Preparing Your Amazon FBA Products for Success - Essential Guide

For Amazon sellers, utilizing Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) means that Amazon takes care of inventory storage and order fulfillment. However, there’s still one key responsibility left for sellers: preparing and shipping products to Amazon's fulfillment centers. This preparation must adhere to Amazon's specific packaging and labeling guidelines to ensure smooth and efficient processing. Below, we’ll break down everything you need to know about preparing FBA products according to Amazon’s standards.

What is Amazon FBA?

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service that allows sellers to store their products in Amazon's warehouses. When a customer places an order, Amazon handles picking, packing, and shipping the product. As a seller, your role is to enroll your products in FBA, create a shipping plan on Seller Central, and ship the correctly prepped products to Amazon’s fulfillment centers.

How to Create an Amazon FBA Shipping Plan

Creating a shipping plan in Amazon Seller Central lets Amazon know that you'll be sending inventory to their fulfillment centers. Here’s how to set up your shipping plan:

1. Log in to your Amazon Seller Central account.
2. Select the Inventory tab and choose Manage FBA Shipments.
3. Click Send to Amazon.
4. Fill in the Ship From address, destination marketplace, and packing details.
5. Enter the Quantity to Send and confirm by clicking Ready to Send.
6. Print your product barcode labels by clicking Confirm and Continue, then Print all SKU labels.
7. Confirm your shipping date, mode, and carrier, and verify the FBA warehouse code.
8. Print the box labels.

Why Properly Prepare Your FBA Products?

Preparing your FBA products correctly is crucial for avoiding shipment delays, returns, or extra fees. If your products aren’t correctly prepped, Amazon may charge a per-item fee for repackaging or relabeling. Additionally, proper packaging reduces the risk of damage during transit, ensuring your products arrive in optimal condition.

Amazon FBA Packaging Requirements (2023)

Amazon has specific packaging materials and guidelines to ensure products are safe during transport and storage.

Basic Packaging Materials

• Poly Bags: Must be transparent, sealed, and at least 1.5 mm thick.
• Bubble Wrap: For fragile or dense products, providing cushioning protection.
• Taping: Ensure the poly bags, bubble wrap, and boxes are sealed securely using tape that is at least 2 inches wide and 1.6 mils thick.

Over-boxing:

For products that need extra protection—such as sharp, fragile, or liquid items—over-boxing is required. This means placing individual packages in a larger box for added safety.

FBA Packaging for Specific Products

Different types of products have unique packaging requirements. Here are a few:

• Baby Products: Must be sealed in a transparent poly bag.
• Fragile Items: Should be wrapped in bubble wrap or boxed to protect exposed edges.
• Textiles: Place in a transparent poly bag and seal it.
• Liquids: Must be sealed and placed in a poly bag.
• Expiration Dated Products: Clearly label the expiration date, following Amazon’s specific format.

Amazon FBA Labeling Requirements (2023)

Barcode labels are vital for managing inventory and ensuring order accuracy. Amazon uses different barcode types depending on your product.

Types of Barcodes:

• Manufacturer Barcodes: Common for branded products with existing barcodes like UPC or EAN.
• Amazon Barcodes (FNSKU): Required for products without manufacturer barcodes or for private label products. These barcodes are unique to your seller account.
• Transparency Barcodes: Used for anti-counterfeiting purposes, providing detailed product information for customers.

How to Print and Apply Labels

• Log into Seller Central, select Inventory > FBA Inventory.
• Locate the product and click Edit.
• Select Print Item Labels and choose your preferred printing options.
• Apply labels to the outermost layer of the package, ensuring they are clearly visible and not obstructed.

Two Packing Types for Amazon FBA Products

When shipping to Amazon, you can choose between two packing options:

1. Individual Products: Used when shipping different product types in the same box.
2. Case-packed Products: Ideal for products that are identical in type, quantity, and condition. Each box should contain only one product type, and each item inside must have its own label.

Benefits of Using a Freight Forwarder for FBA Prep

Managing the logistics of FBA prep can be time-consuming, especially if you're new to the process. Working with a freight forwarder can help streamline your operations. A professional freight forwarder can handle tasks like product quality inspection, labeling, packaging, and shipping to Amazon’s fulfillment centers, ensuring your products meet Amazon’s standards and are shipped on time.

Conclusion

Proper preparation is key to succeeding with Amazon FBA. By following Amazon’s packaging, labeling, and shipping guidelines, you ensure that your products are processed quickly and efficiently, reducing the risk of delays or additional fees. If you're looking for help, working with a freight forwarder can simplify the process, allowing you to focus on growing your business.