What Is FBA Prep?
FBA is not just a way for sellers to ship their inventory. There are several strict guidelines that your stock must meet for it to be accepted by the Fulfillment Center. Some of these rules can be applied to all inventory , while some are more specific to a specific category. FBA prep refers to the preparation of your inventory to be sold on Amazon. It is mainly about packaging and labeling of the products however, some sellers, especially those that import items are required to inspect their inventory. It is essential to complete your FBA preparation in a timely manner. If you make a mistake, Amazon won't accept your stock and you'll have pay for it to be all returned. It's worse: if your stock arrives damaged in Amazon, the customer will be unhappy and may would like to return the item. If these complaints start to stack up they will affect the quality of your data and could result in having your listing suppressed, or even having your account suspended.
Why Outsource FBA Prep?
FBA preparation can be done by three methods: make it yourself, or hire Amazon to help or outsource it to an outsourcer. FBA preparation is complicated, complex, and it is easy to fall into mistakes. By outsourcing the process in the sense that you are handing it over to the experts. The FBA preparation service must be aware of the process and make sure that the product you're sending into FBA is in compliance with Amazon's guidelines which reduces the possibility of your stock being rejected. This is particularly important when it's your first time submitting inventory to FBA. This is because you won't understand how complicated it is until you try it out and fail. Amazon's strict regulations could result in FBA inventory preparation can take a lot of your time. When you're not sourcing new items, you might discover yourself examining inventory and preparing boxes.
Price
Price is the main concern for sellers when looking at FBA preparation services. Whilst it should not necessarily be the sole factor that you take into consideration, it's normal to want to get the best deal. It is not a matter of whether your initial costs are high. It's important to know whether your prep service charges per item or per month. The monthly price is best for sellers who sell large quantities of inventory, while the per-item cost is a good option for sellers who ship inventory in smaller quantities. The packaging fees will also require to be considered because prep services may charge additional fees for items like poly bags and bubble wrap. It can also be useful to understand the storage charges and if there is a minimum number of units you have to deliver to the center for preparation at one time. The primary consideration when choosing an FBA prep service is cost. While you don't want to be paying too much for a service, it is crucial that the costs of your preparation are affordable. It doesn't matter if the initial costs are expensive. When you become more familiar with the preparation process , it is possible to cut down on costs, such as by splitting tasks between the manufacturer and the prep service you use. Check out the best Door to Door Delivery website for more.
Location
If you're considering the location of your prep facility, you have to consider your options strategically. If you ship large quantities from China private labeling is likely to comprise the majority of your business. It is worth researching the ports at which your goods are arriving and locating a prep facility close to them. Danny McMillan has found that prep centers near shipping ports can help save time and cut down on trucking costs. This can also make it easier for your company to run smoothly. If something goes wrong the prep center will send an individual to the port. This would not be possible in the event that your center was located just 300 miles away from the port. The other consideration for retailers who sell arbitrage products is having a prep center that is within their reach, to ensure that their stock can be sourced locally. Consider your options when choosing the location for your prep. Amazon Fulfillment Centers can differ from one to the next. This is even if Amazon's Inventory Placement Service is signed up. Amazon allows you to ship your entire stock of one product to the Fulfillment Center. But Amazon has the power to change the destination of the shipping from shipping to shipping.