What Is FBA Prep?
FBA is much more than the method used by sellers to transfer their inventory. In order to be accepted by the Fulfillment Center, your stock must meet a set of specific requirements. Some of these rules apply to all inventory and others are category specific. FBA preparation is the procedure of preparing your inventory for shipping to Amazon. The goal of FBA preparation is on packaging and labeling the merchandise. However some sellers (especially those who import) will also conduct inspections of their inventory. It is vital to do your FBA preparation in a timely manner. Amazon will refuse to accept your stock if the preparation isn't properly done and you'll be required to pay to return it. If you send damaged inventory to Amazon and the wrong item is shipped to a customer they will likely complain about it and then return it. If this occurs, your listings could be rescinded or your account will be suspended.
Why Outsource FBA Prep?
FBA preparation is a decision between outsourcing it to third parties either by yourself or paying Amazon. FBA preparation is complex, requires a lot of knowledge and is prone to a sloppy error. You can outsource the process and let the rest fall to the professionals. FBA prep service should be well-versed in the procedure. They can ensure that your stock is compliant with Amazon rules prior to sending it to FBA. This will reduce the possibility of your stock being rejected. This is particularly important in the event that this is the first time you've ever sent stock to FBA. This is because you don't really realize how complicated it can be until you attempt it and fail. Amazon's many rules make preparing inventory for FBA can be a big drain on your time. Inspecting stock, making boxes and printing labels could be time-consuming. Your time could be better spent sourcing new products.
Price
The price for most sellers is their primary concern when choosing FBA prep. While it isn't the main consideration however, it's natural to want the best deal. It doesn't matter if your starting costs are costly. It's important to know whether your prep services charge per item or per month. If you are a seller with large quantities of inventory the monthly fee will likely be more appropriate. However, a per-item fee is more appealing for sellers who only send in stock occasionally. Because some prep centers charge additional fees for packaging such as poly bags or bubble wrap, you will want to find out what the packaging costs are. It is important to understand the storage fees as well as the minimum amount of units that need to be sent to the prep center at any time. Price is not the only thing that matters when selecting the best FBA prep service. The price of FBA prep services should not be a deciding factor. The same applies to budget-friendly ones. Your prep costs to be reasonably priced. It doesn't matter if the initial costs are high. As you gain experience in your preparation, it's possible for your expenses to be cut. You could divide some tasks among your manufacturers and the prep services you provide. Check out the recommended Door to Door Delivery website for details.
Location
The ability to think strategically is essential when deciding where to locate your preparation center. If the majority of your business is privately labeled, you're bound to ship in large amounts of products from China. It's best to research the ports where your goods arrive at, and choose a prep centre nearby. According to Danny McMillan's experience having prep centers within a few miles of your shipping ports can be useful, not only to save time and trucking costs, but also for the smooth running of your business. It means on the rare occasions that something goes wrong, your prep center could potentially send someone to the port to resolve the situation. If your prep center were only 300 miles away from the port, this would not be a possibility. Another consideration for sellers of retail arbitrage is having a pre center within their reach so that stock can be sourced locally. Be cautious when selecting a prep facility in relation to the proximity of an Amazon Fulfillment Center though, as the Amazon warehouse you ship to can be different each time. If you choose to sign up for Amazon's Inventory Placement Service, this is also the case. Amazon will permit you to ship the entire inventory of a single product to the Fulfillment Center. But Amazon is able to change the destination of the shipping from shipment to shipment.