peak-readiness check.