When it comes to successfully selling on Amazon, one of the most pivotal decisions that sellers must make is how they manage their inventory. This decision doesn’t just affect internal logistics—it impacts delivery speed, product authenticity, and overall customer satisfaction. For sellers working with an Amazon Fulfillment Center in Oregon or any other regional center, choosing between commingled inventory and using Amazon barcodes is essential to ensuring operations run smoothly and customer trust is upheld.
Amazon’s vast fulfillment network, including the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Oregon, is designed to help sellers deliver products quickly and efficiently. However, the choice between commingled inventory and barcoded items can make a significant difference in how your products are processed and handled.
Commingled inventory, also referred to as stickerless inventory, allows Amazon sellers to ship their products to fulfillment centers—like the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Oregon—without placing unique Amazon barcodes (FNSKU) on each item. Instead, Amazon uses the manufacturer’s barcode, such as a UPC (Universal Product Code), EAN (European Article Number), or ISBN (International Standard Book Number), to manage and track these items. In this system, identical products from different sellers are pooled together into the same storage bin.
This inventory strategy is beneficial in terms of speed and simplicity but comes with its own set of risks.
ASIN stands for Amazon Standard Identification Number. It’s a unique 10-character alphanumeric code assigned to every product listed on Amazon. While this helps categorize and display listings to buyers, it doesn’t link inventory to a specific seller.
ASIN stands for Amazon Standard Identification Number. It’s a 10-character alphanumeric code assigned to each product listed on Amazon. ASINs help catalog and index products, making them easily searchable for customers. Like UPC, this code identifies products but not the seller.
FNSKU, or Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit, is a unique barcode generated by Amazon that directly ties an item to the seller who listed it. It is particularly important for sellers using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). By labeling each item with an FNSKU, Amazon ensures that the correct seller’s inventory is selected and shipped when a customer places an order.
Prep centers, such as Stock and Ship, work with Amazon fulfillment centers to ensure precision in labeling and logistics. They strongly prefer using FNSKUs because these unique barcodes give sellers full control over their inventory and help avoid mix-ups, even within busy centers like the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Oregon.
Choosing between commingled inventory and Amazon barcodes isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. It depends on your business model, goals, and risk tolerance. If you’re prioritizing speed and lower upfront costs, commingled inventory might seem appealing. However, if brand protection, product quality, and customer satisfaction are at the top of your list, then using FNSKUs is undoubtedly the safer route.
At Stock and Ship, we work exclusively with sellers who choose FNSKUs. This approach helps us guarantee accuracy, prevent counterfeits, and maintain a high standard of fulfillment—particularly important when collaborating with major hubs like the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Oregon.
If you’re searching for a dependable 3PL partner, look no further than Stock and Ship. Our tailored services, deep industry expertise, and unwavering commitment to quality make us the trusted choice for Amazon FBA sellers across the country.
The Amazon Fulfillment Center in Oregon provides faster delivery to West Coast customers and access to a major logistics hub, which can reduce shipping times and improve customer satisfaction.
Consider your business priorities—commingled inventory offers speed and reduced labeling costs, while FNSKUs provide greater control, quality assurance, and brand protection.
Yes, you can change your preference in your Amazon Seller Central account. However, you’ll need to relabel all inventory with FNSKU barcodes moving forward.
Yes, commingling can sometimes expose sellers to liability if a customer receives a counterfeit or defective item that is traced back to their listing, even if the product wasn’t theirs.
While we support fulfillment through the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Oregon, we also serve sellers using various Amazon locations nationwide, ensuring consistent prep and labeling standards across the board.
Need efficient logistics? We offer hassle-free shipping, warehousing, and supply chain solutions to ensure safe, on-time delivery!