What Is FBA Prep?
FBA sellers aren't just required to put everything into a box and then give it to couriers. Fulfillment centers will insist that your inventory meet specific requirements. Some of these rules can be applied to all inventory while others are specific to a particular class. FBA prep is the process of preparing your inventory for Amazon. Although it is primarily concerned with labeling and packaging, some sellers, especially those who import, might also require an inspection of their stock. It is vital to do your FBA preparation in a timely manner. Amazon won't accept your stock when you make an error. You'll be accountable for the cost of returning the stock. You can also send damaged goods to Amazon. If the customer is not satisfied with the product They can then complain and request a refund. If the complaints begin to stack up, it's going to affect your performance and result in your listing removed, or even your account being suspended.
Why Outsource FBA Prep?
FBA prep comes with three options: do it yourself or pay Amazon for the service, or employ a professional. FBA preparation is complicated difficult, complex, and difficult to overlook. You can outsource the process and leave the rest to professionals. FBA prep should be familiarized with the procedure to ensure that stock you send to FBA is in line with Amazon's standards. This will reduce the chance of the stock being rejected. This is especially important when you're sending your first inventory to FBA. You won't realize how complicated a process can be until you've done it yourself and learned from the mistakes you made. Amazon's many rules mean that preparing inventory for FBA can be a big drain on your time. It's simple to waste your time looking over stock, packing boxes, and label printing when you could be spending it sourcing new products.
Price
When deciding on FBA prep services, the most important consideration of most sellers is the price. Although price shouldn't be the main consideration but it's normal to desire the best price. It is not a matter of whether your first costs are expensive. It's important to know the cost of your prep service per item, or per month. For sellers who have large quantities of inventory, a monthly charge is likely to be the best choice. However, a per item fee is more appealing for sellers who only bring in stocks occasionally. Since some prep firms add additional charges for packaging, such as poly bags or bubble wrap You should know what the costs are. It is important to understand the storage costs and the minimum amount of units that must be sent to the prep center at any time. Price is not the only thing that matters when choosing an FBA prep company. It is not a good idea to choose a service that does not cut corners, butat the same time you'd like your preparation expenses to be manageable. It doesn't matter whether your initial costs are expensive. It is possible to cut costs by becoming more familiar with the process of preparation, like dividing the tasks between the manufacturer and your preparation service. See the most popular Door to Door Delivery site for info.
Location
Strategic thinking is key when it comes to deciding on the location of your preparation center. If your business is mostly private label, it's probable that you'll be shipping huge quantities of merchandise from China. Knowing which ports your shipments arrive in and finding a nearby prep center is a smart move. Danny McMillan has found that prep centers that are close to ports for shipping can help cut down on time and costs. This will also make it easier for your business to be run efficiently. Your prep center may be able to dispatch personnel to your port in the case of an emergency. This wouldn't be feasible in the event that there were greater than 300 miles between your preparation center and the port. A prep center close to your home is another consideration for sellers of retail arbitrage. This lets them pick up the inventory themselves or have very low freight costs. Be aware of your options when choosing a prep location. Amazon Fulfillment Centers can differ from one to the next. This is true even if you sign-up for Amazon's Inventory Placement Service. This program permits you to ship all inventory of a particular product to one Fulfillment Center. Amazon, however, can change the shipment location.