Most inbound problems don't start at Amazon. They start on the prep table. A missed label, an out-of-spec carton, a bundle Amazon splits apart: small things that turn into unplanned prep fees, held shipments, and units that never go live.
This kit is the reference we wish every seller had before their freight left the dock. No email required. It's yours for tracking Pallet #404 down.
12 issues that cause delays, chargebacks, or stranded inventory. Run it before every shipment. If any item makes you pause, that's the one to fix first.
Every unit needs a scannable Amazon barcode (FNSKU) placed over the manufacturer barcode. Smudged, wrapped-over, or wrong-code labels force manual handling.
Fix: Print at high quality, place flat on a clean surface, and confirm the FNSKU matches the exact SKU in your shipment plan.
Box and shipment labels that sit on a seam, wrap a corner, or cover another barcode can't be scanned cleanly at check-in.
Fix: Place each label flat on a single face, clear of seams and existing codes. Remove or cover old carrier labels.
Poly bags with an opening of 5 inches or more require a printed suffocation warning. Bags must be transparent and fully sealed.
Fix: Use the compliant warning text and size, seal every bag, and confirm the FNSKU stays visible through the bag.
Consumables and topicals need a legible expiration date on both the unit and the case, in Amazon's accepted format. Missing or unreadable dates get shipments refused.
Fix: Label the unit and outer case, match the format Amazon requires, and follow FIFO so nothing arrives near expiry.
Standard cartons top out at 50 lb. A box over 50 lb needs a "Team Lift" label; over 100 lb needs a "Mechanical Lift" label. Skip it and the box gets flagged.
Fix: Weigh every carton, rebalance heavy ones, and apply the correct lift label before it leaves the table.
Cartons that exceed 25 inches on any side get flagged unless they hold a single oversize item. Off-spec boxes slow the whole shipment.
Fix: Right-size the carton to the contents and split oversized packs into compliant boxes.
Multi-piece bundles that aren't clearly marked "Sold as Set: Do Not Separate" can be split at the FC, breaking the listing.
Fix: Bag or shrink-wrap the set as one unit and label it "Sold as Set: Do Not Separate."
Glass, liquids, and sharp goods that aren't bagged, bubble-wrapped, or double-boxed arrive damaged and get removed from inventory.
Fix: Match the prep to the risk: leak-proof bagging for liquids, bubble for fragile, protective packaging for sharps.
Shipments without box content data (2D barcode or manual entry) get routed to manual processing and the fees that come with it.
Fix: Provide accurate box contents for every carton before the shipment ships, not after.
Over- or under-packing units per box versus the plan creates reconciliation gaps and lost-unit disputes that take weeks to resolve.
Fix: Count against the plan at pack-out and correct the plan before shipping if quantities changed.
Amazon bans certain dunnage, including shredded paper, packing peanuts, and crinkle wrap. Using it can trigger prep issues at the FC.
Fix: Pack with approved materials like bubble wrap, air pillows, or full paper sheets.
Rerouting units or ignoring Amazon's assigned destinations can add placement fees and slow check-in. This is where inbound strategy pays off.
Fix: Ship to the plan, or consolidate through a single hub so your freight rides the most efficient lanes.
The labels that have to be right, and where they go. Print this and keep it on the prep table.
One per unit. Place it over the manufacturer barcode so only the FNSKU scans. Keep it flat, high-contrast, and clear of curves and corners.
One per carton, on a flat face, never on a seam. This is the shipment box label from your plan. It stays separate from the carrier label.
The freight or parcel label goes on its own clear space. Both the box ID label and the carrier label must scan without peeling anything back.
Four pallet labels per pallet, one centered on each side, near the top so they stay visible after wrapping. Shrink-wrap fully and keep labels on the outside.
"Team Lift" on any carton over 50 lb, "Mechanical Lift" over 100 lb. Apply before the box leaves the table so it never gets refused at the dock.
Dated goods: legible expiration on unit and case. Bundles: "Sold as Set: Do Not Separate" on the outer packaging so nothing gets split.
The final gate. Clear all eight before the truck leaves. If one isn't done, the shipment isn't ready.
Source: Amazon Seller Central FBA packaging, prep, labeling, and shipment requirements. Amazon updates these specs periodically. Confirm current thresholds in Seller Central before you ship.
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