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.
AMAZON FBA LOGISTICS
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:
1.
The seller registers an account with Amazon and creates an online shop
2.
Products are sent by the seller to Amazon’s distribution centres
3.
The goods are stored at the warehouses and handled by Amazon employees
4.
After a purchase, Amazon prepares and delivers the product to the final customer
5.
In case of a return Amazon handles the shipment from the customer to the warehouse
6.
The seller can track and manage inventory on their Amazon seller page
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The basic difference between Amazon FBA and FBM can be summarised below:
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 |
Find the ideal courier when using Amazon FBM with Eurosender! Compare thousands of quotes from the best couriers, such as DHL, GLS and many more, in just a few clicks.
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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.
See our dedicated pages for more information on Amazon’s logistics and the company’s different warehouses.
SHIPPING OPTIONS
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.