Detailed explanation of Amazon FBA first-leg shipping strategy and optimization techniques
1. What is first-leg shipment?
First-leg shipping refers to the process of transporting goods from the seller’s location to Amazon’s warehouse. Sellers need to ensure that goods are delivered to Amazon’s designated warehouses on time and safely. This is not only related to the seller’s credibility, but also directly affects the customer’s shopping experience.
2. Multiple options for FBA first-leg shipment
1. Direct express delivery (air freight)
Direct express delivery, such as DHL, UPS, Fedex, etc., is suitable for emergency replenishment, especially for packages weighing less than 20kg, which is more economical and affordable. This type of express delivery does not require an appointment to enter the warehouse, but it should be noted that Amazon does not participate in customs clearance activities and is not responsible for tariff payment. Therefore, sellers must complete the correct customs declaration procedures and tariff prepayment in advance, and arrange local customs clearance importers in advance.
2. FBA shipping
Ocean shipping combines local customs clearance and destination country delivery to form a one-stop solution. Although the cost of sea transportation is low, about 1,500 yuan per cubic meter, it takes a long time (about 40 days), which puts higher requirements on inventory management. It is crucial to choose a reputable and reasonably priced logistics provider, such as Amazon Dragon Boat Plan, ExportEasy, 4PX, Tristate, Webgistix, Egoglobal, etc.
3. Air freight plus delivery (air freight plus delivery)
Air freight transports the goods to the destination airport by leasing flight space, and then sends the goods to the FBA warehouse by the local partner. Compared with commercial express delivery, air freight is slightly slower but still has a cost advantage; some companies even adopt the “air freight + UPS delivery” model to obtain a better service experience.
4. Bulk cargo/full container shipping
Sea transportation includes two forms: bulk cargo and full container. The former is suitable for small quantities of goods, while the latter is for large quantities of goods. Although sea freight is cheap, its long shipping period (25-40 days) may put pressure on sellers’ capital turnover. In addition, ocean shipping often has minimum shipment limits and comes with a number of additional charges.
5. Overseas warehouse allocation
When the seller already has inventory overseas, he can replenish the goods to the FBA warehouse through the overseas warehouse. This method has high flexibility and fast replenishment speed, but it may also increase storage costs and capital occupation.
3. Packaging requirements before first-leg shipment
- Fragile items need to be reinforced and packed with appropriate materials;
- Barcodes must be clearly visible and easy to scan;
- Special products such as liquids need to be double sealed and pass impact testing;
- The weight of a single carton cannot exceed 23kg (except for special products);
- Cartons that exceed the standard size or weight must be labeled accordingly.
4. First-leg shipping operation process
- Create a shipping plan: Log in to the Amazon seller platform, fill in the relevant information and obtain a unique shipment code;
- Prepare goods: Pack the goods according to Amazon’s standards;
- Choose a logistics company: Select the appropriate carrier and arrange shipment;
- Monitoring transportation progress: ensuring that goods arrive at the FBA warehouse on time;
- Inbound Confirmation: Amazon receives the goods and updates inventory status.
5. Advantages and precautions of first-leg shipment
- Improve customer satisfaction: respond quickly to order needs;
- Reduce inventory pressure: Make use of Amazon’s warehousing resources;
- Reduce costs: Optimize logistics links to save expenses;
- Enhanced Sales Performance: Fulfill orders faster.
At the same time, sellers should pay attention to abide by Amazon’s various regulations, maintain good communication with logistics service providers, always pay attention to transportation dynamics, and fully understand the relevant fee structure to control costs.
Through the above methods, sellers can better manage FBA first-leg logistics, improve efficiency and save costs, thereby enhancing their competitive advantage on the Amazon platform.