What are the most overlooked reasons why FBA shipments are rejected for storage?

Recently, Amazon US Station updated its storage policy for FBA shipments. Effective 1 February 2024, shipments sent from US addresses must be delivered to Amazon warehouses within 45 days of shipping plan creation, while shipments sent from non-US addresses must be delivered within 75 days. If a seller's shipment does not meet Amazon's requirements or does not match the inventory in the warehouse plan, it may be rejected or charged a storage error fee.

There are also some situations where shipments are easily rejected by Amazon, and even if they are delivered to the warehouse, they may not be listed for weeks. In most cases, the seller's first reaction is to find the logistics provider or open a case with Amazon Customer Service. But in reality, this may be due to the seller's own negligence. Let's have a look together.

Firstly, Amazon has very strict packaging requirements for FBA products. There are requirements for outer box labels and product SKU codes. When products arrive, Amazon only recognises the codes, not the goods! Any deviation from the specifications can result in the goods being rejected by Amazon.

• FBA packaging requirements:

1. The box can’t have any third-party logos, even if it is Amazon's own return shipping box.
2. There can’t be any website URLs on the packaging box.
3. There can’t be any strapping on the outside of the box.
4. Two boxes of goods cannot be combined into one box. If this happens, Amazon will reject the shipment.
5. The FBA label must be current. If the label is expired, it will be rejected.
6. Amazon's policy is that four labels must be attached to each carton. If all the labels are not attached, the goods cannot be scanned and recognised by the conveyor belt machines.

• Considerations when printing labels:

1. If cost effectiveness is a priority, it is recommended that you print on thermal paper. If you are using a printer with a resolution of 300dpi or higher, you should use either 30mm x 60mm or 40mm x 70mm thermal paper as consumables.
2. Carbon ribbon printing gives better results and lower scanning error rates. A good option is to use a carbon ribbon printer with tree-based or mixed-base carbon ribbon supplies that meet the printing requirements of Amazon's Transparent Plan.
3. It is recommended that sellers purchase high quality label paper that is waterproof, dustproof and oil resistant.
4. When printing FNSKU labels, it is recommended that a strict 'First Article Inspection' system is implemented. This means that the first few labels printed should be scanned using a mobile application to ensure they are recognisable. This is because after long periods of use, the printer's needle heads can become damaged, which may not be visible to the naked eye.

• Posting considerations:

1. If you are using A4 paper to print the box labels, it is recommended that you wrap them in clear tape. However, if you are using a thermal printer to print the labels, do not use clear tape as it may cause chemical reactions that blur the barcode and characters.
2. Products packaged in non-breathable materials (such as plastic seals) tend to generate moisture, which can cause the FNSKU labels to become damp and interfere with scanning.
3. Be careful not to repeatedly cover the labels with tape, which can cause reflections and wrinkles on the surface, making it impossible for the scanner to read the labels.
4. Sellers shouldn't apply FNSKU barcodes to the outside of the box to easily identify the products inside, unless the outer box is also the product packaging. This is because Amazon warehouse workers use FNSKU barcodes to determine whether they need to continue unpacking. If they see an FNSKU barcode, they will stop unpacking the box, assuming that the current packaging is the product packaging.
5. Be careful not to mix up product labels and put the wrong barcode on a shipment. If this is discovered during a warehouse inspection, you could face fines, restrictions on creating shipments or even the suspension of your sales licences.

Failure by sellers to comply with Amazon Logistics packaging and labelling requirements may result in rejection or return of goods by Amazon Fulfilment Centres, prohibition of further shipments to the Fulfilment Centres, or additional non-compliance fees.

As a result, sellers are advised to maintain strict control over inbound FBA packaging specifications to avoid potential losses due to momentary negligence. PGS CBEL will continue to provide quality FBA first-mile logistics solutions for sellers, enabling companies to efficiently expand internationally!