A Step-by-Step Guide to Shipping to Amazon FBA 2022

Publish Time: 2022-06-07 Origin: Site

Amazon FBA is extremely attractive to entrepreneurs, large businesses, and even to people who have no previous experience in e-commerce or business.

This is mainly because it allows you to handle things like inventory and shipping, letting Amazon's global logistics empire handle all of that while you work on the more interesting aspects of sourcing products and marketing.

That said, when it comes to actually shipping products to Amazon and getting the whole process to work properly, it can often be confusing for newbies. There are so many variables at play that it can seem intimidating at first, but in reality a little experience will tell you it's pretty easy.

However, going into it blindly without doing research has historically been quite difficult as you are faced with a host of acronyms such as FTL, ASIN, FNSKU and UPC without knowing what any of them mean.

Since we've been the #1 Amazon consulting service for the past few years and have put countless businesses on top of the Amazon FBA game, we thought we'd put together what we know into an easy-to-read but complete Amazon FBA This guide will provide you with all the information you need.

With that in mind, feel free to read our complete step-by-step guide on how to ship your inventory to Amazon FBA.

· U.S. Amazon FBA Shipping Requirements

· Box Contents Information

· Packaged Shipments

· Acceptable standard packaging boxes

· Box Size

· Box Weight

· Packaging Materials

· Detailed Description of The Benefits of Packaging Materials

· Other Requirements

· Rejected Shipments

· Resellers Ship Shipments Directly to The Operations Center

· Confirmation Statement Regarding Huawei Merchandise

· Shipping Arrangements

U.S. Amazon FBA shipping requirements

To ensure your inventory arrives safely and moves smoothly into the operations center, be sure to pack your shipment properly.

The following requirements apply to all boxes shipped to Amazon's operations centers, regardless of whether they are shipped by small parcel express, motor freight LTL or full truckload.

Some shipments have additional requirements:

· Small parcel express shipments to Amazon

· Shipping to Amazon as a full truckload

· Shipping imported goods to Amazon

· Shipping TVs to Amazon

· TVs produced in 2017 and later require new packaging certification if using Amazon Logistics

Important: Failure to comply with Amazon Logistics merchandise pre-processing requirements, security requirements and merchandise restrictions may result in the following: rejection of inventory by Amazon Operations; abandonment or return of inventory; prohibition of future shipments to Amazon Operations; or charges by Amazon Operations for outstanding pre-processing work or additional packaging work. Please inform your carrier or supplier of these requirements to ensure they fully understand them.

Box Contents Information

Providing in-box information improves Amazon's management of your inventory and helps you get your items on the shelves faster. For more information, see Providing In-Box Information.

Important: If you do not provide accurate in-box information, you may be prevented from shipping to our operations center in the future and will be charged a manual handling fee.

If you choose to [skip providing box contents], please ensure that：

· The items in each box are in stock with the same shipment number. Items from multiple shipments may not be mixed in the same box. You can find the shipment number on the [At a Glance] page of the shipment.

· The shipment details listed in your inbound plan match the shipment sent to the Operations Center, which includes：

- Seller SKU

- UPC/EAN/ISBN or other external barcode

- FNSKU

- Status

- Number of shipments

- Packaging options (packaged individually or shipped in parallel boxes)

- Box weight and dimensions

· Pre-treat merchandise according to requirements listed on the Packaging and Pre-treatment Requirements page

Packaged Shipments

Following these instructions will help ensure that the shipment arrives at the Amazon Operations Center in good condition and ready for immediate warehousing.

· Use a rigid six-sided box with the lid intact.

· Use an address label that contains clear, complete shipping and return information.

· Each box in the shipment must have its own unique Amazon Logistics box number label (printed from the "Shipment Processing Progress").

· Each pallet must have four Amazon.com pallet number labels attached, one on each side in the center. Each box on the pallet also needs to have its own unique Amazon Prime box number label.

· If you are shipping multiple shipping boxes in a large carton, please affix a unique Amazon Logistics box number shipment label to the outside of the large carton.

· If you are reusing boxes, be sure to remove the original shipment label, barcode or markings from the box.

· Use opaque tape to cover existing barcodes or use a black felt-tipped, thick-tipped pen to cross out barcodes and make them unscannable. This will prevent accidentally scanning the wrong barcode during the receiving process.

· Package all items individually.

· Use appropriate packaging materials.

· Use strong adhesive tape designed for distribution.

· Fill each item with a 2-inch thick cushioning material between the item and the inside of the box.

· After packing the box, gently shake it. The contents of the box should not move when shaken.

· Using a box that measures at least 6 x 4 x 1 inches and weighs at least 1 pound (but is no longer than 25.00 inches on either side and weighs less than 50.00 pounds total) will reduce delays in receiving.

Avoiding the following will also help ensure that shipments can be warehoused as soon as they arrive at Amazon's operations centers：

· Please do not use point of sale boxes. Point of sale boxes are part of the item you are selling and usually contain only one item. (For example, a coffee maker that is shipped and sold in its original packaging.)

· Do not use open boxes that are typically used to display items. (For example, a box with an open front or a box without a lid.)

· Do not use Gaylord size boxes

· Do not use string, straps or outer packaging (plastic or paper).

· Do not bundle multiple boxes together.

Be sure to choose the right size box for the item you are shipping. If the container is too large, you will need to fill it with enough packing material to prevent the box from being crushed by the heavier boxes stacked on top of it during shipping.

Tip: For best protection, use a new single-layer corrugated shipping box with an extremely high breakage or crush-resistant mark.

Acceptable standard packaging boxes：

· General Slotted Carton (RSC)

· B type corrugated carton

· ECT-32 (Edge Crush Strength Test)

· 200 psi (breakage resistance)

Pack each item with appropriate material at least 2 inches thick, and fill between the item and the box wall with the same thickness of packing material. If your merchandise is shipped in the manufacturer's original packaging, it does not need to be packaged in 2-inch-thick material.

Box Size

For boxes containing multiple standard size items, the length of any side of the box must not exceed 25.00 inches. If a box contains large items greater than 25.00 inches in length, the box may exceed the 25.00 inch limit. Oversized boxes containing large items may be subject to shipping privileges, additional fees, or rejection by the Operations Center.

Important: Please strictly enforce the box size policy. Sending oversized boxes to the Operations Center may result in us blocking your future shipments to the Operations Center.

Box weight

If you are using an Amazon partner carrier, please measure the weight and dimensions of the boxes and consignments accurately to ensure that accurate measurements are provided for each shipment. In addition.

· Boxes may not exceed the standard weight limit of 50.00 pounds unless they contain large items that weigh more than 50.00 pounds per piece.

- For large items weighing more than 50.00 pounds per piece, place labels on the top and sides of the box that clearly indicate that multiple people are moving together.

- For large items weighing more than 100.00 pounds per piece, label the top and sides of the box to clearly indicate mechanical lifting.

· Boxes containing jewelry or watches may not exceed 40.00 pounds.

Important: Please strictly enforce the box weight policy. Sending overweight boxes to the Operations Center may result in us preventing you from shipping future shipments to the Operations Center.

Note: Even if you choose not to provide box contents information on the seller's platform, you are required to provide the exact weight and dimensions of all shipment boxes.

Packaging Materials

Using the right packaging materials will ensure that your shipments move quickly through the operations center receiving process and protect our employees from potential safety issues.

Please use the following packaging materials:

· Bubble wrap packaging

· Intact paper (heavier kraft paper is best)

· Inflatable inflatable cushions

· Polyethylene foam sheets

Do not use the following packaging materials:

· Various types of packaging foam, including foam made from biodegradable materials or cornstarch

· Foam strips

· Pleated paper packaging

· Shredded paper

· Polyester foam shreds

· Styrofoam

Tip: After packing the box, shake it gently. The contents of the box should not move when shaken.

Detailed description of the benefits of packaging materials

Bubble wrap packaging or small size bubble wrap has surface protection and shock absorption, and can also wrap almost any shape or size of goods.

Paper, especially kraft paper used to wrap merchandise, can be used to fill voids in the box. For best protection, use kraft paper with a paper basis weight of no less than 60 pounds to ensure it is thick enough to provide protection.

Inflatable cushions use air pressure to hold merchandise securely in the shipping box and provide shock absorption. An inflatable cushion typically contains multiple columns of air that you can use as lightweight padding to fill in the gaps in the box.

Warning: Inflatable cushions can lose pressure in cold temperatures and high altitude environments.

Polyethylene foam sheet is a thin, soft and flexible material that provides surface protection and shock absorption. This type of packaging material is suitable for the protection of lighter goods.

Other requirements

All items are required to have a scannable barcode. For more information, see Amazon Logistics Item Barcode Requirements.

Each box in a shipment needs to be labeled with the Amazon Logistics box number and any carrier labels. For more information, see Shipment Labeling Requirements.

Depending on the shipping method you use, you are also subject to additional requirements.

· Small parcel express shipments to Amazon

· Shipments to Amazon by full truckload

· Seller requirements for motor freight LTL, full truckload and full box load delivery

In addition, boxes and their contents must be properly packaged to ensure that they arrive at the operations center in good condition. For more information, see Packaging and Pre-Treatment Requirements.

Rejected Shipments

Some common problems that can cause an operations center to reject inventory include shipments that are larger than expected, not properly labeled, violate policies, appear mutilated, or are sent to the wrong operations center.

Every shipment to an Amazon Operations Center requires an arrival appointment to be made by the carrier in advance. Failure to create an arrival appointment will result in your shipment being rejected. For more information on requesting an arrival reservation, see Carrier Requirements for LTL and FCL shipments.

Shipments may be rejected at the pallet gate and returned to you at your expense. [Seller Damaged Shipments] refers to all inventory that arrives at Amazon's Operations Center in "unsaleable" condition. Shipments that are considered [seller damaged] or [defective] will incur return shipping charges.

Shipments that have been completed, cancelled or deleted, or are not fully completed cannot be shipped to Amazon Operations. For information on deleting shipments, see Deleted, Sent by Wrong Route, and Incomplete shipments.

Shipments may be rejected if they contain items that are not as expected or are beyond the capabilities of Amazon's operations centers. Ensuring that you create item information using the correct information (e.g., entering accurate weights and dimensions, selecting the appropriate category) will help ensure successful placement of the item and shipment to the appropriate operations center.

You may not refuse to accept or return shipments they return to you without first contacting Amazon and the carrier. If a shipment is rejected by an operations center, the information will be provided to your carrier. For any rejected shipments, please contact your carrier and work with them to resolve the issue. If you reject or return a shipment without first contacting Amazon and the carrier, Amazon may reject the shipment again and you will be responsible for any costs associated with the rejection.

Resellers ship shipments directly to the Operations Center

Make sure your reseller has the correct Amazon Logistics box number label for your shipment. You can grant distributors certain access rights to your seller account in order for them to obtain labels. For more information, see Setting up user permissions.

In addition, your reseller must comply with all Amazon shipment requirements.

Confirmation Statement Regarding Huawei Merchandise

You acknowledge that the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce has restricted, and may in the future restrict, transactions with Huawei Technologies, Inc. and certain non-U.S. affiliates on its list of entities ("Huawei Restricted Entities"). You are responsible for complying with the restrictions (as updated from time to time) on any goods, software or technology ("Goods") that you receive from Amazon or its affiliates. This includes, if you are a Huawei Restricted Entity, or for the purpose of transferring or distributing any such Restricted Merchandise (including inventory) to a Huawei Restricted Entity, ensuring that you do not remove, transfer or receive it from Amazon or its operations centers.

Shipping Arrangements

· Small Parcel Express to Amazon

· Shipping to Amazon by full truckload