Summary of this article：You’ve already gotten part of the answer here: the FBA prep services provided by Amazon make sure your product is delivered to Amazon's warehouses according to the stringent inbound requirements specified by Amazon concerning labeling, lollygagging, bundling, cartons, etc. Incorrect prep can lead to delays, extra fees and potentially even return of goods.
What are FBA prep services?
In third-party prep centers (sometimes called suppliers or agents), your goods will be received, have necessary prep work done to them, checked for accuracy and sent to Amazon as part of the shipment plan that you have already entered. Note that Amazon's FBA prep and labeling services (in the US) will be discontinued by the beginning of 2026.
What does FBA prep involve?
The prep of a single unit involves FNSKU barcode application, lollygagging (a suffocation warning label is needed if the opening of the polybag is more than 5 inches), sealing, bubble wrapping and applying dates so that it is readable on the outside of the packaging without having to unpack the unit itself. It is bundling several units of the same ASIN together to make a multi-pack or kit of many items, removing individual ASIN labels from items where this is necessary, preparing cartons for delivery according to Amazon's standards and ensuring that the appropriate Amazon FC labels are stuck to every carton. Preparing pallets to be sent to Amazon and getting delivery appointments to Amazon FCs. It is also making sure that the information inside each carton is correct – number of units by ASIN, correct dimensions and weight, implementation of 2-D barcodes for each item if required.
Why is prep so important in 2026?
Because of two very large changes that will take place and affect many sellers: Firstly, the FBA Prep & Labeling services will be discontinued by Amazon in the US from January 2026 and secondly FBA barcodes will change in late March 2026. Seeing that fees are increasing the sellers will want to make sure their goods have correctly entered inbound as this may avoid over-incurring charges from Amazon.
The prepping process - China Prep Amazon: Standard:
1. Decide where you are going to do the prep (with China Supplier, Chinese consolidating warehouse or with receiving country prep center).
2. Create shipment plan in Seller Central, get shipment ID and cartons labels from Amazon.
3. Send label and prep instructions to the prep center.
4. Product receiving & quality control – count and check that the right quantity is received in the correct box with the right dimensions and weights.
5. Prep execution – individual and carton preparation, take photos as proof.
6. Check box contents – count units per ASIN, examine dates for expiry, dimensions of each box and weigh each one.
7. Ship to Amazon (either by SPD or FTL/LTL).
Frequently forgotten prep points are suffocation warning label on polybag, barcode label scannable from the outside of the unit/box, the FBA labels affixed to each carton and the correct contents in the cartons.
Factors to look for in a prep center are a receiving report with photos, documented SOPs for each ASIN, a prep center which is up to date with all Amazon's prep requirements (e.g. Suffocation labels, 2D barcodes), turnaround time, price.
Conclusion:
The end of the prep and labeling service by Amazon to domestic US merchants in 2026 will create much more demand from sellers to prep centers. A smooth prep process of (receive, verify, prep, confirm, pack, box, content, ship) will avoid you from facing difficulties upon inbound shipment.
