Selling on Amazon through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) offers numerous advantages, including streamlined logistics, faster shipping times, and access to Amazon’s vast customer base. However, before you can take full advantage of FBA, you need to correctly send your products to Amazon’s fulfillment centers . Not following Amazon’s shipping rules can cause delays, extra charges, or rejected deliveries.
This guide will walk you through the process of shipping products to Amazon FBA efficiently, covering preparation, packaging, shipping plans, and cost considerations to help you optimize your operations.
Before shipping your products, you must ensure they meet Amazon’s strict preparation and packaging guidelines. If shipments don’t comply, Amazon may refuse them, repackage them (charging you extra), or return them.
Essential Packaging and Preparation Requirements
- Barcode Compliance: Every item must have a scannable barcode on the exterior (UPC, EAN, or FNSKU).
- Loose Items: Products such as books or shoes must be securely packed. Footwear should be enclosed in a box or poly bag with a suffocation warning.
- Multipack Items: Products sold as sets must be labeled clearly to prevent separation.
- Boxed Products: Boxes should be sturdy, securely closed, and able to withstand a 3-foot drop test. If the box has perforations, reinforce it or place it in a poly bag.
- Poly-Bagged Items: Bags must be transparent, at least 1.5 mil thick, and include a suffocation warning if the opening is over 5 inches.
- Bubble Wrap for Fragile Products: Items requiring extra protection should be tightly sealed and labeled properly.
- Over-boxing for Hazardous or Heavy Items: Items over 10 lbs or those with sharp edges must be placed in an additional protective box.
- Hanger Removal: Standard-size hangers should be removed, but mini-hangers for baby clothes are allowed.
- Additional Sealing: Extra tape should be applied to prevent leakage or accidental openings.
- Mattress Packaging: Mattresses must be packed in corrugated boxes and classified correctly when creating ASINs.
- Case-Packed Items: Identical products in a box should have matching SKUs and be packed uniformly (maximum 150 units per case).
Once your products are properly packaged, the next step is to create a shipping plan and send your inventory to Amazon’s designated fulfillment centers. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of this process.
Step 1: List Your Products
Your product must be listed in Amazon’s catalog before you can send inventory. You can either create a new listing or add your product to an existing one.
Step 2: Prepare Your Shipment
Amazon provides detailed guidelines for product preparation, including packaging and labeling. If you prefer, you can use Amazon’s Prep and Label Service to handle this step for a fee. Alternatively, a third-party Prep center can take care of preparation and labeling, often offering more flexible and cost-effective solutions
Step 3: Create a Shipping Plan
- Log into Seller Central and navigate to Inventory → FBA Inventory.
- Select the products you want to send and click Create a Shipping Plan.
- Specify the quantity of each product and choose between individual or case-packed shipment types.
Step 4: Generate and Print Shipping Labels
Amazon will provide specific instructions for labeling your shipments. Be sure to print and attach the correct labels to your packages to avoid processing delays.
Step 5: Ship Your Inventory
- Select your shipping method—Amazon-partnered carriers like UPS often offer discounted rates.
- Ensure your shipment is sent to the designated fulfillment center specified in your shipping plan.
Step 6: Track Your Shipment
Monitor your shipment status through Seller Central’s Shipping Queue to ensure smooth delivery. Once received, Amazon will notify you, and your products will become available for sale.
A shipping plan outlines the products you are sending, their quantity, and the delivery method. You can create a shipping plan manually or through Amazon’s Send to Amazon workflow.
Key Components of a Shipping Plan:
- Products: Specify what items you’re sending.
- Quantities: List the number of units per product.
- Shipping Method: Choose a carrier (e.g., FedEx, UPS, DHL).
- Prep & Labeling: Decide whether you or Amazon will handle labeling and packaging.
Benefits of Using Send to Amazon:
- Simplifies the shipping process with an intuitive, step-by-step workflow.
- Creates case-pack templates for frequently used box sizes.
- Allows flexible packing options for both single-SKU and mixed-SKU boxes.
- Provides shipping cost estimates to help optimize expenses.
Shipping costs vary depending on factors like shipment weight, size, and distance. Here are some key cost considerations:
- Average Cost per Pound: Typically ranges between $0.25 – $0.30 per pound.
- Amazon’s Inbound Placement Service Fees: Additional charges may apply if Amazon splits your inventory across multiple fulfillment centers. To swiftly compute it along with other FBA charges and costs on Amazon product pages or the supplier’s site, you can utilize Seller Assistant’s FBM&FBA calculator.
- Shipment Splitting: You can reduce placement fees by allowing Amazon to distribute your inventory efficiently.
- Choosing the Cheapest Carrier: Amazon-partnered carriers, like UPS, often provide discounted rates compared to independent carriers.
Properly shipping your inventory to Amazon FBA ensures smooth processing and avoids unexpected fees. Following Amazon’s preparation and shipping guidelines will help prevent unnecessary delays and extra costs.
Additionally, FBA fulfillment services come with costs, so accurately calculating your expenses is crucial for profitability. Tools like Seller Assistant can help you analyze product costs, estimate fees, and find profitable deals.
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