Q4 Peak Season FBA Shipping Strategy
Q4 (October–December) is make-or-break for Amazon sellers. Your shipping strategy determines whether you capture holiday demand or lose sales to stockouts.
Q4 Timeline
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Aug 1–15 | Finalize Q4 product selections and quantities |
| Aug 15–31 | Place production/purchase orders |
| Sep 1–15 | Begin shipping Q4 inventory to FBA |
| Sep 15–30 | Complete Q4 inventory send-in |
| Oct 1 | Peak storage fees begin ($2.40/ft³) |
| Oct 8–15 | Prime Big Deal Days (send inventory by Sep 25) |
| Nov 1 | Black Friday prep — inventory must be in stock |
| Nov 25–28 | Black Friday / Cyber Monday |
| Dec 1–20 | Holiday shipping — maintain stock levels |
| Dec 25 | Christmas |
Inventory Planning
Rule of thumb: Stock 2.5–3x your normal monthly sales velocity for Q4.
| Monthly Sales | Q4 Stock Target | Ship By |
|---|---|---|
| 500 units | 1,250–1,500 | Sep 15 |
| 1,000 units | 2,500–3,000 | Sep 10 |
| 5,000 units | 12,500–15,000 | Sep 1 |
| 10,000+ units | 25,000–30,000 | Aug 25 |
Shipping Challenges in Q4
- Carrier capacity tightens — Book FTL/LTL early
- FC receiving slows down — Check-in times increase from 3 days to 7–14 days
- Storage fees spike — 3x normal rates Oct–Dec
- Appointment availability decreases — Book 2+ weeks ahead
- Weather disruptions — Plan buffer time for transit
Q4 Shipping Tips
- Ship early — Get inventory to FCs by September 30
- Book carriers now — Don't wait until September to arrange freight
- Use FTL when possible — More reliable and faster than LTL in Q4
- Diversify shipping — Don't put all inventory on one truck
- Monitor check-in — Follow up on received but not checked-in shipments
- Have backup inventory ready at your warehouse
Working With Indray for Q4
Indray's FBA team manages peak season logistics for hundreds of Amazon sellers. We book capacity early, manage appointments proactively, and ensure your inventory arrives on time. Secure your Q4 capacity now.
