Prepare shipment

The Prepare shipment page helps you ship your inventory to Amazon. Follow the requirements below to help ensure safe and on-time delivery to our fulfilment centres.

Preparing the shipment to Amazon is the fifth step in the six-step shipment creation process:

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

On the Prepare shipment page, you can make selections regarding shipping method and carrier, and plan the number of boxes that will make up the shipments that you are preparing to send. As part of this step, you also schedule and pay for your shipment, as well as print all of the labels for your shipping boxes or pallets.

On the Prepare shipment page, you can make small modifications to your shipping plan. Your shipping fees will be automatically updated to match your revised shipping plan. There is a limit on the number of modifications you can make to a shipping plan in the Prepare shipment page. If you need to make additional changes beyond this limit, delete the shipping plan and create a new shipping plan with the correct quantity.

To delete a shipping plan, use the Delete plan button at the bottom of the Send/replenish inventory page.

To cancel a shipment, use the Delete shipment/Cancel shipment button at the bottom of the Prepare shipment page.

Closing a shipment is not the same as cancelling a shipment. A shipment is closed when all units have been received at the fulfilment centre and there is no more activity on the shipment. This status is automatically designated by the fulfilment centre system once all units have been received. Some shipments may remain in an open status pending audit, investigation, or claims for up to 90 days. You may review shipment status, identify problems, and reconcile shipments on the Reconcile tab of the Summary page.

For items packed in boxes that are individually labelled for delivery, see the Small parcel delivery (SPD) section on this page.

For boxes stacked on pallets, see the Less than or full truckload (LTL/FTL) section on this page.

Accurate box weight and dimensions are required for all shipments, even if you opt to not provide box content information in Seller Central. For more information, see Shipping and routing requirements.

Small parcel delivery (SPD) is for items packed in shipping boxes that are individually labelled for delivery. These are normally smaller shipments that are sent via DHL, UPS, FedEx or local postal services.

All boxes for small parcel delivery must:

• Meet the shipping and routing requirements
• Have units inside each box prepped according to the Packaging and prep requirements page.
• Have an FBA shipment label and a carrier label
• Not weigh more than 22.50 kg unless they contain a single oversized item that weighs more than 22.50 kg
• Not exceed 63.50 cm on any side, unless they contain a single oversized item that measures more than 63.50 cm
• Be properly packed to arrive at the fulfilment centre intact

To complete your small parcel delivery request:

1. Select Small parcel delivery (SPD) and your preferred carrier on the Prepare shipment page.
   
2. If you choose to ship using your own carrier, select Shipping mode (air, ocean or ground) to indicate how you plan to transport your shipment so that Amazon can better prepare to receive your inventory.
   
   Important: You should select the shipping mode for the longest leg of transportation. For example, if you are sourcing inventory from China and transporting it to the US by ocean container, you would select Ocean.
3. Under Shipment packing, provide accurate information about the contents of each box, including the quantity of each ASIN in each box, the required weight and dimensions of the box, and any expiration dates. For more information, see Provide box content information. Click Confirm.
   Important: Failure to provide accurate box content information might result in blocking of future shipments, and a manual processing fee will be applied.
4. If you are using an Amazon-partnered carrier, after you have finished adding the boxes, click Calculate to get an estimate of your shipping charge. Select I agree to the terms and conditions, and then click Accept charges
   
   Important: If you want to change the shipping method or cancel the shipping plan after you have accepted the charges, you can click Void charges to obtain a refund for the shipping fees for that shipment. A small parcel delivery (SPD) must be voided or cancelled within 24 hours after submitting a shipment request, and before you have begun shipping any portion of it.
5. Select Ship date to enter the date that you expect to hand your inventory to the carrier. This date helps us prepare to receive your inventory. This date can be changed after you have confirmed shipping.
6. Select the label stock and click Print box labels. A PDF file is generated for you. You can open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader and print your labels immediately or save the file and print your labels later. Make sure that you print the full set of labels. If you have selected an Amazon-partnered carrier, there are two labels for each box in your shipment: an address label for the carrier and an FBA shipping label, which includes information that the fulfilment centre uses to verify the arrival and contents of the box. Make sure that you put the correct label on each box. If you modify the number of boxes after you have already printed your labels, you must reprint the entire set of labels for your shipment. For more information, see Shipment label requirements.
   Important: Each shipment ID label is unique and required. Do not photocopy, reuse or modify labels for use on additional boxes. Not properly labelling your boxes may lead to blocking of future shipments.
7. Affix the FBA shipment labels to the boxes.
   If you are reusing boxes from previous shipments, remove or cover any other shipment labels or markings. Do not place labels on the box seam. Whenever possible, place shipment labels no closer than 3.00 cm from the edge of the box. The tape used to seal the box should not cover the shipment labels.
8. Click Complete shipment to finalize and confirm your shipment.
   Important: Not completing your shipment and all necessary steps may result in delays, rejection of your shipment or blocking of your shipment creation abilities.

Less than truckload (LTL) is for cases or boxes secured on pallets labelled for delivery. For LTL, the truck might contain shipments to other destinations. If your shipment qualifies for full truckload (FTL), the shipment will go directly to the fulfilment centre. LTL and FTL shipments require a delivery appointment. For more information, see Scheduling advanced delivery appointments.

For products shipped by truck:

• Follow the Packaging and prep requirements and the LTL or truck load delivery to Amazon
• All boxes on a single pallet must have the same shipment ID
• Pallets must be standard Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), four-way access, 1 x 1.25 metres, #2 quality or better
• All pallets must contain like items when quantities allow
• Label the pallet "single ASIN pallet" if it contains only one ASIN
• All pallets of mixed but visually similar products must be labelled "mixed merchandise" or "mixed SKUs"
• Boxes on pallets must not overhang the pallet edge
• Boxes must be secured to the pallet with transparent plastic or stretch wrap with Do not break stretch wrap or Do not break down notifications
• Single pallet weight must not exceed 675 kg
• Single pallet height must not exceed 1.75 metres (including the height of the pallet)
• Pallets identified as stackable may be stacked by the carrier
• Double-stacked pallet weight must not exceed 2,000 kg
• Double-stacked pallet height must not exceed 2.50 metres (including the height of the pallets) and each pallet must not exceed 1.25 metres

For more information, see Shipping and routing requirements, Shipment label requirements and Truckload (LTL/FTL) packing requirements.

To complete your less-than or full truckload request:

1. Select Less than truckload (LTL) and whether you are shipping with an Amazon partnered carrier.
   
2. If you choose to ship using your own carrier, select Shipping mode (air, ocean or ground) to indicate how you plan to transport your shipment so that Amazon can better prepare to receive your inventory.
   Important: You should select the shipping mode for the longest leg of transportation. For example, if you are sourcing inventory from China and transporting it to the US by ocean container, you would select Ocean.
3. Under Shipment packing, provide accurate information about the contents of each box, including the quantity of each ASIN in each box, the required weight and dimensions of the box, and any expiration dates. For more information, see Provide box content information. Click Confirm.
   Important: Failure to provide accurate box content information might result in blocking of future shipments, and a manual processing fee will be applied.
4. Click Generate box labels.
5. Affix an FBA box ID label to the outside of each box so that they will be visible when the pallet is unpacked at the fulfilment centre. For more information, see Shipment label requirements.
   Important: Each FBA box ID label is unique and required. Do not photocopy, reuse or modify labels for use on additional boxes. Not properly labelling your boxes may lead to blocking of future shipments.
   Note: The following steps apply when shipping with an Amazon-partnered carrier. If you are not shipping with an Amazon partnered carrier, proceed to step 14. See the Amazon-partnered carrier options for more information.
6. Type the height of your fully packed pallets (63.50 cm is ideal pallet and pack height), the weight of each pallet (maximum 675.00 kg for non-stackable pallets and 337.50 kg for stackable) and the total number of pallets.
   
7. Select whether or not your packed pallets are Stackable. Two stacked pallets cannot exceed 2.50 metres total in height (1.25 metres per pallet), and non-stacked pallets cannot exceed 1.70 metres.
   
8. If you have pallets of differing heights and weights, click Add another row to add more pallet definitions. You can have up to 26 non-stackable and 52 stackable pallets per shipment.
9. Under Freight-ready date, enter the date that your shipment will be ready for pick up by 8 a.m. local time.
   
10. Confirm that your contact information is correct. Please ensure that your fax information is either blank or provides your fax number. To modify your contact information, click Change contact.
11. Select your freight class from the Freight class drop-down list. If you do not know the freight class, select Estimate my freight class and we will estimate it for you.
    Important: If we determine that you are providing incorrect freight classes for your shipments, we may disable your ability to enter freight class and, instead, estimate your freight class for you. For more information about freight class, see Amazon partner carrier freight class.
12. Provide the declared value for your shipment.
13. After you have finished adding the pallet information, click Calculate to get an estimate of your shipping charge.
14. Select I agree to the terms and conditions, and then click Accept charges.
    Important: If you want to change the shipping method or cancel the shipment after you have accepted the charges, you can click Void charges within one hour to void the shipping fees for that shipment.
15. Select Ship date to enter the date that you expect to hand your inventory to the carrier. This date helps us prepare to receive your inventory. This date can be changed after you have confirmed shipping.
16. Under Shipping labels, enter the number of pallets you are sending.
17. Click Print pallet labels.
    Note: Four copies of each FBA pallet ID label will be generated for each pallet in your shipment. The FBA pallet ID label includes information that the fulfilment centre uses to verify the arrival of the shipment.
18. Affix an FBA shipping label to the top-centre of each of the four sides of every stretch-wrapped pallet in your shipment.
19. Click Complete shipment to finalize and confirm your shipment.
    Important: Not completing your shipment and all necessary steps may result in delays, rejection of your shipment or blocking of your shipment creation abilities.