If you are an Amazon seller who wants to use the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service, you need to create an Amazon FBA shipping plan. An FBA shipping plan is a document that tells Amazon how to handle your inventory, such as what products you are sending, where you are sending them from, how you are packing them, and how you are shipping them.
Creating an FBA shipping plan is an essential step to ensure that your products are delivered to Amazon’s fulfillment centers safely and efficiently, and that they are ready to be sold to your customers. However, creating an FBA shipping plan can be confusing and complicated, especially if you are new to FBA or have multiple products to ship.
How to Choose the Inventory to Ship to Amazon FBA
The first step of creating an FBA shipping plan is to choose the inventory to ship to Amazon. You can do this from the Manage Inventory page on your Seller Central dashboard. Here, you can see your products and their fulfillment method (FBA or FBM).
To choose the products to ship to Amazon, you need to change their fulfillment method to FBA. You can do this by checking the boxes next to the products, and then clicking on Action on Selected > Change to Fulfilled by Amazon.
You will be asked to confirm your choice, and then you will see a window where you can choose the barcode type for your products. You can use either the manufacturer barcode or the Amazon barcode. The barcode type affects how Amazon tracks your products.
If you use the manufacturer barcode, you don’t need to label your products, but you need to make sure they are new and scannable. If you use the Amazon barcode, you need to label your products yourself, or pay Amazon to do it. The Amazon barcode is better for used or mixed products, or products with variations.
After choosing the barcode type, click on Convert & Send Inventory. You will see a page where you can review your products and their details. You can also edit or delete any products if needed. When you are ready, click on Send Inventory.
How to Choose the Pickup Location for Your FBA Products
The pickup location is the second step of creating an FBA shipping plan. It is the address where you ship your products from, and it can be your home, warehouse, or supplier. The pickup location determines where Amazon will return your unsold products, and which fulfillment centers you will ship your products to.
To choose the pickup location, you need to enter the address, name, and phone number of the shipper. You can also use an existing or a new address from your address book. Make sure the address and phone number are correct and reachable.
After entering the pickup location, click on Continue. You will then see a page where you can choose the packing type for your products.
How to Choose the Packing Type for Your FBA Products
The packing type is the third step of creating an FBA shipping plan. It is how you group your products for shipping, and it can be either individual or case-packed. The packing type affects how you label, pack, and ship your products, and how Amazon handles and stores them.
Individual products are not in cases or boxes, and have different SKUs or quantities. For example, 10 units of product A, 20 units of product B, and 30 units of product C are individual products. You need to label each unit with the barcode from the previous step, and pack them in boxes with up to 150 units per box.
Case-packed products are in cases or boxes, and have the same SKU and quantity. For example, 10 cases of product A, with 12 units of product A per case, are case-packed products. You need to label each case with the barcode from the previous step, and pack them in boxes with up to 150 units per box.
To choose the packing type, you need to select either Individual products or Case-packed products from the menu. If you choose Individual products, you will see a table where you can enter the units per product. If you choose Case-packed products, you will see a table where you can enter the cases and units per case per product.
After entering the packing type and the quantities, click on Continue. You will then see a page where you can choose the prep option for your products.
How to Choose the Prep Option for Your FBA Products
The prep option is the fourth step of creating an FBA shipping plan. It is how you prepare your products for shipping and fulfillment, and it can be no prep, Amazon prep, or merchant prep. The prep option affects how you secure your products, and how Amazon stores and handles them.
No prep means that your products do not need any special preparation, such as bubble wrap, poly bags, or tape. This is the default option for most products, and it means that you only need to label and pack your products based on the packing type from the previous step.
Amazon prep means that your products need some special preparation, such as bubble wrap, poly bags, or tape, and that you want Amazon to do it for you. This option is available for some products, and it means that you need to pay Amazon a fee per unit that they prep for you. You can see the fee and the guidance on the Amazon website.
Merchant prep means that your products need some special preparation, such as bubble wrap, poly bags, or tape, and that you want to do it yourself. This option is available for all products, and it means that you need to follow the Amazon guidance and provide the materials and equipment to prep your products. You can see the guidance and the materials and equipment on the Amazon website.
To choose the prep option, you need to select either No prep, Amazon prep, or Merchant prep from the menu for each product that you are shipping. You can also apply the same option to all products by checking the box at the top. After choosing the prep option, click on Continue. You will then see a page where you can name your shipping plan and get the fulfillment center code and address.
How to Choose a Name and Destination for Your FBA Shipping Plan
The next step in creating an FBA shipping plan is to give your shipping plan a name and get the code and address of the fulfillment center where you will ship your products. This will help you keep track of your shipping plan and follow Amazon’s instructions on where to send your products. Amazon will assign you a fulfillment center code and address based on their inventory and logistics needs. You can name your shipping plan whatever you want, as long as it makes sense to you. For example, you can use the product name, the date, or the order number. You can also use the name that Amazon suggests, which is based on the address you are shipping from and the date. The name of your shipping plan is only for your own use, and it will not be seen by Amazon or your customers. To get the code and address of the fulfillment center, you need to click on the Approve and Continue button at the bottom of the page. You will then see a page where you can check your shipping plan details, such as the products, the quantities, the packing type, the prep option, and the code and address of the fulfillment center. You can also make changes or delete your shipping plan if you want. After you have checked your shipping plan details, click on the Work on Shipment button. You will then see a page where you can select the shipping method and the carrier.
How to Pick the Best Way to Ship Your Products to Amazon
The sixth step in creating an FBA shipping plan is to choose how you will ship your products to Amazon’s fulfillment centers and how much it will cost you. You can select the shipping method and the carrier that best suits your needs and budget. The shipping method is based on the size and weight of your packages. You have two options: small parcel delivery (SPD) or less than truckload (LTL). SPD is for packages that weigh less than 50 pounds and measure less than 25 x 18 x 18 inches. LTL is for packages that weigh more than 150 pounds and measure 48 x 40 x 72 inches. The carrier is the company that will transport your packages to Amazon. You have two options: Amazon’s partnered carrier or your own carrier. Amazon’s partnered carrier is a carrier that has a contract with Amazon and offers discounted rates and convenient services for FBA sellers. Your own carrier is a carrier that you choose and arrange yourself and that you trust and pay for. You can choose either SPD or LTL and either Amazon’s partnered carrier or your own carrier depending on your products, your budget, and your convenience. To choose the shipping method and the carrier, you need to select either SPD or LTL from the drop-down menu and then click on the Confirm button. You will then see a page where you can enter the number of boxes or pallets, the weight and dimensions of each box or pallet, and the carrier information. If you choose Amazon’s partnered carrier, you will see the estimated shipping cost and the carrier name. If you choose your own carrier, you will see the shipping label requirements and the carrier options. Once you have entered the shipping method and the carrier information, click on the Calculate button. You will then see a page where you can review your shipping charges, if applicable, and accept the terms and conditions. You can also edit or delete your shipping method and carrier information if needed. When you are ready, click on the Accept Charges button. You will then see a page where you can print your shipping labels and packing slips.
How to Print and Attach Your Shipping Labels and Packing Slips
The last step in creating an FBA shipping plan is to print your shipping labels and packing slips. These are the documents that you need to stick to your boxes or pallets, and that have information such as your address, the fulfillment center code and address, your product SKUs and quantities, and your tracking numbers. Printing your shipping labels and packing slips is essential to make sure that your products are shipped and received properly by Amazon, and that they are ready to be sold to your customers. You need to print your shipping labels and packing slips with a laser printer, and use good-quality paper and ink. To print your shipping labels and packing slips, you need to click on the Print box labels button at the bottom of the page. You will then see a pop-up window where you can pick the label format, the label size, and the number of labels per sheet. You can also print a test label to check the alignment and the quality of your printer. After you have picked the label settings, click on the Download labels button. You will then see a PDF file that has your shipping labels and packing slips. You need to print this file with a laser printer, and cut out the labels and the slips. You need to stick one shipping label and one packing slip to each box or pallet that you are shipping. You need to make sure that the labels and the slips are clear and secure, and that they do not cover any barcodes or seals. You also need to keep a copy of the labels and the slips for your records.
How to Wrap Up Your FBA Shipping Plan
Creating an FBA shipping plan is an essential step to use the FBA service and sell your products on Amazon. It requires you to choose your inventory, your pickup location, your packing type, your prep option, your shipping plan name, your shipping method, and your carrier. It also requires you to print your shipping labels and packing slips, and stick them to your boxes or pallets. Creating an FBA shipping plan may seem daunting and complex, but it can also be simple and easy, if you follow the steps and the tips that we have shared in this article. We hope this article has helped you learn how to create an FBA shipping plan in 2024, and make your FBA experience more smooth and successful.
