WRJC 2011
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Transport and Transportation

4 tips for logistics and transport to Amazon FBA warehouses

Shipping to Amazon warehouses and fulfilment centers can be a tricky business. A company such as Quicargo is considered a specialist in Amazon FBA shipping, but there are certainly more and more shipping companies who are taking an interest in this booming business of ecommerce shipping. Before you decide on your partner in logistics, we want to give you 4 great tips so that you can make an informed decision.

 

Know your numbers

To ship to Amazon, it is good to know or to be able to predict the number of parcels or pallets you need to ship every month, every week, or every day of the year. The reason for this is that transportation companies usually work with different shipping quotes per volume.

For example, if you only ship once a month you will more likely pay a higher fee than when you have many shipments week. So, in case you need to ship many goods to Amazon, it is smart to inform yourself about the possibilities of reduced rates for regular deliveries with your transportation company.

 

Preparing the products for transport

You do not want to cause any delays and damages to your goods. That will only cost you extra money, so make sure all your goods are nicely packed before the carrier of your choice comes and load them up.

Amazon has strict requirements when it comes to the way your merchandise needs to be packed. Use poly bags, tape, and bubble wrap for protection. Also, make sure your goods are conforming the maximum weight, size, and height.

These may differ per location. For example, in the UK for palletized goods you can use block pallets, whilst in most other European countries mini pallets and euro pallets are the standard.

Label all the products correctly

Label all your goods according to Amazon standards, unless your merchandise qualifies for shipments without stickers. A specialist shipping company in transport to Amazon FBA will be able to provide you with all the tools to print the correct stickers and barcodes. Make sure to ask them all the requirements, so that your shipment will not get delayed or totally denied at the warehouses.

Friendly reminder: every Amazon warehouse has its own FBA code. Make sure to get the correct one, as there are multiple locations in different countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and more.

 

You may want to work with one of the ‘preferred carriers’

Every day, thousands of trucks arrive at the unloading docks of Amazon warehouses. If time is of the essence, then you may want to make sure that your logistics partner is considered a ‘preferred carrier’ by Amazon. The reason for this is that they can get you a quicker unloading timeslot at one of the Amazon fulfilments centers.

Additionally, those carriers have more experience with ecommerce shipments to marketplaces. This experience usually shows in less delays and other operational problems. In other words, ‘preferred carriers’ are more of a guarantee to have successful deliveries to Amazon FBA warehouses.