Amazon FBA Shipping FAQ
Everything you need to know about shipping to Amazon fulfillment centers. We handle 100+ FBA shipments every week.
Amazon FBA Shipping FAQ
What is Amazon FBA?
Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is a service where sellers send products to Amazon's fulfillment centers, and Amazon handles storage, picking, packing, shipping, and customer service. Sellers benefit from Prime eligibility, faster delivery, and Amazon's logistics infrastructure.
How does Indray handle Amazon FBA shipments?
Indray handles 100+ Amazon FBA shipments every week. We manage the entire process — from taking delivery appointments at Amazon fulfillment centers to meeting strict deadlines, labeling compliance, and palletization requirements. Our team understands Amazon's constantly changing rules.
What are Amazon FBA delivery appointment requirements?
Amazon requires delivery appointments for all inbound shipments. Appointments must be booked through Carrier Central, and carriers must arrive within the scheduled window. Late or missed appointments can result in refusal, rescheduling fees, or chargebacks.
How do I book an Amazon FBA delivery appointment?
Appointments are booked through Amazon's Carrier Central portal. You need your shipment ID (FBA ID), BOL, and carrier SCAC code. Indray handles all appointment scheduling as part of our FBA logistics service.
What happens if I miss an Amazon FBA delivery appointment?
Missed appointments can result in the shipment being refused at the dock, a rescheduling penalty, or potential chargebacks. Amazon may also flag your seller account for repeated no-shows. Indray's dispatch team monitors all appointments to prevent this.
What are Amazon's palletization requirements for FBA?
Amazon requires: standard GMA pallets (40" × 48"), max pallet height of 72" (including pallet), max weight of 1,500 lbs per pallet, stretch-wrapped on all four sides, no overhang, and a pallet label on all four sides.
What is an FNSKU label?
FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit) is Amazon's unique barcode that identifies a product as belonging to a specific seller. Every unit sent to FBA must have an FNSKU label that covers or replaces the manufacturer UPC barcode.
Can Indray handle FBA labeling and prep?
Yes. Indray coordinates with prep centers to handle FNSKU labeling, poly-bagging, bubble-wrapping, bundling, and any other Amazon-required prep before delivery to the fulfillment center.
What is Amazon's shipping plan?
A shipping plan is created in Seller Central when you send inventory to FBA. It specifies which products, quantities, and destination fulfillment centers. Amazon may split shipments across multiple FCs based on demand forecasting.
Can I choose which Amazon fulfillment center to ship to?
Not directly. Amazon assigns fulfillment centers based on product demand and warehouse capacity. You can use Amazon's Inventory Placement Service (for a fee) to send all inventory to a single FC, reducing your shipping complexity.
What is Amazon's Inventory Placement Service?
Inventory Placement Service (IPS) is an optional paid service that routes your entire shipment to a single fulfillment center instead of splitting it across multiple FCs. The fee ranges from $0.30 per standard unit to $1.30+ for oversize items.
What are Amazon's weight limits for FBA shipments?
Individual boxes cannot exceed 50 lbs. Pallets cannot exceed 1,500 lbs. Overweight boxes must be labeled 'Team Lift' (50–100 lbs) or 'Mech Lift' (100+ lbs). Non-compliant shipments may be refused or incur additional fees.
What is Amazon's box content information requirement?
Amazon requires sellers to provide box content information — a detailed list of what's in each box. This can be done via 2D barcodes on each box or through manual entry in Seller Central. Failure to provide this results in a per-unit fee.
How does Amazon handle damaged FBA inventory?
If Amazon damages your inventory in the fulfillment center, they typically reimburse you based on the selling price minus fees. You can file claims through Seller Central. Indray ensures your goods arrive at Amazon in perfect condition.
What is SPD (Small Parcel Delivery) vs LTL for FBA?
SPD is for shipments of individual boxes shipped via UPS/FedEx. LTL (Less Than Truckload) is for palletized shipments. FTL (Full Truckload) is for large volume. Indray specializes in LTL and FTL delivery to Amazon FCs.
When should I use LTL vs FTL for Amazon FBA?
Use LTL for 1–12 pallets. Use FTL for 12+ pallets or full truckloads. FTL is more cost-effective per pallet for larger volumes and has fewer handling touchpoints, reducing damage risk. Indray handles both.
What documents are required for FBA LTL/FTL delivery?
You need: Bill of Lading (BOL) with Amazon shipment IDs, carrier appointment confirmation, pallet labels, FNSKU labels on all units, and box content information. Indray prepares all documentation for you.
What are Amazon's receiving hours?
Receiving hours vary by fulfillment center but are typically 7 AM – 5 PM local time, Monday through Saturday. Some FCs accept deliveries on Sundays. Indray verifies receiving hours for each specific FC before scheduling.
How long does Amazon take to receive FBA inventory?
After delivery, Amazon can take 1–14 business days to check in inventory. During peak season (Q4), receiving times can extend to 2–4 weeks. Plan your shipments accordingly to maintain stock levels.
What is Amazon's Partnered Carrier Program?
Amazon offers discounted shipping rates through their partnered carriers (UPS for SPD, various for LTL). While rates can be competitive, Indray often beats these rates on FTL shipments and provides dedicated service that Amazon's program doesn't.
What causes Amazon to refuse an FBA shipment?
Common reasons: missed or late appointment, incorrect labeling, non-compliant palletization, wrong fulfillment center, missing or incorrect BOL information, exceeding weight limits, damaged goods, or prohibited products.
How do I track my FBA shipment?
Track through Seller Central under 'Shipments' tab. For LTL/FTL, you'll also have carrier-provided tracking. Indray provides real-time tracking with proactive updates and exception notifications.
What is Amazon's Prep Service?
Amazon offers an in-house prep service where they label, bag, and prep your products at the FC for a per-unit fee ($0.50–$2.00+). However, this adds receiving time and cost. Many sellers prefer having Indray coordinate third-party prep for faster processing.
Can I send mixed-SKU pallets to Amazon FBA?
Yes, Amazon accepts mixed-SKU pallets (called 'case-packed mixed' or 'individual' shipments). Each box must be labeled with contents and each unit must have an FNSKU. Mixed pallets are common for sellers with diverse product lines.
What is Amazon's 2D barcode requirement?
Amazon's 2D barcode (FBA Box ID label) is placed on the outside of each box and contains box content information. It replaces manual entry and speeds up receiving at the FC. Indray ensures all boxes are properly labeled.
How do peak seasons affect FBA shipments?
During Q4 (October–December), Amazon imposes inventory limits, extends receiving times, and tightens appointment availability. Plan shipments 4–6 weeks early. Indray manages Q4 logistics for 100+ sellers.
What are Amazon's inventory storage limits?
Amazon sets inventory limits based on your IPI (Inventory Performance Index) score. Sellers with IPI below 400 face quantity limits. Storage fees increase during Q4 (October–December). Plan inventory levels carefully.
What is the IPI score?
IPI (Inventory Performance Index) is Amazon's metric measuring how well you manage FBA inventory. It considers sell-through rate, excess inventory, stranded inventory, and in-stock rate. Score ranges from 0–1000; aim for 400+.
What are Amazon's long-term storage fees?
Amazon charges long-term storage fees for inventory stored over 181 days: $0.50 per cubic foot (181–365 days) and $6.90 per cubic foot or $0.15 per unit (365+ days), whichever is greater. Manage inventory to avoid these fees.
Can Indray deliver to Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods fulfillment centers?
Yes, Indray handles deliveries to Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, and Prime Now facilities, which have different requirements including temperature-controlled delivery, shorter appointment windows, and specific packaging standards.
What is Amazon's inbound performance report?
The inbound performance report in Seller Central shows your shipment compliance history — appointment adherence, prep issues, labeling problems, and shipping plan accuracy. Amazon may restrict shipping privileges for sellers with poor performance.
How does Amazon handle oversize FBA items?
Oversize items (any dimension over 18" or weight over 20 lbs) have different storage fees, fulfillment fees, and packaging requirements. They must be individually boxed and may be routed to specific oversize-capable FCs.
What is Amazon's Floor-Loaded vs Palletized requirement?
Amazon prefers palletized LTL/FTL shipments. Floor-loaded shipments (loose boxes stacked in the trailer) may incur additional receiving fees and longer check-in times. Indray always recommends palletized shipments for FBA.
Can I send hazmat products to Amazon FBA?
Yes, but hazmat products require an exemption sheet, SDS (Safety Data Sheet), proper labeling, and compliance with Amazon's dangerous goods program. Indray handles hazmat FBA shipments with full DOT and Amazon compliance.
What is Amazon's Transparency Program?
Transparency is Amazon's product serialization service that assigns unique codes to every unit. It helps prevent counterfeits. Products enrolled in Transparency must have the Transparency barcode on each unit before sending to FBA.
How do I reduce Amazon FBA shipping costs?
Consolidate shipments into FTL, use palletized LTL for smaller quantities, optimize box sizes to reduce dimensional weight, ship during off-peak periods, and work with a specialized FBA carrier like Indray for volume rates.
What is Amazon's 'Receive and Restock' workflow?
When your shipment arrives at the FC, it goes through receiving (unloading), stowing (shelving in the warehouse), and becomes available for sale. Any prep or labeling issues are flagged during receiving and can delay stowing.
Can I cancel an FBA shipment after creating it?
Yes, you can cancel a shipment in Seller Central before marking it as shipped. Once marked shipped and in transit, you should contact Seller Support. If already delivered, you'll need to create a removal order for the inventory.
What are Amazon's requirements for expiration-dated products?
Products with expiration dates must have at least 90 days of shelf life remaining upon arrival at the FC. Dates must be in MM-DD-YYYY or MM-YYYY format, clearly visible on the outer packaging.
How does Amazon handle multi-channel fulfillment (MCF)?
MCF allows you to fulfill orders from other channels (Shopify, eBay, your website) using your FBA inventory. Amazon picks, packs, and ships in unbranded packaging. This maximizes your FBA inventory utilization.
What is Amazon's Virtual Bundle program?
Virtual Bundles let you combine 2–5 ASINs into a single listing without physical rebundling. The items ship separately from FBA inventory. This reduces prep requirements while offering bundle pricing to customers.
How do I handle FBA returns?
Amazon handles customer returns for FBA items. Returned items are inspected — sellable items go back to inventory, damaged items can be removed or disposed. You can set up automatic removal for unfulfillable inventory.
What is a 'Stranded Inventory' in FBA?
Stranded inventory is stock in Amazon's warehouse that isn't linked to an active listing. It occurs when listings are suppressed, deleted, or have pricing errors. Stranded inventory still incurs storage fees. Fix listing issues promptly.
Does Indray offer Amazon FBA prep center services?
Indray coordinates with a network of FBA prep centers across the US. We handle transportation to the prep center, oversee prep work (labeling, poly-bagging, bundling), and deliver the prepped inventory to Amazon's FC.
What is Amazon's Send to Amazon workflow?
Send to Amazon (STA) is Amazon's updated shipment creation workflow in Seller Central. It streamlines the process of creating shipping plans, provides box content tools, and offers estimated placement fees upfront.
How do I handle Amazon FBA inventory during a product recall?
Create a removal order immediately in Seller Central. Contact Amazon Seller Support to flag the ASIN. Indray can arrange expedited pickup of recalled inventory from Amazon FCs for return to your facility.
What are Amazon's Inbound Placement fees?
Amazon charges Inbound Placement fees when inventory is sent to a single FC and Amazon redistributes it. Fees range from $0.27 to $1.58 per unit depending on size. Sending to multiple FCs (distributed) avoids this fee.
Can I use my own carrier for Amazon FBA instead of Amazon's Partnered Carrier?
Yes, Amazon allows non-partnered carriers for LTL and FTL shipments. Indray is a preferred non-partnered carrier, registered in Amazon's Carrier Central system with all required documentation.
What does SIOC mean for Amazon FBA?
SIOC (Ships in Own Container) means the product ships to the customer in its original packaging without an Amazon overbox. SIOC items must pass Amazon's drop test and have concealed product images to qualify.
How does Amazon's Inventory Replenishment work?
Amazon provides restock recommendations in Seller Central based on sales velocity, lead time, and seasonality. Use these to plan your FBA shipments. Indray offers recurring scheduled deliveries for high-velocity sellers.
What is the cost of shipping FTL to Amazon FBA?
FTL rates to Amazon FCs vary by distance and market. Typical rates range from $1,500–$5,000 depending on lane length. Indray offers competitive FTL rates with guaranteed appointment compliance for Amazon deliveries.
How do I handle Amazon FBA shipments from China?
Indray provides end-to-end service: ocean freight from China, customs clearance at US ports, drayage to prep center or directly to Amazon FC. We handle ISF filing, entry processing, and all Amazon compliance requirements.
What is Amazon's Capacity Manager?
Capacity Manager allows sellers to request additional FBA storage capacity by bidding a reservation fee per cubic foot. If your bid is accepted, you pay only if you use the extra capacity. Useful during inventory limit periods.
How do I optimize my Amazon FBA supply chain?
Key strategies: consolidate shipments for FTL rates, use distributed placement to avoid fees, maintain IPI above 400, plan for peak seasons 6–8 weeks early, and partner with an FBA-experienced carrier like Indray.
Ship to Amazon FBA With Confidence
Indray handles 100+ Amazon FBA shipments every week. Appointments, labeling, prep — we've got it covered. Call +1 908 864 2064.