What Is FBA Prep?
FBA is not just a way for sellers to ship their inventory. There are several strict guidelines that your inventory must adhere to in order to be considered acceptable at the Fulfillment Center. Some of these regulations apply to all inventory, while some are specific to a particular category. FBA prep is the process that prepares your inventory to be shipped into Amazon. It is mainly about packing and labeling of products certain sellers, specifically those who import products, include inspections of their inventory. It is vital to do your FBA preparation properly. Amazon will not accept your stock if you make mistakes. You'll be accountable for paying to return the stock. You may also ship damaged goods to Amazon. If the purchaser receives the item incorrectly, they may complain and request a refund. If you've received several complaints, it could alter your performance which can result in your listing being taken down or your account being suspended.
Why Outsource FBA Prep?
In the case of FBA preparation, there are three options: prepare it yourself or pay Amazon to do it, or outsource it to a third party. FBA preparation is complicated, complex, and easy to fall into mistakes. It is essentially outsourcing the process. FBA preparation services should know the procedure. They'll make sure that any stock that is sent to FBA is compliant with Amazon's guidelines. This can reduce the possibility of your product being rejected. This is particularly important for new FBA sellers. Once you've tried it, you'll be able to predict the level of difficulty. Amazon has numerous rules that could cause time-consuming preparation of inventory to send it into FBA. You'll end up looking through stock, making up boxes and printing labels, which is when you could be better spent searching for new products.
Price
The price is the primary concern for sellers when it comes to FBA preparation services. While it shouldn't be the only thing that you take into consideration, it's natural that you want to negotiate the lowest price. Even if your costs begin high does not mean they need to stay high. It's important to know whether your prep services charge per item, or per month. The monthly charge suits sellers who sell large amounts of stock, while the price per item is appealing to sellers who send stocks in smaller quantities. It is crucial to know the costs of packaging with your purchase. Certain prep centers might charge extra for poly bags and bubble wrap. It is also crucial to figure out the storage charges and the maximum number you can send to the facility that you are using at any time. When selecting the FBA prep service, price is not always the primary factor. While you do not want to spend too much on a service, it is essential that the expenses for your prep are easily manageable. Even if your initial costs are high doesn't mean that they must remain high. Once you are more comfortable with the preparation process it is possible to cut the cost of your preparation, for example by splitting some tasks between the manufacturer and your prep service. Have a look at the recommended Door to Door Delivery site for more.
Location
It's important to think strategically about the location you'd like your prep centre to be. If your company is predominantly private label, it's probable that you'll ship massive quantities of stock from China. It's worth looking into the ports where your shipments are arriving and then finding a prep centre near them. Danny McMillan has found that prep centers near ports for shipping can help you cut down on time and costs. This can also make it easier for your company to be run efficiently. If there is a problem the prep center could dispatch someone to the port to help. This would not be feasible in the event that the distance between your prep center and the port was greater than 300 miles. Preparing a center close to your home is another consideration for sellers of retail arbitrage. This lets them either pick up the stock themselves or have very low freight costs. You should not choose an organization based solely on the proximity to an Amazon Fulfillment Center. Each Amazon warehouse will be different. You can even accomplish this if you opt to sign up with Amazon's Inventory Placement Service. You are only able to send only one item stock to Amazon's Fulfillment Center. However, Amazon has the ability to alter the shipping address of shipping to shipping.