How To NOT Pack Your FBA Shipments
Happy Thanksgiving Day! I’ve been super uber busy myself, packing and shipping to FBA.
Have you ever received shipments that looked like this? I recently received some really poorly packed deliveries from online merchants. These boxes were not packed properly. I would’ve hoped that their warehouse staff would do a better job. Fortunately the contents were mostly OK with the exception of one toy that had a crushed corner of the box.
This next photo shows that one of the boxes was not stuffed full of packing material. This is the box that arrived at my doorstep opened. You’ll want to always stuff the box full so the edges are less likely to collapse like those shown above.
I’ll be showing how to properly pack shipments in upcoming posts. In the meantime have a great Black Friday and I hope you get some great deals to resell on FBA.
Take care out there!
Preparing Textiles for Shipping to FBA
Sometimes I purchase textile items to send to Amazon Fulfillment that require preparation prior to packing in the box. The FBA Shipping Manual (section 5.8.6) states ‘Textile products must be packaged so that the item cannot be damaged or cause unsafe conditions by having the material exposed during the fulfillment process.”
I recently received a canvas cloth product that arrived with each item wrapped in individual Suffocation Warning Bags but the bags were not sealed shut. I used clear packing tape to seal each item shut and then taped the FNSKU label to the outside of the bag (FNSKU labels are the labels we print to attach to each individual item for Amazon Fulfillment).
Here are some photos showing the bag before & after being taped shut, plus I show how I packed the items to prevent the box from getting crushed which can cause boxes to lose their integrity and break open.
This is the textile product as it arrived to me from the supplier in open bags
open bag
This is the same item with the bag taped shut with clear packing tape (1.88″ x 2.6 Mil). Fortunately my supplier shipped these to me in bags that had the suffocation warning printed on the bag. IMPORTANT: Amazon requires that you use Suffocation Warning Bags. They can be obtained here
bag taped shut
FBA Packing Slip placed on top of the products
FBA Packing Slip
Getting ready to tape the box I find it needs more packing material
needs packing material
I added Air Pillows to fill the box up to help the box maintain integrity during shipping
added air pillows
After adding air pillows the box is ready to seal with packing tape
box ready to seal
After the box is sealed with tape it will be ready for the UPS Shipping Label and then off it goes to the FBA warehouse!
Any questions?
Your comments are welcome!
Sealing Shipments – Tape Dispenser & Packing Tape
There is a large variety of packing tapes and dispensers available at most office supply stores and online. Here is what I use on a daily basis for preparing shipments for transit to Amazon’s FBA warehouses. I have used this configuration for many years with good results. These are my personal preferences and you may prefer something different but this is what works well for me, and the cost is reasonable.
Tape Dispenser
There are many different dispensers available. I’ve tried the more expensive ‘gun’ type dispenser but prefer the lightweight plastic dispensers that come with a roll of packing tape, I find it easier to hold and use. You do have to be careful as the cutter blade is exposed, compared with some of the fancier gun type dispensers with retractable blades. Over the years the dispensers carried by my local stores have changed but they’v
e basically been about the same for over 10 years. I usually get at least several years out of one of these dispensers. I’m currently using a Scotch dispenser that is carried by OfficeMax. This dispenser allows you to easily replace the tape roll after it’s used up. It holds most 1.88/1.9 inch wide x 54.5/55 yard tape refills.
Available at Amazon.com: Scotch Sure Start Shipping Packaging Tape with Dispenser, 1.88 Inches x 38.2 Yards, 1 Roll with Dispenser (3450S-RD)
Available at OfficeMax: Item #: 07110093 and at the time of this writing is available through this link or locally at stores: http://www.officemax.com/office-supplies/shipping-mailing-supplies/packaging-tape-dispensers/product-ARS21503?csRedirectSearchString=07110093&csRedirectSearchResultCount=1&csSearchTag=true&_requestid=6849
Packing Tape
Here again, this is a matter of personal preference and what’s easily available. I find if I use cheap tape I have problems with it coming off the roll properly and it’s a nightmare to get it straigtened out. I have an OfficeMax store nearby so I usually use that in case I need to restock in a hurry. This tape is 2.6 Mil thickness, which is neither the lightest nor the heaviest, it’s a middle weight tape that I find works well on my FBA shipments. You will see packing tape sold for lower prices, but I find that’s almost always 1.9 Mil thickness which in my 
opinion is too thin to withstand the rigors of UPS and other carriers. I use this tape for both sealing boxes and for taping the shipping label to the outside of the box. The tape comes in both 110 yard and 55 yard (actually 54.6 yard) lengths. If you are using the Scotch dispenser shown above (or similar small dispenser), you’ll want the 55 yard length rolls. The 110 yard length roll might fit the dispenser but it will likely rub on the inside of the dispenser until you’ve used several yards.
Available at Amazon.com: I haven’t tried this Duck brand but looks to be about the same as what I get from OfficeMax Duck Brand HD Packaging Tape, 1.88 inch x 54.6 Yard, Crystal Clear, 6 Rolls (CS-55-6pk)
Available at OfficeMax: Item #: 21086968 and at the time of this writing is available through this link: http://www.officemax.com/office-supplies/shipping-mailing-supplies/packaging-tape-dispensers/product-ARS24523?csRedirectSearchString=21086968&csRedirectSearchResultCount=1&csSearchTag=true&_requestid=6766
I welcome your comments and suggestions regarding your packing supply preferences.
FBA Shipping – Packing For Profit, Not Peanuts
Recently I combined several orders that came to me in many boxes. Some retail stores really amaze me when it comes to their lack of good packing. I frequently receive large boxes containing a few small items, surrounded by loads of peanuts.
According to the Amazon FBA Manual, FBA does not allow us to use peanuts when shipping to FBA:
- “Accepted forms of dunnage/void fill include foam, air pillows and full sheets of paper. Styrofoam peanuts, biodegradable/cornstarch packing peanuts, crinkle wrap, and shredded paper are not acceptable. Boxes must be packaged so that the contents can withstand the rigors of transportation and processing at Amazon fulfillment centers.”
I had to pack the items up more efficiently into well packed shipments for sending to FBA. There were several delicately boxed dolls that I placed in a large box and for packing material around the dolls I used about 2 dozen small plush toys. First, I packed each plush toy in suffocation warning bags. Then I used the plush toys to surround the boxed dolls. It was way more efficient and economical than shipping the dolls and plush toys separately and I didn’t have to use or waste any extra packing materials. Packing this way was not only economical it was environmentally friendly as well. The dolls will arrive at the FBA warehouse in perfect condition and I didn’t use a bit of packing material.
