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1️⃣ Mistake 1 - Breaching Amazon’s Guidelines and Restrictions
When it comes to storage safety, Amazon is extremely strict. It is mandatory to meet all the labelling, weight and size limits for each package for various reasons, including:
• The handling personnel should be able to lift the goods.
• There is limited storage space in the warehouses.
• Proper labels let Amazon know what’s coming in, and how to handle it.
Examples of labels that FBA shipments may require:
| Team Lift Label | Mechanical Lift Label | Amazon FBA Box ID Label |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
And here's a tip - certain products are allowed to be sold on Amazon, but are not eligible for Fulfillment by Amazon!
If sellers ignore or otherwise don't follow these requirements and continue to send prohibited goods to the FBA, they may be charged a hefty fine and face potential bans from selling on Amazon!
For example: Amazon DOES NOT allow the following into FBA warehouses.
| Alcoholic Beverages | Vehicle Tyres | Gift Cards or Gift Certificates |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
You can find out more information at Amazon FBA Prohibited Goods List and Policy.
2️⃣ Mistake 2 - Sending Damaged Goods to Amazon FBA
If your goods reach the Amazon fulfillment centre’s door looking broken, shattered, or otherwise damaged, they're not going to sell. Amazon could immediately reject your shipment.
And it makes sense! Amazon would rather store other’s seller’s ‘sellable’ goods in their FBA warehouses and make money off of them than store your sad, broken goods for a much longer time as they fail to successfully sell.
It gets worse - if Amazon rejects your goods, you have to ship them back at your own cost and the damaged goods themselves are now a waste.
So here's a tip - it’s super important that you partner with reliable freight partners and insure your goods.
3️⃣ Mistake 3 - Goods Sent To The Wrong Fulfillment Centers
If you don’t plan your shipments properly, and fail to create a shipping plan, chances are you’ll mess up the FBA address and carriers may deliver them to the wrong destination.
If your goods end up at another FBA doorstep than the one planned, Amazon will not accept them and you’ll have to work with your forwarder to sort out the mess at your own cost.
You can automatically create a shipping plan on Amazon’s Seller Central’s portal in the Send/replenish Inventory tab.
Or, if you’re at the right Fulfillment Centre but don’t have a dock appointment (a time slot reserved for you to unload the goods), FBA won’t accept your goods.
4️⃣ Mistake 4 - Not Buying Enough Units or Over-Stocking
A lot of businesses don’t plan their stock of inventory realistically - as a result they either short sell and stock a small quantity, or overstock the goods - both of these mistakes can backfire.
This is where planning and forecast analysis is really important- understand the peak seasons (holidays, planned sales), both for Amazon and for your particular product and stock accordingly.
5️⃣ Mistake 5 - Choosing the Wrong Freight Forwarder
Your products are ready to ship, and all you need is to get them from one country to another. That has to be the easy part right?
Unfortunately choosing a freight forwarder can be pretty tricky - the pricing can vary wildly, with some charging 2-5x as much as others for the same service! Making a mistake here can be extremely costly!
And when you’re shipping to FBA, forwarders need to know the procedures of dock appointments and handle the goods with care from start to finish.
Partner With a Reliable Freight Carrier and Protect Your Goods!
At app.bookairfreight.com, you can instantly compare rates from tier 1, experienced FBA freight forwarders and book the one that best suits your needs - go give it a try now for FREE.
But Wait, there's more! Check Out Our Guide On Shipping to Amazon FBA.
Go read the 3 Things to Follow That Can Save 15% on FBA Shipments Costs and save your hard-earned cash!
Proud Co-Founder and CEO of Bookairfreight. Shortly after starting to work in the world of logistics, I was astonished at how difficult and time consuming it was for businesses to get their hands on a simple air freight quote. I saw this as an opportunity to really make a difference in people’s lives, and felt like I had to do something. It was the spark that lit the fire of Bookairfreight’s creation.
