What Is the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) Service?
With FBA, your inventory is stored at an Amazon Fulfillment Center. You prep and ship your products to the fulfillment center(s) rather than sending them directly to the customer. When customers order your products, Amazon then picks, packs and ships them, as well as provides customer support on the products.
The three Amazon shipping options are:
- Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
Sellers ship inventory to Amazon. Amazon packs and ships the order to the customer and handles customer service. FBA ensures two-day delivery and allows you to claim a Prime badge on your listing. - Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM)
Sellers are responsible for storing inventory, picking and shipping merchandise themselves or with the assistance of a 3PL (third-party logistics partner). - Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP)
This hybrid option allows sellers to fulfill their own orders, but they are awarded with the Prime badge. The catch? The seller covers the cost of the two-day shipping and/or restricts delivery to locations that UPS or FedEx ground can reach within two days. Sellers must qualify for the program and adhere to its extremely strict shipping deadlines.
Benefits of FBA
Although mastering FBA is time-consuming and sometimes challenging, it is one of the biggest competitive advantages you have over other sellers.
Competitive Shipping and Prime Eligibility
Your FBA products are eligible for free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime, as well as free shipping on eligible orders for all Amazon.com customers.
Focus on Growth
Amazon’s dashboard provides 24/7 access so you see what is selling and what is sitting, as well as what inventory you should restock. In this way, FBA helps you to properly manage inventory levels while leaving all the shipping details to Amazon. Spending less time on inventory and shipping tasks allows you to focus more attention on growing your business.
Amazon Equity
FBA products are listed with the Prime logo, so customers know that Amazon handles packing, delivery, customer service, and returns, and they can be confident that they will receive their order quickly.
Cost-Effective
With FBA, you pay as you go. Amazon charges sellers only for the storage space they use and the orders Amazon fulfills on their behalf. The cost of shipping is included in a seller’s FBA fees, with no extra charge for the above-mentioned shipping benefits.
Global Sales Growth
FBA benefits aren’t restricted to the U.S. marketplace. Our Amazon seller account management team shows you how to tap into Amazon’s global network to reach customers all over the world.
Reap the Rewards
FBA is not right for every seller, but it tends to work very well for those whose business model and selling strategies meet certain criteria. Typical benefits include:
- Decreased fees associated with incorrectly prepared products
- Elimination of concerns regarding daily order fulfillment
- Majority of customer service handled by Amazon
- Reduced likelihood of out-of-stock situations
- Outsourced storage and fulfillment center services
- Two-day shipping on most products
- Increased influence over the Buy Box
- Increased sales volume
- Maximized bottom lin
Your Amazon FBA Consultant Helps You Get Started
- Set Up FBA
If you already have an Amazon Seller account, FBA is simple to add to your existing account. If you don’t have an Amazon Seller account, our team helps you get started today. - Create Your Product Listings
Add your products to the Amazon catalog one at a time, in bulk or by integrating your inventory management software with Amazon’s API. This step is required only if you have not already listed a product on Amazon. - Convert Your Products to FBA
During this process, your items may go through a dangerous goods (or HAZMAT) review. You may need to submit additional documentation (such as an SDS or an exemption sheet) to help Amazon classify your product. Depending on Amazon’s findings, your product may or may not be eligible for FBA. In some instances where a product is ineligible, you may be able to apply for the FBA Dangerous Goods program which does allow limited quantities of some dangerous items (such as aerosols and flammable items) to be admitted into FBA. - Prep Your Products
To ensure that your products are safely and securely transported to your customers, they must be properly prepared for shipping to an FBA fulfillment center. Need Amazon FBA help? We help you determine exactly what you need to ship your products to a fulfillment center with confidence. - Ship Your Products to Amazon
Create a plan for shipping. Partner with a carrier, and ship and track your product to Amazon Fulfillment Centers. Amazon’s online seller tools help guide you through every step of the process. - Customers Order, Amazon Delivers
Every customer who orders one of your products enjoys efficient, often free, shipping — courtesy of Amazon. Amazon’s advanced, web-to-warehouse, high-speed picking and sorting system ensures that your customers receive a 5-star shipping experience from purchase through delivery. - Amazon Provides Customer Support
The perks of Fulfillment by Amazon don’t end when the product is delivered. Amazon’s world-class customer service team manages any customer inquiries, refunds, and returns for orders related to your FBA products, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Amazon FBA Fees and Rates Explained
Amazon operates its Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) fees and rates with a “pay-as-you-use” model. With FBA, you enjoy access to optional features and services, and flexible rate structures that help you easily manage and grow your business. Your Sellers Reliance team helps you estimate your FBA fees based on the standard FBA storage and fulfillment fees explained below.
Fulfillment Fees
Fulfillment fees are charged per unit and include picking and packing your orders, shipping and handling, customer service, and product return services. Unit prices vary based on product size (standard or oversized) and weight.
Monthly Storage Fees
Monthly inventory storage is charged per cubic foot. Fees are charged for all Units stored in an Amazon Fulfillment Center based on the calendar month and your daily average volume. Like standard fulfillment fees, monthly storage fees vary for standard and oversized products.
Additional Fees *
Other fees include long-term storage fees, removal fees, disposal fees, labeling fees (if using Amazon’s labeling service), and prep fees (if using Amazon’s prep service). This video has everything you need to know about Amazon’s FBA fees.
Improve Your Supply Chain Management
FBA greatly streamlines your product distribution. With the following tools, supply chain management becomes even easier:
Partnered Carrier Program
Ship in bulk with a partnered carrier and enjoy discounted rates on inventory pickup and delivery to Amazon Fulfillment Centers.
Multi-Channel Fulfillment
Sell from a third party or your own eCommerce sites, and Amazon will pick, pack and ship products directly to your customers.
FBA Prep Service
With FBA Prep Service, Amazon labels, bags, wraps, boxes and preps your products for shipment.
Additional FBA Options
In addition to all the incredible tools and resources listed above, Amazon’s FBA program offers specialized services that help you scale your operations without investing in additional capital or manpower:
Small and Light
FBA Small and Light helps you cut back on the cost of fulfilling orders for small, low-cost and lightweight inventory.
Subscribe & Save
Amazon’s FBA Subscribe & Save program allows sellers to offer repeat customers valuable discounts on eligible FBA products.
Sell with Sellers Reliance as your Amazon FBA consultant
FBA participants are able to streamline their distribution processes and increase their sales – both internally and internationally – through the Amazon program. Sadly, busy Amazon sellers may struggle to navigate the wide range of FBA products and services on their own. We’re here to help. In Sellers Reliance, we assist you with determining the best way to integrate FBA into your business and handle the ongoing management of your FBA account.
Our Amazon FBA services include:
FBA: Finding out if it’s the right fit for you
You can count on our team to determine your Amazon FBA eligibility and help you choose the right product and business for your business.
Prime Badge
Your listing can earn the coveted “Prime badge” with our consultation and help increase sales.
Inventory
With our help, you can keep an eye on your inventory levels so that your products are always available to your clients.
Strategy
Inventory management and restocking strategies are developed by us.
Preparation
In order to create consistency for your customers, our team can help you prepare, label, and ship products properly.
Shipping Options
Based on the cost-effectiveness of shipping your products to Amazon Fulfillment Centers, we determine the shipping method.
Testing
Based on the cost-effectiveness of shipping your products to Amazon Fulfillment Centers, we determine the shipping method corner. Sellers should verify their product(s) pass this test before shipping into Amazon fulfillment centers.
Overstock
Our services include excess inventory management, inventory management, liquidation, and disposal and removal.
Logistics
In order to optimize the efficiency of your Amazon business, we spend time estimating packing costs.
Fees
Our analysis of Amazon fulfillment and storage fees shows how they impact your eCommerce business.
FBA Position
Our team conducts an FBA viability analysis to help you determine your profit margin after FBA fees.
Analysis
We analyze how to convert your business to Amazon FBA and explain how fulfillment and storage fees work.
Whether you’re just getting started with Fulfillment by Amazon, or you have an account already and are seeking ways to optimize, our Amazon Consulting team can help.