Shipping Product Units to Amazon

How should I pack my product units for shipment to Amazon?

There are two options for packing products to be sent to an Amazon Fulfillment Center:

• Individual products: Each box will contain one or more products of varying quantities and conditions.
• Case-Packed products: All units in a box will have matching SKU and condition. All boxes of the same product will contain equal quantities of that product in each box. While receiving this type of shipment, the fulfillment center scans one unit from the box and the box is placed in inventory. There is no need to scan every unit because they are all the same.

What are the reasons why Amazon may require splitting inventory into multiple shipments?

The inventory you send to Amazon may be split into multiple shipments assigned to different fulfillment centers based on the product size and category and other fulfillment network factors, such as special product storage and handling requirements at the fulfillment center.

Can I select the fulfillment center where my inventory will be stored?

Yes. Our Premium Placement Program is a paid inventory placement service that enables you to send your eligible shipments to the fulfillment centers of your choice. Once you are registered to the Program, all your eligible shipments are sent to these fixed fulfillment centers. You can find further details on the FBA Premium Placement Program Terms and Conditions page in Seller Central.

Please note that certain products, including Apparel, Jewelry, Shoes, Media, oversize and products with special preparation or handling requirements (such as “Hazmat”) may still need to be shipped to other locations.

How do I select a shipping method and carrier for my shipment to Amazon?

When you create a new shipping plan through the Send/Replenish inventory option in the Manage Inventory page of your seller account or you work on an existing shipping plan which has not yet been completed, you are guided through the preparation of your shipment to an Amazon Fulfillment Center and prompted to select one of the following delivery methods:

• Small Parcel Deliveries (SPD), which consist of units packed in individual boxes and individually labeled for delivery.
• Less Than Truckload (LTL): "pallet shipments" that combine individual boxes on pallets. The truck may carry shipments to several destinations.
• Full Truckload (FTL): As with LTL, the shipment combines individual boxes on pallets, but the truck delivers a single shipment to a single destination.

Fulfillment by Amazon Shipping and Routing Requirements apply to all boxes shipped to Amazon fulfillment centers whether by small-parcel delivery or pallets. Please read these requirements carefully to ensure your shipment is successfully received into the fulfillment center.

Once you have chosen your shipping method and carrier, you will be then able to enter the following references received from your carrier in order to enable tracking of your products in-transit:

• The tracking number(s), for small-parcel deliveries
• The bill of lading (BOL) number and the PRO/freight bill number for pallet shipments

To avoid disappointment, we strongly recommend you use a reputable carrier company to deliver shipments on your behalf. Private domestic vehicles are not allowed to make deliveries to Amazon's fulfillment centers.

Do FBA Sellers have access to preferred transportation rates negotiated by Amazon to ship inventory to Amazon fulfillment centers?

Yes, our Partnered Carrier Program gives FBA sellers access to preferred transportation rates for small-parcel deliveries to our fulfillment centers.

How do I generate shipping labels?

When you create a new shipping plan through the Send/Replenish inventory option in the Manage Inventory page of your seller account or you work on an existing shipping plan which has not yet been completed, you are guided through the preparation of your shipment and prompted to generate shipping labels. For small-parcel deliveries, you must print shipping labels (one per box), containing the destination address and return address, to be affixed to the outside of each sealed box in addition to the carrier label.

• For Small Parcel Deliveries, you must print shipping labels (one per box), containing the destination address and return address, to be affixed to the outside of each sealed box in addition to the carrier label.
• For Full/Less than Truckload Shipments, you must print box labels (one per box) and place them on the outside of each box so that they will be visible when unpacking the pallet at the fulfillment center. In addition, pallet labels must be affixed to the top-center of all four sides of each stretch-wrapped pallet.

Adhesive blank labels can be found at most office supply stores, or you can purchase them online on Amazon websites.

Can I arrange direct shipment of inventory to Amazon from overseas suppliers?

No. Sellers with shipments that originate from overseas will need to arrange the import and customs clearance of the shipment and then arrange for the delivery to our facility. Amazon may not be used as the consignee, importer of record or final address when shipping from overseas.

How do I notify Amazon in advance of the units I want to ship to the fulfillment center?

All shipments require delivery appointments except for small parcel deliveries by our Partnered Carrier. Please note that in the absence of a delivery appointment, the fulfillment center may refuse to accept the shipment.

To schedule a delivery appointment with the Fulfillment Center, you must download the Fulfillment by Amazon Booking Form, fill it out and e-mail it to your carrier. You will need the FBA Shipment ID and Amazon reference ID to complete the form. You can locate these numbers as well as other shipment information on the Prepare Shipment page on the shipment creation workflow. Your carrier will use this information to schedule a delivery appointment with the fulfilment centre via the Carrier Appointment Request Portal. The fulfilment center will respond to your carrier within 24 hours to determine the best delivery time.

Who will be responsible for product damage or loss during shipment to an Amazon fulfillment center?

Most carriers assume limited liability for damage or loss in transit depending on the cause. If your units are damaged, we recommend filing a damage claim with your carrier. Amazon is not responsible for damage during shipment to a fulfillment center.