Guides for sellers and prep partners
A short, focused library - how to choose a partner, what prep costs, and how a shipment actually moves from your supplier to Amazon.
Send inventory with confidence
Who Preps Your FBA Inventory Now That Amazon Stopped?
Amazon wound down the in-house prep and labeling help it offered US FBA sellers. Here's what changed, your options for getting inventory prepped, and how to choose a third-party prep center.
Amazon FBA Prep in China: The 2026 Seller's Guide
How China prep-at-source works for Amazon FBA - what gets done before freight, who handles customs, what it costs, and how to find a vetted China prep partner.
Prep at Source vs. Import-Then-Prep for Amazon FBA
Prep in China at the source, or import to a US prep center first? Compare cost, speed, risk, and customs for Amazon FBA, with a simple decision framework.
What Is an FBA Prep Center?
A simple, beginner-friendly explanation of what prep centers do and when sellers need one.
When to Use a Prep Center Instead of Sending Directly to FBA
Helpful for new sellers deciding whether a prep center is worth it.
How to Choose the Right Prep Center
Choosing a prep center is not only about price - match shipment type, service needs, location, communication, and marketplace destination.
Prep Center Pricing Guide
Common pricing models: per unit, per carton, per pallet, storage, labeling, poly bagging, bundling, inspection, forwarding.
FNSKU Labeling Basics
What an FNSKU is, when it's required, and how to avoid labeling mistakes.
FBA Prep Checklist for Sellers
A checklist covering labeling, poly bagging, bundling, carton labels, shipment plans, storage, and forwarding.
Prep Requirements by Product Category
What each product category needs before it can ship to Amazon FBA or Walmart WFS - apparel, fragile, liquids, sharp, hazmat, and more.
Multi-Channel Prep: Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS, and TikTok Shop
Use one prep partner across Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS, TikTok Shop, and your own DTC store - and why that's an edge Amazon's own network can't match.
International Shipment Workflow
How inventory moves through five legs - manufacturer, freight forwarder, customs, prep center, fulfillment - and where status falls through.
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Ecommerce Prep & Fulfillment Glossary
Plain-English definitions for common prep, FBA, freight, packaging, and international shipment terms.
- Prep Center
- A third-party service provider that receives and prepares inventory before it is sent to FBA, a fulfillment center, or another destination.
- FBA
- Fulfillment by Amazon. A program where sellers send inventory to Amazon fulfillment centers and Amazon handles storage, picking, packing, shipping, and customer service for eligible orders.
- FNSKU
- Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit. An Amazon-specific barcode used to identify seller inventory in FBA.
- Carton Label
- A label applied to a shipping carton so it can be identified during receiving or fulfillment.
- Poly Bagging
- Placing a product into a plastic bag for protection, containment, or marketplace compliance.
- Bundling
- Combining multiple products into one sellable unit, such as a two-pack, variety pack, or product set.
- Less Than Truckload / LTL
- A freight shipment that uses part of a truck instead of a full truckload. Usually used for pallet shipments.
- Freight Forwarder
- A logistics provider that helps move goods from one location to another, often across countries or from overseas manufacturers to domestic warehouses.
- Customs Clearance
- The process of getting imported goods approved by customs before they can be delivered to a warehouse or prep center.
- Importer of Record / IOR
- The person or business legally responsible for ensuring imported goods comply with customs laws and paying duties and taxes.
- Receiving
- The process of accepting inventory at a prep center or warehouse and recording shipment arrival details.
- Work Order
- A request or instruction set that tells a prep center what work needs to be performed on a shipment.
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