Creating a Draft Amazon FBA Inbound Shipment

To proceed with a full draft shipment, you must exclusively utilize the Amazon API. Various software solutions are available to assist in the creation and storage of draft shipments through the Amazon API. Detailed instructions can be found on our resources page under FBA inventory replenishment

We highly recommend creating a draft shipment for the following reasons: 

Read: Benefits and drawbacks of shipping goods directly to Amazon FBA

• Meeting Amazon's Requirements: Amazon's fulfillment centers have specific requirements that vary from product to product. To ensure compliance, check with us before placing an order, as we may not always meet these requirements. Once an order is placed, we will be unable to cancel it due to any issues arising from shipment to Amazon.
• Avoiding Common Issues:
  • Gated (Restricted) Products: Identifying if you are gated on amazon to sell a product
  • Shipment Splitting: Notify us in advance if your shipment needs to be split so we can check if the warehouse can comply
  • Additional Prep: Confirm if services like bubble wrapping or stickering are offered for your order. You can also check the product page under the additional listing notes to see if it stated there.
  • 2D/transparency Barcodes: certain brands only allow their products to be sold by authorized sellers. Amazon has a program that the brand signs up for. Once signed up, all their inventory will require a 2D/transparency barcode in order for you to resell it. You would need to check the listing and ask a sales rep if 2D/transparency barcode would be offered on the product in question.
  • Hazmat Items: Amazon categorizes some items as hazardous material and will not allow you to ship the items to their warehouse to have them fulfill orders for you. You will still be able to ship these products on your own to customers. The only difference would be that you would have to have the order shipped straight to you instead of shipping into Amazon.
  • Storage Limits: Amazon may have a storage limit on either your account or on the product you are looking to send to their FC. By creating a draft shipment, you will be able to ensure that you are able to ship in with no storage limit issue.
• Editing Shipment Changes: Once you create a shipment, there is no way to edit the shipment for changes greater then 5%. Sometimes there are changes greater then 5% in the warehouse that are unavoidable (for example, a box on your order falls down and gets damaged). Using softwares other then amazon's system will allow you to edit shipments at any time.

Creating a Draft Shipment with Send to Amazon workflow

To create a draft shipment, utilize the amazon workflow to add products and proceed until the Confirm shipping stage. Please do not accept the charges until the order is packed up.

This will enable you to be aware of any of the issues stated above apply to your order (make sure to note if shipments are splitting or requiring prep, etc and DO NOT proceed without mentioning it via email in response to your quote email to see if we can meet the requirements.

Step 1: Start a FBA shipment

Step 2: Add required information into Amazon and press ready to send.
Please note that we never have final shipment information until after the order is packed up. See our full FAQ 

 Step 3: Press Confirm and continue

Do not proceed to accept the charges during a draft shipment.

If you are checking out on our site and attempting to get a FBA ID and FBA warehouse, you will only be able to do so using the Amazon API methods mentioned above. Otherwise, you can enter FBA12345 into the FBA ID box, any FBA address and proceed with your order. You will be able to change the FBA ID and FBA address at the shipment stage.