FBA Shipping to Amazon

Anyone who shops online knows the pain of shipping mishaps. From delayed or lost packages to never receiving the tracking information, shipping can make or break the entire customer experience. And in the fast-moving world of online retail, customer experience is everything. As an online seller, you want to find cost-effective ways to ship products without sacrificing your customers’ happiness with the service. But that balancing act is a challenge. That’s where shipping to Amazon FBA comes in. With this service, customers can easily find and buy items from you, while you can offer fast, reliable shipping. It’s a win-win situation. Keep reading to learn about FBA shipping to Amazon and how Flock Freight can help you get started.

Understanding FBA Amazon shipping

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service from Amazon that lets sellers store products in Amazon’s fulfillment centers. This way, when a customer orders something from the seller, Amazon employees can pick up, pack, and ship the product on the seller’s behalf. This service makes shipping easier and faster for any seller allowing customers to order products on Amazon.If you’re a shipper who wants to save time and money, the Amazon FBA service could be a great opportunity to explore. FBA shipping provides a lot of benefits to sellers, including:

• Faster shipping speed
• Access to Amazon Prime’s two-day shipping program
• Multi-channel fulfillment opportunities
• Amazon’s customer service team (for returns or customer inquiries)
• Cost-effective shipping, handling, and fees
• Easy inventory management
• Increased online product visibility

To join this program, you’ll need to decide which type of FBA shipping is most appropriate for your shipping needs. This decision mostly comes down to the type of products you sell, but there may be other factors to consider, like bulk, inventory, and more. Some common types of FBA shipping you can choose from include:

• Individual items
• Oversized items
• Small or light items
• “Subscribe and Save” (Amazon’s recurring delivery program)

Creating a shipping plan for FBA

After you sign up for the service, you can use Amazon Seller Central to see an array of information about your shipping plan and processes. This page is where you’ll select the products you’d like to send to Amazon’s fulfillment centers and create your shipment plan. When creating a shipping plan for FBA, there are a few things to consider.

1. Sign up for the service and go to Amazon Seller Central to see information about your shipping plan and processes.
2. Select the products you want to send to Amazon’s fulfillment centers and create your shipment plan.
3. Check category restrictions to ensure your products are eligible for FBA.
4. Consider your inventory levels to ensure you have enough stock to fulfill orders.
5. Plan your shipment with shipping costs and location in mind to lower your costs and ensure timely delivery.
6. Package and label products properly for quick and accurate processing.
7. Check that your carrier meets Amazon’s requirements.
8. Your shipping plan is how you'll send initial products to Amazon and replenish your inventory.

You can update or change your plan on the Amazon Seller Central page as needed.

Shipping your products to Amazon FBA

Choosing a reputable carrier you trust with a proven record of delivering packages without incident is paramount. You’ll also want to hire a carrier with competitive rates and experience handling your specific type of products. Amazon has partnered carriers you can consider, but this is not a requirement to use their FBA service. Instead, you can use a freight shipping provider like Flock Freight to connect with carriers who will ship your Amazon FBA products safely and efficiently.Prior to shipment, package your products carefully to avoid damage during transport. Use sturdy boxes and plenty of appropriate packing materials to secure the packages.Improper packaging or loading may result in Amazon rejecting your goods or charging extra fees. So, some other actions you’ll need to take before shipping include:

• Label each package with the proper FBA barcodes
• Follow Amazon’s rules for box weight, size, and contents
• Ship only what is in your created shipment plan
• Include a packing slip (or itemized list) of the products in each box
• Consider pallet requirements (40 x 48-inch 4-way pallets) and box limits (5,000 boxes)
• Verify all information regarding bills of lading (BOLs) to schedule delivery

You can find all this information and more on your Amazon Seller Central page. Depending on your shipment plan and product type, you may have additional requirements to consider before Amazon LTL freight shipping.

Common issues to avoid when shipping to Amazon

It may seem stressful to figure out how to ship to Amazon when just starting out. There are a lot of rules and requirements to navigate, making the process a little more complex.However, if you plan ahead and pay attention to the information listed in your Amazon Seller Central, the shipment should go off without a hitch. Some of the common issues that you’ll want to watch out for include:

• Incorrect quantities or products
• Inaccurate Amazon FBA barcode labels
• Improperly packaged or labeled boxes
• Boxes without a shipment ID
• No shipment tracking information
• Not responding to delivery or transport issues

You should also avoid choosing a carrier that doesn’t specialize in FBA freight. Not only will this potentially lead to Amazon rejecting your goods if the carrier doesn’t know the rules, but it could also lead to increased fees and Amazon refusing to work with you in the future.Flock Freight offers a unique shared truckload (STL) mode through our FlockDirect® service, which saves you money by sharing space on hubless routes. This service offers several benefits such as reduced damage and fees, as well as more predictable deliveries. By utilizing this service, you can drive up your profit and reduce your effort. Additionally, Flock Freight can connect you with carriers who have expertise in FBA freight shipping. This means that you can have an optimized, on-time delivery with lower rates and full control over the delivery process. You can even book the mode that works best for your load for up to 20% cheaper than a full truckload.

Tracking your shipment

Tracking your shipment for FBA is essential because it lets you monitor the progress. If you don’t track shipping, you won’t know where the load is when it’s on the road, how long it takes until the shipment arrives, or any other details until it actually shows up at the fulfillment center. This unknown makes it harder for you to respond timely to unforeseen issues that may arise or ensure timely delivery. Instead, you can easily track your shipment from the Amazon Seller Central portal. On this page, you will get tracking IDs for all shipments to the fulfillment center, which you’ll use to track progress. Keep an eye on the shipment, including the estimated delivery date, arrival time, and other updates on its location. If you notice issues or delays with the shipment, it’s time to take action. Talk to your carrier directly about the situation and work with Amazon’s customer service to find a delivery solution if necessary. If the shipment is lost, you may need additional documentation to help with their investigation.Flock Freight makes it easy to communicate with carriers through our user-friendly online platform. We simplify the shipping process so you can stay in touch with your carrier from pickup to delivery and address any problems right away.

Upgrade your FBA shipping to Amazon with Flock Freight

If you need more resources for FBA shipping, Amazon provides a wealth of resources through the Amazon Seller Central portal. But after signing up for the service, you must ensure your products arrive without a scratch.Before you can start taking advantage of Amazon’s vast network, don’t forget to follow Amazon’s packaging, labeling, and shipping protocols. Correct FBA shipping to Amazon is crucial for sellers looking to succeed in the online marketplace. This includes choosing a reputable, FBA-specialized carrier.When it’s time to ship to Amazon FBA, Flock Freight can help. Our service will connect you with experienced FBA carriers so you don’t miss a sale and can deliver your inventory quickly. Ready to get started with FBA sales? Start saving with Flock Freight today.