--- title: Amazon FBA Guide for Third-Party Sellers description: This Amazon FBA guide provides a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know about the Fulfillment By Amazon program. image: https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/featured/landing-pages/amazon-fba-essential-guide.jpg --- [![eComEngine Logo](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/Style%20Guide/Logos%20(svg)/%5BeComEngine%5DLogo-2019-linear.svg "eComEngine Logo")](https://www.ecomengine.com) [Demo](https://www.ecomengine.com/demo) [Free Trial](https://www.ecomengine.com/trial) ** ** ** [Free Trial](https://www.ecomengine.com/trial) ** ** ** [![FeedbackFive icon](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/feedbackfive-star-svg.svg "FeedbackFive icon") FeedbackFive Request Amazon Reviews and Feedback ](https://www.ecomengine.com/feedbackfive) [![sellerpulse-menu-icon(teal)](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-pulse-svg.svg "sellerpulse-menu-icon(teal)") SellerPulse Get FBA Insights and Alerts ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse) [![RestockPro icon](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/restockpro-arrow-svg.svg "RestockPro icon") RestockPro Simplify FBA Inventory Management ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro) #### FeedbackFive Features [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/feedbackfive-envelop-svg.svg) | Review Automation Send automated review requests or customize your own message | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/feedbackfive/automation) | ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/feedbackfive-bells-svg.svg) | Review Monitoring Quickly identify review trends | | --- | --- | [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/feedbackfive-alert-svg.svg) | Listing Alerts Monitor your Amazon listings and reputation 24/7 | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/feedbackfive/alerts) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/feedbackfive-analytics-svg.svg) | Analytics & Reporting Analyze sales trends and brand performance | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/feedbackfive/analytics) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/feedbackfive-agency-svg.svg) | Agencies & Aggregators Get access to all features to help your clients grow with FeedbackFive | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/agency/feedbackfive) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/video-svg.svg) | See How It Works Watch a short recording to learn more | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/feedbackfive/demo) [VIEW PRICING](https://www.ecomengine.com/pricing) #### RestockPro Features [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/restockpro-chart-svg.svg) | Forecasting Restock the right amount at the right time | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro/inventory-forecasting) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/restockpro-truck-svg.svg) | Purchase Orders Manage suppliers and inventory with ease | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro/shipments) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/restockpro-box-svg.svg) | Manage FBA Profits Get the details you need to make fast restocking decisions | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro/fba-profit) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/restockpro-kit-svg.svg) | Kitting Create kits or bundles from local inventory | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro/fba-kitting) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/restockpro-barcode-svg.svg) | Amazon Item Labels Customize stickers and labels with expiration dates and more | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro#stickers) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/video-svg.svg) | See How It Works Watch a short recording to learn more | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro/demo) [VIEW PRICING](https://www.ecomengine.com/pricing#restockpro) #### SellerPulse Features [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-bell-svg.svg) | Operational FBA Analytics See detailed insights for FBA fees, proceeds, sales, and product cost | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse/fba-analytics) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-box-svg.svg) | Buy Box Monitoring Find out when you win or lose the Buy Box, including when it's suppressed | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse/buy-box) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-image-svg.svg) | Listing Changes Detect suppressed listings, hijacker activity, and content changes | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse/listing-monitoring) [| ![sellerpulse-analyze-returns](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-analyze-returns.svg)   | Analyze Returns Identify FBA return trends over time by ASIN, reason, and disposition | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse/fba-returns) [| ![sellerpulse-magnifying-chart-svg](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-magnifying-chart-svg.svg)   | FBA Inventory Insights Plan FBA inventory and avoid unnecessary fees | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse/inventory-returns) [| ![video-icn](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-video-svg.svg)   | See How It Works Watch a short recording to learn more | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse/demo) [VIEW PRICING](https://www.ecomengine.com/pricing) Resources [** Case Studies ](https://www.ecomengine.com/case-studies) [** Webinars ](https://www.ecomengine.com/webinars) [** Free Tools ](https://www.ecomengine.com/tools) [** Events ](https://www.ecomengine.com/events) [** Help Center ](https://www.ecomengine.com/help) [** Blog ](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog) [** Agencies ](https://www.ecomengine.com/agency/feedbackfive) [** Seller News ](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-seller-news) [** Seller Tutorials ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sell-on-amazon) [** Partners ](https://www.ecomengine.com/partners) Guides [Getting More Amazon Reviews ](https://www.ecomengine.com/get-amazon-reviews) [Understanding Amazon Feedback ](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-feedback) [Amazon Listing Guide ](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-listing) [Amazon Brand Registry ](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-brand-registry) [Making the Most of Amazon FBA ](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba) Social Connect with eComEngine [**](https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=eComEngine) Join Our Email List - Receive our monthly newsletter. - Stay up to date on Amazon policies. - Get tips to grow your business. [![eComEngine Logo](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/Style%20Guide/Logos%20(svg)/%5BeComEngine%5DLogo-2019-linear.svg "eComEngine Logo")](https://www.ecomengine.com) [Demo](https://www.ecomengine.com/demo) [Free Trial](https://www.ecomengine.com/trial) ** ** ** [![feedbackfive-menu-icon(orange)](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/brand-identity/style-guide/product-icons/feedbackfive-menu-icon(orange).png?width=50&height=50&name=feedbackfive-menu-icon(orange).png "feedbackfive-menu-icon(orange)") FeedbackFive Request Amazon Reviews and Feedback ](https://www.ecomengine.com/feedbackfive) [![sellerpulse-menu-icon(teal)](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-pulse-svg.svg "sellerpulse-menu-icon(teal)") SellerPulse Get FBA Insights and Alerts ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse) [![RestockPro icon](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/restockpro-arrow-svg.svg "RestockPro icon") RestockPro Simplify FBA Inventory Management ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro) #### FeedbackFive Features [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/feedbackfive-envelop-svg.svg) | Review Automation Send automated review requests or customize your own message | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/feedbackfive/automation) | ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/feedbackfive-bells-svg.svg) | Review Monitoring Quickly identify review trends | | --- | --- | [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/feedbackfive-alert-svg.svg) | Listing Alerts Monitor your Amazon listings and reputation 24/7 | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/feedbackfive/alerts) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/feedbackfive-analytics-svg.svg) | Analytics & Reporting Analyze sales trends and brand performance | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/feedbackfive/analytics) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/feedbackfive-agency-svg.svg) | Agencies & Aggregators Get access to all features to help your clients grow with FeedbackFive | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/agency/feedbackfive) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/video-svg.svg) | See How It Works Watch a short recording to learn more | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/feedbackfive/demo) [VIEW PRICING](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#) #### RestockPro Features [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/restockpro-chart-svg.svg) | Forecasting Restock the right amount at the right time | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro/inventory-forecasting) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/restockpro-truck-svg.svg) | Purchase Orders Manage suppliers and inventory with ease | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro/shipments) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/restockpro-box-svg.svg) | Manage FBA Profits Get the details you need to make fast restocking decisions | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro/fba-profit) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/restockpro-kit-svg.svg) | Kitting Create kits or bundles from local inventory | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro/fba-kitting) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/restockpro-barcode-svg.svg) | Amazon Item Labels Customize stickers and labels with expiration dates and more | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro#stickers) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/video-svg.svg) | See How It Works Watch a short recording to learn more | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro/demo) [VIEW PRICING](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#) #### SellerPulse Features [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-bell-svg.svg) | Operational FBA Analytics See detailed insights for FBA fees, proceeds, sales, and product cost | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse/fba-analytics) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-box-svg.svg) | Buy Box Monitoring Find out when you win or lose the Buy Box, including when it's suppressed | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse/buy-box) [| ![single-star](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-image-svg.svg) | Listing Changes Detect suppressed listings, hijacker activity, and content changes | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse/listing-monitoring) [| ![sellerpulse-analyze-returns](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-analyze-returns.svg)   | Analyze Returns Identify FBA return trends over time by ASIN, reason, and disposition | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse/fba-returns) [| ![sellerpulse-magnifying-chart-svg](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-magnifying-chart-svg.svg)   | FBA Inventory Insights Plan FBA inventory and avoid unnecessary fees | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse/inventory-returns) [| ![video-icn](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/nav-icons/sellerpulse-video-svg.svg)   | See How It Works Watch a short recording to learn more | | --- | --- | ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse/demo) [VIEW PRICING](https://www.ecomengine.com/pricing) Resources [** Case Studies ](https://www.ecomengine.com/case-studies) [** Webinars ](https://www.ecomengine.com/webinars) [** Free Tools ](https://www.ecomengine.com/tools) [** Events ](https://www.ecomengine.com/events) [** Help Center ](https://www.ecomengine.com/help) [** Blog ](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog) [** Agencies ](https://www.ecomengine.com/agency/feedbackfive) [** Seller News ](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-seller-news) [** Seller Tutorials ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sell-on-amazon) [** Partners ](https://www.ecomengine.com/partners) Guides [Getting More Amazon Reviews ](https://www.ecomengine.com/get-amazon-reviews) [Understanding Amazon Feedback ](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-feedback) [Amazon Listing Guide ](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-listing) [Amazon Brand Registry ](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-brand-registry) [Making the Most of Amazon FBA ](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba) Social Connect with eComEngine [**](https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=eComEngine) Join Our Email List - Receive our monthly newsletter. - Stay up to date on Amazon policies. - Get tips to grow your business. Search **Menu** ** ** [Log In](https://www.ecomengine.com/login) [Free Trial](https://www.ecomengine.com/trial) --- Join Our Email List - Receive our monthly newsletter. - Stay up to date on Amazon policies. - Get tips to grow your business. ![amazon-fba](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/decorative/headers/amazon-fba.jpg?width=2500&height=1028&name=amazon-fba.jpg "amazon-fba") # Amazon FBA: The Essential Guide The Amazon FBA program provides a world of opportunity for third-party sellers. You can get your products in front of millions of buyers while Amazon handles the lion’s share of the logistics. Products sold via the FBA program are eligible for Prime shipping, which shoppers look to for fast, free delivery. The unique opportunity offered by Amazon FBA makes scaling your business a reality from day one. However, like any business decision, using Amazon FBA is not free of challenges. There's plenty to learn, whether you're a new seller or an FBA pro. This Amazon FBA guide offers a deep dive into the program, from how it works to preparing inbound shipments and beyond. - [What is Amazon FBA?](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#what-is-amazon-fba) - [How It Works](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#how-it-works) - [What to Sell on Amazon FBA](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#what-to-sell-on-amazon-fba) - [How to Start Selling on Amazon FBA](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#how-to-start-selling-on-amazon-fba) - [Packaging Your Items for FBA](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#packaging-your-items-for-fba) - [FBA Shipping Requirements](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#fba-shipping-requirements) - [How to Become a Successful FBA Seller](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#how-to-become-successful-fba-seller) - [Amazon FBA Policies](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#amazon-fba-policies) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#faqs) - [Software for FBA Sellers](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#software) ## What is Amazon FBA? FBA stands for Fulfillment by Amazon. This program allows third-party sellers to send items to Amazon fulfillment centers to be picked, packed, and shipped to buyers by Amazon. The FBA program launched in September 2006, allowing merchants to sell products on the world’s largest online marketplace while leveraging Amazon’s fulfillment centers and employees. Amazon FBA enables merchants to scale more quickly thanks to reliable service and predictable costs. ![Amazon FBA flywheel](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/amazon-fba-flywheel.jpg?width=320&name=amazon-fba-flywheel.jpg)Amazon’s philosophy is deceptively simple: delight buyers with competitive prices and fast order fulfillment. Satisfied buyers continue to shop on Amazon, leading to more sales, which makes the marketplace more attractive to third-party sellers, who in turn pay commissions to Amazon. That's the Amazon flywheel in a nutshell. It has created a sustainable selling model that has allowed many individuals to gain financial freedom while exploring their entrepreneurial side. Products enrolled in Amazon FBA are eligible for Amazon Prime shipping. Amazon continues to innovate and refine processes for streamlined and quick order delivery. To get an idea of how orders can be fulfilled in 48 hours or less (and, in some cases, within an hour), check out this [list of Amazon fulfillment centers in the US](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/201811680). With multiple warehouses, Amazon can quickly get orders of popular items to just about anywhere in the US. **Sellers see a [20-25% increase in sales](https://assets.aboutamazon.com/9b/84/05cb2fc14da18e4574a5132f675a/amazon-smb-report-2021.pdf) on average after enrolling in FBA.** ### Who Sells on Amazon FBA? Of the millions of third-party sellers on the Amazon marketplace, many are established brands that enjoy the volume of sales they get from Amazon. Others are resellers who work with manufacturers or distributors to sell products on the marketplace. Some of these resellers work with manufacturers to private label certain products, which gives those sellers a competitive advantage on Amazon because they are the only seller of that particular ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number). Another type of seller is the retail or online arbitrage seller, who sets up an Amazon FBA store and sends all sorts of different products into fulfillment centers, based on the availability and profitability of the item. ### What’s The Difference Between 1P and 3P Amazon Sellers? While third-party sellers (3P) set up an FBA store on Amazon, first-party (1P) sellers, also called vendors, send their inventory in to be sold by Amazon. Pricing on 1P products is controlled by Amazon, and “ships from and sold by Amazon” appears on product listings. 1P sellers cannot make changes to their product listings, nor do they have the ability to request reviews from consumers who buy their products. Amazon sends these vendors purchase orders, the vendor sends in goods, and that’s it. On the other hand, a 3P seller can fulfill orders through FBA, Fulfilled By Merchant (FBM), or a [combination of the two](https://www.ecomengine.com/tools/amazon-fba-vs-fbm-checklist). Third-party sellers control their pricing and, in cases where the seller is [Brand Registered](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-brand-registry), their listing. ![Jay Lagarde](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/headshots/internal/jay-lagarde-headshot.jpg?width=174&name=jay-lagarde-headshot.jpg) > Amazon FBA is a **game changer** for third-party sellers, who benefit from outsourcing order fulfillment and customer service to Amazon. Utilizing FBA can help sellers maintain and improve their seller health metrics, since Amazon ensures a consistent customer experience. Jay Lagarde Founder & CEO eComEngine ![amazon-fba](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/pages/pillar-page/amazon-fba/amazon-fba.jpg?width=2500&name=amazon-fba.jpg "amazon-fba") ## How It Works Find out how the Amazon FBA program works. Amazon FBA can be very lucrative for merchants. An estimated [76% of sellers](https://www.edesk.com/blog/amazon-statistics/) turn a profit, with many of them finding success in the first year. Selling via Amazon FBA simplifies much of the work involved with fulfilling orders. ### How Do Sellers Get Items to FBA? One of the reasons FBA is so successful is because the experience is so streamlined from the shopper's perspective. Many consumers don’t know that the items they are buying are sold by third-party sellers. But how easy is it to *sell* with FBA? In a word: very. - If you’re already selling on Amazon, simply [add FBA to your account](https://sell.amazon.com/fulfillment-by-amazon) and you’re ready to go. If you don’t have a selling account, [set one up](https://sell.amazon.com/sell) and choose the FBA option. The fee for a Professional selling account is $39.99 per month. While sellers with individual accounts can sell via Amazon FBA, they will not be able to take advantage of advertising options and other features of the program. - Create your product listings. You can add products in bulk via flat files, or you can add them one by one. Pay close attention to the quality of your photo description. - Know the Amazon FBA requirements for your products. Amazon has [packaging and prep requirements](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/200141500), as well as [shipping and routing requirements](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/200141510), that you have to follow. By properly preparing, packing, and labeling your items, you can be sure they will be made available to customers quickly. Following these guidelines helps ensure items arrive at Amazon fulfillment centers safely and in good condition. - Ship your inventory to Amazon FBA. Create a shipping plan and print your shipping labels with inventory management software like [RestockPro](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro) or within [Seller Central](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/home). Then, send your products to the Amazon fulfillment centers your shipping plan requires. Sending to multiple locations may result in a lower [FBA inbound placement fee](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/fba-inbound-placement) for your shipments. **Note: You will experience fewer issues with Amazon FBA if you follow Amazon’s guidelines exactly.** Once your products arrive, they can be ordered and fulfilled. Easy, right? Amazon handles the bulk of customer service, returns, and questions. You’ll get paid every two weeks, with the automatic deduction of [Amazon FBA fees](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-fba-fees). If you happen to be a merchant fulfilling orders through an existing seller account, you can convert existing inventory to FBA. This is accomplished by going to the [Manage Orders](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/orders-v3/) page in Seller Central and selecting Change to Fulfilled by Amazon from the Actions drop-down menu. ## What Are The Pros and Cons of Amazon FBA? Most sellers will tell you that the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to Amazon FBA. However, there are some things you should know. #### First, the Pros - Your products are associated with Amazon’s powerful name. This helps instill trust in your potential buyers. - Shipping fees will be lower because Amazon has negotiated shipping rates with major carriers. - You can offer expedited free shipping through Amazon FBA, making your products more attractive to buyers. - Because FBA orders qualify for [Amazon Prime](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/sellers-guide-to-amazon-prime), you’ll be tapping into the millions of Prime members who spend, on average, more than twice what non-members spend. - FBA orders are handled at Amazon the same way Amazon handles its orders. That way, the buying process is seamless, and you’ll have the added protection of Amazon’s policies. If your item is damaged, you’ll be reimbursed. #### Now, the Cons - Despite Amazon’s greatest efforts, items can be lost or damaged. Amazon will reimburse you proactively, but if cases are not noticed by Amazon, you’ll have to open a case to get it resolved. Manual claims must be submitted [no more than 60 days](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/headlines.html?id=GELQJH885BYU8PGC) after the item was reported lost or damaged. - Amazon FBA fees are more than just your monthly cost and Amazon’s commission. You’ll pay fulfillment and storage fees (including [low-inventory-level](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-inventory-management), aged inventory, and peak holiday fulfillment fees), as well as removal fees for defective or unsellable items. It’s a good idea to use an [Amazon FBA calculator](https://www.ecomengine.com/tools/amazon-fba-calculator) or software such as SellerPulse to track fees and ensure that you remain profitable. - You have to follow packaging guidelines, which can vary according to the type of product you’re selling. - If you’re a reseller selling the same product as another seller, Amazon’s default inventory setting is to commingle exact products from the same manufacturer. This can be bad because counterfeit or low-quality versions of your product could be commingled with your own, leading to dissatisfied customers. Avoid commingling by applying item stickers to all your items. - Higher return rates are possible. Amazon defaults on the side of the buyer almost every time, and it’s easy for consumers to return Amazon purchases. Amazon also charges a [returns processing fee](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-returns-processing-fee) if your returns are higher than the category average. ### What About Those Amazon FBA Fees? As mentioned previously, it’s important to understand the fees associated with selling on Amazon FBA. There are fees all sellers must pay, fees associated with Amazon FBA, Amazon’s optional service fees, and other fees.  #### All Amazon Sellers Pay These Fees Amazon’s commission, or “referral fee,” is paid on each item sold. These costs are taken out post-sale and are assessed by [category](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-categories). For a full list of Amazon’s referral fee percentages and the applicable minimum referral fee, look at [Amazon’s list of referral fees ](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=200336920)on Seller Central. All sellers must also pay refund fees. When a buyer requests a refund and you’ve already been paid, Amazon charges a fee to process the refund. The fee is either 20% of the refunded charge or $5.00, whichever is less. #### ![FBA Fees Cheat Sheet  ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5147382/interactive-158446977651.png) FBA Seller Fees FBA shipping fees are assessed depending on the size and weight of the product that is picked, packed, and shipped by Amazon. For a list of fees by size and weight, look at Amazon’s [current FBA fees](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/G201074400), as they are subject to change. FBA sellers must also pay monthly inventory storage fees for the space their inventory uses in fulfillment centers. The base monthly fee is determined by product size and time of year. A holiday peak fulfillment fee applies from mid-October to mid-January to offset additional fulfillment and transportation costs. Beyond the monthly storage fees, an additional [storage utilization surcharge](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/G3EDYEF6KUCFQTNM) applies to sellers who meet certain criteria. An [aged inventory surcharge](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/GJQNPA23YWVA4SBD) (previously the long-term storage fee) is added for units stored in Amazon's fulfillment network for 181 days or more. The surcharge is assessed in addition to the monthly inventory storage fee.  Amazon introduced more granular product size tiers in 2024 and added several fees, including the low-inventory level fee and FBA returns processing fee. Learn more about current [FBA fees in this guide](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-fba-fees). #### Miscellaneous FBA Fees Sellers with more than 1.5 million ASINs may be assessed a monthly flat fee of $.001 per ASIN. This is called a high-volume listing fee, and it is paid at the same time as FBA storage fees. There are also closing fees associated with certain media products like CDs, DVDs, and books. ![Shannon Roddy](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/headshots/external/shannon-roddy.jpg?width=174&name=shannon-roddy.jpg) > Utilizing FBA is **critical for Amazon success**. Approximately 80% of Amazon Prime customers filter by free 2-Day Shipping, and they **spend 2-3 times more** than non-Prime members. So, with merchant-fulfilled most Amazon customers never even see your product. With FBA your products will rank higher, get a higher click-thru-rate, and a higher conversion rate resulting in a 3x-5x increase in sales." Shannon Roddy Avenue7Media ***Related reading: ***[***Amazon FBA vs. FBM Checklist***](https://www.ecomengine.com/tools/amazon-fba-vs-fbm-checklist) ![amazon-fba](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/pages/pillar-page/amazon-fba/amazon-fba.jpg?width=2500&name=amazon-fba.jpg "amazon-fba") ## What to Sell on Amazon FBA Not sure where to start? Here's what to consider. When deciding how to find products to sell on Amazon FBA, you’ll need to consider what type of business model you can support. You can resell products on Amazon FBA, although it’s important to follow all of Amazon’s guidelines and provide the required documentation for your inventory. Many sellers begin with reselling, or [retail arbitrage](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-arbitrage), and then move to another model, such as sourcing white-label products, creating private-label items, or buying [wholesale products](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/wholesale-products-amazon) to sell on Amazon. If you own an established brand with your own products, you can choose to sell via FBA or apply for a 1P Vendor account. The decision process as to what to sell on Amazon FBA depends on the type of seller one chooses to be. ### Resellers ![Magnifying glass with gear](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/magnifying-glass-with-gear.png?width=250&name=magnifying-glass-with-gear.png) There is no crystal ball to help you predict the best products to sell on Amazon FBA, so product research is essential. Getting a sense of what’s selling and why can help you scale your business much faster. Pay attention to trends in your niche. Read product reviews, both for your ASINs and competing ASINs. Customers are sharing exactly what they love and hate about products. It’s your job to use that information to inform your business decisions. Check out Amazon's [Product Opportunity Explorer](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-product-opportunity-explorer) for useful insights. A high Amazon sales rank means that the item sells quickly, but there is a lot of competition. An item with a low or non-existent sales rank can be slow to sell, resulting in aged inventory or removal fees. It’s easier to be the dominant seller of a product with a lower rank. In either case, you’ll have to be prepared to market your product on and off Amazon. ### Wholesale ![Stacked boxes with gear](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/stacked-boxes-with-gear.png?width=250&name=stacked-boxes-with-gear.png) It is possible to purchase branded items from manufacturers or suppliers to resell on Amazon. This is called the wholesale model, and it involves reaching out to these companies to seek a relationship that allows you to sell products on Amazon. In this scenario, sourcing products is different from the arbitrage model. Many wholesale sellers do their best sourcing at trade shows like ASD or more niche trade shows. It all depends on the type of product you want to sell, and how many categories you want to sell in. Sellers will negotiate rates and shipping costs with suppliers and manufacturers to keep their margins in a lucrative and sustainable place. Many wholesalers sell common ASINs on Amazon, so they don’t have to create listings. Private label sellers work with these factories to create their own branded products, which will necessitate a new listing and product photos. Private label sellers are a bit different from established brands in that they may not be selling their branded products on other marketplaces, and they may not produce an entire branded product line. ### Brands ![Shield with gear](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/shield-with-gear.png?width=250&name=shield-with-gear.png) Established brands have found a tremendous amount of success on the Amazon marketplace. Opening up their sales channel to eCommerce has been a profitable endeavor. Brands have certain advantages on Amazon - including the ability to easily get [Brand Registered](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-brand-registry) (though other types of sellers may obtain Brand Registry), branded storefronts, and more. Sellers who are Brand Registered on Amazon have far more control over their product listings. They also have access to special features such as [A+ content](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/build-ecommerce-brand) and product videos to help bring more eyes and clicks to their products. These sellers often control the [Buy Box](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-buy-box), have a definite advantage in organic search, and have more on-Amazon advertising options. Brands that sell 3P on Amazon enjoy more pricing freedom and less dependence on a relationship with Amazon than 1P vendors. ![Meghla Bhardwaj](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/headshots/external/meghla-bhardwaj.jpg?width=174&name=meghla-bhardwaj.jpg) > As a seller, one of the main reasons I like to sell on Amazon instead of other marketplaces is because of FBA. **This is what really makes Amazon a truly "location-independent" business** that you can run from anywhere. With selling on any other platform, you need to pick, pack, and ship boxes yourself (or set up a warehouse to do it). Meghla Bhardwaj Founder India Sourcing Trip & The Asian Seller ![amazon-fba](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/pages/pillar-page/amazon-fba/amazon-fba.jpg?width=2500&name=amazon-fba.jpg "amazon-fba") ## How to Start Selling on Amazon FBA Check out this overview to see how easy it is to get started. **Selling on Amazon FBA** is simple. To be eligible, you must be approved as an [individual or professional seller](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-professional-seller-account). After setting up your account, you’ll list the items you want to sell. Assuming you are not manufacturing your own product, you’ll select your product from Amazon’s catalog and enter three main pieces of information: - Item price - Item condition - Whether or not you want Amazon to ship the item (vs. shipping it yourself) If you want to use FBA to fulfill orders, select “Amazon will ship and provide customer service” as the fulfillment channel. You have the option to save this setting for additional products you add to your Amazon store. If you select this option and it’s your first time using FBA, you’ll be taken to a registration screen where you can read and accept the FBA terms of service. ![Seller Central fulfillment channel selection](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/screenshots/amazon/seller-central-fulfillment-channel-selection.png?width=744&name=seller-central-fulfillment-channel-selection.png) You don’t have to use FBA for every item you sell on Amazon. If you know that a particular product is likely to be slow to move, it might make more sense to fulfill it yourself. It’s also worth noting that certain products such as [hazmat items](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-hazmat) cannot be sold via FBA. You’ll need to manually choose which items you want to fulfill with FBA. Go to the Inventory tab of your Seller Central homepage and select Manage All Inventory. You can edit the fulfillment method for each of your ASINs by selecting “Change to Fulfilled By Amazon” in the drop-down menu for each product. If you want to fulfill several ASINs with FBA, select the checkbox next to each of those items and then choose “Change to Fulfilled By Amazon” from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. It’s important to know that after you convert your listings to FBA, they will be temporarily unavailable to shoppers until your inventory is received by Amazon. ![Tinuiti Logo](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/partners/logos/tinuiti-logo.jpg?width=173&name=tinuiti-logo.jpg) > If you are a seller looking to expand your business, Amazon FBA is one of the key platforms for you to engage with. The **ability to reach the entire Amazon customer base AND have the Prime badge with free shipping** afford any company that manages its business effectively to grow exponentially. > > Being an FBA partner does not come without challenges that need to be managed correctly so as to not drain profitability. Some of the areas which need an experienced staff to manage are inventory, storage fees, returns, and customer communication. One other challenge is knowing **an effectively run business will probably begin to see sales above expectations**. How these increased expectations are managed will be the key to being profitable. Know what you want to achieve by selling on Amazon and stick to the plan that works for you. Eric Kauss Director of Amazon & Marketplace Operations Tinuiti ![amazon-fba](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/pages/pillar-page/amazon-fba/amazon-fba.jpg?width=2500&name=amazon-fba.jpg "amazon-fba") ## Packaging Your Items for FBA Find out how to prepare your products for FBA inbound shipments. New sellers are often surprised (and sometimes overwhelmed) by the [packaging and preparation requirements](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/how-to-package-items-for-amazon-fba) for Amazon FBA. Unfortunately, you can’t just throw your inventory in a box and let Amazon figure it out. (Although the [FBA Prep Service](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/201023020) is pretty close!) Standardized FBA packaging rules allow Amazon’s fulfillment centers to process more shipments from sellers and, in turn, help sellers turn more inventory. So, what are the Amazon FBA packaging requirements for the items you sell? When do you need to print and apply Amazon FBA labels? Let’s take a closer look. **Important note**: Failing to follow Amazon’s guidelines could lead to additional fees and, in some cases, total rejection of your shipment.   ### * * Barcode Requirements Each item that you send to Amazon FBA must have a barcode on it. This helps Amazon track the intake, storage, and sale of your inventory. ## Amazon Barcodes Amazon identifies products by relying on three types of barcodes: - **Manufacturer barcodes**, such as UPCs, EANs, etc. - **Amazon barcodes** for products without manufacturer barcodes within certain categories - **Transparency authenticity codes**, which are stickers used by brand owners to prevent counterfeiting Amazon typically relies on manufacturer barcodes as a primary means of tracking seller inventory. If you sell an item that lacks a manufacturer barcode, you will need to apply an Amazon barcode to each unit of inventory that you send to FBA. Alternatively, you could have Amazon apply barcodes to your items (via the [FBA Label Service](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=200483750)) for a per-item fee. Amazon has a few additional barcoding rules to live by: - Each item’s unique, scannable barcode or barcode label must be placed on its exterior. - Each barcode must also contain the corresponding numeric values. Any other barcodes (such as a price tag from a retail location) must be removed, covered, or rendered unscannable. Check out Amazon’s FBA product barcode requirements [help page](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=201100910) for more information. ### ** Packaging “Loose Products” A “loose product” is an item that is contained in a single package, such as a single canister of tennis balls or a webcam in its original packaging. Items that are not in a secure package (for example, an extension cord in a loose sleeve) must either be secured with tape or a non-adhesive band or placed in a sealed bag. Remember, the barcode must be scannable without opening or unwrapping the bag. Items such as shoes must be packaged in a box or poly bag (with suffocation warning) and with no part of the shoe’s material exposed. **Note: Amazon has very specific guidelines for poly bags. See poly-bagged units section of Amazon’s packaging and prep requirements guide.** ### ** Packaging Items that are Sold as a Set A “set” (sometimes referred to as a “bundle”) is sold as one unit but consists of several unique items, such as a party set that contains plates, napkins, and utensils. If your supplier provides items pre-packaged as a set, you still need to apply a label that states “sold as a set,” or “ready to ship.” If you are packaging your own sets, you’ll need to either shrink wrap or poly bag (with a suffocation warning) the sets prior to applying the “sold as set” labels. Barcodes or barcode labels must be scannable without unwrapping or opening the set. ### ** Boxed Items Six-sided boxes, such as cereal or cookie boxes, must have openings or a lid that will not open on its own. If the box can come open on its own, you must use glue, tape, or staples to keep it closed. Your boxed items must be able to withstand moderate pressure without collapsing. In addition, perforated boxes must be able to pass a three-foot drop test. This test checks to make sure that the box does not collapse when dropped on the sides or corners. If your item fails the drop test, you must place each item in a poly bag (with a suffocation warning). ### ** Case-Packed Boxes vs. Individually Packed Boxes Case-packed boxes contain items with a single, matching SKU and condition and are packaged by the manufacturer. Each case-packed box must contain the same quantity of that SKU. Case-packed boxes can have no more than 150 items per box. The case-packed box should not have any scannable barcodes; rather, only the units within the case can contain barcodes. When Amazon receives your case-packed box, a worker will scan one item from the box and then place the entire box into inventory (instead of scanning every single item, as the box contains a specific number of identical units). It’s worth noting the difference between case-packed boxes and individually packed boxes, which can contain one or more products of various quantities and conditions. ### ** Amazon FBA Expiration Dates Items that expire, such as food products or supplements, must have the [expiration date](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-expiration-dates) clearly marked on the master carton (at least 36pt font). Each individual unit must also contain the expiration date. The item’s expiration date must be printed in one of two formats: - MM-YYYY - MM-DD-YYYY For items that do not have an expiration date or contain an expiration date with the wrong date format, you must apply a sticker that contains the correct format (and cover any dates in the wrong format). Items that require additional preparation, such as a bubble-wrapped glass jar of jam, must be prepared such that the expiration date is clearly legible on the exterior of the item. In this case, you would need to apply an expiration date label to the exterior of the bubble wrap. ### ** Items with Special Packaging & Prep Requirements If your item falls in any of the below categories, you’ll need to take extra steps to prepare and package your products for FBA: - Liquids, gels, creams, pastes - Pellets, powders, granular products - Breakable or fragile items - Batteries - Plush items - Sharp stuff - Clothing, fabric, textiles - Jewelry - Plexiglass - Baby products Check Amazon’s requirements for these product categories listed at the bottom of Amazon's [packaging and preparation guide](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=200141500). ### ** Packaging Your FBA Shipment So far in this section, we’ve mostly talked about preparing your actual items for shipping and handling. We’ll talk more about shipping later, but it’s important to touch on the packaging requirements for your shipment itself. Obviously, you still have to get all of these items to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. Here are some tips for making sure your items arrive safely and in alignment with Amazon’s specifications. **Boxes** should be sturdy and have all of their flaps. Acceptable box types are regular slotted cartons, b flute boxes, ECT-32, and 200 pounds per square inch. Apply one address label with accurate delivery and return information. Each box in your shipment must have its own unique FBA label applied. Old shipping labels on reused boxes must be removed prior to use. Old barcodes must be covered or marked through with a black, felt-tip marker. Your packed boxes must be at least 6” by 4” by 1” and weigh more than one pound but should not exceed 25” on any one side or 50 pounds in weight. **Pallets** must have a label applied to the top and center of each side. Each box within the pallet must also have a unique label. Do not use pallet-sized boxes, straps, strings, or overwrap. **Tape** should be high quality and designed for shipping. **Bubble wrap**, full sheets of heavy kraft paper, polyethylene foam sheets, and inflatable air pillows are acceptable packaging materials. Avoid packing peanuts, crinkle wrap, shredded paper, Styrofoam, and other non-approved materials. ![amazon-fba](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/pages/pillar-page/amazon-fba/amazon-fba.jpg?width=2500&name=amazon-fba.jpg "amazon-fba") ## FBA Shipping Requirements Here's what you need to know to get started with FBA shipping. The best way to [ship to Amazon FBA](https://www.ecomengine.com/sell-on-amazon/ship-to-amazon-fba) is to make sure you understand the shipping and preparation requirements for your products. To prepare your shipment, you’ll need to create a shipping plan that includes: - The products you will send to Amazon - The quantity you’re sending for each product - The shipping method you’re using - Carrier details - How you plan to prep and label your inventory: by doing it yourself, or through Amazon’s prep services It is your responsibility to learn how to ship to FBA and ensure that your products are shipped to Amazon safely. When you create your shipping plan in Seller Central, your shipment will likely be divided into multiple shipments to be sent to different fulfillment centers. This allows your inventory to be received and distributed to customers quickly. If you prefer to send a single shipment, you can pay a per-item service fee for the FBA Inventory Prep Service. See [Packaging Your Items for FBA](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-fba#packaging-your-items-for-fba) for more information about prepping and labeling common product types. You can choose to prep items yourself or pay a per-item fee for Amazon to prep products for you. If your products are not prepped in accordance with Amazon FBA requirements, you may be charged for unplanned prep services. ### Provide Accurate Box Content Information ![Print FBA labels](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/print-fba-labels.png?width=300&name=print-fba-labels.png)Workers at Amazon fulfillment centers don’t have time for surprises. Accurate box content information allows for quick processing and gets inventory sellable faster. Amazon charges a fee to manually process a box’s contents, should you fail to provide box content information. You can submit this information in Seller Central via a web form or upload, with a 2D barcode, via the Send to Amazon workflow, or with Amazon Marketplace Web Service. See the full list of [box content information requirements](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=G201967250) for more information. You are required to provide accurate carton weight and [Amazon FBA dimensions](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-fba-package-dimensions) for all shipments. Note that box weight policies are strictly enforced. Do not send overweight boxes to fulfillment centers. You may be blocked from creating FBA shipments in the future if you violate this policy. *[SellerPulse by eComEngine ](https://www.ecomengine.com/sellerpulse)includes a dimensions change alert! Get notified when your product dimensions change and request new measurements if they seem inaccurate. This can help you avoid unnecessary fees.* ### Understand FBA Shipping Requirements Follow Amazon’s [shipping label requirements](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=200178470) to ensure that items arrive at Amazon fulfillment centers quickly and safely. There are separate shipping guidelines for small parcel deliveries and less than truckload/full truckload shipments. Every box or pallet you ship to Amazon FBA needs a unique box ID. Check out the [full list of requirements](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=200178470) for more information. The FBA box ID label and shipping carrier label must be scannable and readable. Make sure that your shipment is packed so that labels can be scanned quickly when the shipment arrives at the fulfillment center. This will help prevent inventory receiving delays. You should also be aware of key inventory dates throughout the year, especially around Prime Day and Q4. ### Monitor Problems with the Amazon Shipment Performance Dashboard The [Amazon Shipment Performance dashboard](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/fba/inboundperformancedashboard/) can help you identify top problems with your shipments, including incorrect labeling and box content information, so you can avoid them in the future. You’ll be able to monitor your current problem rate against Amazon’s “acceptable” problem rate metric, review trends in your performance over the past 120 days, and resolve outstanding issues preventing your products from being available for sale sooner. ![amazon-fba](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/pages/pillar-page/amazon-fba/amazon-fba.jpg?width=2500&name=amazon-fba.jpg "amazon-fba") ## How to Become a Successful FBA Seller Strategies for effectively scaling your Amazon business. Becoming a successful Amazon FBA seller requires a keen understanding of supply and demand. The importance of keeping your items in stock at Amazon fulfillment centers without overstocking cannot be overemphasized. Some sellers get started by using spreadsheets to manage FBA inventory, but a more advanced tool such as [RestockPro](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro) can make it much easier to keep track of your Amazon inventory. Once you’ve mastered the basics of FBA, you can maximize sales by participating in FBA programs or using FBA services. Here's a quick overview of several options available to third-party sellers.   ### ** Subscribe & Save Build customer loyalty by making repeat purchases easy with [Subscribe & Save](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/G201620110). Your enrolled products are offered at a base discount to Amazon customers who choose to subscribe to purchase the items regularly. ### ** Low-Price FBA Fees Fulfill orders at a reduced rate for [small and lightweight FBA inventory](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/GJTAVU7P2W2VE8Q9) that is priced below $10. ### ** Multi-Channel Fulfillment With the [MCF program](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-multi-channel-fulfillment), Amazon stores your inventory in its fulfillment centers. When your items sell on Amazon, your site, or another eCommerce site, Amazon will pick, pack, and ship the orders to your customers. This allows you to scale your business on multiple platforms. You can have returns sent to you or back to Amazon fulfillment centers. ### ** FBA Export [List your FBA products](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/fba-export) on Amazon or your site. Amazon will export orders to customers around the world. ### ** Amazon Global Selling List and sell your products on [Amazon sites in other countries](https://sell.amazon.com/global-selling). Simply ship your products to the countries you’d like to list them in, and the products will be fulfilled through Amazon fulfillment centers in those countries. ### ** FBA New Selection [Eligible ASINs that are new to FBA](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-fba-new-selection-program) can qualify for free monthly storage, free removals, and free returns processing. ### ** Amazon Local Selling You can offer free local delivery and in-store pickup for FBA orders with [Amazon Local Selling](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-local-selling) services. ### ** Amazon Partnered Carrier Program Access deep shipping discounts through [Amazon-partnered carriers](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/201119120). These rates apply to deliveries within the contiguous United States. ### ** Amazon Transparency Program This [product serialization service](https://sell.amazon.com/brand-registry/transparency) helps proactively prevent counterfeit items from reaching customers. ### ** FBA Label Service You can pay a per-item fee to have [FBA apply barcodes](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/200483750) to any eligible products that require an Amazon barcode. ### ** FBA Prep Service With this service, Amazon will properly package and [prep your products](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/201023020) for fulfillment. ### ** FBA Repackaging and Refurbishment If the packaging is damaged and the item is otherwise sellable, Amazon FBA offers [repackaging and refurbishment services](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/201505310). ### ** Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP) Get fulfillment fee discounts for eligible products enrolled in the [Ships in Product Packaging](https://www.amazon-packaging.com/fba-sipp-enrollment) (SIPP) program. This is part of Amazon's ongoing efforts to reduce packaging and costs. ### ** Remote Fulfillment with FBA [Remote Fulfillment with FBA](https://sell.amazon.com/fulfillment-by-amazon/remote-fulfillment) allows US sellers to more easily sell to Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. ![amazon-fba](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/pages/pillar-page/amazon-fba/amazon-fba.jpg?width=2500&name=amazon-fba.jpg "amazon-fba") ## Amazon FBA Policies Get a quick overview of Seller Central’s FBA policies and requirements. In order to sell on Amazon, you have to understand and adhere to Amazon’s policies. That holds true for any area of the platform, but there are specific policies associated with Amazon FBA. Seller Central can be an intimidating place, with policies on many different pages. Here is a comprehensive rundown of policies related to selling on Amazon FBA. Keep in mind that Amazon’s [Seller Code of Conduct](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-seller-code-of-conduct) is a separate section of Seller Central. Make sure you’re familiar with all of [Amazon’s program policies](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/G521), even the ones not listed in this section.   ### ** FBA Lost and Damaged Inventory Reimbursement If one of Amazon’s partner carriers loses or damages one of your items, or if it is damaged in an Amazon fulfillment center or damaged during delivery, Amazon may replace the item or reimburse the seller for the estimated proceeds from that item. Amazon considers several factors when determining eligibility for reimbursement, including your seller history, so make sure you’re familiar with all the points on the [FBA Lost and Damaged Inventory Reimbursement](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=200213130) policy page in Seller Central. ### ** FBA Product Barcode Requirements Barcodes are used to identify FBA products. Manufacturer barcodes are used by Amazon to track inventory throughout the fulfillment cycle unless you change your barcode setting. When multiple sellers have inventory with the same manufacturer barcode, FBA workers will pick the inventory that is closest in proximity to the customer. This is commingling. Amazon barcodes should be applied to any products that are not intended for tracking with manufacturer barcodes. You can use Amazon barcodes on any item, but you’re required to use them for consumables, items with an expiration date, some beauty items, and products that have the manufacturer's barcode obscured. Many sellers print and apply these barcodes during prep, but you can pay a per-item fee for Amazon to do it for you. Brand owners can use Transparency authenticity stickers that help protect customers from counterfeit items. Check the [Transparency page](https://sell.amazon.com/brand-registry/transparency) for more information, and make sure you read [Amazon’s barcode requirements](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=201100910) to make sure that your items are sorted at picked properly in Amazon fulfillment centers.   ### ** Inventory Storage Limits Amazon fulfillment centers only have so much space. Professional selling accounts will have inventory storage limits if their [Inventory Performance Index](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-inventory-performance-index) (IPI) number drops below a certain threshold. IPI is calculated based on sell-through, stranded inventory, in-stock inventory, and excess inventory rates. [![Free Amazon IPI checklist with download now button](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5147382/b63ebc90-f980-4d8e-b73c-a9b73fc61a11.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5147382/b63ebc90-f980-4d8e-b73c-a9b73fc61a11) ### ** FBA Capacity Limits Amazon introduced [FBA capacity limits](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/fba-capacity-limits) in March 2023. You can see your FBA capacity limits in the Capacity Monitor in Seller Central. It's available on the FBA dashboard, Restock page, Inventory Performance Dashboard, Shipping Queue, and Send to Amazon. These limits include your on-hand inventory as well as any inbound FBA shipments. You have a separate capacity limit for each storage type (standard-size, oversize, apparel, footwear, or extra-large) each month. Amazon will provide your capacity limits for the upcoming month in the third full week of each current month in the Capacity Monitor and via email. You can bid for additional storage space if needed. ### ** Customer Feedback for FBA Listings Buyers can leave [seller feedback](https://www.ecomengine.com/amazon-feedback) on orders fulfilled by Amazon. If Amazon deems the feedback inappropriate or irrelevant, they may strike through the rating, and it will not impact your performance metrics. Make sure you’re familiar with Amazon’s policy regarding [FBA seller feedback](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/201101660). ### ** Customer Service for Multi-Channel Fulfillment Orders The seller is responsible for customer service on Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) orders. Learn more about [MCF](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/mcf). ### ** FBA Inventory Requirements Amazon provides a helpful [FBA Inventory Requirements](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=G201100890) section to help you understand the requirements for listing, prepping, and sending your items to fulfillment centers. ### ** FBA Product Title Requirements Amazon provides a full list of [FBA product title requirements](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=201051300) that apply to all non-media products across all of Amazon’s marketplaces. These title requirements apply to FBA and MFN products. In a nutshell, titles shouldn’t exceed 200 characters or contain special characters, product-identifying information, or promotional phrases. The [main product title requirements page](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=201051300) provides other rules and tips on optimizing titles. ### ** FBA Packaging and Prep Requirements It’s important to follow Amazon’s packaging and prep guidelines to a tee to ensure that you don’t end up with stranded inventory or a slow sell-through rate. The [FBA packaging and prep requirements page](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=200141500) offers information on loose items, multi-packs, poly-bagged items, and more. ### ** Shipping and Routing Requirements Failure to comply with Amazon’s [shipping and routing requirements](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=200141510) can result in the refusal of inventory at FBA, disposal of said inventory and other negative results. Luckily, Amazon provides a [shipment checklist](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/fba-help/QRG/FBA_Shipment_Checklist_en-US.pdf) to help you do things the right way, every time. ### ** Customer Returns for Orders Placed on Amazon Amazon uses its own [customer return policies](https://www.amazon.com/returns) to decide if a product purchased via FBA is eligible for return. Amazon states, “to ensure a great customer experience, we may accept returns beyond the timeframe stated in these policies.” Amazon may grant refunds or “[returnless refunds](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-returnless-refunds)” where the customer is not required to return the item. When a customer returns an item, Amazon evaluates the condition of the item and if it’s sellable, they return it to the seller’s inventory. If the item is deemed unsellable, Amazon will decide how the damage occurred. If Amazon was responsible, they will reimburse the seller. Criteria for unsellable inventory are listed on the [FBA Customer Returns](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=200379860) policy page.   ### ** FBA Product Restrictions Sellers can’t sell just anything on Amazon FBA. There are items that are not suitable for Amazon’s fulfillment. It’s very important to be familiar with [these restrictions and policies](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/200140860), as failure to comply can result in refusal of inventory, blocking of future shipments to Amazon FBA or worse. There are some items you can sell via MFN, but not FBA. FBA has certain [prohibited products](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=G201730840), and there are policies around [expiration-dated Amazon FBA inventory](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=G201003420) and [meltable goods](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=G202125070). Additionally, there are several Seller Central pages regarding Amazon’s policies around hazmat (dangerous goods). Amazon provides a [dangerous goods identification guide](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=201003400) so you can understand which items are considered dangerous, what regulations are in place, and your responsibilities as a seller of dangerous goods. Make sure you know what [documentation is required](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=201371860) and where to [upload dangerous goods documents](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=201371860). Amazon has requirements around [lithium batteries](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=200383420) and products that contain them. This is because lithium batteries are flammable in certain situations. If you sell or are planning to sell an item with lithium batteries, make sure you are familiar with Amazon’s guidelines surrounding them. ### ** Requirements for FBA Products Sold As New Products can be listed as “new” or “used” on Amazon. New items must be brand new and unused. If there are scratches, scuffs, or any marks on an item, it will likely be deemed unacceptable for “new” status. Books and media products have different guidelines. All the requirements are listed on the requirements for [FBA products sold as new page](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=201147390) in Seller Central.   ![amazon-fba](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/pages/pillar-page/amazon-fba/amazon-fba.jpg?width=2500&name=amazon-fba.jpg "amazon-fba") ## Frequently Asked Questions Get answers to common questions about the Amazon FBA program. Deciding the best way to fulfill your Amazon orders can be tough. You may end up taking a hybrid approach, using FBA for some items and FBM for others. These common questions can help you consider the pros and cons of selling with Amazon FBA for your business.   ** ** What does Amazon FBA mean? FBA, also referred to as Fulfillment By Amazon, is an Amazon service available to third-party sellers. Amazon takes care of picking, packing, and shipping orders to customers. Amazon also manages customer service and returns, allowing sellers to scale their businesses quickly without hiring additional staff. ** ** When did Amazon FBA start? Amazon launched the FBA program on September 19, 2006. ** ** Is Amazon FBA legit? Absolutely! Amazon FBA provides scalable business solutions for third-party sellers. By handling the shipping and logistics for a reliable customer experience, FBA enables small to medium size businesses to grow quickly. ** ** Does FBA include shipping? FBA picks, handles, and ships orders to your customers. The cost for all of these services is included in your FBA fees. ** ** How much does it cost to ship to Amazon FBA? The cost to ship to FBA depends on the size and weight of your box and how many boxes are being shipped. See the FBA shipping requirements above for more information. ** ** Do you have to confirm shipments with Amazon FBA? You will only be asked to confirm shipments that are FBM (Fulfilled By Merchant). Amazon ships your orders to your buyers from fulfillment centers. As for shipments **to** fulfillment centers, you create your shipping plan with Amazon, so no need to confirm those either. ** ** Can you sell FBA on an individual selling account? Yes, with limitations. Selling FBA with an Individual account is possible for some categories with a per-item fee. However, individual sellers do not have access to advertising and reporting features. Individual sellers cannot use third-party tools and their listed items are [not eligible for the Amazon Featured Offer](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html/?itemID=G64491). For these reasons, many FBA merchants prefer to sell with Professional Amazon selling accounts. ** ** Is Amazon FBA worth it? Amazon sellers certainly seem to think so. [Two out of three](https://www.marketplacepulse.com/articles/two-out-of-every-three-amazon-sellers-use-fba) use FBA. FBA makes it possible for third-party sellers to scale their operations without needing to hire additional staff for fulfilling orders. ** ** Do you need an LLC for Amazon FBA? We’re not legal experts, so we recommend consulting with your attorney and accountant when making this decision. Generally speaking, forming an LLC can help you limit your personal liability, particularly if you are a full-time eCommerce seller. The LLC structure can also provide some flexibility when it comes to income tax. ** ** How much commission does Amazon take for FBA? Amazon’s commission is called a “referral fee” and the amount varies depending on the product category. Note that in addition to the referral fee, individual sellers are charged $0.99 for each item sold. A [full list of referral fees by category](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/help.html?itemID=200336920) is available in Seller Central. ** ** What is FBA inventory? The products received, stored, and shipped from Amazon fulfillment centers is FBA inventory. Amazon warehouses are not storage centers for FBA sellers. Amazon sellers are expected to sell FBA inventory at a steady rate. Staying in stock and not over stocking FBA inventory is often a delicate dance, but it’s essential for operating your FBA business effectively. Your Amazon FBA inventory is an important part of your [IPI score](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-inventory-performance-index), which affects how much inventory you can ship to Amazon fulfillment centers. ** ** What is IPI? Amazon calculates your Inventory Performance Index (IPI) to determine how your FBA business is performing over time. If your score is too low, you are subject to FBA inventory storage limits. [Learn more about the IPI](https://www.ecomengine.com/blog/amazon-inventory-performance-index) and how it is calculated. ![amazon-fba](https://www.ecomengine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/pages/pillar-page/amazon-fba/amazon-fba.jpg?width=2500&name=amazon-fba.jpg "amazon-fba") ## Software for FBA Sellers eComEngine software is designed to help third-party sellers succeed on Amazon. Get FBA Insights Get actionable insights for all aspects of your FBA business, from fees to returns, along with listing alerts and inventory planning. [Try SellerPulse](https://account.ecomengine.com/apps/register/feedbackfive?ps=sellerpulse) Manage Inventory Keep your FBA inventory in stock, manage purchase orders, create bundles, manage suppliers, and much more. [Try RestockPro](https://www.ecomengine.com/restockpro) ### eComEngine 14321 Winter Breeze Drive Suite 121 Midlothian, VA 23113 Call us: [800-757-6840](tel:800-757-6840) Company Legal Software Resources [![GS1 US Channel Partner](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/partners/logos/gs1-us-channel-partner.png "GS1 US Channel Partner")](https://www.ecomengine.com/get-gtin-amazon) ![Amazon Marketplace Developer Council Founding Member](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/brand-identity/logos/amazon/amazon-marketplace-developer-council-optimized.png "Amazon Marketplace Developer Council Founding Member") ![Amazon Web Services](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/brand-identity/logos/amazon/amazon-web-services.svg "Amazon Web Services") ![Amazon Selling Partner Appstore Software Partner badge](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/brand-identity/logos/amazon/amazon-software_partners-badge.png "Amazon Selling Partner Appstore Software Partner badge") ![Amazon Marketplace Developer Council Founding Member](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/brand-identity/logos/amazon/amazon-marketplace-developer-council-optimized.png "Amazon Marketplace Developer Council Founding Member") ![Amazon Web Services](https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/brand-identity/amazon-web-services.svg "Amazon Web Services") Copyright© 2007-2026 eComEngine, LLC. All Rights Reserved. eComEngine®, FeedbackFive®, RestockPro®, and SellerPulse® are trademarks or registered trademarks of eComEngine, LLC. Amazon's trademark is used under license from Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. *We improve our products and advertising by using Microsoft Clarity to see how you use our website. By using our site, you agree that we and Microsoft can collect and use this data. Our [privacy policy](https://www.ecomengine.com/privacy-policy) has more details.* ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Midlothian", "addressRegion" : "VA", "postalCode" : "23113", "streetAddress" : "14321 Winter Breeze Drive Suite 121" }, "alternateName" : "eComEngine, LLC", "description" : "Amazon Seller Tools", "email" : "info@ecomengine.com", "image" : "https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/images/decorative/illustrations/amazon-seller-tools.png", "logo" : "https://www.ecomengine.com/hubfs/brand-identity/logos/ecomengine-logos/ecomengine-logo-stacked.png", "naics" : "511210", "name" : "eComEngine, LLC", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/eComEngine/", "https://twitter.com/eComEngine" ], "telephone" : "800-757-6840", "url" : "https://www.ecomengine.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org/", "@type" : "HowTo", "description" : "One of the reasons FBA is so successful is because the experience is so streamlined from the shopper perspective. Many consumers don’t know that the items they are buying are sold by third-party sellers. But how easy is it to sell with FBA? In a word: very.", "name" : "How Do Sellers Get Items Into FBA?", "step" : [ { "@type" : "HowToStep", "text" : "If you’re already selling on Amazon, simply add FBA to your account and you’re ready to go. If you don’t have a selling account, set one up and choose the FBA option. The fee for a Professional selling account is $39.99 per month. While sellers with individual accounts can sell via Amazon FBA, they will not be able to take advantage of advertising options and other features of the program." }, { "@type" : "HowToStep", "text" : "Create your product listings. You can add products in bulk via flat files, or you can add them one by one. Pay close attention to the quality of your photo description." }, { "@type" : "HowToStep", "text" : "Prep your products. Amazon has packaging and prep requirements, as well as shipping and routing requirements, that you have to follow. By properly preparing, packing, and labeling your items, you can be sure they will be made available to customers quickly. Following these guidelines helps ensure that your items will arrive at Amazon fulfillment centers safely and in good condition." }, { "@type" : "HowToStep", "text" : "Ship your inventory to Amazon FBA. Create a shipping plan and print your shipping labels with an inventory management software like RestockPro or in Seller Central. Then send your products to the Amazon fulfillment centers your shipping plan requires." } ] } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "FAQPage", "mainEntity" : [ { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "FBA, also referred to as Fulfillment By Amazon, is an Amazon service available to third-party sellers. Amazon takes care of picking, packing, and shipping orders to customers. Amazon also manages customer service and returns, allowing sellers to scale their businesses quickly without hiring additional staff." }, "name" : "What does Amazon FBA mean?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Amazon launched the FBA program on September 19, 2006." }, "name" : "When did Amazon FBA start?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Absolutely! Amazon FBA provides scalable business solutions for third-party sellers. By handling the shipping and logistics for a reliable customer experience, FBA enables small to medium size businesses to grow quickly." }, "name" : "Is Amazon FBA legit?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "FBA picks, handles, and ships orders to your customers. The cost for all of these services is included in your FBA fees." }, "name" : "Does FBA include shipping?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The cost to ship to FBA depends on the size and weight of your box and how many boxes are being shipped. See the FBA shipping requirements above for more information." }, "name" : "How much does it cost to ship to Amazon FBA?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "You will only be asked to confirm shipments that are FBM (Fulfilled By Merchant). Amazon ships your orders to your buyers from fulfillment centers. As for shipments to fulfillment centers, you create your shipping plan with Amazon, so no need to confirm those either." }, "name" : "Do you have to confirm shipments with Amazon FBA?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Yes, with limitations. Selling FBA with an Individual account is possible for some categories with a per-item fee. However, individual sellers do not have access to advertising and reporting features. Individual sellers cannot use third-party tools and their listed items are not eligible for the Amazon Featured Offer. For these reasons, many FBA merchants prefer to sell with Professional Amazon selling accounts." }, "name" : "Can you sell FBA on an individual selling account?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Top Amazon sellers certainly seem to think so. In fact, 79% of the top 1,000 Amazon.com sellers use FBA.\n\nFBA makes it possible for third-party sellers to scale their operations without needing to hire additional staff for fulfilling orders." }, "name" : "Is Amazon FBA worth it?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "We’re not legal experts, so we recommend consulting with your attorney and accountant when making this decision. Generally speaking, forming an LLC can help you limit your personal liability, particularly if you are a full-time eCommerce seller. The LLC structure can also provide some flexibility when it comes to income tax." }, "name" : "Do you need an LLC for Amazon FBA?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Amazon’s commission is called a “referral fee” and the amount varies depending on the product category. Note that in addition to the referral fee, individual sellers are charged $0.99 for each item sold. A full list of referral fees by category is available in Seller Central." }, "name" : "How much commission does Amazon take for FBA?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The products received, stored, and shipped from Amazon fulfillment centers is FBA inventory. Amazon warehouses are not storage centers for FBA sellers. Amazon sellers are expected to sell FBA inventory at a steady rate. Staying in stock and not over stocking FBA inventory is often a delicate dance, but it’s essential for operating your FBA business effectively. Your Amazon FBA inventory is an important part of your IPI score, which affects how much inventory you can ship to Amazon fulfillment centers." }, "name" : "What is FBA inventory?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Amazon calculates your Inventory Performance Index (IPI) to determine how your FBA business is performing over time. If your score is too low, you are subject to FBA inventory storage limits. Learn more about the IPI and how it is calculated." }, "name" : "What is IPI?" } ] } ```