Amazon tailors packaging options for sellers based on how they fulfill orders. Sellers using Amazon FBA must comply with specific packaging guidelines when sending inventory to various fulfillment centers. For a seller on Amazon, it is important to be informed that Amazon reserves the authority to reject, return, or repackage any product that doesn’t adhere to its packaging guidelines. For this, it may also levy a specific amount of non-compliance fees on the seller.
Essentials of Amazon FBA Packaging Guidelines
1. Labelling: Each unit must have an exterior scannable barcode (UPC, EAN, ISBN, ASIN, or FNSKU) with corresponding human-readable numbers that are easily accessible. Amazon follows the Mother-Child labeling process to make things easier. Mother-child labeling in Amazon FBA refers to a system where a parent product (mother) is linked to its variations or child products. This labeling method allows for efficient tracking and management of product variations within the Amazon FBA system.
By using mother-child labeling, sellers can easily manage different versions of a product, such as size or color variations, under one main product listing. This simplifies inventory management, order processing, and tracking of sales for each specific variation. Amazon sellers can create parent-child relationships within their product listings to streamline operations and provide a better shopping experience for customers.
Mother-child labeling in Amazon FBA is a way to associate different product variations (sizes, colors, etc.) with a single-parent product listing. This helps sellers organize and manage their product catalog more efficiently.
It enhances the customer experience by presenting all available variations on one page for easy browsing and comparison. Mother-child labeling also simplifies inventory management, improves search visibility, and streamlines fulfillment processes for products with multiple variations. By grouping related products together, sellers can provide a better shopping experience while optimizing their operations on Amazon’s platform.
Here are the best practices it follows:
- Existing barcodes on the outside of shipping boxes must be removed, covered, or rendered unscannable.
- Labels must be printed in high resolution, preferably with a laser printer, and placed on a flat surface for optimal scanning.
- Product labels must all include the same product title
- Loose products sold together must be in the same package.
- Sets with many pieces must be marked “Sold as set” or “Do not separate” Poly bags with openings larger than 5 inches must have a suffocation warning printed on the bag or as a label.
Following these labeling requirements will help ensure your products are easily identified and provide the best customer experience. Failure to comply may result in inventory refusal, disposal, blocking of future shipments, or non-compliance fees.
2. FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit). FNSKUs are unique identifiers for a product sold as Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon product program and an SKU or stock-keeping unit. Each FNSKU corresponds to a specific product, ensuring that no two products share the same FNSKU.
This requirement is particularly crucial for sellers offering similar products with variations in size, shape, or color. In such cases, each product variation must be assigned a distinct FNSKU to prevent any mix-ups or misidentifications within Amazon’s fulfillment network. This is the seller’s responsibility.
3. Tracking. To facilitate efficient tracking, every package destined for Amazon’s fulfillment centers must bear an exterior barcode or label. These barcodes or labels must be easily accessible and readable, allowing for seamless scanning and identification during the fulfillment process.
Amazon’s packaging requirements can vary across different product categories. To ensure compliance, sellers must adhere to the specific packaging guidelines outlined for each category they operate in. The following sections provide a comprehensive list of packaging rules categorized by product type:
- Loose Items: If selling multiple loose items together, all components must be securely contained within a single package. For product sets comprising various pieces packaged in one box, a clear label stating “Sold as Set” or “Do not separate” is mandatory. This labeling ensures that the set remains intact during fulfillment and prevents any unintentional separation of the individual components.
- Boxed units. Stringent packaging guidelines apply to all products shipped in boxes. These boxes must have six sides for a full enclosure, be securely sealed to prevent accidental opening and be sturdily built to withstand moderate pressure from any direction. This ensures your products are well-protected during transportation and handling within the Amazon network.
- Polybag units. Poly bags with openings exceeding five inches should mandatorily have clear suffocation warnings, either printed directly on the bag or attached as a readily visible label. The poly bag itself must be transparent to allow for barcode scanning and be completely sealed to ensure product protection.
- Expiry dates. For shipping products with expiry dates, Amazon requires clear labeling on the individual unit and the entire container. The dates must be prominently displayed in a universally understandable MM-DD-YYYY format. This ensures both Amazon’s fulfillment centers and your customers can easily identify the remaining shelf life of your items.
Note: In cases where a product falls under multiple categories, sellers must ensure that the item’s packaging complies with the regulations stipulated for all applicable categories simultaneously.
Polybag Compliance Regulations
Poly bags used for protecting product units on Amazon must adhere to certain standards. As stated earlier, poly bags having an opening of 5 inches or more (measured when flat) should display a clear suffocation warning. Non-compliance with this regulation may necessitate re-bagging of the products. An acceptable suffocation warning could be: “Suffocation Hazard, keep away from babies and children. This bag is not a toy.”
The suffocation label print size requirements are:
- 24 points for bags having a width of 60 inches or more
- 18 points for bags of width 40-59 inches
- 14 points for bags of width 30-39 inches
- 10 points for under 29-inch sized bags
For FBA shipments, poly bags must have a minimum thickness of 1.5 mils (thickness in thousandths of an inch). The bags must be transparent with a UPC or EAN type of barcode, which makes it easy to scan from outside. Additionally, it must be ensured that the bag is fully sealed and fits snugly around the product (no more than a 3-inch overhang).
To know about Amazon FBA Fees, Read Blog: Mastering Cost Optimization: A Comprehensive Guide to Reducing Amazon FBA Fees.
Where can I find packaging supplies that meet Amazon’s FBA guidelines?
Amazon’s FBA packaging guidelines are meticulous, so sellers must source supplies that strictly adhere to these requirements.
Amazon straightaway provides sellers-approved poly bags, boxes, stretch wrap, bubble packs, etc., directly or get free supplies from UPS/FedEx/USPS, but they need to use their shipping rates for FBA fulfillment.
FBA Checklist for Packagers
To effectively utilize fulfillment by Amazon, grasping the basic shipping preparations for sending FBA inventory to Amazon’s fulfillment centers and the distinct prep criteria for certain product categories is crucial. Equally vital is being mindful of FBA’s product restrictions.
Below is a useful checklist for getting your Amazon FBA packaging ready:
- Ensure your boxes are sturdy with intact flaps.
- Each must be wrapped separately.
- Utilize durable transporting tape.
- Avoid using string or paper to over-wrap.
- Attach a single address label that displays clear delivery and return details.
- Ensure that there is a minimum of two inches of cushioning between items and within the box.
- Conceal or erase scannable barcodes from retail boxes when they are being reused to ship a variety of items.
Final Thoughts
Finally, adhering to Amazon’s packaging requirements is crucial to preventing negative seller reviews, FBA shipment returns, product damage, and resource waste. Proper packaging ensures products reach customers in pristine condition, maintains seller reputation, streamlines FBA processes, protects against damage, optimizes material usage, minimizes waste, and promotes cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Compliance with these guidelines is essential for successful Amazon selling.
