What is FBA prep?
Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) lets sellers store stock in Amazon’s warehouses and have Amazon ship their orders. Before stock goes in, it must meet Amazon’s packaging and labelling rules. FBA prep is the work of getting products ready: labelling each unit, bagging or protecting items where needed, packing compliant cartons and sending them to the fulfilment centre Amazon assigns.
Many sellers have suppliers ship to a 3PL or prep centre first, which checks and prepares the goods, then forwards them to Amazon. The same partner can also ship orders from other channels, such as the seller’s own webshop.
Core principle: Amazon receives stock on its own terms. Shipments that don’t meet its prep rules can be refused, relabelled at your cost or delayed.
What FBA prep includes
FNSKU labels
Each unit gets an Amazon barcode (FNSKU) linked to your seller account, unless it is sold with the manufacturer barcode.
Watch out for: Labels must cover any other scannable barcodes on the item, or the wrong product may be received.
Polybagging and protection
Loose, fragile or liquid items are bagged, bubble-wrapped or boxed as Amazon’s prep guidance requires.
Watch out for: Polybags with large openings need a suffocation warning.
Sets and bundles
Items sold together are bagged or shrink-wrapped and marked as a set, so they aren’t split up.
Why it matters: See kitting for how bundles are assembled.
Carton packing and labels
Units are packed into cartons within Amazon’s size and weight limits, with carton labels for the shipment.
Watch out for: In Europe, cartons generally may not exceed 63.5 cm on any side or 23 kg. Check Seller Central for current rules.
Typical FBA prep workflow
- Suppliers ship goods to the prep partner, from one or several factories.
- The partner receives and inspects the goods, counting units and checking for damage.
- The seller creates the shipment in Seller Central and shares labels.
- Units are labelled, bagged and packed; carton labels are applied.
- Cartons or pallets are sent to the Amazon fulfilment centre, by the partner or Amazon’s partnered carrier.
How FBA prep is priced
Usually per unit, depending on what is needed: labelling only is cheapest, while bagging, bubble-wrapping or bundling cost more. Receiving, storage between shipments and transport to Amazon are often charged separately. Ask for a quote for one complete shipment to see the total cost per unit.
Example: A seller buys from suppliers in Germany and Finland. Both ship to a prep partner in Germany, which consolidates the products, applies FNSKU labels, bags the textile items, packs cartons and sends one combined shipment to the Amazon fulfilment centre assigned in Seller Central.
Waredock also fulfils Amazon FBM orders, where you sell on Amazon but ship from your own fulfilment partner.
Frequently asked questions
What is an FNSKU?
The Fulfilment Network Stock Keeping Unit, Amazon’s barcode that links a unit in its warehouse to your seller account.
Can my supplier ship directly to Amazon?
Yes, if it can meet Amazon’s prep and labelling rules. Many sellers use a prep partner to check quality and compliance first.
Is FBA prep the same as FBM?
No. FBA prep prepares stock for Amazon’s warehouses. With FBM (fulfilled by merchant), you or your 3PL store the stock and ship Amazon orders yourselves.
What happens if a shipment doesn’t meet Amazon’s requirements?
Amazon may refuse it, charge for preparing or relabelling items, or delay putting it on sale.
