Shipping from China to Amazon FBA: The Complete FAQ Guide

If you are an Amazon seller and need to import your goods from China, then you need to ship your goods from China to Amazon FBA.

It can be really difficult especially you are new to importing from China.

So read our Ultimate FAQ Guide to get the benefit.

This is a FAQ guide for you to save cost and time, if you can not find the answer to your problem, do drop me an email, I will be there and wait for you.

How do I ship from China to FBA?

There are three ways to ship from China to Amazon FBA.

You can choose to ship from China directly to Amazon’s FBA.

This method is cost-effective and quicker than other options.

On the other hand, you can choose to ship to your home or use a middleman for inspection before shipping to Amazon.

This way you can ensure and guarantee that your products meet Amazon’s strict quality requirement.

Can I ship directly from Alibaba to Amazon FBA?

Yes, you can but can be very risky at times.

This is because of the uncertainty on the quality of the products which may not satisfy Amazon’s quality requirement.

So, you need to make sure your supplier satisfies all the quality requirements of Amazon before sending your products to Amazon to avoid rejection.

How much does it cost to ship to Amazon FBA?

The FBA charges two kinds of fees; Fulfillment fees and inventory fees.

Fulfillment fees prices range from $2.41 to $5 for standard size products while oversize fees range from $8.26 to $137.32 for small & special oversized products.

This fee covers all the handling, packaging, shipping of a product.

On the other hand, Inventory fees are charged monthly for warehousing.

Amazon FBA inventory fees for warehousing of standard size products range from $0.69 – $2.49 for every cube foot while oversize products warehousing is surprisingly cheaper with prices ranging from $0.48- $1.20.

How long does it take for Amazon to ship from China?

It takes 4 – 40 days, depending on the means of transportation.

If you use the express shipping method, it takes 4-7 days, while the Airfreight option takes longer and the sea freight usually takes 25-40 days.

Where do I ship my FBA inventory?

You ship to Amazon fulfillment center or warehouse.

To do this, you need to create a shipping order and here are some of the steps;

Go to your Amazon seller dashboard, check under the Inventory tab and click on the “manage FBA inventory.”

Then, click the checkbox to the left of your product listing and look for the “Action on 1 selected” and then click on the select “Send/Replenish Inventory.”

Proceed by clicking on “continue to shipping plan,” and after you’ve packaged and labeled your product according to Amazon requirement, you can complete shipment.

Can I ship my own products on Amazon?

Yes, you can if you use the Fulfilled by Merchant option (FBM) for your products fulfillment and shipment.

This means you handle everything involving your product.

How are Amazon storage fees calculated?

They are calculated based on a per cubic foot space, but Amazon reserves the right to determine the cubic feet your product occupies and in case of conflict; the Amazon law overrules all.

However, there is a monthly fee for the two types of products; standard product monthly price charge range from ($0.69 – $2.49 ) while oversized products monthly price charge range from $0.48- $1.20.

There is also an extra charge charged on products that have stayed at the fulfillment centers for over 180 days.

How do I ship goods to Amazon FBA in the UK from China?

There are three ways to ship goods to Amazon FBA UK from China; courier, air freight, and sea freight.

For smaller packages, it is advisable to use the courier service.

For bulk goods, sea freight is your best option, but it takes longer while the air freight is quicker but expensive.

Should I choose FBA or drop shipping?

For beginners, you should start with dropshipping as the cost of investment and risk lower as compared to Amazon.

However, if you are a seasoned seller, you might want to choose Amazon as the audience, and the profit margin is more significant than drop shipping.

Cost of shipping from China to Amazon FBA USA?

Depending on which means of transport and the size of the product, it could cost as low as $2 for a standard product and as high $137 for an oversize product,

Combined with the means of transportation, the cost of shipping through Airfreight could be as high as $4000 while sea freight which is the cheapest cost around $1200.

How much does it cost to ship 3CBM (~100lbs) from China to an Amazon FBA warehouse in the USA, and what is the easiest way?

Depending on the means of transportation, it could cost around $200 – $530.

To calculate this, you could use the shipping forwarder calculator.

How much does air shipping to Amazon FBA cost?

Airfreight is quite expensive, and it could cost as high as $4,000.

Air shipping weight calculation is calculated by multiplying the Height, Width, and Length divided by 6,000.

 How do you Send Inventory to FBA as a Non-US resident?

To send Inventory to FBA as a non-us resident, you need to have an Amazon account and enroll in the FBA program.

To do this, you need to have a business registered in the United States using a registered Agent.

Also, the business should have a legal address as well as a FEIN with the IRS.

What is Amazon FBA Private Label?

Amazon FBA private label is a product not manufactured for a seller by a manufacturer but sold under the brand label of the seller’s company and fulfilled by Amazon.

 How to save money shipping to Amazon FBA?

One significant way to save money shipping to Amazon FBA is to ship from the manufacturer to Amazon via sea freight.

It eliminates middlemen/agent fees although you have to pay the Amazon freight forwarder to help you get a customs broker and break your shipments.

How to track your shipping from China to Amazon FBA

Depending on what means of transportation used to ship your product, you can either visit the website of the sea or airline company.

Then, input details like the tracking number of your air waybill on the airline’s website while in the case of sea shipping companies,

you input such information like your Shipping Company Name, Container Number, B/L( Bill of Lading) Number or Vessel Booking Number according to your shipping company request.

How to send stock directly from China to Amazon Fulfillment centers?

You can send stock directly using a freight forwarder or shipping companies that specialize in sending stock to FBA.

They help cover custom clearance, shipping, and delivery to Amazon Fulfillment centers, but you must make sure that your products are well prepared, packaged, and labeled according to Amazon’s specification.

How to choose forwarder in China for Amazon Delivery?

To choose a forwarder to facilitate successful delivery of your product to an Amazon fulfillment center, you need to pick a helpful forwarder who can maintain communication, has knowledge of the Amazon business, and most importantly has a warehouse.

What are the significant risks for Amazon sellers shipping from China?

Some of the major risks for amazon sellers shipping from China include but are not restricted to; Ban by Amazon due to failure to meet quality guidelines, fake or counterfeit goods, lousy customer reviews, etc.

What shipping company do you use for shipping from China to Amazon?

Any shipping company certified by Amazon FBA with excellent customer service.

How do you package your Goods for shipping to Amazon FBA?

Amazon FBA is strict when it comes to packaging, and all your goods must meet the set standards.

Understanding Amazon packaging requirements would save you a great deal.

Product Packaging

Packaging involves the materials used, the wrapping, and how you protect your products.

You should wrap the goods separately, and each unit contained within a single secure package.

The materials commonly preferred by Amazon FBA for packaging include boxes, air bubble films, and poly bags.

The poly bags must be transparent with a suffocating warning attached to them.

For protection, use 2 inches of cushioning between each item contained in the box.

The content of the box should be compact without any movement when shaken.

Outer Packing

Amazon FBA specifies special packing while emphasizing that shippers use proper material, and sizes.

According to Amazon’s packaging requirements, outer packaging material should be rigid, and six-sided such as a carton.

The size of the outer packing should measure 6 X 4 X 1 inch.

Also, boxes used should weigh more than 1lb and not exceed 50lb.

Packaging using overweight cartoons can increase your shipping costs and associated risks.

For boxes exceeding 50lb and 100lb, you should provide a label that indicates Team lift and Mechanical Lift, respectively.

Suppose you import jewelry from China to Amazon FBA, your packaging boxes should not exceed 40lb.

How do you Label Goods for Shipping to Amazon?

Proper labeling is critical when shipping to Amazon FBA because it will enable your products to reach the right customer and sell quickly.

All the boxes used in the packaging must have a unique FBA label printed from the shipping queue.

Product labels must have a scannable barcode.

Note that Amazon has its specifications for barcode labels on products.

You can find them here: Amazon product barcode requirements.

As long as your product differs in any manner, for example, in color, they must all have a unique FNSKU printed on them.

How to put the Amazon Label on your Product?

Packaging and labeling go beyond understanding what Amazon requires. Your label must be in the right place.

You have three options for labeling your products for fulfilment to Amazon.

They are:

Labeling through your Chinese Supplier

As part of your trading agreement with the supplier, you can request them to label the goods as per your specifications.

Because Amazon is strict in labeling, you should work closely with your supplier.

The supplier should understand what is required and update you periodically.

Before shipping, ensure you are satisfied with the labeling.

Label it by Yourself

Labeling goods yourself means that you first ship them to your warehouse and label them before sending the goods to Amazon FBA.

This method can be expensive, and you should only consider it if you have extra cash to spend.

Labeling through a Third-party Company

Labeling through a 3^rd party service company is useful.

This is because most 3^rd party agents specialize in Amazon FBA, and they understand the labeling requirements.

When using a 3^rd party service, you will have to facilitate shipping the goods from your supplier to the 3^rd party’s warehouse.

They will label the products as per Amazon’s requirements before loading them for shipping to the relevant FBA site.

China 3^rd party agents are way cheaper than those overseas.

It would save you a lot of money if you find a capable one in China to do the label then fulfill your order to the required FBA warehouse.

What can I do if my Goods are Lost after Arriving at the Amazon Warehouse?

Although minimal, there are chances that your products may get lost or misplaced after delivery to an Amazon FBA warehouse.

In this case, you don’t have to panic as Amazon has laid down steps through which shippers can trace their products.

The steps are as follows:

Contact Amazon Customer Service

Amazon handles many goods, and it may be that the goods are just missing from your platform but not from the store.

Or they could be lost or stolen.

The best remedy for this is to contact Amazon customer care to help investigate the issue and provide a solution.

Prepare your Delivery Receipt

Many things can happen to your products once they reach the Amazon Warehouse.

Remember, a dozen other traders are delivering their products as well.

Providing a delivery receipt will show that, indeed, your goods were delivered and received at the Amazon warehouse.

This way, it is easy to resolve cases where products go missing or lost as there is proof of delivery.

Provide Product Invoice

An invoice is vital if Amazon agrees that they are responsible for your product loss.

You can get the invoice showing the value of the purchased goods from China.

Amazon will use the invoice to compensate you according to the value of your goods.

But this is only, after it has been proven that you indeed delivered the goods to the Amazon warehouse where goods went missing.

How do you Choose a Supplier in China for your Amazon FBA Products?

The choice of supplier, their products, and the prices they offer will define the profits you make shipping from China to Amazon FBA.

Getting a supplier from china is challenging, and sometimes it involves a lot of risks.

The following points can help you choose the right supplier for your products.

Price

Just because a supplier offers lower prices doesn’t mean they assure you profits.

It would help if you looked at their product quality, the terms of sale, MOQ requirements, and location to determine if they are right for you.

Also, ensure that the prices offered have no hidden charges.

The right supplier should offer you genuine prices that, after including all other costs of delivering to Amazon FBA, you should have the right profit margin.

Products

You are competing with numerous other suppliers in Amazon FBA dealing with the same products.

Customers always compare the quality of products supplied before making a purchasing decision.

Therefore, you should have a supplier with quality products that comply with both industry and Amazon FBA’s quality standards.

You can check the products’ quality by verifying the manufacturing process, conducting quality inspections, and asking for samples.

Generally, a through China quality control process for products you ship to Amazon FBA can put you ahead of your competitor’s.

Payment and Shipment Terms

If this is your first time dealing with a customer, avoid paying in advance.

The right supplier would expect at most 50% upfront and the rest after delivery.

When shipping to Amazon FBA, time is of the essence and allowing your supplier to handle the shipping will lead to many delays.

Besides, logistics are usually expensive when you choose to allow your supplier to handle shipping.

It is, therefore, essential to take charge of your consignment and handle them on your own.

That said, there are many ways to find the right supplier for your products when shipping from China to Amazon FBA.

You can find suppliers through recommendations, trade shows, e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba, and even through personal visits to china.

What Documents/Certification should I have to Ship to Amazon FBA?

When shipping from China to Amazon, you need the right paperwork and product certifications.

Otherwise, Amazon may close your listing on their site, and you may even encounter shipping difficulties to a lack of compliance and proper shipping documents.

To avoid all of the above scenarios, find out what Amazon requires you in terms of paperwork before shipping.

Also, find out which shipping and import documents you will need when shipping from China to avoid unnecessary trouble with customs.

All in all, some of the essential certifications that Amazon may require of you include:

• UL 2054 for all battery products to Amazon FBA
• UL 60950-1 for all laptop chargers and adapters
• ANSI/CAN/UL 2272 document for scooters, unicycles, and self-balancing personal transport.
• Safety data sheets for paint strippers.

For shipping from China to Amazon FBA, you will need the following shipping documents:

Bill of Lading

A bill of lading provides details about the movement of your goods from origin to destination.

It is a vital document that determines whether port officials release cargo to you or not.

The document comes in three main types that you need to differentiate for their specific I uses.

Commercial Invoice

A commercial invoice is vital in clearing your goods through customs.

It contains details about the products such as country of origin, the importer, supplier, unit value, and product description.

Telex Release

A telex report serves the purpose of a bill of lading and helps make your shipping to Amazon easy.

This is because the report allows for the release of goods before the original bill of lading is availed.

Other documents that you may need include:

• Certificate of origin
• Packing list
• Phytosanitary certificate
• Dangerous certificate
• Import license
• Fumigation certificate

Do you need Freight Insurance when Shipping to Amazon FBA?

When it comes to shipping, the risk is inevitable.

Your products will exchange hands several times, and you wouldn’t wish to incur the associated resultant losses.

Getting freight insurance can guarantee you up to 100% compensation depending on the insured risks.

You can get your goods insured directly from the supplier until they reach Amazon FBA.

Besides, freight insurance is inexpensive, about 1% of the total value of your shipment.

Which Incoterm should you use when Shipping to Amazon FBA?

Incoterm spells the obligation of the seller and the importer in the shipping process.

When shipping to Amazon FBA, you should use the FOB incoterm because it gives your freight forwarder more freedom.

They can easily plan for your cargo and improve delivery time.

You can use the EXW incoterm for air express method where the goods are under your care during delivery.

Should you do a Quality Inspection on your Amazon FBA Products?

Amazon emphasizes the need to provide quality goods for selling to customers.

Delivering low-quality goods puts your account at risk, and you wouldn’t want that.

Therefore, conducting quality checks is very important.

You can arrange quality checks while the goods are still with your supplier to guarantee quality before shipping.

When do I use Sea Freight to Ship my Products to Amazon FBA?

Sea freight is the best shipping method when your products are above 400kg.

It offers cheaper shipping costs as opposed to express or air transport.

If you have a small shipping budget, sea freight provides the best solution.

Besides, you can either book a Full Container Load (FCL) or Less than Container Load (LCL), depending on the volume of your products.

However, it would help if you were careful when transporting to Amazon through sea freight because of the time lag in transit.

You must plan appropriately and add some time buffer on the logistics.

What is the Import Customs Clearance for my Amazon FBA Products?

Customs clearance is mandatory for any importation to Amazon FBA centers.

In this case, the customs clearance process begins way before the products arrive on the importation country’s soil.

To ensure a smooth clearance process, ensure that all your import paperwork is in order.

Also, have the necessary budget for paying import duties and taxes.

Once all this is done, customs should easily permit your goods from China into the country.

Note that if your goods do not the import country’s requirements, they may be held at customs and not allowed entry.

To ensure that shipments from China to Amazon fulfillment centers pass all the requisite import requirements.

What is an Amazon FBA Shipping Plan, and How do I Create it?

Before your products are availed in the Amazon platform for selling, you must first create a shipping plan.

The plan informs Amazon of the specific items you wish to import from china for selling.

Creating an Amazon shipping plan involves;

• Managing your inventory. This involves selecting a list of products you want to ship to Amazon.
• Replenish inventory. Here you can either create a new shipping plan for new products or add to the existing plan if you have been shipping to Amazon.
• Complete the Ship form. This form contains information on the address where Amazon will pick your products.
• Confirming quantity. In this step, you will see all the products you have selected and the number of units per product.

Your shipping plan should provide information on who will prepare the products and how they will be labeled.

Can I Ship Hazardous Goods to Amazon?

Yes, you can ship all types of goods, including Hazmat products, to Amazon FBA.

The only consideration is ensuring the products all the requisite shipping requirements, including quality, safety, packaging, and labeling requirements.

For Amazon FBA, HAZMAT goods must be packed in corrugates with proper cushioning.

Also, they must be labeled as ‘Fragile’ on the package.

You should also provide accurate information about your products and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

What are the Factors that Affect Shipping from China to Amazon FBA?

When shipping to Amazon FBA, you don’t want anything that delays your goods from reaching the FBA warehouse.

Some of these factors are unavoidable and include:

Quality Issues

This contributes to the highest number of delays and rejects by Amazon FBA.

The good thing is that you can avoid them.

You can invest in a good quality assurance team to monitor products before leaving your supplier’s premises.

Product Development

Product development takes time, especially when the new product you have requested is unique to the supplier.

To avoid the long delays in product delivery, you can opt to use a different supplier who already has your desired product ready.

Chinese Holidays

Shipping from China to Amazon is challenging during the Chinese New Year (CNY).

Many suppliers in china spend this holiday with their family members.

Fulfilling an order is impossible during this time.

Your only bet is planning for early shipments before the holidays begin in December.

Other holidays that can affect your shipping to Amazon, though not much, include National Week in October.

Basically, you should avoid shipping during peak seasons as, during these times, shipping tends to delay a lot.

When should I Palletize my Goods for Shipping to Amazon FBA?

A pallet is a platform that allows for the transportation of multiple cartons at once.

It makes transportation easy using folk lifts in short distances.

Amazon does not require the use of pallets for all goods being shipped to their warehouse.

However, some goods require pallets and include wooden pallets 40 by 48 inches.

Pallets are heavy and attract more charges while shipping.

Amazon recommends adding them once the goods have reached the destination.

Only those goods that are fragile require pallets pre-shipping.

Consider using the right pallet size and dimensions when palletizing goods for shipping from China to Amazon FBA.

Are all my Products Shipped to the same Warehouse when I Deliver them to Amazon FBA?

When you ship your goods from China to Amazon, they can be subdivided into three groups, each heading to a different warehouse.

This can be expensive because the profit margin will reduce significantly per product.

To avoid this, you can set up a large shipment, say with 6SKUs and 20 units each.

However, this is not a guarantee that the shipments will go to the same warehouse.

Amazon strives to use smaller units of your inventory in different warehouses for easy delivery to customers.

How has Coronavirus Impacted Shipping to Amazon FBA?

Coronavirus has indeed left no tables unturned in the field of business.

Shipping from China to Amazon has been dramatically affected through:

Shipping Times

Many suppliers operating in china have had to cut on their workforce.

This has greatly affected the shipping time as there is less workforce to prepare your goods for shipping.

Additionally, the number of flights and vessels has also reduced, implying that getting a shipping slot is difficult.

As a result of Coronavirus, shipping time has increased, thus significantly impacting shipping to Amazon.

Shipping