Amazon Fulfillment Services

Amazon seller shipping options

Amazon sellers have access to one of the fastest growing online marketplaces in the world.

Acquiring a customer base is near-effortless, as over 197 million guests sign on to Amazon.com monthly.

In addition to having built-in traffic, Amazon sellers benefit from multiple shipping options when it comes to product fulfillment.

Even though Amazon is a smart gateway to building or growing your eCommerce business, it doesn’t come without challenges. Amazon dictates many policies and procedures when it comes to the fulfillment process.

These policies are known to change and can be difficult to keep up with for independent sellers who must also focus on running the other parts of their businesses while implementing flawless fulfillment practices.

Kable Product Service is an experienced 3PL partner with an extensive understanding of Amazon’s merchant requirements. Below we compare the different options Amazon sellers have for their order fulfillment.

1

FBM—Fulfillment by Merchant

Amazon’s Fulfilled by Merchant option allows Amazon sellers to handle all logistics and order fulfillment themselves.

Amazon acts as the online storefront, but everything that happens after the transaction is complete is the responsibility of the seller.

When sellers choose Amazon’s Fulfilled by Merchant option, they can use self-fulfillment (the seller handles every aspect of fulfillment after the sale is complete), or they can work with a 3PL to handle fulfillment on their behalf.

Fulfilled by Merchant orders aren’t eligible for Prime but ship quickly, which is an added benefit to the customer.

This process can work for some but definitely presents challenges when it comes to balancing the day-to-day operations and scaling a business.

2

 FBA—Fulfillment by Amazon

This is a popular approach for many Amazon sellers.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) means that sellers ship their inventory (or even a portion of inventory) to Amazon’s warehouse for fulfillment.

From there, Amazon handles the fulfillment process, from picking and packing to shipping and returns.

It’s important to note that Amazon does implement various costly storage fees, so inventory management is crucial.

3

SFP—Seller Fulfilled Prime

Seller Fulfilled Prime works exactly how it sounds.

Sellers may display a “Prime” badge on their eCommerce store and handle the fulfillment themselves or through a 3PL.

These providers offer two-day shipping and free standard shipping.  Seller fulfilled Prime is fine for those testing the waters with their Amazon store, but can also be very challenging when it comes to packaging requirements and returns.

This option is also difficult to manage from a productivity perspective.

Fulfillment is a full-time job and, if not done effectively, can detract from other parts of your business, causing profit and productivity loss.

4

3PL Partner

A 3PL provider is available to help Amazon sellers complete the fulfillment process.

This partnership allows sellers to focus on business growth while a trusted partner takes care of the heavy lifting related to product fulfillment.

FBA—Fulfilled by Amazon 3PL

Kable Product Services offers a personal approach to Fulfillment by Amazon.

Instead of shipping items to an Amazon Warehouse where client relationships aren’t prioritized, our Midwest warehouse with a team of people dedicated to serving you is a great option for eCommerce sellers who choose to sell through Amazon.

Kable Product Services’ warehouse is 200,000 square feet, and its central location allows for fast 1-2 day shipping to the majority of zip codes in the United States.

Kable Product Services is committed to making your eCommerce business run smoothly.

Amazon has guidelines established for all FBA sellers, and we are dedicated to meeting the standards required as a Fulfilled by Amazon shipping partner.

Sellers must use Amazon’s Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit (FNSKU) identification.

All packages must have specific tracking information for scanning purposes.

In addition, Amazon lists specifics for how loose products and boxed units are packaged. They are very strict on labeling verbiage as well as package quality.

Any poly bag mailers used must contain specific safety warnings.

Items with a shelf life must list expiration dates in a very specific manner in order to be compliant with the rules set forth by Amazon.

All of these things can be cumbersome to someone using the self-fulfillment option.

Kable Transit Time Map

Partnering with Kable Product Services for Amazon Fulfillment

FBA Prep

When eCommerce retailers use FBA prep service, you pay Amazon’s current job rate.

Outsourcing to a 3PL provider, like Kable Product Services, helps cut costs while receiving an essential service.

We offer a valuable way to keep your inventory fluid while minimizing costs associated with kitting and bundling, and preparing items specifically for Amazon.

We deliver Amazon-compliant stock directly to FBA for faster shipping.

Our prep and ship services include:

  • Inventory Receiving
  • FNSKU specific labeling
  • Kitting and bundling
  • Poly bag boxing wrapping
  • Re-packing into master cartons
  • Inventory Receiving
  • FNSKU specific labeling
  • Kitting and bundling
  • Poly bag boxing wrapping
  • Re-packing into master cartons

FBA Prep Service is a reasonable investment with volume discounts available.

Our relationships are built on trust and reputation. Therefore, we never require long-term contracts or hidden fees.

Our FBA Prep customers can rest assured that we stay current on Amazon’s FBA protocols, and all of your items will be managed and fulfilled to all required specifications.

Kable Product Services allows you to confidently hand off fulfillment, so you can focus on other vital aspects of your business.

If you’re considering becoming an Amazon seller or, if you’re an established seller who would like to outsource fulfillment to a reputable partner, we would love to talk with you about your options.

Please contact us by calling (800) 596-0030 or filling out our contact form.

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