FBA Prep & Shipments
Prep is the part of an Amazon operation where small errors turn into weeks of lost selling. A missing polybag suffocation label, a case pack that does not match the shipment plan, a carton over the weight limit — each one is trivial on its own and each one can hold a shipment in receiving.
We manage the prep and inbound process so stock arrives compliant, on time, and correctly received.
Where shipments actually go wrong
Prep and packaging
Polybagging and suffocation warnings, bubble wrap for fragile items, sets and bundles labelled as single units, expiry date formatting, liquid and powder requirements.
Amazon charges for prep they have to do themselves, and repeat non-compliance escalates to shipment restrictions.
Labelling
FNSKU labels applied correctly, scannable, and not covering the manufacturer's barcode. Mixed-condition and mixed-ASIN cartons are a common and expensive mistake.
A mislabelled unit becomes someone else's inventory, and reclaiming it is slow.
Shipment plans
Split shipments across fulfilment centres, carton content declared accurately, correct box and pallet limits, and inbound placement decisions that balance cost against speed.
An inaccurate carton manifest is the most common cause of a receiving discrepancy.
Receiving and reconciliation
Units received short, received late, or not received at all. These are recoverable, but only if someone is checking within Amazon's claim windows.
Most sellers never reconcile a shipment and simply absorb the loss.
What we handle
- Prep requirements by category and product type
- FNSKU and carton labelling specifications
- Shipment creation and carton manifests
- Fulfilment centre routing and placement
- Carrier booking and tracking
- Restock limit and capacity planning
- Receiving discrepancy investigation
- Reimbursement claims for lost and damaged units
- Dimension and weight fee disputes
- Removal and disposal orders
Fee disputes are worth naming separately. Amazon measures and weighs your units, and when it measures them wrong you pay an inflated fulfilment fee on every unit until someone challenges it. On a fast-moving line that adds up quietly.
How it runs
Prep specification per product
Before the first shipment, we document exactly what each product needs — packaging, labels, warnings, case pack — so your prep centre or warehouse has a specification rather than an assumption.
Shipment planning
Quantities set against velocity, restock limits and lead time, then shipment plans created and cartons manifested accurately.
Inbound and tracking
Carrier booked, shipment tracked to the fulfilment centre, and delays flagged early enough for you to act on them rather than discover them when stock runs out.
Reconcile every shipment
Units sent against units received, discrepancies investigated, and claims filed inside the window. This is the step most operations skip.
Working with your prep centre
We do not run a warehouse. We work with your prep partner or your own facility, give them the specification, and check the output — which in practice is what keeps prep quality consistent. If you need a prep partner in the US or UK, we can point you at ones we have seen perform, without taking a referral fee for it.
Common questions
Do you physically prep and ship my stock?
No. We manage the process, the specifications and the Amazon-side work; the physical handling is done by your prep centre or your own team. This keeps you free to change prep partners without changing agency.
Can you recover money for lost or damaged inventory?
Yes, within Amazon's claim windows. Reconciliation and reimbursement claims are part of the service, and on established accounts the recovered amount often covers a meaningful share of the fee.
What about restock limits?
Restock limits are driven by your Inventory Performance Index and sales velocity. We plan shipments against the limit and work on the underlying metrics — excess inventory, stranded listings, sell-through — because that is what raises the ceiling.
Do you handle international inbound?
We manage the Amazon-side requirements for shipments into US and UK fulfilment centres, including the documentation Amazon needs. Customs clearance and duty are handled by your freight forwarder or customs broker.
Is this available without full account management?
Yes, it runs standalone. It is most often taken alongside wholesale management, where shipment volume is high and errors are frequent.
Stop losing weeks in receiving
Send us your storefront link. The free audit covers your shipment history, receiving discrepancies and the reimbursements you may be owed.