What Is FBA Prep?
Sellers who send their stock to FBA the process isn't only a matter of throwing everything into a box and handing it over to a courier. To be accepted at Fulfillment Center, your stock must meet a set of specific requirements. These rules are applicable to all inventory, while others are specific to a particular category. FBA preparation is the process of preparing your inventory for shipping to Amazon. The focus is on labeling and packaging products, however some sellers, specifically those that import products additionally add inspection of their inventory. It is crucial to get it right before you submit your FBA. Amazon will not take your inventory when you make an error. The customer is responsible for the cost of returning the stock. Worse still, if you ship damaged goods to Amazon and it is incorrectly shipped to a buyer, they are likely to complain and send the item back. If this occurs, your listings could be removed or your account suspended.
Why Outsource FBA Prep?
FBA preparation is done by three methods: make it yourself, or hire Amazon to handle it, or outsource it to an outsourcer. FBA preparation is complex, involves a lot of know-how and is prone to a sloppy error. You are in effect outsourcing it. FBA prep services should be knowledgeable about the procedure. They'll make sure that any inventory that is sent to FBA follows Amazon's rules. This will reduce the possibility of it being rejected. This is particularly important if this is 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 consume a lot of time. If you're not looking for new items, you could discover yourself examining inventory and making boxes.
Price
The price is the primary concern for sellers when considering FBA preparation services. Although it shouldn't be the primary factor, it is normal to desire the best price. Costs don't need to go up simply because they started out at a high level. The first thing to ask is whether your prep services are charged per item or per month. A monthly charge is likely to suit sellers with massive quantities of inventory, while the per item charge is more appealing to sellers with low volumes, who will be sending stock in more irregularly. It is essential to know the packaging costs associated with your purchase. Some prep companies may charge additional for bubble bags or poly wrap. It's also useful to know what the storage costs are and how many units you will need to deliver to the prep centre at any given moment. It is important to consider other aspects when choosing FBA prep services. While you do not want to be paying too much for a service, it is essential that the expenses for your prep are easily manageable. Keep in mind that even if your expenses are initially high does not mean that they must remain high. As you gain experience in the process of preparation, it's possible for your expenses to decrease. It is possible to divide tasks among your manufacturers and your prep services. See the top rated Door to Door Delivery blog for more.
Location
If you're contemplating where to locate your preparation facility, it is crucial to consider the long-term perspective. If you ship large quantities from China, private labeling is likely to comprise the mainstay of your business. It's an effective strategy to find out the ports where your goods arrive at, and select a prep center close to. Danny McMillan believes that having prep centers located near shipping ports is a great idea. Not only does it reduce time and assist in the cost of trucking, but also it will help your business run efficiently. If something goes wrong the prep center may be able to send a person at the port to correct the issue. This wouldn't be feasible if there was greater than 300 miles between your preparation facility and the port. Preparing a center close to your home is another consideration for retailers who sell retail arbitrage. This lets them or pick up the merchandise from their homes or pay very little cost of shipping. It is essential to select an office that is near an Amazon Fulfillment Center. The Amazon warehouse where you ship to may be different every time. Be aware that this could be the situation if you subscribe for Amazon's Inventory Placement Service. It is only possible to ship only one item to Amazon's Fulfillment Center. However, Amazon is able to alter the shipping address from shipping to shipment.