Wiki-Amazon FBA

Answer:

FCL shipments

For FCL shipments, palletizing at origin is recommended if the manufacturer can provide qualified pallets. Luckylucky can build pallets at destination (US, CA, UK, DE, AU) as per Amazon's requirement.

LTL shipments

For LTL shipments, palletizing at origin is recommended for fragile cargo. Otherwise, cargo can be delivered in cartons to the consolidator's warehouse, and they will be palletized at destination before delivery to Amazon.

Amazon's products need to be affixed with the barcode of the product, so that the inventory can be scanned when it is put on the shelf.
*Sellers can choose the barcode generated by Amazon, or buy a third-party barcode to upload to Amazon.
*U.S. Customs requires the country of origin on the product packaging. Some Amazon sellers will print the country of origin information on the barcode.
*If the product has a plastic bag and the opening is larger than 5 inches, the customer needs to be reminded to put a suffocation warning (to prevent the child from suffocating on the head)
*If the product is a set, a set of products must be packaged or wrapped together for easy differentiation
* If the product box itself is not fragile, we recommend the customer to ask exporter to do a drop test.
* At least 5-layer corrugated export carton should be used in the carton

* For other special packaging such as fragile products/plush products, please refer to Amazon's packaging guidelines document
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/G200141500

Answer:
To get an accurate and quality quotation for door-to-door freight, please provide the following information in your inquiry:
1. Commodity name, material, HS code (we can also check with your supplier for more details in order to calculate import duty cost).
2. Weight, measurement, number of cartons, packing
3. Delivery address (Amazon warehouse or importer's warehouse at destination)
4. Manufacturer's address (pickup cost)
5. Trade terms (FOB, EXW, DAP, DDU)
6. Registered importer in US/Europe or not? (Do you have EIN/EORI/VAT?）

Answer:
For best results, we highly recommend using an inspection service, especially for Amazon shipments. This service helps to ensure the quality, quantity, and packing of the product, which can impact product reviews. In e-commerce businesses, products are shipped directly from the manufacturer to the consumer, so there is no importer/distributor/wholesaler's inspection. Any defects in product, packing, or labeling must be identified before delivery to consumers to avoid high return logistics costs. Inspection services offer random sampling and overall inspection, with the cost of random sampling inspection listed in Q6. Please contact us for a case-by-case confirmation of overall inspection costs based on actual product quantity.

Answer:

The standard inspection cost is USD 155.00 per person per day, and the inspector will check the quantity, visible workmanship, function inspection, labeling and marking, packing, barcode and QR code, etc.
Please provide us with the manufacturer's address, contact information, the person in charge, and the inspection checklist at least 2-3 days prior to the intended inspection date. The inspector will randomly inspect 50-300pcs of products based on the client's inspection checklist. After the inspection, we will send you an inspection report and videos the next day. Please note that the inspection cost may vary if the factory is located in a remote area. A successful inspection requires the manufacturer's full cooperation.

Answer:

Air freight is cheaper than courier-express, but courier-express includes customs declaration and delivery. For door-to-door delivery, courier-express is often more competitive if chargeable weight is less than 200 kg. Chargeable weight for air freight is cargo's cbm x 167, while for courier-express it is cbm x 200. Delivery to Amazon for courier-express doesn't need appointment, but has a volume limit. For air-freight (LTL) shipment, an appointment is needed for Amazon delivery, but there is no quantity limit.

What's chargeable weight?

Chargeable weight is the weight used to determine the shipping cost of a shipment, calculated as the greater of either the actual weight or the volumetric weight of the shipment. The calculation method of chargeable weight can differ for different transportation methods, such as air freight and sea freight.

Express/Groupon sea freight(CN-SG, CN-AU)

Measurement (cbm) * 200 compared with gross weight(kg), whichever is larger

For example, for 1 CBM of cargo with a gross weight of 100 kg, the volume weight is is 200 kg, as the volume weight is bigger, the chargeable weight is 200kg.

For another example, if 1 CBM cargo has a gross weight of 300 kg, the volume weight is 100 kg, as the gross weight is bigger, the chargeable weight is 300kg

Air freight

Measurement (cbm) * 167 compared with gross weight(kg), whichever is larger

For example, for 1 CBM of cargo with a gross weight of 100 kg, the volume weight is is 167 kg, as the volume weight is bigger, the chargeable weight is 167kg.

For another example, if 1 CBM cargo has a gross weight of 300 kg, the volume weight is 167 kg, as the gross weight is bigger, the chargeable weight is 300kg

Answer:
Yes, we help our clients get insurance coverage and we recommend that they do so. Because of our large volume of shipments, we have competitive insurance costs and can provide easy electronic issuance of the insurance policy. Cargo insurance (ALL RISKS) protects the client against potential loss and damage of goods.
If Amazon and the consignee report any damage or loss of goods, please obtain all related evidence and forward it to us as soon as possible. We will coordinate with the insurance company and claim compensation.

Answer:
You can have your supplier contact us one week before the goods are ready, or you can provide us with your supplier's contact information and we will confirm all shipment details. Once we have the actual time the cargo is ready, we will arrange the soonest shipping schedule. We'll keep you updated on any developments regarding the shipment. Our online tracking system will provide regular updates on the cargo status, including pickup, customs release, shipment, import customs release, and delivery to Amazon.

Answer:
For courier-express shipments, the express company (FedEx/DHL/UPS) handles customs clearance and duty collection. As Amazon is not the importer and won't pay the duty fee, the shipment must be arranged under DDP terms, requiring the duty to be paid in advance. The express company will collect the duty at origin to avoid delays at the destination. We collect the duty deposit in advance and settle the balance once the actual duty bill comes out, which can take 1-6 months for the express company to refund.

Answer:
In many situations, Amazon sellers are not located in their destination countries. In order to import products, sellers are required to register for an EIN in the United States and an EORI in the UK and Europe.
Please click the following links to get more information about how to register.
United States EIN application link
United Kingdom EORI application link
Germany EORI application link
Additionally, if you plan to conduct long-term business in Europe, it is recommended that you register for VAT to avoid potential risks and protect your listing. Our UK and German partners can help you with the VAT registration process.

Answer:
No!
Luckylucky offers a one-stop cross-border logistics service for Amazon sellers, handling all of the exporting and importing countries' complex requirements through our sophisticated teams at both origin and destination. This allows our clients to focus on their products and listings' performance. A POA (Power of Attorney) is all that's needed to authorize Luckylucky's destination broker to declare customs on behalf of the client.

Answer:
If you need a U.S. local address as the "Ship From" address, we can provide one for you. Otherwise, the "Shipping From" address and name is usually your manufacturer's address and name. Please ask your supplier to provide you with this information.

Answer:
For the master carton, Amazon requires only that the carton labels be affixed so that they can be scanned when being received. There is the same requirement for the product barcodes. Just make sure that Amazon can scan each product when an order is received.
However, due to the importing country's regulation, "Made in China" (or whatever country is pertinent) must be shown on the product itself and the packing box (shipping mark).
If "Made in China" is not shown properly on the product, the shipment might be rejected in import customs. Even if we can ask our import country’s office to assist with applying such a label to the product, the cost will be very high and the shipment will be delayed.

Carton label & Pallet Label

1. Each box of goods should be affixed with 2-3 labels, and the labels should be prevented from falling off or being worn during transportation in the carton
2. The pallet labels of the same FBA ID are exactly the same, just stick to the center around the pallet (4 labels). The difference between the pallet label and the carton label is that the carton label is FBAID + serial number, and the ID under the barcode of the pallet label is only FBA ID, no serial number 001, 002, etc.

Answer:
Our freight quotation does not include import duty. We can provide an estimate of the duty tariff for your goods if you provide the HS code, material, and product pictures. However, the actual HS code classification and duty fee for a shipment are subject to official confirmation and duty bill from customs.

Answer:
Ocean LCL & LCL shipment: the client is requested to pay full freight and import duty/tax before the cargo is delivered to the Amazon fulfillment center.
We accept payment by T/T.
Air-freight shipment: the client is requested to pay full freight and import duty/tax before the cargo is delivered to the Amazon fulfillment center.
Courier-express shipment: the client is requested to pay full freight plus customs duty deposit before flight departure.
Payment methods:
T/T (Bank account in China, Hongkong, USA)
Western Union / Paypal

Answer:
Amazon LTL service (slowest speed, cheapest cost)
It takes 2-3 weeks to deliver a shipment to an Amazon FBA warehouse after Amazon's contract trucker has picked it up from the destination warehouse.
Courier-express service: (fastest speed, highest cost)
It takes 1-5 days to deliver a shipment to an Amazon FBA warehouse after courier express (FedEx/UPS/DHL) has picked it up from the destination warehouse.
Luckylucky LTL service (fast speed, balanced cost)
It takes 1-6 days to deliver a shipment to an Amazon FBA warehouse after Luckylucky's trucker has picked it up from the destination warehouse.

Answer:
Export or import inspections occur when they select your shipment randomly in their system. Sometimes, for certain categories of products, Customs requires more information, supporting documents, or even physical inspection of the products.
Nobody can avoid customs inspections. The only thing a client should do is to provide as much accurate information as possible when declaring customs. The client is also required to make sure that the manufacturer is able to provide any document when Customs needs it. Customs might need a certificate of origin, WiFi, USB, Bluetooth, CE, or FDA certification.
If you are not sure what kind of certification Customs might need, please provide the HS code of your product, and Luckylucky will help you confirm this with the destination broker teams.

Answer:
We list mainly the customs inspection category in the U.S. as follows:
1. X-ray Exam: no devanning, simple inspection, verify prohibited/hazardous articles.
Normally takes 1-2 days.
2. CET/Intensive Exam (contraband enforcement exam): Unload cargo and verify if the actual products match the declared information in customs.
Normally takes 5-6 days.
3. MET Exam: Devanning and counting the number of packages, check details of product, amount of goods, copyright, etc.
Normally takes 3-5days
4. Tailgate Exam: Inspect tail of container to see if there is any violation and determine further inspection.
Normally takes 3 days.

Answer:
Follow these general requirements when shipping units to Amazon fulfillment centers. Certain products have other specific requirements. Amazon may refuse, return, or repackage any product delivered to an Amazon fulfillment center with inadequate or non-compliant packaging at your expense, and you may also be subject to non-compliance fees.
 

Any FNSKU you use on a Unit must be unique and must correspond to one unique product. For example, each assortment type, such as size or color, will have a different FNSKU.

Each Unit must have an exterior scannable barcode or label (which includes a scannable barcode and the corresponding human-readable numbers) that is easily accessible.

Remove, cover, or render unscannable any existing scannable barcodes on the outside of shipping boxes. For example, cover existing barcodes with opaque tape or use a black felt-tip marker to render the barcode unscannable. This prevents the incorrect barcode from being accidentally scanned during the receiving process.

Answer:

DDC, destination delivery charge, can be considered as the THC (terminal handling charge). Usually, DDC will be quoted separately for U.S. routes

Answer:

CFS generally refers to a warehouse for cargo consolidation or devanning. In most cases, CFS is a customs-bonded warehouse. The manifest of each shipment loaded into a container must be submitted to customs by CFS, the warehouse inbound, outbound and storage is supervised by customs. CFS warehouse fee including the unload fee apportioned in proportion to the goods and handling fee per shipment.

Answer:

Customs bond is a contractual agreement between the Importer of record, the Bond Surety Company and US Customs & Border Protection (CBP). Customs Bonds facilitate faster Customs clearance because they guarantee the CBP will be immediately paid if any additional import duties, taxes or fees need to be assessed. This allows the CBP to clear the shipment without having to wait for the Importer to submit payment. The CBP is paid by the Surety Company, then the Importer reimburses the Surety.

Customs Bonds are available as Single-Entry bonds, which cover individual shipments, or as Annual/Continuous Customs Bonds, which cover all shipments over a 12-month period. Customs Bonds are required by the CBP for all commercial imports valued at $2500 or more, even if a shipment is duty-free.

Customs Bond pricing depends on the bond value and type. Single-entry bonds are calculated based on the individual shipment, The calculation method of SINGLE BOND is US$65 within US$10,000 . If the value exceeds US$10,000 , US$6.5 will be levied for every US$1,000. The cost of purchasing annual bond is US$550/year plus US$50 as handling fee.

Answer:

The standard express service includes freight, delivery, import and export declaration. The freight paid to the courier company already includes the cost of all services. Choosing sea and air freight will incur a lot of fixed service fees such as customs declaration fees, bill of lading fees, pick-up and delivery fees, handling fees and etc. Unless the quantity of goods is large enough, because there are fixed expenses, the total door-to-door cost will be higher than that of express delivery. In practice, the total cost of air transportation within 200 kgs or sea freight within 1 cubic meter may not be economical by express delivery.

Answer:

Normally the import duties for express cargo are paid by importers located in the importing country. Since you are not a company literally located in the importing country, the express company only accepts DDP, the import tariff prepaid in the origin. Since the import tariff bill of the express company takes 1 month or even up to 6 months to be returned to us, the express company will require us to pay 35% of the amount of the goods as a tariff deposit and US$35/shipment as DDP handling fee. This deposit will be used to offset the actual customs duties. Once we receive the customs bill for the goods, the deducted deposit balance will be returned to your company.

Usually, we recommend using PayPal to collect the duty deposit refund to avoid additional bank charges. If you choose wire transfer, you need to bear the wire transfer fee. If we don't receive tariff bill from express company for more than 6 months, we will return the tariff deposit to the customer first.

Although most import tariff rates are lower than 35%, the actual value of the goods recognized by the customs may be much higher than shipper's declared value, so the express company requires a deposit of 35% of the declared value of the goods.

In practice, express company only collect duty deposit for invoice value more than US$500.

Answer:

Sorry we could not provide importer of record agency service if the shipment is not handled by us. As we are unable to physically check the actual product or receive necessary proofs from the shipper. Unless the shipment is officially consigned to us by the shipper along with 100% legally presented documents/certifications.

Answer:

Almost all Amazon-related sellers/logistics will know or know that Amazon's warehouse needs to make an appointment for delivery.

Not all types of warehousing require an appointment.

SPD delivery does not require a separate appointment. The courier company has a daily appointment with Amazon. A separate appointment is required for truck deliveries.
Luckylucky's main business is shipping to Amazon door-to-door service. The appointment is a prerequisite before the truck is dispatched. Each LTL/FTL shipment is dispatched by trucks against case-by-case appointment in advance, and appointments are done by destination local LTL service provider sometimes.
Some trucks/agents will charge USD40 Amazon appointment fee as an operating fee to coordinate truck and cargo appointments.
Amazon's appointment needs to be made through carrier central, and the confirmed appointment will be sent by email with barcode and time. The carrier cannot make an appointment by phone/email, etc. Therefore, there is no public delivery contact in the Amazon warehouse.

An Amazon appointment sample:

Hello, An appointment for LISF with ISA Id 68XXXXXX0 has been confirmed at Amazon.com's MEL1 Fulfillment Center for Tue 07/12/2022 14:30 AEST. Please make sure you have the appointment ID ready when you show up for the appointment.

Please ensure the driver has a printed copy or a soft copy of this email notification which includes the barcode. Thanks!

Appointment Summary:

Fulfillment Center: MEL1 Inbound Shipment Appointment (ISA) ID: 68XXXX0 Appointment Reference Code: MEL1-XX-6XXXO Arrival Date: Tue 07/12/2022 14:30 AEST Door: 17 Trailer Number: Shipments: ISD: 18XXXXXX90 PRO: SXXXD954-YMEL Pallet count: 3 Carton count: 67 POs: [4XXXXMOT, 7XXXXQM, 4XXXXL2U, 6XXXX5ET, 5XXXXS6T, 21XXXX7E, 4XXXXFUN, 1XXXXOHC, 53XXXX7Q, 5PXXXXVC] BOLs: [FBA1XXXXGGH6, FBA1XXXX45C1, FBA15XXXXXR, FBA15XXXXJJ, FBA1XXXXM8CH, FBA1XXXX06CZ, FBA1XXXXMCQ8, FBA15XXXXN74, FBA15DXXXX0C, FBA15D1XXXXP]

Vendor Name: Luckylucky International Supply Chain Co Ltd

Have a great day!
Amazon.com Transportation Department

Seller can either use LUCKYLUCKY arrange delivery or ask Amazon carrier pick-up goods from our overseas warehouses.

1. If you choose to be delivered by luckylucky, we will set appointment with amazon at the nearest delivery time for each shipment and provide POD after delivery is complete.

2. If you choose Amazon's self-collection, there are three ways to receive the goods by Amazon.

a. SPD No appointment is required. This method can only be used by courier companies. The courier company has a regular appointment with Amazon. SPD does not need to go through carrier central again. Quantity: less then 15cartons, non-palletized goods.

b. LTL This method requires an appointment, labeling and palletizing according to specified requirements, and palletized goods are delivered by truck

c. FTL This method is to make an appointment and send the whole cabinet to the Amazon warehouse, and ask to refer to the Amazon documents. This method is rarely used, and it is likely to incur higher costs than demolition. In practice, we need to unload container in our warehouse and deliver they after labeling and palletizing after get appointment from Amazon.

Normally, "FBA shipment ID" , "Reference ID" and "Ship to address" are required to make an appointment from carrier central,.

Usually, for goods delivered by sea or truck, we need to assist customers to find these information from the seller central.
The new background "send to Amazon is the green main interface, in the shipment summary section you can find the FBA shipment ID and Amzon reference ID" and "Ship to address". If the customer can't find it, please refer to the following Amazon "send to Amazon" step-by-step tutorial.

https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/GBJBZ65P2LHZM2DG

If multiple IDs correspond to different FBA warehouses

① It is recommended that customers use Amazon inventory replacement service to merge warehouses.

② It is recommended that customers use the 3rd-party warehouse + Amazon pickup mode (US)
It is not recommended for customers to send shipments directly to multiple warehouses,

Because: 1. Multiple goods are shipped separately leads to more fix cost expense.

2. Long transit time might cause the label to expire on the road

BOL number: BOL that seller mentioned refers to the documents when truck deliver to the Amazon warehouse.
This what logistics company usually call delivery order or POD.
Customers often associate Amazon's BOL (local delivery to FBA at destination) with Ocean/Air Bill of Lading(port of loading-port of discharge), requires logistics company show Reference ID on the Ocean/Air Bill of Lading, h/ever, this ID is not required to be displayed on the Ocean/Air Bill of Lading.

Amazon no longer offers stamped PODs after the pandemic.

Amazon U.S. uses Amazon's seller central appointment record as POD proof.
Amazon Singapore adopts electronic file e-POD
Amazon Australia uses a handwritten signature or electronic signature

Due to the congestion in the port of the importing country, the entire transportation time will last for 30-60 days. If the label is created too early, it may have expired when it is delivered to Amazon, and the receiving warehouse will not be able to scan the label.
If you are factory labelling, try to label only before delivery goods to your forwarder at the origin country.
Please try to let the logistics company choose the consolidation service directly to the nearest destination of the warehouse (applicable for some cities such as Dallas, NewYork, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago)

The process for customs clearance involves submitting the necessary documentation, paying any applicable duties and taxes, and having your shipment inspected by customs officials. You can either handle this process yourself or hire a customs broker to assist you.

Depending on the type of product you are importing, you may need to obtain certain import licenses and permits. It is best to check with the relevant government agency to determine what is required. If you need assistance with the process, you can hire a customs broker or freight forwarder.

To ensure compliance with local regulations and standards, businesses should work with a knowledgeable and experienced logistics provider. They can help businesses navigate complex customs regulations, product requirements, and documentation requirements. Additionally, businesses should thoroughly research the regulations and standards in the destination country before shipping their goods.

To minimize the risk of damage or loss during transit, businesses should use appropriate packaging materials and methods. They should also work with carriers who have a good track record of safe and reliable transportation. Additionally, businesses should consider purchasing insurance to protect against potential losses.

A bill of lading is a legal document that serves as a contract between the shipper and the carrier, outlining the details of the shipment, including the goods being transported, the destination, and the terms of the agreement. A waybill, on the other hand, is a document that accompanies the shipment and provides information about the goods being transported, but does not serve as a legal contract. Waybills are typically used for air and courier shipments, while bills of lading are used for ocean and some land-based shipments.