2022 Fulfillment by Amazon Review: Costs, Features & Alternatives
Meaghan has provided content and guidance for indie retailers as the editor for a number of retail publications and a speaker at trade shows. She is Fit Small Business’s authority on retail and ecommerce.
Katie-Jay aims to put answers in the hands of small business owners by leveraging over 10 years of retail and hospitality experience. With a background in gemology, she specializes in jewelry and luxury ecommerce.
This article is part of a larger series on Retail Management.
The service’s complex pricing policy and high, fluctuating storage fees can result in surprise costs if you aren’t careful—so it’s important to understand FBA’s pricing structure and consider alternatives before signing up.
When to Use FBA
According to Jungle Scout’s 2022 State of the Amazon Seller Report, 68% of Amazon sellers use FBA to fulfill all of their orders, while an additional 21% use FBA combined with other fulfillment methods.
Seeing as 89% of Amazon’s millions of active sellers use it, FBA certainly has its advantages. Despite its popularity, top sellers recommend thoroughly reading the company’s policies and fee guides and using Amazon’s calculator tools to see just how profitable the business relationship would be before diving in.
In particular, we recommend FBA for:
- Amazon sellers: FBA provides post-sale servicing, automatic Prime designation, search engine optimization (SEO), and additional benefits for Amazon orders—making it our top choice for order fulfillment for Amazon sellers (or multichannel sellers with a focus on Amazon sales).
- Small and lightweight products: FBA’s pricing structure favors manageable, easy-to-ship goods; it even offers a “Small and Light” program with discounted fulfillment fees for eligible products.
- Inventory with quick turnover: If your goods sell quickly, you’ll be able to avoid FBA’s expensive storage fees by maintaining healthy inventory levels through frequent stock replenishment. The company’s free inbound-shipment receiving makes this a practical approach.
- Developing small businesses: Most young businesses don’t have their own logistics in place—which is where FBA comes in. The cost of setting up an independent warehouse and fulfillment facility is significantly higher than outsourcing the process to FBA. The same goes for customer service capabilities, which can be pricey to staff or outsource.
- Brick-and-mortar stores planning to expand online: FBA offers brick-and-mortar stores a convenient means of expanding into the ecommerce space. Owners can continue to dedicate most of their time and resources to retail sales while FBA handles their online orders.
When to Use an Alternative
With its stringent requirements, costly fees, and associated risks, the service isn’t ideal for every business or product. We don’t recommend FBA for:
- Multichannel sellers: FBA is compatible with multichannel sales but not cost-effective unless Amazon is your primary marketplace. For merchants that focus their business on other selling platforms (such as their own website) but still want to reach Amazon customers, we recommend using FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant) through ShipBob.
- Well-established businesses: If your operation is developed to the point of having its own logistics and/or customer service team in place, Amazon FBA costs likely won’t be worthwhile. The same applies if you’re able to mitigate the expenses involved in fulfilling your own orders.
- Oversized or heavy products: FBA’s pricing structure can be extremely costly for large or heavy goods. Other fulfillment partners, such as Red Stag, have a business model tailored to bulky products—so your shipping discounts will be deeper and your fulfillment fees reduced.
- Special-handling needs: Products that require certain types of special handling are a risky match for FBA’s services. Though the company has climate control in some of its warehouses, it’s not guaranteed that your temp-sensitive goods will be stored in the right environment. Additionally, FBA has a history with the FDA and imposes restrictions on most FDA-regulated products. ShipBob is equipped with FDA-certified climate control and trained handling, making it the best fulfillment choice for food, beverages, cosmetics, medical equipment, and dietary supplements.
Looking for something different?
Check out the other options in our guide to the best order fulfillment companies for small businesses.
FBA Video Review
FBA Overview
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Prime designation for all orders with fast two-day shipping | Sellers must compete with Amazon’s own privately labeled products and hundreds of thousands of other retailers |
| 200+ million Prime subscribers worldwide | Amazon owns and maintains your customer base |
| Boosted search rankings | Fees and pricing structure fluctuate frequently |
| Integrated post-sale servicing and refund management | Strict packaging and labeling requirements |
| Vast network of 110 US and 75 international fulfillment centers for efficient distribution | Pooled storage system invites counterfeit products and reduces control over your inventory |
| Undisclosed error rate | |
FBA functions similarly to most third-party fulfillment companies but has a few notable differences. Here’s an overview of the company’s services and features:
- Warehousing: FBA has a vast warehouse network of 110 US fulfillment centers (as shown below), plus 75 more across the globe. Users can split inventory across multiple warehouses for optimized reach. To put this in perspective, many competing fulfillment companies have three or four total warehouses. When using FBA, inventory can be strategically distributed worldwide with virtually unlimited scalability.
See a full list of exact FBA locations in the Warehouse Locations section.
- Order fulfillment: Orders are picked and packed with Amazon-branded packaging. No branded or otherwise custom packing elements can be used.
- Shipping: FBA primarily uses Amazon Logistics to ship orders, but multichannel orders can be sent out with other couriers for a 5% surcharge. All Amazon orders receive two-day or same-day Prime shipping.
- Multichannel capabilities: FBA can process orders from any sales channel, and its available software integrations are extensive.
- Post-sale servicing: Every customer interaction for your orders, from inquiries to returns to refunds, is handled by FBA. Its customer service representatives are available by phone, email, or live chat 24/7.
- Seller Support: Client support for FBA users is an extension of Amazon’s Seller Support team. There is no direct phone number or help line to contact Seller Support, so you must fill out a request form online for a representative to contact you.
- Amazon benefits: FBA users receive special advantages on Amazon’s platform. The site’s search engine algorithm prioritizes listings shipped by FBA, and FBA sellers are more likely to land the coveted “Buy Box” spot. Additionally, listings can feature the “Subscribe & Save” option to achieve consistent repeat customers.
- Auxiliary software: Due to its popularity, a host of programs and apps have been developed to assist FBA users and Amazon sellers in general. This software can advance your automation, reporting, account monitoring, sales forecasting, and inventory management capabilities—plus much more.
- Special services: FBA’s range of special services differs dramatically from most fulfillment providers. The company offers other unique services like refund management and customer service. Conversely, standard value-add services, such as kitting, assembly, branded packaging, and reporting, aren’t available through FBA.
How FBA Works
FBA uses Amazon’s vast infrastructure to tailor the fulfillment process in favor of expediency and customer experience. Here’s a deeper look at the steps of the process:
Inbound Shipping & Receiving
If you’re new to Amazon and don’t yet have a seller account, you’ll need to make one to use FBA.
Once registered, you’ll send your inventory to an Amazon fulfillment center on a shipping pallet or through a freight forwarding company directly from your supplier. Alternatively, a service like ShipBob can prep and send your inbound FBA shipments for you.
After it’s received, the merchandise can be further distributed across FBA’s warehouse network to optimize logistics.
You can’t sell prohibited products on Amazon using FBA, including gift cards, alcoholic beverages (including nonalcoholic beer), and prescriptions. Using a logistics company like ShipBob will help you avoid sending Amazon any unauthorized shipments, thanks to its FBA prep center and inspection service.
Storage
To store your products in an Amazon fulfillment center, you’ll pay an inventory storage fee. These fees depend on the size of your items and the time during which they’re stored. Amazon FBA storage fees start at 53 cents/cubic foot and go up to $2.40/cubic foot during the busier seasons, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Amazon stores inventory either in bulk or in individual accessible locations—primed for “picking” orders. Media products are stored on library-type shelving in vertical, spine-out positions with loose stacking to avoid “shelf wear.” Specialty items, like food or high-value goods, may be placed in specific secure or climate-controlled areas of the fulfillment center as appropriate.
FBA has implemented a storage system often referred to as “inventory commingling,” which has created a new level of risk for sellers.
The company attempts to streamline distribution by grouping identical products from different sellers in its warehouse facilities, which means that the goods another retailer bought and shipped to FBA could be sent to the customer who made a purchase on your listing.
This practice has led to counterfeit and faulty products making their way into the supply chain—harming the reputation and eligibility of sellers at no fault of their own. It’s a risk that should be assessed by anyone selling goods that aren’t unique to their store.
Order Fulfillment
When a customer places an order on Amazon or another sales channel, FBA picks, packs, and ships the merchandise.
In addition to inventory storage fees, you’ll pay a fulfillment fee that covers all of these processes. These FBA fees start at $2.92/unit for small items (weighing 6 ounces or less) and go up to $200+ per unit for special, oversized products (like hot tubs and deep freezers). The charge includes labor, shipping costs, and packing materials—but it’s worth noting that custom/branded packing is not an option.
Products in certain categories—namely clothing and accessories—are subject to greater fulfillment fees. These costs start at $3.26/unit for goods in the ‘Small standard’ size tier.
In alignment with the platform’s focus on speed and convenience, turnaround time for order fulfillment is very quick—largely thanks to the warehouses’ ample workforce.
Amazon customers get tracking information from the company and receive their orders within two business days, thanks to fast Prime shipping.
As orders come in and stock depletes, you’ll need to manage your inventory in accordance with Amazon’s Restock Report. This provides recommendations on what to replenish, when to do so, and how much to ship.
Keeping proper inventory levels allows you to maximize sales by meeting demand without overstocking. Plus, it increases the chances of your goods being eligible for free same-day or next-day shipping, which is a major incentive to buy.
Customer Service & Returns
If post-sale servicing is needed (such as customer assistance, order returns, or refunds), Amazon handles the interaction. The company’s team of representatives is available to customers 24/7 through multiple communication channels.
Returns are handled, discarded, and/or restocked to your specifications, and the platform manages refund payments.
Amazon FBA Costs
Since Our Last Update:
On April 28th, 2022 FBA added a 5% fuel and inflation surcharge to its fulfillment fees. It was the second price increase the company applied this year. The costs listed below reflect the most recent fee schedule.
FBA pricing and fee rates change periodically and fluctuate throughout the year, which is an important detail to factor in when determining profitability.
Service | Cost | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
Onboarding | $0 | Onboarding and account setup is free, but monthly or per-item seller fees will incur |
Receiving | $0 when guidelines are met | Inbound stock receipt, unpack, and check-in |
Inventory Storage | 53 cents–83 cents per cubic foot/month during January–September; $1.20–$2.40 per cubic foot/month during October–December | Short-term storage with climate control and security options Inventory stored for long periods incurs an additional monthly fee |
Fulfillment | $3.07–$11.88 per unit for standard-size non-dangerous products (up to 20 lbs.) $17.39–$200+ for oversize non-dangerous products (21-150+ lbs.) | Picking items from inventory, packing, shipping, and post-sale servicing Fulfillment fees are based on size, weight, quantity, sales channel, shipping speed, and category of goods in each order |
FBA’s pricing structure is complex, especially when compared to other fulfillment providers. To ensure profitability and avoid surprise charges, it’s crucial to understand order fulfillment costs and the company’s pricing model thoroughly.
Thankfully, Amazon’s Seller Central site features a host of resources to explain, calculate, and predict your FBA fees. Your costs will greatly depend on what you’re selling and which processes are involved.
Here’s a look at the Amazon FBA charges you can expect:
Seller Fees
Selling on Amazon comes at a cost, regardless of how you fulfill your orders. A professional seller account is $39.99 per month, or individual sellers can opt to pay 99 cents per item sold.
Inbound shipping
You’ll cover the cost of shipping your merchandise to FBA, which varies depending on the shipment’s origin and attributes. Amazon has negotiated shipping discounts through its partnered carriers.
Fulfillment Fees
FBA costs to pick an order from its storage location(s), pack it, ship it, and handle customer service and returns start at $3.07 per unit and go up to $200+ for special, oversized items. The total of this charge takes many factors into consideration, including:
- Size
- Weight
- Quantity
- Category
- Sales channel
- Shipping speed (for multichannel orders)
FBA’s base fulfillment fees are outlined below:
Size tier | Shipping weight | Fulfillment fee per unit |
|---|---|---|
Small standard | 6 oz or less | $3.07 |
6+ to 12 oz | $3.22 | |
12+ to 16 oz | $3.77 | |
Large standard | 6 oz or less | $3.72 |
6+ to 12 oz | $3.96 | |
12+ to 16 oz | $4.75 | |
1+ to 2 lb | $5.40 | |
2+ to 3 lb | $6.08 | |
3+ lb to 20 lb | $6.44 + $0.32/lb above first 3 lb | |
Small oversize | 70 lb or less | $9.39 + $0.40/lb above first lb |
Medium oversize | 150 lb or less | $13.37 + $0.46/lb above first lb |
Large oversize | 150 lb or less | $86.71 + $0.83/lb above first 90 lb |
Special oversize | Over 150 lb | $158.49 + $0.83/lb above first 90 lb |
Multichannel sellers should note that FBA charges greater fulfillment fees to fulfill non-Amazon orders (we’ll go into those exact costs later on). It also tacks on a greater cost for items in certain categories, such as apparel and dangerous goods, regardless of sales channel.
Stock Removal Fees
FBA charges a removal fee if you want to pull inventory from Amazon and/or dispose of unsold stock. The cost of this service is determined by weight and size tier and ranges from $0.52 to $7.25+.
It’s worth noting that many sellers have had issues with delayed stock removal, meaning their inventory has stayed in FBA’s warehouses for weeks or even months after they paid for and requested its removal. This problem incurs unexpected storage costs and reduced revenue for affected merchants.
Labeling Fees
Amazon has strict barcode label specifications for all stock received by FBA. If not labeled properly, you may be assessed a labeling fee of 55 cents per unit.
FBA Prep Service & FBA Unplanned Prep Service
FBA has stringent product packaging and prep guidelines. To avoid handling them yourself, you can opt to have Amazon pack and prep your products upon inbound receiving for a fee.
If you don’t opt into FBA’s prep service in advance, you’ll incur an unplanned prep fee for sending improperly prepared products. These charges vary by product and service type and range from 20 cents–$2.00 per unit.
Returns Processing
The cost of a potential return is included in the fulfillment fee for most items, but goods in certain categories (such as apparel and accessories) don’t qualify for this service. For those particular products, FBA bills a return processing fee equal to the original fulfillment fee. If the returned products need repackaging for resale, Amazon charges an additional repackaging fee.
Storage Fees
The cost of storing your products at an FBA warehouse starts at 53 cents per cubic foot of space and goes up to $2.40 per cubic foot. FBA storage fees vary by season, increasing up to 200% during the months of October–December. The assessed cost also depends on the size of the product and whether it falls into the “dangerous goods” category.
Amazon deems dangerous goods as “substances or materials that may pose a risk during storing, handling, or transporting because they contain flammable, pressurized, corrosive, or otherwise harmful substances.”
This includes Lithium batteries—usually found in power banks, cameras, mobile phones, battery chargers, and other electronics—and any magnetized material, which is often a component of speakers, headphones, light meters, magnetic decals, small tools, and toys. Other materials may be classified as dangerous as well.
Products that have this designation must follow specific requirements and are subject to additional fees. Check out Amazon’s hazmat guide for more info.
Long-term Storage Fees
For inventory held at an FBA warehouse longer than 270 days, sellers incur long-term storage fees. Between 271 and 365 days of storage, an additional $1.50 per cubic foot may be added to your fees. Beyond 365 days of storage, an additional 15 cents per unit may be tacked on, or your costs will increase to $6.90 per cubic foot (whichever is greater).
Additional Tools
Though Amazon doesn’t provide these, downloadable tools such as Sellics, InventoryLab, and Jungle Scout exist to make selling with FBA easier (and more profitable). These apps boost your marketing, inventory management, and reporting capabilities by integrating with your Amazon account. Third-party tools like these can incur a cost of up to $100+ per month, so it’s important to factor them in when calculating your outlay.
Examples of FBA Fulfillment Fees
Tablet case  Size category: Small standard Dimensions: 13.8 x 9 x 0.7 inches | T-shirt  Size category: Large standard Dimensions: 14 x 10 x 0.76 inches | Baby cot  Size category: Small oversize Dimensions: 24 x 7.5 x 6 inches | Television  Size category: Large oversize Dimensions: 54 x 35 x 3.5 inches |
2.88 oz. shipping weight | 12.32 oz. shipping weight | 7.9 lb. shipping weight | 41 lb. shipping weight |
$2.92/unit | $5.07/unit | $11.60/unit | $82.58/unit |
Source: Amazon
These fees—combined with other Amazon charges—are likely more expensive than the cost of hiring another SFP (Seller-Fulfilled Prime)-eligible fulfillment provider such as Red Stag or ShipMonk. But for many Amazon-focused sellers, the steep costs are worth it for the advantages that FBA provides. Plus, you’re paying for FBA’s end-to-end services—adding convenience on your part.
Additionally, buyers have an idea of what to expect when it comes to customer service because they’re dealing directly with Amazon. Outsourced, 24/7 customer service is a hefty investment when sought elsewhere, so it’s an important consideration when it comes to FBA costs. This especially applies to sellers dealing in goods with a naturally high return rate, like electronics or apparel.
Amazon FBA Storage Fees by Season
Standard* | Oversize | |
|---|---|---|
January-September | 83 cents/cubic foot/month | 53 cents/cubic foot/month |
October-December | $2.40/cubic foot/month | $1.20/cubic foot/month |
*Smaller, standard products require more complex shelving, drawers, and bins for storage.
As you can see in the table above, Amazon FBA fees increase dramatically during the holiday season. This is something to watch closely if you use FBA, and it’s a major reason that volume sellers rarely use FBA as their sole storage option.
Instead, power sellers often store the bulk of their inventory themselves in cheap storage units or a company warehouse. Then, they periodically ship just enough stock to FBA to cover forecast sales.
Fulfillment by Amazon Key Features
Outsourcing fulfillment is a cost-effective way to facilitate and promote your business’ growth. It allows owners to redirect their time toward more profitable tasks (such as product development, sourcing, or marketing) and is far simpler than staffing your own warehouse operation.
FBA is a popular choice for Amazon and multichannel sellers to outsource fulfillment, but it’s certainly not the only contender. Thousands of other 3PL companies exist to help ecommerce businesses sell and grow—many of which are more functional and economical than FBA.
Beyond the standard features of the fulfillment, warehousing, and distribution processes, FBA provides a host of advantages that attract clients despite the competition. Here are some of the company’s key features:
Post-sale Servicing
In addition to the standard processes of order fulfillment, FBA performs all customer service-related tasks for your Amazon orders. The company’s well-established CS team is available 24/7 by phone, email, or live chat on the app or website and has a reputation for providing highly accommodating support.
The cost of outsourcing this level of service elsewhere would be astronomical. Call center outsourcing in the US can cost anywhere from $25 to $65 per hour for each hired representative. To have just one employee on call for these hours would cost thousands of dollars each month—and potentially hundreds of thousands each year. In that regard, FBA is incredibly cost-effective.
Prime Eligibility & Shipping
One of the most popular features of FBA is the free two-day Prime shipping for Amazon Prime subscribers. Some products are eligible for free shipping, even if a buyer isn’t a Prime member. However, it might take a little longer for the package to arrive for non-members.
FBA product listings prominently feature the Amazon Prime logo, signaling to Prime members they can purchase your product with free Prime two-day shipping or other Prime offers. Prime boasts nearly 200 million subscribers who look for the Prime logo while shopping—so FBA products attract far more buyers than non-Prime products.
Amazon offers free shipping on orders over $25 to all buyers, Prime or not. The caveat is that these must be eligible products, and that list of eligible products includes FBA items. The same applies to Amazon coupon deals or buyer events like Prime Day and Cyber Days; FBA products qualify for these offers too.
Competitive Amazon Advantages
FBA listings get a significant edge over non-FBA items in Amazon’s search engine algorithm. This leads to higher rankings for FBA products in Amazon’s product search results—which leads to more sales.
Another advantage is prioritization in Amazon’s Buy Box, which is the “Add to Cart” button on most product listings. When viewing a product sold by multiple sellers, hitting this button will add one chosen listing to the customer’s cart.
The platform selects which listing gets to “own the Buy Box” using an algorithm that considers price, shipping speed, seller metrics, and fulfillment method. The most heavily weighted factor in determining Buy Box ownership? Use of FBA.
The Buy Box (A) is the spot every Amazon seller wants their listing to occupy. The top listing is what automatically sells when the “Add to Cart” button is clicked. FBA Prime-eligible products take preference if there’s a price tie, and can even win the Buy Box over lower-priced non-FBA products (B).
Multichannel Fulfillment
If you use sales channels other than Amazon (such as your own Shopify store and/or other online marketplaces like eBay) you can use FBA to fill those orders too. Amazon calls this service Multichannel Fulfillment, or MCF.
For multichannel FBA users, inventory storage fees remain the same, but MCF fulfillment fees are higher. MCF orders don’t incur an added Amazon seller fee.
With most MCF orders, you can select between three different shipping methods: Standard, Expedited Two-Day, and Priority One-Day (products within certain size categories have more restricted options). This is helpful if you offer a range of shipping options on your own ecommerce store or website.
Here’s a look at what MCF orders cost to fulfill through FBA:
Examples of FBA Multichannel Fulfillment Fees
Size Category and Dimensions | Tablet case Small standard 13.8 x 9 x 0.7 inches | T-shirt Large standard 14 x 10 x 0.76 inches | Baby cot Small oversize 24 x 7.5 x 6 inches | Television Large oversize 54 x 35 x 3.5 inches |
Shipping Weight | 2.88 oz. | 12.32 oz. | 7.9 lb. | 41 lb. |
Standard Shipping | $5.29 | $5.95 | $13.83 | $86.15 |
Expedited Shipping | $6.26 | $6.92 | $14.93 | N/A |
Priority Shipping | $12.80 | $13.80 | $23.14 | N/A |
Source: Amazon
If an MCF order contains multiple units, the cost per unit decreases. So, the T-shirt that costs $5.95 to fulfill on its own would cost $4.20 to fulfill in an order along with one other item, or $3.55 to fulfill in a three-item order.
Like with Amazon orders, the MCF fee accounts for the entire process of picking items from inventory, packing, and shipping. But, Amazon does not handle post-sales servicing for MCF orders. This means that you’ll need to field all multichannel customer inquiries, returns, and refunds yourself (or hire employees to do so).
If you compare Amazon’s MCF fees to the shipping rates you’d pay to fulfill orders yourself, you’ll likely find MCF is a pretty good deal. While this is the case, multichannel sellers who don’t focus mainly on Amazon sales are better off partnering with a cheaper 3PL, such as ShipBob.
Small and Light
FBA’s Small and Light program provides a reduction in fulfillment costs on certain items, which allows for better profit margins.
To be eligible for Small and Light pricing, products must weigh 3 pounds or less and sell quickly according to Amazon’s product identification data. Qualifying merchandise must also cost $8 or less and measure 18 x 14 x 8 inches or less.
Certain items that require special handling—such as dangerous goods, temperature-sensitive goods, or restricted goods—don’t qualify for the Small and Light program.
Here are FBA’s Small and Light fulfillment fees:
Size tier | Weight | Dimensions | Small and Light fulfillment fee per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
Small standard | 6 oz. or less | 15 x 12 x 0.75 inches or less | $2.35 |
6+ oz. to 12 oz. | $2.49 | ||
12+ to 16 oz. | $3.00 | ||
Large standard | 6 oz. or less | 18 x 14 x 8 inches or less | $2.35 |
6+ oz. to 12 oz. | $2.80 | ||
12+ to 16 oz. | $3.59 | ||
1+ to 2 lb. | $4.21 | ||
.2+ to 3 lb. | $4.94 |
Although these products are still subject to standard storage and seller fees, enrolling in FBA’s Small and Light program can increase your store’s profitability and create more opportunity to test products in new markets.
Subscribe & Save
The Subscribe & Save feature on Amazon gives customers a discount and free shipping when they sign up for a product subscription—which is a recurring, automated purchase. This gives customers a convenient, regular delivery at their chosen interval and helps sellers obtain repeat customers. It’s one of the best ways to have consistent revenue with Amazon.
The Subscribe & Save buying option can be offered to customers on your FBA listings as a convenient scheduled purchase.
It doesn’t cost anything for sellers to offer the Subscribe & Save feature. However, merchants will need to meet minimum requirements (such as a feedback rating of 4.7 or higher) and maintain good standing with the platform. The feature is only available to sellers who have been using FBA for three months or more.
FBA Warehouse Locations
Amazon has 110 FBA warehouses strategically located across the continental US—plus 85 additional fulfillment centers worldwide. This allows sellers to split inventory across multiple warehouses, keeping products in close proximity to multiple customer bases.
FBA’s large warehouse network also simplifies inbound shipping and importing by enabling merchants to use warehouses close to their suppliers or ports of destination.
State-by-State Directory
Arizona
- #AZA5 – 6000 W Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85043
- #PHX3 – 6835 W. Buckeye Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85043
- #PHX5 – 16920 W. Commerce Dr. Goodyear, AZ 85338
- #PHX6 – 4750 W. Mohave St. Phoenix, AZ 85043
- #PHX7 & PHX8 – 800 N. 75th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85043
- #PHX9 – 777 S 79th Ave, Tolleson, AZ 85353
- #SAZ1 – 3333 S 7th St., Phoenix, AZ 85040-1182
- #TFC1 – 5050 W. Mohave St. Phoenix, AZ 85043
- #TUS1 – 533 W Lower Buckeye Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85043
- #TUS2 – 6701 S. Kolb Rd., Tucson, AZ 85756
- #UAZ1 – 500 S 48th St, Phoenix, AZ 85034
Arkansas
- #DLR1 – 1920 N Locust St, North Little Rock, AR 72114
California
- #BFL1 – 1601 Petrol Road, Bakersfield, CA 93308
- #DPS3 – 2405 Conejo Spectrum St, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
- #DCA2 – 5250 Goodman Rd, Eastvale, CA 91752
- #FAT1 – 3575 S Orange Ave, Fresno, CA 93725-9588
- #LAX9 – 11263 Oleander Ave, Building 1, Fontana, CA 92337
- #LGB1 – 2417 E. Carson St, Long Beach, CA 90810
- #LGB3 – 4590 Goodman Way, Building 1, Eastvale, CA 91752
- #LGB4 – 27517 Pioneer Ave, Redlands, CA 92374
- #LGB6 – 20901 Krameria Ave, Riverside, CA 92518
- #LGB7 – 1660 N. Locust Ave., Rialto, CA 92376
- #LGB9 – 4375 N Perris Blvd, Perris, CA 92571
- #OAK3 – 255 Park Center Drive Patterson, CA 95363
- #OAK4/OAK6 – 1555 N. Chrisman Rd. Tracy, CA 95304
- #ONT2/3/4/7 – 1910 & 2020 E Central Ave. San Bernardino, CA 92408
- #ONT6/HLA3 – 24208 San Michele Rd. Moreno Valley, CA 92551
- #ONT9 – 2125 W. San Bernardino Ave. Redlands, CA 92374
- #PCA1 – 1565 N MacArthur Drive, Tracy, CA 95376 (Seasonal facility)
- #PCA2 – 1650 East Central Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92408 (Seasonal facility)
- #PSP1 – 1010 West Fourth Street, Beaumont, CA 92223
- #SCK1 – 4611 Newcastle Road, Stockton, CA 95215
- #SCK3 – 3565 N Airport Way, Manteca, CA 95336
- #SJC7 – 188 Mountain House Pkwy, Tracy, CA 95391
- #SMF1 – 4900 W Elkhorn Blvd, Metro Air Park, Sacramento, CA 95835
- #SMF3 – 4723 S B Street, Stockton, California, 95215
- #SNA4 – 2496 W Walnut St. Rialto CA 92376
- #SNA6/SNA9/DCA2 – 5250 Goodman Road, Eastvale, CA 92880
- #SNA7/SNA8/LGB5/KRB1 – 555 East Orange Show Rd. San Bernardino, CA 92408
- #XUSD – 1909 Zephyr St., Stockton, CA 95206
Colorado
- #DDV5 2889 Himalaya Drive, Aurora, CO 80011
- #DEN2 – 24006 E. 19th Ave., Aurora, CO 80019
- #DEN3 – 14601 Grant Street Thornton CO 80023
- #DEN5 – 19799 E 36th Dr, Aurora, CO 80011
- #DCS3 – 4303 Grinnell Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80925
Connecticut
- #BDL2 – 200 Old Iron Ore Rd., Windsor, CT 06095
- #BDL3 – 415 Washington Ave, Building 3, North Haven, CT 06473
Delaware
- #PHL1 – 1 Centerpoint Blvd. New Castle, DE 19720
- #PHL3 – 1600 Johnson Way, New Castle, DE 19720-8111
- #PHL7/PHL9 – 560 Merrimac Ave Middletown, DE 19709
- #PHL8 – 727 N. Broad St., Middletown, DE 19709
Florida
- #TPA2/#LAL1 – 1760 County Line Rd. Lakeland, FL 33811
- #TPA1 – 3350 Laurel Ridge Ave. Ruskin, FL 33570
- #JAX2 – 12900 Pecan Park Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32218
- #JAX3 – 13333 103rd St. Cecil Commerce Center, Jacksonville, FL 32221
- #JAX5 – 4948 Bulls Bay Hwy, Jacksonville, FL 32219
- #MCO1– 12340 Boggy Creek Road, Orlando, FL 32824
- #MCO5 – 305 Deen Still Rd, Davenport, FL 33897
- #MCO9 – 2841 Access Rd, Davenport, FL 33897
- #MIA1– 14000 NW 37th Ave, Opa Locka, FL 33054
- #UFL4/SFL1 – 7469 Kingspointe Parkway, Orlando, FL 32819
Georgia
- #ATL2 – 2255 W Park Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30087
- #ATL6 – 4200 N Commerce Dr, East Point, GA 30344
- #ATL7 – 6855 Shannon Pkwy S, Union City, GA 30291
- #ATL8 – 2201 Thornton Road, Lithia Springs, GA 30122
- #MGE1/MGE7 – 650 Broadway Ave, Braselton, GA 30517
- #MGE3 – 808 Hog Mountain Rd., Building F, Jefferson, GA, 30549
- #PGA1 – 6200 Fulton Industrial Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30336 (Seasonal facility)
- #SAV3 – 7001 Skipper Rd., Macon, GA 31216-6427
Idaho
- #BOI2 – 5319 E Franklin Rd, Nampa, ID 83687
Illinois
- #HMW1 – 30260 Graaskamp Blvd, Wilmington, IL 60481
- #MDW4 – 250 or 201 Emerald Dr, Joliet, IL 60433
- #MDW5 – 16825 Churnovic Ln, Crest Hill, IL 60435
- #MDW6 – 1125 W Remington Blvd, Romeoville, IL 60446
- #MDW7 – 6605 or 6521 W Monee Manhattan Road, Monee, IL 60449
- #MDW8 – 1750 Bridge Dr, Waukegan, IL 60085
- #MDW9 – 2865 Duke Parkway, Aurora, IL 60502
- #PIL1 – 801 Midpoint Road, Minooka, IL 60047 (Seasonal facility)
- #STL4– 3050 Gateway Commerce Center Dr S, Edwardsville, IL 62025
- #STL6/STL7/HLU1– 3931 Lakeview Corporate Drive, Edwardsville, IL 62025
- #ORD2 – 23714 W Amoco Rd, Channahon, IL 60410
- #ORD9 – 23700 W Bluff Rd Bldg A, Channahon, IL 60410
- #DIL7 – 3601 Howard St, Skokie, IL 60076
Indiana
- #IND1 – 4255 Anson Blvd. Whitestown, IN 46075
- #IND2/#IND3 – 715 Airtech Pkwy. Plainfield, IN 46168
- #IND4/IND8 – 710 South Girls School Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46214
- #IND5 – 800 S Perry Rd Plainfield, IN 46168
- #IND7 – 9101 Orly Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46241
- #IND9 – 2140 Stacie’s Way, Greenwood, IN 46143
- #PIN1 – 6161 Decatur Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46241 (Seasonal Facility)
- #SDF8 – 900 Patrol Rd. Jeffersonville, IN 47130
- #XUSE – 5100 S Indianapolis Rd. Whitestown, IN 46075
- #DIN1 – 5850 W 80th St, Indianapolis, IN 46278
- #DIN3 – #200, 5545 Chet Waggoner Court, South Bend, IN 46628
Iowa
- #DSM5 – 500 SW 32nd St. Bondurant, IA 50035
Kansas
- #MKC4 – 19645 Waverly Rd., Edgerton, KS 66021
- #MKC6 – 6925 Riverview Ave., Kansas City, KS 66102
- #MCI5 – 16851 W 113th St, Lenexa, KS 66219
Kentucky
- #CVG1 – 1155 Worldwide Blvd. Hebron, KY 41048
- #CVG2 – 1600 Worldwide Blvd. Hebron, KY 41048
- #CVG3 – 3680 Langley Dr. Hebron, KY 41048
- #CVG8 – 7968 Kentucky Dr, Suites 2-3, Florence, KY 41042
- #IVSA – 4620 Olympic Blvd, Erlanger, KY 41018
- #IVSB/#HCN1 – LogistiCenter 275 #2, 3521 Point Pleasant Road, Hebron, KY 41048
- #LEX1/LEX3 – 1850 Mercer Rd Lexington, KY 40511
- #LEX2 – 172 Trade St. Lexington, Kentucky, 40511
- #SDF1 – 1105 S Columbia Ave Campbellsville, KY 42718
- #SDF2 – 4360 Robards Ln Louisville, KY 40218
- #SDF4 – 376 Zappos.com Blvd Shepherdsville, KY 40165
- #SDF6 – 271 Omega Pkwy Shepherdsville, KY 40165
- #SDF7 – 300 Omicron Court Shepherdsville, KY 40165
- #SDF9 – 100 W. Thomas P. Echols Lane Shepherdsville, KY 40165
Maryland
- #BWI2 – 2010 Broening Hwy. Baltimore, MD 21224
- #HBA1 – 1100 Woodley Rd, Aberdeen, MD 21001
- #HSE1 – 13905 Crayton Blvd, Hagerstown, MD 21742
- #MDT2 – 600 Principio Parkway West, North East, MD 21901
- #DCA1 – 1700 Sparrows Point Blvd, Sparrows Point, MD 21219
Massachusetts
- #BOS7 – 1180 Innovation Way, Fall River, MA 02722
- #BOS5 – 1000 Technology Center Dr, Stoughton, MA 02072
- #DBO2 – 500 Sprague St, Dedham, MA 02026
Michigan
- #DET1 – 39000 Amrhein Rd., Livonia, MI 48150-1043
- #DET2 – 50500 Mound Road, Shelby Township, MI 48317
- #DTW1 – 32801 Ecorse Road, Romulus, MI 48174
- #DTW5 – 19991 Brownstown Center Dr, Brownstown Charter Twp, MI 48183
- #GRR1 – 4500 68th St. SE, Caledonia (Gaines Township), MI 49316
Minnesota
- MSP1 – 2601 4th Ave E, Shakopee, MN 55379
- #MSP9 – 9001 Wyoming Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Mississippi
- #MEM2 – 191 Norfolk Southern Way, Chickasaw Trails Industrial Park Byhalia, MS 38611
- #MEM6 – 11505 Progress Way, Olive Branch, MS 38654
Missouri
- #STL8 – 4000 Premier Parkway, St. Peters, MO 63376
- #DLI1 – Hazelwood, MO 63042
Nevada
- #RNO3 – 555 Milan Dr, Sparks, Nevada 89434
- #RNO4 – 8000 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89506
- #LAS1 – 12300 Bermuda Road, Henderson, NV 89044
- #LAS2 – 3837 Bay Lake Trail Suite 115, North Las Vegas, NV 89030
- #LAS6 – 4550 Nexus Way, North Las Vegas, NV 89115
- #LAS7 – 6001 E. Tropical Parkway, North Las Vegas, NV 89115
New Hampshire
- #BOS1 – 10 State St Nashua, NH 03063
New Jersey
- #EWR1 – 50 New Canton Way Robbinsville, NJ 08691
- #EWR4 – 50 New Canton Way, Robbinsville Twp, NJ 08691
- #EWR6/EWR7 – 275 Omar Ave. Avenel, NJ (Amazon Fresh & Amazon Pantry)
- #EWR8 – 698 Route 46 West, Teterboro, New Jersey 07608
- #EWR9 & #LGA6 – 8003 Industrial Ave. Carteret, NJ 07008
- #LGA7 – 380 Middlesex Avenue, Carteret, NJ 07008
- #LGA9 – 2170 State Route 27, Edison, NJ 08817
- #TEB3 – 2651 Oldmans Creek Rd, Swedesboro, Logan Township, NJ 08085
- #TEB6 – 22 Hightstown-Cranbury Station Road, Cranbury, NJ 08512
- #ACY1 – 240 Mantua Grove Road, West Deptford, NJ 08066-1731
- #ACY2 – 1101 E. Pearl St., Burlington, NJ 08016
New York
- #JFK8/DYY6 – 546 Gulf Ave, Staten Island NY 10314
- #BUF5– 4201 Walden Ave, Lancaster, NY 14086
- #SYR1 – 7211 Morgan Rd, Liverpool, NY 13090
North Carolina
- #CLT3 – 6500 Davidson Hwy, 2532, Concord, NC 28027
- #CLT4 – 8000 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte, NC 28214
- #CTL5 – 1745 Derita Rd, Concord, NC 28027
- #CLT9 – 3620 Reeves Ridge Drive, Charlotte, NC 28214
- #RDU1 – 4851 Jones Sausage Road, Garner, NC 27529
- #RDU5 – 1805 TW Alexander Dr, Durham, NC 27703
- #GSO1 – 1656 Snow Bridge Ln, Kernersville, NC 27284
Ohio
- #CMH1 – 11903 National Rd SW, Etna, OH 43062
- #CMH2 – 6050 Gateway Court, Obetz, OH 43125
- #CMH3 – 700 Gateway Blvd., Monroe, OH 45050
- #CMH4 – 1550 W Main St., West Jefferson, OH 43162
- #CMH6/HCM1 – 3538 TradePort Ct, Building 2, Lockbourne, OH 43137
- #CLE2 – 21500 Emery Rd, North Randall, OH 44128
- #CLE3 – 1155 Babbitt Rd., Euclid, Ohio 44132
- #CLE5 – 8685 Independence Pkwy, Twinsburg, OH 44087
- #POH1 – 3880 Groveport Road, Obetz, OH 43207 (Seasonal Facility)
- #AKC1 – 2450 Romig Rd, Akron, OH 44320
Oklahoma
- #OKC1 – 9201 S. Portland Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73159
- #DOK1 – 4401C E Hefner Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73131
- #OKC5 – 1414 S Council Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73179
- #TUL2 – 11920 E 43rd St N, Tulsa, OK 74116
Oregon
- #PDX5 – 5647 NE Huffman St, Hillsboro, OR 97124
- #PDX6/HPD1 – 15000 N. Lombard St., Multnomah, Portland, OR 97203
- #PDX7 – 4775 Depot Court SE, Salem, OR 97317
- #PDX9 – 1250 NW Swigert Way, Troutdale, OR 97060
Pennsylvania
- #AVP1 – 550 Oak Ridge Road Hazleton, PA 18202
- #AVP2/AVP3 – 298 1st Ave., Gouldsboro, PA 18424
- #AVP6 – 1 Commerce Rd., Pittston, PA 18640
- #AVP8 – 250 Enterprise Way, Pittston, PA 18640
- #ABE1/ABE2 – 705 Boulder Dr Breinigsville, PA 18031
- #ABE3 – 650 Boulder Drive Breinigsville, PA 18031
- #ABE4 – 1610 Van Buren Rd., Easton, PA 18045
- #ABE5 – 6455 Allentown Boulevard Harrisburg, PA 17112
- #DPP1 – 501 North Dr, Sewickley, PA 15143
- #MDT1 – 2 Ames Drive, Carlisle, PA 17015
- #PHL4 – 21 Roadway Drive Carlisle, PA 17015
- #PHL5 – 500 McCarthy Dr Lewisberry, PA 17339
- #PHL6 – 675 Allen Rd. Carlisle, PA 17015
- #PPA1 – 545 Oak Hill Road, Mountaintop, PA 18707 (Seasonal Facility)
- #PIT2 – 1200 Westport Rd, Imperial, PA 15126
- #PIT5 – 2250 Roswell Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15205
- #XUSC – 40 Logistics Drive Carlisle, PA 17013
South Carolina
- #CAE1 – 4400 12th Street Extension, West Columbia, SC 29172
- #GSP1 – 402 John Dodd Rd. Spartanburg, SC 29303
Tennessee
- #BNA1 – 14840 Central Pike Lebanon, TN 37090
- #BNA2 – 500 Duke Drive Lebanon, TN 37090
- #BNA3 – 2020 Joe B Jackson Pkwy Murfreesboro, TN 37127
- #BNA5 – 50 Airways Blvd, Nashville, TN 37217
- #CHA1 – 7200 Discovery Dr Chattanooga, TN 37421
- #CHA2 – 225 Infinity Dr NW, Charleston, TN 37310
- #DNA1 – 2813 Brick Church Pike, Nashville, TN 37207
- #MEM5 – 5155 Citation Dr, Memphis, TN 38118
- #STN1 – 10 Dell Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37217
Texas
- #DAL2 – 2601 S Airfield Dr, Irving, TX 75038
- #DAL3 – 1301 Chalk Hill Road, Dallas, TX 75211
- #DAL9 – 1400 Southport Pkwy, Wilmer, TX 75172
- #DDA2 – 3838 W Miller Rd, Garland, TX 75041
- #DDA8 – 8901 Forney Rd, Dallas, TX 75227
- #DFW1 & DFW8 – 2700 Regent Blvd., Dallas/Irving, TX 75261
- #DFW6 – 940 W Bethel Road Coppell, TX 75019
- #DFW7 – 700 Westport Parkway Fort Worth, TX 76177
- #FTW2/HDA1 – 2701 W Bethel Rd, Coppell, TX 75261
- #FTW3/FTW4 – 15201 Heritage Parkway Fort Worth TX 76177
- #FTW6 – 2601 W Bethel Road, Grapevine (Coppell), TX 75261
- #FTW7/FTW9 – 944 W. Sandy Lake Rd, Coppell, TX 75019
- #FTW8 -3351 Balmorhea Dr. Dallas, TX 75241
- #IAH1 – 9155 Southlink Drive, Dallas, TX 75241
- #PTX1 – 2101 Danieldale Road, Lancaster, TX 75134 (Seasonal Facility)
- #SAT1 – 6000 Enterprise Avenue Schertz, TX 78154
- #SAT2 – 1401 E McCarty Ln, San Marcos, TX 78666
- #STX2 – 1625 Hutton Dr, Carrollton, TX 75006
- #XUSB – 14900 Frye Rd Fort Worth, TX 76155
- #HOU2 – 10550 Ella St., Houston, TX 77038
- #HOU3 – 31819 Highway Blvd., Katy, TX 77493
Utah
- #SLC1 – 777 N. 5600 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
- #SLC2 – 6802 W Old Bingham Hwy, West Jordan, UT 84081
- #SLC3/HSL1 – 355 N. John Glenn Rd., Salt Lake City, UT 84116
- #SLC4 – 770 South Gladiola, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Virginia
- #BWI4 – 165 Business Blvd, Clear Brook, VA 22624
- #BWI1 – 45121 Global Plaza, Sterling, VA 20166
- #DDC4 – 44301 Mercure Cir, Sterling, VA 20166
- #HDC1 – 6885 Commercial Dr, Springfield, VA 22151
- #KRB2 – 7000 Hardware Dr, Prince George, VA 23875
- #RIC1 – 5000 Commerce Way, Petersburg, VA 23803
- #RIC2 – 1901 Meadowville Technology Parkway Chester, VA 23836
- #RIC3/#HRC1 – 4949 Commerce Road, Richmond, VA 23234
- #RIC5 – 11600 N Lakeridge Pkwy, Ashland, VA 23005
Washington State
- #BFI1 – 1800 140th Ave. E, Sumner, WA 98390
- #BFI3 – 2700 Center Drive, Dupont, WA 98327
- #BFI4 – 21005 64th St., Kent, WA 98032
- #BFI5 – 20526 59th Pl S, Kent, WA 98032
- #BFI6 – 20202 84th Ave S, Kent, WA 98032
- #BFI7 – 1901 140th Ave E, Sumner, WA 98390
- #BFI8 – 20529 24th Ave S, SeaTac, WA 98198
- #DES7 – Sumner, WA 98390
- #DSE4 – 6611 Associated Blvd, Everett, WA 98203
- #GEG1 – 10010 W Geiger Blvd., Spokane, WA 99224
- #PWA1 – 2309 Milwaukee Way, Tacoma, WA 98421 (Seasonal Facility)
- #SEA6/#SEA8 – 1227 124th Avenue Northeast Bellevue, WA 98005
Wisconsin
- #MKE1 – 3501 120th Ave. Kenosha, WI, 53144
- #MKE2 – 9700 South 13th Street, Oak Creek, WI 53154
- #DML1 – 3935 W Mitchell St, Milwaukee, WI 53215
FBA Integrations
FBA’s proprietary turnkey integrations are pretty limited, but thanks to its open APIs and enormous popularity, thousands of FBA integrations are readily available through third-party developers.
Plus, FBA directly integrates with certain ecommerce integration service providers such as WebBee. This makes it possible to integrate with any of your necessary tools or platforms quickly and easily—though it may come at an additional cost.
Other companies, such as Zapier, have created numerous plug-and-play integrations to connect FBA and Amazon Seller Central to a host of other apps and programs you may use.
If you’re unable to find your desired integration premade, FBA’s developer-friendly APIs make it possible to have a connection custom made fairly easily. But unlike other fulfillment partners such as ShipBob and Red Stag, FBA does not offer integration development as a value-add service.
Here’s a list of FBA’s current proprietary direct integrations:
- Ecommerce platforms and marketplaces: WooCommerce, VTEX, 3dcart, Shopify, WebBee, and Bytestand
- Freight and shipping solutions: AfterShip
- Operations, inventory, and order management: ChannelAdvisor, Listing Mirror, Orderhive, Zentail, Skubana, Sellbrite, and Sellercloud
What FBA Users Think
There aren’t many Fulfillment By Amazon reviews or ratings available online, and much of the scrutiny you will find is of the entire Amazon marketplace platform (rather than FBA itself).
Amazon Services Seller Forums is a great place to get insight into what it’s like to use FBA as an online merchant. Since it’s mainly a resource for solutions, assistance, and discourse rather than ratings and reviews, the posts are not reflective of the benefits of FBA. But the questions and discussion posed by FBA users are highly valuable.
In reviews, forum posts, and comments alike, users report complications due to FBA’s labeling protocol, lost items and shipments, and difficulty with Amazon’s Seller Support. Much of this likely ties in to FBA’s error rate, which—unlike nearly every other fulfillment provider—is undisclosed.
The YouTube personality “Darren – FBA Elite” is highly vocal about his personal experiences with FBA and Amazon. In one of his videos, he describes 10 loss-making issues he ran into while selling on the platform though FBA.
A screenshot of Darren—FBA Elite’s YouTube video entitled “What They DON’T Tell You! | Amazon FBA Review 2020”
Though most of the hurdles Darren describes relate to being a seller on Amazon rather than outsourcing fulfillment to FBA, these issues are important to acknowledge. He reports receiving negative reviews from customers who were sent dirty, used merchandise that had been previously returned—despite his actions to prevent FBA from reselling returned items from his inventory.
Darren describes this and other instances of ineffective client support from the company and ultimately advises FBA users to avoid dealing with Seller Support unless absolutely necessary.
He also criticizes the fulfillment provider for re-measuring his products and increasing his fulfillment fees, which is a common theme in Fulfillment By Amazon reviews across the board. Darren and other savvy users recommend using specialized software such as Helium 10 to monitor your FBA account—which says a lot about the company’s lack of transparency.
Positive Fulfillment By Amazon reviews mention benefiting from the company’s fast shipping and outsourced customer service. Many describe the relationship as “simple” and “hassle-free,” but even 5-star reviews mention the high cost of the convenience that FBA provides.
- G2: 4.5-star rating from more than 10 reviews
- FulfillmentCompanies.net FBA review
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Hassle-free, end-to-end outsourced services | Fluctuations in fees and product categorization |
| Fast shipping | Lost merchandise and shipments |
| Efficient warehouse services and turnaround time | Ineffective client support |
| Improved customer experience | Complex restrictions and regulations |
| Saves time | Expensive fees |
Alternatives to FBA
Using FBA is one of the three methods that Amazon sellers can choose from to fulfill their orders. The other options are:
- Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM): The seller is responsible for all aspects of order fulfillment, plus handling returns and providing customer service. There are no strict packaging or delivery speed requirements, but not all FBM orders are Prime-eligible.
- Seller-Fulfilled Prime (SFP): The seller is responsible for the entire fulfillment and post-sale process, but each order is Prime-eligible. Fulfillment can be performed in-house or outsourced to a 3PL, but orders must ship on the same day and have guaranteed two day delivery.
Sellers who use either of the two methods above to fulfill their Amazon orders are considered part of the platform’s MFN (Merchant Fulfilled Network).
Competing in an online marketplace like Amazon can have costs and complications that some businesses aren’t ready for—particularly when it comes to FBA. If your business isn’t in the right stage to use FBA there are other ways to get your products to Amazon customers.
Alternatives to Fulfillment by Amazon include:
Ship Yourself
As part of Amazon’s Merchant Fulfilled Network, you can ship products to Amazon customers without paying to store your products at a warehouse. Instead, you’ll store them at your own home, store, or facility until they’re ready to go out to a customer.
With this method you’ll still pay a monthly selling fee (plus a per-item selling fee) for the ability to sell on the Amazon marketplace. You’ll also have to manage your own inventory and all fulfillment processes, or hire a staff to do so for you. In-house fulfillment is ideal for sellers with lower profit margins who need to control costs.
Ship Using Third-party Fulfillment
Amazon fulfillment can also be outsourced to third-party providers other than FBA. Many competing companies offer services, specialties, and other benefits that FBA can’t provide.
For multichannel sellers who only receive a minority of their sales from Amazon, this option is usually the most economical choice. The same goes for merchants dealing in goods that require special handling.
Here’s a look at some of the top fulfillment options:
Bottom Line
FBA isn’t just about fulfillment. It’s about leveraging Amazon’s brand and the Prime loyalty program to boost your exposure and sales on the Amazon marketplace.
FBA offers decent fulfillment rates and seamless order processing for Amazon sales, but it can be tricky to use. Sellers must keep a diligent eye on their accumulating fees, inventory preparations, and standing with the platform. Additionally, it opens the door for fraud such as counterfeit merchandise and listing hijacking, so sellers must also be wary of their reputation with customers.
Ultimately, for most merchants who make roughly 80% or more of their sales on Amazon, outsourcing fulfillment through FBA is likely the best option.
Many factors play into your profitability with FBA—especially the size and weight of your goods. Be sure to calculate your anticipated FBA costs and consider other fulfillment providers for special-handling needs, such as Red Stag Fulfillment.
