What Is FBA Prep?
If sellers are sending their inventory to FBA, it is not simply a case of throwing everything into a box and giving it to the courier. There are some strict rules that your stock must meet in order to be accepted at the Fulfillment Center. These rules apply to all inventory, whereas some are specific to a particular category. FBA prep is the process of getting your inventory prepared to be shipped into Amazon. The goal of FBA preparation is the packaging and labeling of the items. However some sellers (especially those who import) also include inspections of their inventory. It's essential that you complete your FBA preparation right. Amazon isn't going to accept your stock if the preparation isn't properly done and you'll have to pay for it to return it. And, even more so, if damaged stock is sent into Amazon customers, they'll likely be unhappy and will return the product. If you've received numerous complaints, this could affect your metrics which can result in the removal of your listing, or even your account being shut down.
Why Outsource FBA Prep?
FBA preparation is a decision between outsourcing it to third party, doing it yourself or paying Amazon. FBA preparation is complex, requires a great deal of expertise and is prone to a sloppy error. In theory, outsourcing it means you are giving it over to the experts. FBA prep companies should be knowledgeable about the procedure. They will make sure that the inventory you send to FBA is in compliance with Amazon's guidelines. This reduces the chance of being rejected. This is especially crucial when it's your first time sending your inventory to FBA. This is because you don't realize how complicated it can be until you test it and fail. Amazon has numerous rules that can make it time-consuming to prepare inventory to send it into FBA. If you're not looking for new items, you might discover yourself examining inventory and preparing boxes.
Price
The majority of sellers are concerned about price when choosing the FBA prep company. It's not required that price should be your primary consideration, however it's understandable to want the best deal. Although your expenses may seem high in the beginning but that doesn't mean they'll stay that way. It's important to know the cost of your prep service per item or monthly. For sellers who have large stock levels that are large, a monthly cost is probably more suitable. However, a per item fee is more appealing for sellers who only send in stock occasionally. Knowing the details of the packaging process is crucial since many prep centers charge additional fees for poly bags and bubble wrap. It's also helpful to understand what storage charges are, and the number of units you will need to deliver to the prep center at any given moment. Although price is an important consideration when choosing the best FBA preparation service, it's certainly not the most crucial factor. The price of FBA prep services shouldn't be a decisive aspect. The same is true for the ones that are budget-friendly. Your prep costs to be reasonably priced. It's not necessary to spend high initial costs. Once you are more comfortable with the process of preparation, it is possible to cut the cost of your preparation, for example by splitting some tasks between the manufacturer and the prep service you use. See the top rated Door to Door Delivery blog for updates.
Location
It is important to think strategically about the place you'd like your preparation center to be. If the majority of your company is private label, you're likely to ship in large amounts of products from China. It's a smart strategy to research the ports where your goods arrive at and select a prep center close to. Danny McMillan has found that prep centers near shipping ports can help save time and reduce trucking costs. It also makes it easier for your business to operate smoothly. If something goes wrong, your prep center could be able send someone out to the port to repair it. This would not be possible in the event that your center was located at a distance of 300 miles from the port. For retail arbitrage sellers the need for a prep center close to home is important so they can take inventory in their own vehicles, or avoid the expense of transportation. It is not advisable to choose a prep centre based on the closeness to an Amazon Fulfillment Center. Each Amazon warehouse is different. This is even if you have signed up for Amazon's Inventory Placement Service. Amazon allows you to ship the entire stock of one product to the Fulfillment Center. But Amazon can change the destination of the shipping from shipment to shipment.