Navigating Amazon’s Policies and Restrictions for FBA Sellers
FBA, or Fulfillment by Amazon, is an option for sellers when selling online through Amazon. Most sellers use it these days because of the sheer convenience it brings. The convenience is enough to ignore the fees associated with the service. However, some strict policies come with this service, and every seller needs to know and understand them.
There are separate seller conduct, labeling, and FBA prep logistics guidelines. The FBA prep guidelines are the strictest because they act as a cookie-cutter formula to accommodate every seller.
Knowing more about these guidelines will help you understand what you can get away with. Knowing the rules makes it easier to handle false or misleading claims by the customer and gives you more autonomy. If you want to learn more about Amazon policies for sellers or FBA prep logistics guidelines, then you’re at the right place.
Amazon Packaging Policies
Amazon ensures its management quality by giving guidelines for every product and package. Different products naturally have different packaging requirements, which depend on various dimensions and measurements of the product and the material type. If you want to sell using Amazon fulfillment, you’ll need to know these things beforehand.
1. FNSKU and Tracking
Amazon FBA labelling service uses Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit, or FNSKU, to identify every product that goes through their inventory. FBA requirement dictates that every seller use a unique FNSKU for each product. FNSKU is a term Amazon uses for barcodes, and you must always put the barcode in an easily accessible area.
2. Expiration Dates and Perishables
Every package you send to Amazon must have a clearly stated expiration date on the outer side of the box. For the U.S. version, the correct date format is MM-DD-YYYY, and for the European version, you must use DD-MM-YYYY.
The dates must be written in a 36 or larger font. If your box already has a printed date in the wrong format, you can use a sticker with the correct format to cover that up. As for perishables, those you can not sell through FBA. You can find many third-party FBA labeling services to automate this process.
3. Guidelines for Loose Products
If you plan on selling loose products as a set, you’ll need to put them all inside one container or package. You must also label them “sold as set,” or “do not separate.” You’ll also need to seal the container with removable tape and secure it properly.
Footwear and other similar products have unique requirements. You can not put them in a transparent package. Every part of the product should stay covered by the container.
4. Packaging Boxed and Polybag units
Amazon only accepts boxes with six sides; each box must have proper seals. The lids need tape and adhesive so that they are difficult to open. Every package must also have enough strength to withstand a 3-foot drop test.
Poly bag units need a suffocation warning if their entrance is over five inches long. You can either print the warning on the poly bag or put a sticker with the information. Poly bags also need clear transparency and have a barcode in an easy-to-spot location. You’ll also need to seal the poly bag properly, so the content doesn’t spill out during the shipping process.
5. Over-boxing
Over-boxing is a method for protecting fragile products from the strenuous shipping process. These boxes are mandatory for goods that have a chance of causing harm to other products if they spill out. Things like vinyl records, certain liquids, and sharp objects fall into that category.
You may also need to use over-boxing if the original container of your product is not fit for shipping. Over-boxing is usually not enough for some products. You’ll need to combine those with bubble wraps, foam filling, or other insulating materials.
Amazon Policy For Dangerous Goods
Amazon has a separate policy for selling dangerous goods through the FDA. For some products, they will ask for the corresponding documentation and necessary paperwork. They limit the selling quantity of more problematic products. Lastly, some products are directly banned.
Not providing the proper documentation for dangerous goods will result in losing the product. Amazon usually gives the seller a 14-day deadline to submit required documents if they identify a product as “dangerous.”
If you do not send the documents, they will dispose of the product through ethical means. That’s why it is necessary to identify whether your product falls under the Hazmat category before you ship them out.
The Amazon Hazmat policy separates these problematic products into three categories:
1. Allowed By FBA
Amazon’s Hatmat policy is not only for firearms, dangerous objects, explosives, or radioactive materials. You’ll be surprised that many everyday items also fall into the “dangerous goods” list. The ones that are allowed
The allowed Hazmat goods are mostly batteries and products containing batteries. Like cameras, watches, power banks, and other such gizmos. Sound-related products also fall into this category if they have magnets.
While these products are allowed, you must provide the SDS when sending them to the FBA prep logistics. SDS stands for Safety Data Sheet and contains information regarding the chemical markup of your product.
2. Allowed By FBA But In Limited Quantities
The products that are allowed in limited quantities include toxic substances, oxidizers, and flammable liquids. These things are usually found in various types of cleaning products, plumbing equipment, and canned sprays.
As before, you will need to provide the SDS with these products. They will then go through a short review phase at the warehouse, which takes about one or two business days. But such products usually have special storage requirements, so you will incur extra charges.
The unique storage condition is also why each seller can only sell a limited quantity of such products.
3. Banned By FBA
Radioactive material, toxic gas, explosive material, and firearms of any sort are entirely banned by Amazon. You can not sell, advertise, or distribute them through Amazon. Amazon also retains the right to deem a product unsafe if they think it violates its safety standards.
Amazon Shipping Label Policies
The FBA labeling service requires you to label all your packages with the necessary information, such as addresses and location markers. These are called shipping labels, and every package needs to have it in the correct format.
The exact information you need to put on the label can vary, but some crucial parts stay constant with every format. Most labels need a destination address, a return address, a package weight, a tracking number, and a barcode.
These labels help sellers manage their inventory and keep track of what goes through their inventory. The tracking number can also help the customer track their delivery. The addresses also make it easy for customers to apply for Amazon FBA returns.
Every package or box sent to FBA prep logistics needs to follow the proper format for their labels. Amazon encourages a labeling ratio of 4” x 6,” but you can go up to 6” x 8”.
Sellers often find these things quite a hassle, especially since they spend so much time and workforce on production. That’s why many people use third-party FBA prep services like our ESRPrep.
Amazon policies for sellers exist to ensure a smooth storage and delivery process for all parties involved. But these requirements are pretty stringent, and many sellers find it hard to fulfill them. So it’s usually better to have professionals handle the packaging.
Be sure to contact us for a quote for Amazon FBA prep services. We can make sure that your packages meet all the Amazon policies.