FBA Preparation, Pack & Labeling: Packing Protection Overkill?
Seller asks if he is over-packaging in his FBA preparation, and can he dial it back for FBA.
Our response: you can never protect your merchandise too much.
General Selling: Product But No UPC Code
The seller purchases clothing in bulk from a wholesaler who does not have UPC codes on their products.
Our response: if you purchase in bulk from a wholesaler, they should have UPC labels or tags already on the items. If not, you either have to get UPC codes or you have to apply for Amazon’s brand registry and get a UPC exemption. You are then required by Amazon to have some type of unique identifier on the outside of the box for proper FBA preparation (if you decide to use FBA). Best bet is to purchase UPCs through Amazon’s preferred system: GS1.
FBA Shipping: Case Pack Vs. Master Carton?
Overseas seller wants to combine several cases into one overseas shipment to Amazon in the U.S. The seller would like to combine 240 units into one case as one shipment as opposed to 12 cases of 20 each.
Our response: while you can change around your case packs, Amazon limits case packs to 150 units. So for proper FBA preparation, you could pack them into 120 units to a case, and send as two cases.
* Intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only. Fees may be changed by Amazon at any time.
Feedback & Reviews: Is It Getting Harder to Remove Negative Feedback?
Amazon is becoming more “templatized” in a variety of systems and this is one of them. The result is that sellers often feel they are receiving cookie-cutter responses, and sellers are getting frustrated.
Our response: “patience and persistence” is always the best approach. Take these on a case by case basis and keep it mind that, if Amazon feels that the negative feedback is warranted, they will not be in any hurry to remove it.
If you feel the feedback is not warranted and you have been done an injustice, continue to push, each day, if need be. Continue to ask why, and continue to ask them to give reasons. Quote them specific Amazon policies that support your request for why and how the negative feedback in question should be removed, and that you don’t understand why, given their policy, this would not be removed, and repeat as necessary until it is removed. Don’t let the case close, keep it open by continuing to push until it is removed.
Suspensions: New Amazon Seller Account Suddenly Suspended
The seller opened an account and Amazon is taking their time with their initial staging, making sure the account is in order, verifying identification legitimacy, etc. before they allow you to start selling. When seller complained to Amazon, seller support advised that he open another account. He did, and then the second account got suspended with the reason given: he already has an account.
Our response: first tier support staff at Amazon don’t always know Amazon policies. Sometimes you can’t accept the response of the person you reach at Amazon. Also, on occasion they will tell you that this is their “final answer.” Don’t necessarily believe that either. Continue to be patient, persistent and professional every day in following up, but push. Connect all the dots and present all the evidence in a detailed fashion. Don’t blow your top, that won’t help your cause. Amazon is your judge and jury.
FBA Shipping: Should I Bag Items That are the Same in FBA Shipment?
Seller’s shipment to Amazon consists of poly-bagged, labeled multiples of several small, different items. The seller asks whether she should bag, again, the items that are the same into another bag, or just throw all the labeled poly-bagged items into the box.
Our response: Proper FBA preparation includes making the Amazon associate’s job as easy as possible. Case pack the items that are alike if you don’t mind them all going to the same Amazon warehouse, or indicate clearly on the label the differences so that the Amazon associate who scans the shipment can note which items are different.
FBA Shipping: Small Parcel delivery (SPD) – Over 25” on One Side
The seller’s inventory will be packaged in shipping boxes that exceed Amazon’s acceptable limit of 25” on one side. Quantities are small so LTL/FTL (less than a truckload/full truckload) freight options won’t work for him. He asks how to resolve it.
Our response: there are some instances where Amazon makes allowances and will accept a box that exceeds that limit, but it is only in very specific situations. In this case his item would be considered an “oversize” and would therefore need to be shipped individually. So the answer, in this case, is you can do it, but you may have to pay slightly higher shipping rates for oversize items.
If you will be sending several such items into Amazon over a period of time, you may want to consider whether you can make adjustments to the size of your items or your item packaging to accommodate Amazon’s FBA preparation requirements.
FBA Shipping: LTL (“Less Than Truckload”): OK to Send Orders to Amazon on Plastic Pallets?
The seller’s vendor uses plastic pallets that are sized correctly and the seller asks, will Amazon accept plastic pallets or does she have to repack?
Our response: Amazon specifies that they will only accept treated wooden pallets. So yes, repack the shipment onto the proper pallets for proper FBA preparation.
FBA Shipping: Shipment Statuses Stuck Between “Inbound” and “Reserved” Lately
The seller says that LTL shipments lately are taking longer than usual to be processed, leaving the status of many items in limbo.
Our response: maybe the problem is due to choice of carrier. Amazon will often prioritize its partner carrier over a third party carrier. Also, FTL shipments are often prioritized for processing, so if you can do that, you should.
FBA Fees: Seller Being Overcharged by Amazon for Item Weight
The seller ships items that each weight under 1 pound, but is being charged for anywhere from 2 to 4 pounds per item. The seller has actually ordered their own product from Amazon, weighed it upon receipt and taken it to the post office to confirm their own weight findings, taken photos and sent all proof documentation to Amazon but Amazon has not yet responded and continues to overcharge.
Our response: Cubiscan! This is a branded laser measuring system used by Amazon to determine accurate weight and dimensions of boxes. Amazon is not perfect, even if your FBA preparation is. Ask Amazon to pull a unit off of the shelf and have them “Cubiscan” it. Asking in this manner (i.e., speaking the insider language of Amazon), will likely result in an expedited correction. Sometimes Amazon may even reimburse you if the impact was large enough on your bottom line.
For more information about Amazon FBA Preparation, speak to a member of our Amazon Consulting team at 800-238-1811
