{"id":200,"date":"2024-09-30T13:55:30","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T17:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/?p=200"},"modified":"2024-09-30T13:58:01","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T17:58:01","slug":"how-to-create-an-amazon-fba-shipping-plan-send-your-first-shipment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/2024\/09\/30\/how-to-create-an-amazon-fba-shipping-plan-send-your-first-shipment\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create an Amazon FBA Shipping Plan &amp; Send Your First Shipment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Create an Amazon FBA Shipping Plan &amp; Send Your First Shipment\" width=\"680\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/swg0ABVV5mQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-markdown\"><p>Creating and sending your first shipment of inventory to Amazon can be a bit tricky\u2014especially with Amazon\u2019s recent changes to the shipping workflow, including the <strong>partnered carrier program<\/strong> and the <strong>new inventory placement options<\/strong>. These changes can make shipping more confusing and potentially costly if not done correctly. But don\u2019t worry; I\u2019m going to walk you through the process <strong>step-by-step<\/strong>, so you can create your first shipping plan without any hassles or mistakes.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll also cover how to ship multiple products, deal with mixed or mismatched cartons, proper labeling, and other tips and tricks along the way.<\/p>\n<h2>The Basics: FBA vs. FBM<\/h2>\n<p>Before we dive in, let\u2019s clarify when and why you need to ship inventory to Amazon. You only need to ship inventory if you plan to sell through <strong>Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)<\/strong>. This means Amazon will handle everything for you\u2014storage, packing, shipping, customer service, and even returns and refunds.<\/p>\n<p>If you plan to do <strong>FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant)<\/strong>, where you handle all the shipping and fulfillment to customers yourself, you don\u2019t need to ship anything to Amazon.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pro Tip<\/strong>: I highly recommend FBA because it simplifies the selling process. Plus, your products will have the <strong>Prime badge<\/strong> on Amazon, which boosts sales since Prime members get free one- or two-day shipping.<\/p>\n<h3>Can You Drop Off Inventory to Amazon?<\/h3>\n<p>One common question is: \u201cCan I drop off my inventory at a local Amazon warehouse?\u201d Unfortunately, no. Amazon does not accept drop-offs. You\u2019ll need to ship your products using a carrier like <strong>FedEx<\/strong> or <strong>UPS<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2>Step 1: Set Up Your Amazon Seller Account &amp; Product Listing<\/h2>\n<p>Before you can create a shipping plan, you need:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>An <strong>Amazon Seller Account<\/strong>. If you don\u2019t have one, sign up at <a href=\"https:\/\/sell.amazon.com\/\">sell.amazon.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>Product Listing<\/strong>. You cannot create a shipping plan without a listing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>To create a product listing, go to <strong>Menu &gt; Catalog &gt; Add Products<\/strong> in Seller Central.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>If you need help with these steps, check out my detailed videos linked in the description of my YouTube video.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr>\n<h2>Step 2: Start a Shipping Plan<\/h2>\n<p>Once your product listing is created, go to your <strong>Manage Inventory<\/strong> page. From there:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Click on the dropdown next to your product and select <strong>Send\/Replenish Inventory<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Alternatively, go to <strong>Menu &gt; Shipments &gt; Send to Amazon<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Important: Is Your Product Set to FBA?<\/h3>\n<p>If you don\u2019t see the <strong>Send\/Replenish<\/strong> option, your product might not be set up for FBA. Switch to FBA by clicking <strong>Change to Fulfilled by Amazon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2>Step 3: Complete Step 1 of the Shipping Plan<\/h2>\n<h3>Select Products &amp; Enter Details<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Select Products to Ship<\/strong>: You can select multiple products if you\u2019re sending in more than one SKU.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Origin Address<\/strong>: Enter the address where the shipment originates (usually your supplier\u2019s address). A pro tip: To potentially reduce costs, use a <strong>California address<\/strong>. This trick can help you ship to warehouses near the port, cutting costs\u2014but do this at your own risk as it\u2019s against Amazon\u2019s guidelines.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Marketplace Destination<\/strong>: Choose where you\u2019re sending the inventory (e.g., <strong>United States<\/strong> if selling in the US).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr>\n<h3>Create a Packing Template<\/h3>\n<p>You\u2019ll need to create a <strong>Packing Template<\/strong> for your product, specifying how it\u2019s packaged.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Case-Packed vs. Single SKU Pallet<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Case-Packed<\/strong>: If you\u2019re shipping loose cartons that aren\u2019t on a pallet.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Single SKU Pallet<\/strong>: If you\u2019re shipping palletized cartons, usually for larger shipments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Understanding Case-Packed<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Each carton must contain the <strong>same SKU<\/strong> and <strong>equal quantities<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Example: If shipping <strong>100 units of a red toothbrush<\/strong>, all cartons must have the same SKU and quantity (e.g., <strong>100 units per carton<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Naming the Template<\/strong>: Use something like <em>\u201cCase Packed &#8211; 30 Units\u201d<\/em> for easy reference.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>\n<p><strong>Box Details<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Enter <strong>units per box<\/strong>, <strong>box dimensions<\/strong>, and <strong>weight<\/strong>. You can get this info from your supplier.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure to convert to <strong>inches and pounds<\/strong> if your supplier provides metric measurements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Prep Category &amp; Barcode<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you need Amazon to do any extra prep (like <strong>bubble-wrapping<\/strong>), you can select that option here.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Barcode Type<\/strong>: Always choose <strong>Amazon Barcode (FNSKU)<\/strong> over the <strong>Manufacturer Barcode (UPC)<\/strong> to avoid inventory getting co-mingled with other sellers\u2019 items.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Labeling<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Choose <strong>Seller<\/strong> for who will label the products (your manufacturer usually).<\/li>\n<li>Amazon charges <strong>$0.55\/unit<\/strong> to label for you, so it\u2019s often cheaper to have your supplier do it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Once done, <strong>Save<\/strong> your template.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>Enter Units to Ship<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Enter the number of units you\u2019re sending. For example, if you have <strong>5 cartons of 30 units each<\/strong>, enter <strong>150 units<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Ready to Send<\/strong>, then <strong>Confirm and Continue<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Adding Extra Cartons<\/h4>\n<p>If you have a carton that doesn\u2019t match the packing template (e.g., an extra carton of <strong>10 units<\/strong>):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Click <strong>More Inputs &gt; Add a Packing Line<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Choose <strong>Individual Units<\/strong> and enter details.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<h2>Step 4: Shipping Details &#8211; Step 2<\/h2>\n<p>Here\u2019s where Amazon has made some big changes. You have two main options: <strong>Amazon Partnered Carrier<\/strong> or <strong>Non-Partnered Carrier<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Amazon Partnered Carrier Option<\/h3>\n<p>If you use Amazon\u2019s partnered carriers, you\u2019ll take advantage of Amazon\u2019s shipping discounts. This is usually the <strong>recommended option<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>New Inbound Placement Service Fees<\/strong>:\nYou can choose how to split your shipment across multiple Amazon warehouses:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>More Warehouses = Lower Fees<\/strong>: Shipping to <strong>more warehouses<\/strong> lowers fees but increases shipping complexity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fewer Warehouses = Higher Fees<\/strong>: Shipping to just <strong>1 warehouse<\/strong> has a high fee but simplifies shipping.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Choose the <strong>Shipping Mode<\/strong> (e.g., <strong>Air<\/strong> or <strong>Sea<\/strong>) and set a <strong>ship date<\/strong>. Then click on <strong>Get Shipping Cost<\/strong> to view carrier options and costs.<\/p>\n<h3>Non-Partnered Carrier Option<\/h3>\n<p>If you want to arrange your own shipping through carriers like <strong>FedEx<\/strong>, <strong>UPS<\/strong>, or <strong>DHL<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Set a <strong>ship date<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the <strong>shipping mode<\/strong> (<strong>Air<\/strong>, <strong>Ground<\/strong>, or <strong>Sea<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<li>Specify the <strong>delivery window<\/strong>\u2014it\u2019s critical to be as accurate as possible to maintain your account health.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Click <strong>Accept Charges and Confirm Shipping<\/strong> when done.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2>Step 5: Print Box Labels<\/h2>\n<p>Download and print <strong>box labels<\/strong> for each shipping carton:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Save as a PDF<\/strong> if you\u2019re sending it to your supplier or freight forwarder.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure each carton has the <strong>correct label<\/strong> to match the shipment quantity.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: These labels are for Amazon\u2019s internal use, to identify and track the shipment at their warehouse.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2>Shipping the Products<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re not handling the shipment, there\u2019s nothing more to do. But if you are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Drop off your shipment at the carrier (UPS, FedEx, etc.).<\/li>\n<li>Or, arrange for the carrier to pick up the shipment (a pickup fee may apply).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr>\n<h2>Track &amp; Monitor Your Shipment<\/h2>\n<p>Once your shipment is on the way:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Track it in Seller Central<\/strong> under <strong>Shipments &gt; Track Shipment<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Enter the <strong>tracking details<\/strong> once available.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Your shipment will move through statuses like <strong>Shipped<\/strong>, <strong>Delivered<\/strong>, <strong>Checked In<\/strong>, and <strong>Received<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Processing can take anywhere from a <strong>few days to several weeks<\/strong>, so plan ahead, especially during peak seasons.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr>\n<h2>Two Common Mistakes to Avoid<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Storage Capacity Issues<\/strong>: If you get an error that your shipment exceeds your <strong>FBA capacity<\/strong>, delete any old shipping plans that are tying up storage.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mixing Up Unit &amp; Carton Details<\/strong>: Always keep unit size\/weight separate from <strong>carton size\/weight<\/strong> to avoid massive errors in fees and storage calculations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":201,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-shipping"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/maxresdefault-1-1.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=200"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/200\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":202,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/200\/revisions\/202"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}