Prepare Products

Some products require specific preparation so they arrive at Amazon Fulfilment Centres in the best condition. Prep guidance for many products is available in the Prepare products step as you create your shipment. You can also request that Amazon do the prep for you for a per-item fee.

Preparing your products is the second step in the six-step shipment creation process.

1. Set quantity for shipments to Amazon
2. Prepare your products for FBA shipping
3. Label your products
4. Review/view shipments to Amazon
5. Prepare shipment to Amazon
6. Summary of shipment process

FBA Prep Service

If you want Amazon to prepare your products for you, select Amazon under Who preps. For more information about the per-item cost, see FBA Prep Service fees.

Even if you sign up for the FBA Prep Service, package your products so they will arrive safely at the fulfilment centre. Package fragile, glass, and sharp items in such a way that they arrive intact and that fulfilment centre associates can handle them safely.

Prep required

The Prep required tab on the Prepare products page has guidance for items that have specific preparation requirements.

If you think the requirements for the product you have listed are not appropriate or essential, click Investigate to start a review.

Prep requirements may include:

Poly bagging

Products that require poly bagging should be completely sealed in a sturdy, clear, transparent polyethylene bag that:

• Is at least 2.3 micrometres
• Allows barcodes to show through or, in cases where barcodes do not show through, have a barcode label affixed to the outside of the bag
• Has a suffocation warning printed on or affixed to the bag (for bags with an opening that is more than 12.5 cm wide when flat)

Poly bagging may be required to:

• Prevent leaks or spills from damaging other items in the shipment (usually for items that are liquids and powders)
• protect items from dust or dirt
• Prevent loose items from being separated (such as a multi-pack of individual items that are being sold as a set)

Bubble wrap

Products that require bubble wrap must:

• Be tightly wrapped and taped shut so the product cannot fall out
• Have a scannable barcode label on the outside
• Be able to pass a 1-metre drop test on a hard surface without the contents breaking. A drop test consists of five drops:
  • Flat on base
  • Flap on top
  • Flat on longest side
  • Flat on shortest side
  • On a corner

Bubble wrap may be required because the item is:

• Fragile and could be easily damaged during transit
• Heavy or dense and could damage other items during transit

Overboxing

We may require overboxing when there are safety concerns over shipping and handling. Overboxing generally involves placing a prepared or packaged product in a box for added protection (even if the product is already boxed). For products over 4.5 kg, use double-wall corrugated boxes for overboxing.

Overboxing is required for the following types of products:

• Sharp items that may puncture packaging materials
• Fragile items that failed a 1-metre drop test after bubble wrap was applied or that may be damaged during shipping and handling
• Hazardous liquids in glass containers over 120 ml
• Vinyl records

Hanger removal

Normal-size hangers usually must be removed. Mini-hangers for baby clothes are allowed. The following items cannot be shipped on any kind of hanger: accessories, bras, hats, shorts, socks, hosiery, sweaters, swimwear, and underwear.

The following garments are exceptions that must remain on a hanger:

• Blazers or suit jackets, and suits
• Dresses that have a list price of more than $299.99 per item, are formal or evening wear, or contain material that would be damaged if stored flat (for example, full pleating, beading, sequins, or other embellishments such as a floral bow)
• Outerwear with a list price of more than $299.99 per item or where the primary material type is real leather, real fur, or wool
• Pants, shirts, skirts, and sleepwear with a list price of more than $299.99 per item

Opaque bagging

Products that require opaque bagging should be completely sealed in a sturdy, opaque bag or shrink wrap that completely obscures the content from view.

Opaque bagging may be required because the item is:

• Adult in nature or the packaging is otherwise explicit

Tape

Products with this requirement need additional taping beyond what might normally be used to seal a box or poly bag or secure bubble wrap around an item.

Extra taping may be required if the item:

• Might fall out of its packaging if the container is not taped shut
• Might leak if the lid is not taped in place
• Needs tape to be fully sealed within the container

Prep may be required

Click the Prep may be required tab to see products for which prep guidance is not available. This may be because the product has not been sent in before or has not been classified as having a specific prep requirement.

If you know the prep required for those products, click Choose category in the Prep guidance column, and from the drop-down list, select the prep category that best suits your product.

If your product does not require additional prep, you canskip this step or select No prep required.

The prep categories are:

• Baby products : includes plush toys and other products for children 3 and under, such as teddy bears, pacifiers, and baby bottles.
• Sharp : includes items that have sharp edges or are pointed, such as knives, scissors, and some tools.
• Fragile/Glass : includes items that can break or shatter, such as glassware, china, and picture frames.
• Apparel on hanger : includes dresses, coats, and baby clothes.
• Apparel, fabric, plush, and textiles : includes products made of cloth or textiles, including apparel not on hangers, blankets, and linens.
• Small : includes products smaller than 54 millimetres on the longest side, such as jewellery, key chains, and flash drives.
• Adult : includes products displaying potentially offensive material, including explicit magazines and movies.
• Liquids (non-glass) : includes liquids or gels of more than 470 ml in plastic bottles or jars, such as liquid soap, sprays, and lotions. Treat liquids in glass bottles or jars as fragile.
• Powder, pellets, and granular : includes powders, scented home products, and powdered detergents.
• Perforated packaging : includes display case-packed items such as candy displays or granola bars.
• No prep needed: includes case-packed items that do not have perforated packaging and are sold as a single unit inside a case.

Next steps

After you have reviewed all of the prep guidance, click Continue.