What Is FBA Prep?
FBA is much more than an opportunity for sellers to transfer their inventory. There are in fact several strict guidelines that your product must follow in order to be accepted at the Fulfillment Center. Some of these regulations apply to all inventory while others are category specific. FBA preparation is the procedure of getting your inventory prepared to be shipped into Amazon. It mainly focuses on the packaging and labeling of items but some sellers, especially those importing goods, also include an examination of their inventory. Getting your FBA prep right is hugely important. You can be fined in the event that you don't prepare your FBA prep correctly. If you send damaged inventory to Amazon and the incorrect item is delivered to a customer , they will likely make a complaint and request that it be returned. If this happens, your listings will be rescinded or your account suspended.
Why Outsource FBA Prep?
FBA prep comes with three options: do it yourself or pay Amazon for it, or hire a professional. FBA preparation can be difficult and complex, making it difficult to execute correctly. By outsourcing it, you're essentially giving it to experts. FBA prep companies should be knowledgeable about the process. They'll make sure that any inventory that is sent to FBA is in compliance with Amazon's guidelines. This can reduce the possibility of it being rejected. This is crucial for those who are first FBA sellers. Once you've experienced it, you'll know how complicated it will be. Amazon has a number of rules that make it time-consuming to prepare inventory for FBA. While you may find yourself inspecting stock, creating boxes, or printing labels, your time might be better spent searching for products.
Price
The main concern for many sellers when selecting an FBA prep service is likely to be price. It's not required that cost be the sole consideration, but it's understandable to want the best deal. You don't have the right to continue paying for high prices even if they are initially at a high level. The first thing you need to determine is whether you're being paid per item or monthly by the service that prepares your items. For sellers who have large stock levels that are large, a monthly cost is likely to be the best choice. However, a per item price is more appealing to sellers who only ship stock occasionally. You should also know the cost of the process of packaging, since certain prep centers charge additional fees for packaging such as bubble wrap and poly bags. It can also be useful to understand the storage charges and if there is an amount of units you have to send into the prep center at any one time. The most crucial factor to consider when selecting an FBA prep service is cost. You don't want a budget service that cuts corners butat the same time you'd like your prep costs to be affordable. Keep in mind that even if your expenses are initially high, it doesn't mean they have to stay high. You can lower your expenses by getting more familiarized with the preparation process. For example you could divide some tasks between your manufacturing facility and your prep company. Have a look at the recommended Door to Door Delivery site for more.
Location
It is important to think strategically about the location you'd like your prep center to be. If you ship large quantities from China, private label is likely to be the mainstay of your business. It's worth looking into the ports from which your shipments arrive, and then finding a prep centre close to them. Danny McMillan believes that having prep centers located near ports for shipping is a good idea. Not only will it reduce time and assist in the cost of trucking, but also, it can make your business run more efficiently. If something goes wrong, the prep center may be able send someone out to the port to repair it. It would be impossible if there was greater than 300 miles between your preparation center and the port. Retail arbitrage traders should also consider having a prep centre close to their residence in order to access inventory quickly and easily. Do not select a prep centre based on its closeness to an Amazon Fulfillment Center. Each Amazon warehouse will be different. If you sign up for Amazon's Inventory Placement Service, this is also the case. This program permits you to transfer all the stock of a specific product to a single Fulfillment Center. Amazon, however, can change the shipping location.