3PL & Fulfillment 5 min read
Amazon FBA can be a powerful growth lever — but only if your inventory arrives prepped to Amazon's requirements. Prep mistakes lead to rejected shipments, delays and extra fees. Here's a clear introduction to the basics.
What "prep" actually means
Prep is everything that happens to a unit before it's shipped into an Amazon fulfillment center so it can be received and sold. The exact requirements depend on the product, but common steps include:
- Labeling — applying the correct FNSKU barcode so Amazon can identify and track the unit.
- Poly-bagging — bagging items that need protection, with required suffocation warnings where applicable.
- Bundling and multipacks — packaging sets so they're received as a single sellable unit.
- Protective packaging — for fragile or liquid products that need extra care.
Common reasons shipments get rejected
- Missing, incorrect or unscannable labels.
- Expiry-dated products not labeled to requirements.
- Poly-bag or packaging requirements not met.
- Shipment quantities that don't match what was created in Seller Central.
Getting it right the first time
A few habits prevent most problems:
- Confirm each product's specific prep and labeling requirements before you ship.
- Inspect inventory on receipt so defects are caught before they reach Amazon.
- Match physical quantities exactly to your created shipment.
- Keep prep aligned with your sales velocity so you replenish before stockouts.
Prep is unglamorous, but it's where a lot of FBA time and money quietly leaks. Consistency here protects your sell-through.
Where ASL fits
ASL preps FBA inventory to Amazon's requirements — labeling, poly-bagging, bundling and inspection — and ships it into the network, with prep aligned to the Amazon account we may already manage for you. Learn more about Amazon FBA prep or request a quote.