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Step 1: 10% Savings of Shipping Costs to FBA – Create a Shipping Plan
What is a shipping plan?
It's a plan to split your inventory between fulfillment centers.
An Amazon FBA shipping plan can be automatically generated on the "Seller central portal", using the “Send/replenish inventory” page.
In a nutshell, it should contain the following:
• The products you’ll ship to the Amazon FBA warehouse
• Quantities of each product type
• How you plan to ship (choice of freight forwarder, dates, and other related information)
• Parties responsible for preparing the products and labeling them (this could be you or Amazon).
Why do you need an FBA shipping plan?
You need it for two reasons, Amazon needs to know what to expect in your incoming shipments into their FBA warehouses, and they need to give you shipping labels.
You need to send these shipping labels over to your supplier to stick it on each carton (this is REQUIRED).
How can a shipping plan help you save money?
When creating a shipping plan with the product listing, you can foresee potential restrictions (labelling, hazmat requirements, restricted goods) - that way you can avoid last minute fee surcharges and plan shipments more efficiently.
When should you create a shipping plan?
We recommend creating one very early on in the process -even before you start manufacturing the goods.
Once your supplier starts manufacturing and provides you with a rough estimate of when the goods will be ready, you should finalize the shipping plan and submit it to Amazon prior so that you can get the shipping labels to the supplier on time, and therefore have a better understanding of the fees you will incur.
Step 2: 20% Savings of Shipping Costs to FBA - Follow Amazon FBA Regulations Accurately
First, you need to check the Amazon FBA Product Restrictions list to make sure your goods will be allowed and accepted by FBA without any extra fees!
So, you’re shipping products accepted by FBA, what’s next?
Amazon has a detailed set of instructions for all its Inbound Shipments covering weight and size limits. They've become very strict with shipments that don’t follow these rules.
But not to worry! We’ve made it way easier for you to digest these rules through a clear, simple format. This will save you from losing your profits due to avoidable fees.
1. Box dimensions and weight rules
🚨 Sending oversize cartons may lead to blocking of future shipments. So make sure to follow the rules precisely.
2. Packing materials
3. Labelling requirements
Examples of labels:
| Team Lift Label | Mechanical Lift Label | Amazon FBA Box ID Label |
|---|---|---|
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General labelling requirements:
🚨 Depending on your shipping route (Small parcel, LTL, FTL, FCL), there are additional shipping requirements.
You can access the details regarding each shipping route below:
• Small parcel delivery to Amazon
• Truckload delivery to Amazon
• Seller requirements for LTL, FTL, and FCL deliveries
Step 3: Up to 25% Savings of Shipping Costs to FBA – Choose a Reliable, Experienced Freight Forwarder
Now you can create the perfect shipping plan, and follow all the packaging requirements but your shipment can still fall through the cracks and get rejected by FBA.
You might be wondering how? In the end, everything comes down to choosing the right freight forwarder.
You really need to ensure that your freight forwarder is aware of what it takes to ship to an Amazon Fulfillment Center.
They need to be to be able to:
1. Handle and transport the goods safely
If by any chance your goods get damaged during transit, and show up at Amazon’s door in an ‘unsellable’ condition - Amazon will refuse your shipment AND charge you a ‘return freight’ fee. Doesn't sound so good, huh?
2. Handle the FBA’s dock appointment procedures
If you’re shipping to Amazon Fulfillment Centre - your carrier needs to book a ‘dock appointment’ - a time slot reserved for your goods to be unloaded.
Amazon can refuse your shipment if they show up unannounced without a dock appointment.
Why wait? Partner with a reliable freight forwarder NOW.
Through Bookairfreight, you can partner with tier 1 freight forwarders, who are experienced with shipping to Amazon FBA centres at a fraction of the regular cost.
We’ve helped many other Amazon sellers like Rimbaworks successfully ship to their Amazon fulfillment centres seamlessly.
Try it out at app.bookairfreight.com, or email us at bookings@bookairfreight.com with any questions!
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Rajitha Reniguntla is a supply chain enthusiast from Hong Kong. With a curious mind, she's an avid learner carrying a knack for exploring and breaking down complex ideas. She loves to learn about new things and always aims to enhance the customer experience. Outside of work, she enjoys cycling, doodling and listening to podcasts!
