Becoming a seller on Amazon is not an easy sailing ship as it comes with great responsibility under your belt. From taking care of inventory’s quality-controlled production to its packaging and shipment, you have to do a lot of tasks.
Also, a minor mishap can lead to huge losses, as Amazon strictly follows the guidelines. A prep center can reduce the workload of the central task of inventory packaging and its shipment to Amazon. You can finally provide the required time to other areas of your e-commerce setup, making it better in all aspects.
However, what is a prep center, and how does it function? This article will clear up every confusion you have regarding this term. We have also discussed the beneficial side of this service in detail. So, let’s get started.
What Is an Amazon Prep Centre?
An FBA prep centre is an all-in-one solution to your inventory’s packaging and shipping problems. It hires experts in the field to carry out the relevant task by closely following all the rules and regulations.
You develop the inventory and send it off to a prep centre. They will take care of everything else, including packaging, labeling, and shipping to Amazon’s warehouse. Choosing this service accompanies several benefits that can bring a positive change to your e-commerce setup.
A Few Reasons That Reflect the Beneficial Side of an Amazon Prep Centre
While running an Amazon business, you must take care of all minor aspects. Let’s overview how handing the packaging tasks to a prep centre can reduce your workload.
Time-saving
Preparing parcels to ship them is a time-taking task. Moreover, the demand for labor force also increases, affecting your budget. Meanwhile, outsourcing the job can be ideal for saving your business from such problems. You can instead direct the effort and cost to other vital areas that help scale your inventory.
Boosted sales
You can produce bulk products when experts operate labor-intensive duties like packaging and shipment. Finally, allowing you to serve more consumers. This remarkable profit increment is worthwhile for your business in the long term.
Proper compliance with rules
Amazon wants buyers to abide by a list of inventory packing and delivery guidelines. Hence, you can access an outline of those strict rules and regulations below:
- Readable barcodes are a must, which the buyer can conveniently scan to confirm authenticity.
- Sellers must assemble the products correctly before shipping them to the Amazon repository.
- Products that sell in sets must have a proper label.
- Every product of a similar category should have the same packaging quality.
You must follow these directions closely as Amazon takes strict action on minor non-compliance. Hence, directing the task to prep centre experts with prolonged experience can be your go-to choice to avoid inconveniences.
Cuts down the need for extra space
Abiding by the strict Amazon packaging guidelines requires a spacey area for 100% fulfillment. Usually, sellers have to rent a warehouse many beginners can not afford. Even high-selling business owners would not want to pay several dollars monthly.
The Amazon prep centre reflects the best solution by storing the inventory is their responsibility. However, you must keep a quality check by visiting the prep centre at least once before shipment to Amazon’s warehouse.
Read my article: Drop Shipping: Everything You Need To Know About Drop Shipping
Aspects to Consider for Choosing a Supreme FBA Prep Centre for Your Inventory
There are several prep centres, but you must consider a few essential factors before signing a deal. This task demands attention to detail regarding Amazon’s rigid packaging and shipping policies. Let’s examine the criteria a prep centre must meet to qualify as a perfect choice for your business.
Cost
The foremost aspect to regard is the amount an FBA prep centre demands. You can pay per item or make mutual settlements over a monthly deal. A monthly quote is the most economical option if you ship out bulk products regularly. However, the per-item plan can benefit retail businesses that sell seasonally.
Area
Choosing a centre far from your production department means adding extra transportation costs. Hence, it would be best to always look for a nearby option when shipping inside the country. If your inventory is to arrive from an international location, dealing with a prep centre near the port is ideal.
Warehouse’s Functionality
According to your inventory, you must inquire about the additional capabilities of the storage department. For example, there must be a temperature-controlled environment for food-related items that can go stale in extreme conditions. Moreover, other aspects like hygiene, size, and turnaround time are also essential.
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How Does an Amazon Prep Centre Works?
You must change the settings on your seller account after selecting an appropriate centre for your inventory. Following the below-mentioned steps can help;
- Visit the page Amazon has specified for product preparation.
- Click on the Who Preps section and select Amazon as your packaging and shipment source.
Now a three-step task can finally set up your deal with the prep centre without visiting them. Let’s briefly overview them.
Create a Support Account
A support account allows limited access of your seller id to the prep centre. Delivering critical criteria like inventory volume, measurements, type, and labels is essential. After acquiring all the data, they print to stick an exclusive FNSKU label on every single item.
Outline a Shipping Scheme
The next step is establishing a proper plan that enlists all the products and their quantities for preparation. You can complete this step on your seller account, which saves it automatically for FBA prep experts to access.
Fill out a form to provide additional details.
The prep centre provides a form for filling out extra details concerning the packaging and shipment. You can either opt for inventory pick-up or arrange its drop by the warehouse through your supplier.
The experts immediately start preparing goods for shipment as per your guidelines. They instantly ship the inventory to Amazon’s warehouse after its completion. Thus, this process can take 24 to 48 hours, depending on various circumstances.
Final Thoughts
A wise person once said, work smart, not hard. You must follow this ever-famous quote by outsourcing the packaging and shipment of your Amazon parcels to an efficient FBA prep centre.
Complying with Amazon’s rules is complicated, which may result in the rejection of your product unless the experts at these centres handle the work. So, sign up with any nearby prep centre now! It will save a lot of resources, time, and effort for your business to prosper soon.
FAQs
Q: How much does an Amazon prep centre cost?
A: Prices differentiate based on multiple factors. It includes the weight and size of inventory, shipping distance, different quality control requirements, and unique add-ons like bubble wrap. The typical cost per unit ranges between $1 to $2.
Q: Is it necessary to sign up at an FBA prep centre?
A: It is unnecessary, but it can help your business in several areas. By handing it over to prep centre experts, you can free yourself from the stress of meeting Amazon’s strict regulations. Your time, cost, and efforts get preserved so you can direct it toward flourishing other aspects of your inventory.
Q: What specific services do Amazon prep centres offer?
A: FBA prep centres deliver different services, including;
- Printing and sticking of FNSKU labels on every product
- Bundling of items belonging to similar or different categories
- Packaging of products in custom boxes or bags
- Printing and putting on warning or manufacturer’s labels wherever it is required
- Using poly bags as per material needs
- Inserting instruction manuals, vouchers, or cards in individual packages.