Fulfillment is a service offered by Amazon that allows sellers the freedom to concentrate on sales, while Amazon manages all the logistics and storage. Understanding the costs is important so that you can determine if it’s right for your company.
Amazon charges a significant amount of money for the storage of inventory. These fees include monthly storage charges and long-term storage costs.
Costs
FBA allows Amazon sellers to utilize their warehouses and shipping networks to fill customer orders. This model works best for items that are popular and compatible with Amazon Prime. Prime provides free, expedited delivery on all eligible products. Amazon offers this option to sellers who sell via channels other than their website. This is called multi-channel fulfilment (MCF).
FBA is based upon the amount of space that you store in your warehouses. This can impact unit economics and can be especially expensive during peak shopping seasons.
You’ll also need to pay for packing supplies and possibly ship in Amazon boxes. Also, you don’t receive a list of all your customers. This is an important piece of data for many ecommerce companies. Amazon keeps this information. It can be difficult for businesses to conduct a targeted marketing campaign.
Customer Service Differences
FBA is a great option for online retailers who don’t want to handle the fulfillment process. Amazon will pick, pack, ship, provide customer service and handle returns. The seller can focus on building their brand and attracting customers to the website.
Amazon can have a high cost. There are warehouse fees, product storage fees, and fulfillment fees that can take a significant chunk out of your profits. It is possible that your products may not match the description on your website or that they will arrive late.
You may find it difficult to resolve a problem when you cannot contact your supplier directly. You can call the customer support line of your supplier. But if no one answers, you could have to wait a few days.
Inventory Management Differences
FBA inventory may be an excellent option for many online sellers, but there are also some drawbacks. Amazon is the owner of all inventory sent to them. Amazon charges fees for storage, restocking and restocking. Also, some of the inventory may be lost during the receiving procedure. These costs can add up over time and significantly impact your profitability.
You should research and find reliable suppliers to supply your FBA stock. It is important that they meet your requirements for quality and can ship products on time. In the event your primary supplier experiences delays or quality control breakdowns, a backup is vital.
An inventory management tool such as Pacvue can help you track sales and inventory across multiple platforms and channels. It can also help you manage your inventory costs and set realistic pricing. It can also optimize promotions and coupon to increase revenues. It will also help you manage your FBA inventory and save time.
Differences with Shipping
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is a popular choice for sellers because it allows them to access the massive customer base of Amazon. This also increases their sales by giving them the Amazon brand’s credibility in customers’ eyes. This business model is not without its downsides.
There are many costs associated with this business model, such as monthly inventory storage fees and long-term storage fees. Additional fees apply for shipping and handling, as well as picking and packing. These fees can be expensive, especially when you have lots of inventory.
Another downside of this business model is that you don’t have control over the goods you’re selling. This can be problematic if you’re trying to build a loyal customer base. Amazon keeps all of your customer information, which makes it difficult to know who you are. With this model, you can’t receive a detailed report on search terms of customers or get feedback from them.