Preparing products for Amazon fulfilment means making every unit safe to store and pick in a shared network, and every carton safe to receive. In practice that is bagging or wrapping where required, bundling multi-packs so they cannot separate, applying scannable labels, and packing into cartons within the published limits.
Prep is about the network, not about the customer
It helps to understand what prep is for. The unit will sit in a shared storage location, be picked by somebody unfamiliar with it, travel in a tote with unrelated goods, and then be packed into an outer by an automated or semi-automated process.
Everything in the prep requirements follows from that. It is not about presentation - the customer-facing pack is separate - it is about survivability and identifiability inside the network.
The steps, in order
- Assess the unit. Can it be soiled, scratched, leak, or separate into parts?
- Protect it. Bag, wrap or box the unit accordingly, with the required warnings on bags above the size threshold.
- Bundle multi-packs. Anything sold as one unit must not be able to come apart, and should be marked as a set.
- Label it. A scannable barcode positioned so it can be read without unpacking.
- Pack into master cartons. Within published limits, with the carton labelled for receiving.
- Palletise and label for the inbound shipment.
Judging what protection each unit needs
| Unit type | Typical prep |
|---|---|
| Apparel and soft goods | Poly bag with warning, barcode on the bag |
| Loose multi-part sets | Bundled and marked as a set |
| Liquids | Sealed and bagged for leak containment |
| Powders and granules | Sealed and bagged |
| Fragile items | Boxed or wrapped at unit level |
| Sharp items | Protected so handlers are not at risk |
| Items with existing retail packaging | Barcode visible; protect if the pack is fragile |
Common unit types and the usual prep.
See Amazon FBA prep for the service and packaging supplies for the materials.
Doing it efficiently rather than reactively
The difference between cheap prep and expensive prep is almost entirely planning. Prep done in a batch, with materials on hand and a written method, costs a fraction of prep done in a rush the day before a shipment.
- Write the prep method per SKU once, so it is repeatable.
- Buy bags, labels and bundling materials in sensible quantities - see packaging stockholding.
- Batch prep by SKU rather than by shipment.
- Inspect a sample before the consignment ships.
Master cartons and inbound shipping
The inbound consignment is a pallet journey, so the dominant failure mode is compression rather than movement. Specify board for the stack and build the pallet square.
Size master cartons to divide into the pallet footprint - a carton that fits the units well but wastes deck space costs on every inbound shipment. See bespoke carton manufacture and pallet storage.
Where prep and kitting overlap
Bundling multi-packs, assembling sets and applying labels is contract packing work. If your volumes justify it, having it done as a service alongside storage removes the space and labour problem entirely.
See kitting and assembly and Amazon fulfilment.
Keeping it current
Requirements change, and a method written two years ago may no longer be compliant. Re-check the published requirements before a major consignment, particularly if you have added categories.
The short version
- Prep is about the network, not about the customer.
- Assess, protect, bundle, label, carton, palletise.
- Batch prep by SKU rather than by shipment.
- Specify board for the stack on inbound pallets.
- Re-check published requirements before a major consignment.
Frequently asked questions
What does preparing products for Amazon involve?
Protecting each unit so it survives a shared network, bundling anything sold as a set, applying scannable labels, and packing into compliant master cartons.
Do all products need poly bagging?
No - it depends on the category and whether the unit could be soiled or damaged. Check the current published requirements for your categories.
Is it cheaper to prep ourselves?
Usually, if it is done in batches with materials on hand. Reactive prep the day before a shipment is where the cost goes up.
What size should master cartons be?
Within the published dimension and weight limits, and sized to divide into a pallet layer. Both constraints matter.
Can WSUK prep and ship into Amazon for us?
Yes - Amazon FBA prep for the prep and Amazon fulfilment for the wider operation, with the materials supplied alongside.