Sending FBA goods to Amazon: How to ensure your inbound shipment arrives safely at the warehouse
Well over 80 percent of third-party sellers on the Amazon marketplaces use FBA (“Fulfillment by Amazon”). Despite all the complaints, this number says a lot about the service: The quality is apparently so good that most sellers prefer to rely on FBA rather than build their own logistics. When an order comes in, storage, pick & pack, shipping, customer service, and returns management are handled by the online giant, while the actual seller has no work to do with it.
The only thing marketplace sellers still need to do in this system is to deliver fresh goods on time before the product goes out of stock. Even the distribution of goods in Central Europe, the UK, Eastern Europe, etc. is handled by Amazon. Sure, it sounds pretty simple: Send FBA goods to the Amazon receiving dock – sell items – receive money. Nevertheless, sellers need to pay attention to several things to ensure a smooth inbound shipment of Amazon goods.
Shipping to Amazon: How does it work?
The first steps, namely creating SKUs in Seller Central and activating shipping for these products with Amazon, should already have been completed. To actually send FBA goods to Amazon, a delivery plan, proper packaging of the products, and shipping with a professional transport service are required. Amazon states that check-in and availability after delivery usually occur within three business days. However, during high sales periods such as before Christmas, Black Friday week, etc., it may take longer. Sellers should keep this in mind when managing their inbound shipments to Amazon. Both the box dimensions and the weight requirements should be taken seriously by marketplace sellers. Ignoring these can lead to further inbound shipments being no longer accepted by Amazon.
To announce a shipment, there are several options:
In general, sellers should adhere to the guidelines of their delivery plan and not send FBA goods to another Amazon logistics center. Detailed information can be found here: Send products to Amazon.
| With the right partner, sellers can manage their Amazon FBA products much more easily than in Seller Central. At Plentymarkets, for example, all relevant steps can be clearly represented in one system. This way, you can also keep track of a multichannel business. |
Sending FBA goods to Amazon: These rules of the inbound process must be known by sellers
The requirements of the Amazon FBA Inventory Inbound range from permissible packaging choices to weight and correct packaging materials. Depending on the type of delivery – for example, with a transport partner like DHL, by truck, etc. – sellers must also be aware of additional guidelines. We would like to present the most important ones to you.
How should shipments be packaged?
Amazon has very specific ideas about how shipments should be packaged for a logistics center. These are primarily intended to make the acceptance of the shipment as easy as possible and to avoid potential sources of error.
As a rule, sellers should use a six-sided box with intact flaps made of at least two inches thick material. The material thickness also applies to the packaging material of individual items, both around each item and between the items and the box walls. However, if the products are shipped in the manufacturer’s packaging, this is not necessary. Permissible standard boxes for inbound shipments to Amazon include folding boxes, B-flutes, ECT-32 boxes (Edge Crush Test), and 200-pound boxes (burst strength).
Cardboard dimensions and weight
Cartons with multiple items in standard size must not exceed a length of 25 inches per side. This is only allowed if the units are also oversized (i.e., longer than 25 inches). But even here, sellers should choose the carton size appropriate to the contents, which usually means using a carton that is only two inches larger to send FBA goods to Amazon.
In general, cartons must not weigh more than 50 pounds. An exception applies only if the weight of a single item exceeds 50 pounds. In that case, stickers must be placed on the top and sides indicating that the carton should be lifted by a team. If the item weighs over 100 pounds, stickers indicating “Lift with pallet jack” are mandatory.
Both the carton dimensions and the weight requirements should be taken seriously by marketplace sellers. Ignoring them may result in Amazon no longer accepting further inbound shipments.
Correct labeling of shipments
In order for shipments to smoothly pass through the Amazon inbound process, they must be labeled accordingly. The following guidelines must be followed:
In addition, for a smooth process of the Amazon Warehouse Inbound, all items must be equipped with a scannable barcode. This can be the manufacturer barcode (acceptable barcodes: UPC, EAN, JAN, and ISBN), an FNSKU barcode, and a Transparency Code to prevent product counterfeiting.
Further information on the requirements can be found by sellers and manufacturers here: Barcode requirements for products fulfilled by Amazon and Labeling requirements for shipments.
Further notes on packaging
In addition, Amazon provides further tips on which packaging materials are permissible when marketplace sellers want to send FBA goods to Amazon. The tape used should, for example, be intended for shipping and accordingly strong. Only if the contents do not move when the carton is gently shaken back and forth is it correctly packaged.
Suitable packaging materials are
Not suitable are
Avoiding mistakes: How you should not pack
There are a number of beginner mistakes that should be avoided and are generally not accepted in the inbound process by Amazon. These include, for example, POS cartons that are considered part of the sold item. Open cartons or pallet cartons (so-called “Gaylords”) are also not allowed. The cartons must not be wrapped in plastic film or paper or tied with bands or similar. Bundling multiple cartons is also not advisable.
In addition, sellers should always keep in mind that cartons may be stacked both during shipping and in the logistics centers. To prevent damage, oversized cartons must be filled with sufficient packaging material before sellers send this FBA goods to Amazon.
In general, products should be packaged in a way that allows them to pass through the inbound process at Amazon intact. Extensive information on the packaging guidelines can be found here: Packaging and preparation guidelines.
What’s inside? Information about the carton contents
Logically, Amazon Inbound and Outbound Logistics wants to know exactly what is included in a seller’s shipments. If this information is not provided by the seller, Amazon will collect it manually when the shipment arrives at the warehouse – but of course, not for free. From January to October, the fee for this is $0.15, and in November and December, it is $0.30. Additionally, missing information may result in the seller being unable to send FBA goods to Amazon.
In principle, information about the carton contents can be transmitted during shipment creation in Seller Central or via the Amazon Marketplace Web Service (MWS). The method used depends on the workflows involved in the shipment creation.
Further information and frequently asked questions can be found here: Providing information about carton contents.
Send FBA goods to Amazon: Package, truck, or container?
The type of delivery also plays a role in the regulations that sellers must adhere to in the inbound process.
Information about truck and container shipments can be found here:
Amazon FBA and Inbound Shipment: Potential mistakes
Not everything goes smoothly when marketplace sellers send their FBA goods to Amazon – especially when shipments do not meet the requirements. Particularly those who are just starting with Amazon FBA need to familiarize themselves with the guidelines of the online giant. Furthermore, there are also irregularities that are not the responsibility of the merchant, but arise, for example, from a booking error by the executing Amazon employee.
A lot can go wrong just at the goods receipt, as the overview page of this type of problem shows. Examples include:
All these errors can be actively avoided by merchants by familiarizing themselves with the requirements for the inbound process at Amazon and executing them diligently. The situation is different with the already mentioned sources of error that the marketplace seller has no influence over.
After the goods receipt: check and reconcile shipments
Once the shipment has arrived at a logistics center and has been booked, merchants can select the relevant shipment in Seller Central under “Inventory > Manage Shipments to Amazon” and then access the “Contents” tab in the “Track Shipment” workflow. The “Shipment Overview” page will now display the status of all units. Deviations between the delivery plan and the products actually booked in can also be viewed in the corresponding column here. If items are missing or damaged after the inbound process at Amazon, there is the option to request an investigation. If Amazon takes responsibility and the item cannot be found, the seller will be reimbursed for the value of the product.
Merchants can view the respective status of each product in the column of the same name. If the status is “Action Required,” there has been a deviation that justifies an investigation. In order for the request for investigation to be submitted, one of the available options under “Action Required” must be selected:
In addition, additional documents are often required, which the merchant can upload under “Select File” to investigate possible errors on Amazon’s part during the inbound process. Such documents primarily include proof of ownership (e.g., the supplier’s invoice) and for truck loads, a delivery receipt (e.g., the waybill). Other information can also help clarify the deviation as quickly as possible. Amazon states:
| Example | Description |
| All known deviations | Did you or your supplier ship more or fewer units than originally intended? Did you or your supplier ship the wrong product? |
| Description of the shipping cartons | Our team is searching for your units in the logistics center. Therefore, information about color, size, or other special features can help us find your shipping cartons more quickly. |
| Product codes | Check the UPC, EAN, or JAN on the products. Do they match the product code in Seller Central? |
| Missing preparation measures | If an item has not been properly prepared for shipping, this can cause delays in acceptance, as we need to prepare the item for you. |
Only now can sellers view a preview of the application, check the information, and finally submit the form.
Error: Failed to send FBA goods to Amazon? Analyze errors automatically
Instead of sifting through countless shipments and units in Seller Central, marketplace sellers can also have their shipments to Amazon monitored automatically. Because especially professional merchants with a certain order volume and a significant number of SKUs need to keep their inventory continuously up to date and quickly reach their time and personnel limits. At the same time, it is also not an option to simply accept that one’s products are damaged or lost at Amazon without receiving a refund for it. After all, no one has money to spare.
SELLERLOGIC Lost & Found Full-Service monitors all FBA transactions in the background and automatically enforces the merchant’s refund claims against Amazon. With Lost & Found, refund management becomes a breeze: no hours spent reviewing FBA reports, no tedious gathering of all information for a case, no copy-and-paste into Seller Central, and above all, no nerve-wracking communication with Amazon.
Transparent fees: You only pay the commission of 25% of the refund amount if you actually receive money back from Amazon. No refund, no commission.
In addition to the irregularities in the inbound shipment, Amazon FBA errors of every kind are identified by SELLERLOGIC Lost & Found Full-Service, such as
Effortless and stress-free FBA refunds – that is the SELLERLOGIC mission. You, on the other hand, focus on what really matters to you – the growth of your business.
Conclusion: Sending FBA goods to Amazon
It’s not as easy as Fulfillment by Amazon sounds. While merchants can send their FBA goods directly to an Amazon logistics center, the regulations regarding shipment size, packaging material, labeling, etc. are quite a challenge. It is important to prepare well or work with professionals.
The same applies to tracking any errors. If these are caused by Amazon, sellers have a right to a refund, provided the item is no longer sellable. To be able to enforce refund claims economically, merchants should definitely use a professional service like SELLERLOGIC Lost & Found Full-Service.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Amazon FBA fees and costs vary depending on the product category and booked services. Usually, a minimum referral fee of 15% applies. More information can be found here: All FBA costs for 2024 at a glance.
Amazon’s own fulfillment is a service that the e-commerce giant offers to all third-party sellers on the marketplace. The seller sends their goods to an Amazon Fulfillment Center. All steps that occur after an order for the goods is placed are then handled by the trading platform. This benefits, for example, online retailers who want to become Amazon sellers but do not have their own logistics. FBA can be easily activated in Amazon Seller Central.
Typically, the FBA seller ships their goods directly to an Amazon warehouse. There, the products are entered into the system and stored until they are sold. In the case of an order, they are packed and finally shipped by robots and/or employees. If there is a return, Amazon also handles the processing.
Typically, the FBA seller ships their goods directly to an Amazon warehouse. There, the products are entered into the system and stored until they are sold. When selling and shipping across Europe through Amazon, the logistics professional even takes care of distributing the goods to various logistics centers, for example, in Poland. In the case of an order, they are packed and finally shipped by robots and/or employees. If there is a return, Amazon also handles the processing.
No, there are no signs of that. Economically, Fulfillment by Amazon has been a success for the trading platform, as the marketplace business now generates more revenue for Amazon than its own sales.
Image credits in the order of the images: © Mike Mareen – stock.adobe.com, © Tobias Arhelger – stock.adobe.com, © Hor – stock.adobe.com, © Stock Rocket – stock.adobe.com, © ekkaluck – stock.adobe.com
