Amazon FBA: FAQ on Shipping and Services

How to ship to Amazon FBA centres in Europe

Learn how Amazon FBA logistics works and how to organise inventory shipping to Amazon’s different warehouses across Europe. Get all the answers to frequently asked questions about Amazon FBA costs, shipping and tracking.

Looking for the best way to ship to an Amazon FBA centre? Get an immediate quote with Eurosender in the pricing tool below.

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How does Amazon FBA work?

Costs of using FBA services

Pallet shipping

What is Amazon FBA and how does it work?

Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) centres are warehouses where incoming orders are received, stored, packed and distributed to customers. Companies and sellers using FBA can store their inventory at Amazon fulfilment centres and manage shipments to their end customers. This is how Amazon FBA works:

The seller registers an account with Amazon and creates an online shop

Products are sent by the seller to Amazon’s distribution centres

The goods are stored at the warehouses and handled by Amazon employees

After a purchase, Amazon prepares and delivers the product to the final customer

In case of a return Amazon handles the shipment from the customer to the warehouse

The seller can track and manage inventory on their Amazon seller page

How much does it cost to ship to Amazon FBA?

The costs for using Amazon FBA logistics in Europe depend on the weight and size of the products as well as the sales channel used.

The costs for using Amazon FBA services, including packaging and shipping to the customer, range from 2.5% to 45% of the final price, depending on the products.
Monthly inventory storage fees at Amazon FBA distribution centres in Europe vary depending on the type of goods, location, and time of year: from €15.60 to €30.90 per cubic metre from January to September and from €21.60 to €41.23 per cubic metre from October to December.

Cost of shipping to Amazon FBA Germany: a short case study

Let’s take the example of Amazon FBA Germany to understand a bit better how much it costs to use Amazon FBA services. According to their Seller’s Guide, if you are to ship small and light items such as phone cases, it would cost you between €2.89 and 3.03 per unit just on FBA fulfilment fees. These fees include pick and pack, shipping and handling, customer service, and product returns.

On top of this base value, you would have to add other costs, such as the price of shipping the goods from your warehouse or premises to the designated Amazon FBA warehouse. This is where Eurosender can help. As a leading logistics platform, you can trust us to handle not only the pricing but all the logistics organisation of your delivery to Amazon.

Who pays the costs of Amazon FBA shipping to customers?

As an Amazon FBA seller, you do not have to pay for handling, packaging, or shipping products to your buyers. Amazon employees pick, pack and ship the products directly from the Amazon FBA distribution centre. The cost of using Amazon FBA logistics depends on the type and amount of inventory that is processed at the warehouse.

However, it is the seller’s responsibility to arrange shipping from their own premises to Amazon warehouses.

How can I send a pallet to Amazon FBA?

Through Eurosender, you can instantly book pallet shipping to Amazon FBA warehouses. Our algorithm will offer you the best quotes for pallet delivery in Europe in just a few clicks. After booking the service, follow our pallet packing guide and make sure to add the shipping label, if required. Since we handle the rest on your behalf, it is one of the best ways to send a pallet to Amazon FBA.

How do I prepare a pallet for shipping to Amazon FBA?

Amazon has some specific rules and requirements for how to pack products. Each item must be individually packaged and include a barcode and SKU identification code. For heavy shipments or large quantities, Amazon also requires the use of 4-way pallets that comply with EPAL, CHEP, UIC 435-2 or EN13698-1 certifications. The loaded pallet must also not exceed a maximum height of 1.8m.

More detailed information about Amazon’s packaging requirements can be found on their official website. Find out more about how to pack a pallet for shipping.

What is the difference between Amazon FBA and FBM?

The basic difference between Amazon FBA and FBM can be summarised below:

FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon): You sell your products; Amazon stores and ships them to your customers.
FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant): You sell your products; you store and ship them to your customers.

To help you decide which is better for your business needs, we have gathered the main differences between Amazon FBA and FBM, as well as their advantages.

Option	Recommended for	Delivery method	Advantages
Amazon FBM	Bulky goods or seasonal sales	Delivery arranged by the seller	Avoid storage costs in Amazon warehouses
Amazon FBA	All goods	Delivery by Amazon	Amazon handles and delivers the goods

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Can I use Amazon FBA without selling on Amazon? How?

Yes, you can use Amazon FBA for non-Amazon orders with the help of Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment or Amazon MCF. This service can also be used for inventory that is not available for sale on the Amazon platform. Amazon MCF is available in the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, Spain, Italy, France and Japan. To start selling on non-Amazon marketplaces, you need to create a Pro Merchant account with Amazon. Read more about it here.

More about Amazon FBA services

See our dedicated pages for more information on Amazon’s logistics and the company’s different warehouses.

Amazon FBA in Europe

Amazon FBA in Italy

Amazon FBA in France

Amazon FBA in Germany

SHIPPING OPTIONS

How to ship to Amazon FBA centres and warehouses

Eurosender offers several solutions for shipping products to different warehouses and distribution centres to support Amazon FBA logistics.

If you have special requirements, please don’t hesitate to contact our experts via chat or email.

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FAQ on Amazon fulfilment centres and how they work

Does Amazon have warehouses in Europe?

Yes, there are more than 200 Amazon fulfilment centres in Europe. Amazon warehouses are located in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Czech Republic, and Poland. You can check the full list of Amazon warehouse locations in the section above.

How long does it take to deliver to Amazon FBA through Eurosender?

Depending on the route distance and service you choose, delivering your inventory to an Amazon warehouse may take a number of days or weeks. To help you get an idea, you can check freight transit times for the services we offer. If you need to ship items urgently, we recommend booking a direct courier service.

Can I choose which Amazon FBA warehouse to send to?

When you create your shipping plan to send items to Amazon, the system determines the most suitable Amazon distribution centres to meet your storage and distribution needs. Always bear in mind that your products will be distributed to several Amazon FBA warehouses and depots so that the time required for delivery to customers can be minimised, especially in the case of Amazon Prime users. This is why sellers using Amazon FBA cannot choose a preferred Amazon fulfilment centre location to ship and store their goods. They receive this information from Amazon.

In some countries, you may have to ship products to several different Amazon FBA warehouses instead of only one. Unfortunately, that often means your shipping costs will increase, but we can help keep this in check. Contact our specialists for custom-made shipping solutions.

Can I ship to multiple Amazon FBA warehouses in Europe?

You can organise multiple shipments or book several vehicles to ship your inventory to different warehouses and distribution centres identified by Amazon FBA for you. Book different freight services to Amazon FBA warehouse addresses in just a few clicks from our platform. To easily manage and track your freight shipments, create a free business account on our platform.

Can I drop off products at one of Amazon’s fulfilment centres?

Amazon does not allow sellers to drop off their products at the fulfilment centres. Even though you may work close to a fulfilment centre, sellers cannot choose which FBA location they want their goods to be stored in. Only approved shipping companies can make appointments to deliver to Amazon fulfilment centres.

Eurosender co-operates with different logistics providers for shipping to Amazon fulfilment centres in Europe.

Are there any limits for shipping or storing products at an Amazon FBA?

To better manage storage space in various FBA centres, Amazon may set limits on the amount of storage space you can use for your inventory. Storage limits are based on volume (measured in cubic metres) and are different for each warehouse. On your Amazon profile, you can check the product limit that can be shipped and stored in different Amazon FBA centres assigned to you.

What is the minimum inventory required for FBA?

There is no minimum inventory requirement when using FBA. You can send just one unit if you want to, however this wouldn't be profitable. Generally speaking, it's best to send at least 50 items in each shipment in order to get the best shipping rates from Amazon. Keep an eye on your restock limits as there is a maximum.

What are the Amazon FBA product restrictions?

Some goods are prohibited from being stored in Amazon FBA centres, even if they can be sold via Amazon. Dangerous products which contain flammable, pressurised, corrosive or otherwise harmful substances are considered forbidden for storing at Amazon FBA centres. For these types of items, therefore, it is recommended to choose the Amazon FBM option. Please check the official Amazon website for more detailed information.

Can I still ship to Amazon FBA in the UK, even after Brexit?

Although there have been huge changes to e-commerce shipping since Brexit, you can still ship your products Amazon FBA from the EU to the UK and vice versa. It is very important to check the rules regarding transport and import/export on these routes.

You will need to ensure that you provide all the necessary documentation and update yourself on post-Brexit customs requirements to avoid any inconvenience. See our pages on pallet shipping after Brexit and international shipping documents for more detailed information.

Can I ship directly from a Chinese manufacturer to Amazon FBA?

Shipping items to Amazon FBA directly from China is possible, especially if you have been ordering the products from the same company for a long time and know that they can be trusted. It is recommended to check the quality of the inventory before sending it to Amazon FBA.