Amazon FBA Prep and Labeling: A Checklist That Prevents Charges
Prep sounds like the boring part of FBA until a pallet arrives at the fulfilment centre in the wrong state. Then it becomes unplanned prep fees, a shipment held for investigation, or units that go missing because the label came off in transit. None of it is complicated; it is just a list, and the list has to be run every time.
Before anything: know the category rules
Prep requirements depend on what the product is, not on what is convenient. Check the requirement for each ASIN in Seller Central before packing: liquids, glass, powders, sharp items, adult products, baby products, textiles and anything sold as a set each have their own rule. Amazon can apply prep on your behalf and charge for it, and those charges are per unit.
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The checklist
- Barcodes. Every unit carries one scannable barcode. Either Amazon's FNSKU label or, where the ASIN is enrolled, the manufacturer barcode; never both visible. Cover the original barcode completely if you apply an FNSKU.
- Polybags. Any bag with an opening of 5 inches or more needs the suffocation warning, printed in the required font size or on a sticker. The bag must be transparent, sealed, and no more than 3 inches of slack around the product; the barcode must be scannable through it.
- Bundles and sets. A multi-pack is one sellable unit: it needs a "Sold as set, do not separate" label and a single barcode for the set, not one per component.
- Expiry dates. Consumables need the date in MM-DD-YYYY on the master carton and the unit, in a font large enough to read at a glance, with at least 90 days of shelf life remaining on arrival.
- Fragile and liquid items. Bubble wrap for glass, double bagging for liquids, and enough dunnage that the box passes a three-foot drop test.
- Boxes. No box over 25 inches on any side unless the unit itself is oversize, and no box over 50 lb without a "Team lift" label. Each box needs its own FBA shipment label, and the label must not be placed across a seam.
- Documents. The packing list inside, the shipment ID visible on the outside, and the carrier's paperwork matching the box count exactly.
The mistakes that cost the most
Printing labels at the wrong scale so the barcode will not scan; sending more units than the shipment plan says, which turns the whole shipment into a discrepancy case; splitting a bundle across two boxes; and reusing a box with an old shipment label still on it. Each of these ends as a reconciliation case, and cases about units Amazon never scanned are the hardest to win.
Prep partners and 3PL
If you import in bulk, prep at a 3PL near the port is usually cheaper than shipping to yourself first, and Amazon accepts shipments from any address as long as the paperwork matches. Make sure the partner knows FBA rules specifically, that they photograph each SKU prepped, and that they send you the box content file rather than typing quantities by hand.
Keep the record
Photograph pallets before they leave, keep the carrier's proof of delivery, and reconcile every shipment within a week of it closing. Reimbursement claims are only as strong as the evidence, and the window is limited. Our FBA Setup & Shipment Planning service builds the plans and prep instructions, and Listing Health & FBA Reimbursements files the claims when units go missing.
Frequently asked questions
Can the fulfillment center do the prep for me?
Yes, for a per-unit fee, through the prep service you select when creating the shipment. It suits small volumes. At scale, doing it before shipping, or paying a 3PL, usually costs less. Our free FBA fee calculator helps you compare.
What happens if a shipment arrives without proper prep?
The units may be prepped at your expense, held for investigation, or refused. Repeated problems can lead to limits on future shipments, so fix the cause after the first notice.
Do I need an FNSKU label on every unit?
Only when the product is not tracked by its manufacturer barcode. The barcode setting in your FBA preferences decides this for each product, so check it before you print.
Sources and further reading
Marketplace rules change; these are the official pages to check against before you act on anything here.
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