Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) has changed the way sellers approach online selling. Amazon FBA has streamlined the selling process for merchants by taking charge of storage, packaging, and shipping. It also takes care of refunds and customer support, freeing vendors to concentrate on expanding their businesses rather than worrying about logistics.
However, Amazon FBA has strict guidelines that can get complicated, especially for sellers dealing with diverse products or high sales volumes. Adhering to these rules is a major undertaking in and of itself, thus giving rise to the creation of Amazon FBA Prep Centers.
Amazon FBA prep centers are third-party logistics (3PL) partners that offer a wide range of services to e-commerce business owners. These specialized depots take care of the necessary steps to ensure that your products comply with Amazon’s guidelines, including packaging, labeling, and shipping your items to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. They can also manage returns, exchanges, packaging issues, and damaged packages.
Subscribing to an Amazon FBA Prep Center service provides significant advantages over managing everything on your own, including time and cost savings. It is, however, crucial to find the perfect match for the nature of your business. Here are some key questions to help you assess whether the potential providers align with your business goals:
Amazon sellers often hear the two acronyms: ASIN and FNSKU. These two barcodes are critical identifiers for Amazon listings. Let’s define each and their uses.
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 an Amazon-specific identifier used by sellers who utilize Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service. The FNSKU is unique to each seller’s inventory and is used to track items within Amazon’s fulfillment centers. It ensures that when a customer orders a product, the correct seller’s inventory is picked, packed, and shipped. This is particularly important when multiple sellers offer the same product; the FNSKU distinguishes each seller’s stock.
Prep centers, like Stock and Ship, prefer FNSKUs because it allows them to ensure that the products they handle and send to Amazon’s fulfillment centers are accurately tracked and attributed to the correct seller. Here are the pros and cons of using FNSKU:
The decision between commingled inventory and Amazon barcodes hinges on a seller’s priorities. If speed and efficiency are paramount and the risks of commingling are understood and acceptable, then the commingled inventory option may be the right choice.
As a reputable prep center, Stock and Ship takes pride in ensuring the quality and accuracy of all products processed through our facility. Thus, we only work with sellers who use FNSKU codes. These unique identifiers streamline reputation protection and enhance quality control.
If you are in search of reliable 3PL services, partnering with a seasoned Prep Center is a strategic move. Stock and Ship is a top-tier option, providing extensive expertise and a customized suite of services to optimize your e-commerce operations.