How Amazon Receives Your Inventory

Summary

This video script provides a detailed overview of Amazon's fulfillment process, emphasizing the importance of proper packaging, labeling, and preparation for products shipped to their centers. It covers key steps, including ensuring units meet size and barcode requirements, handling issues like unscannable labels, and prepping items to prevent damage during storage and shipment. The script outlines how products are received, scanned, and stored efficiently, ensuring quick order fulfillment. Delays due to packaging or incorrect labeling are highlighted, stressing the need for adherence to Amazon's guidelines to prevent issues and ensure smooth processing.

Takeaways

• 😀 Proper packaging and preparation of products is essential to ensure smooth processing at Amazon fulfillment centers.
• 😀 Amazon handles millions of orders daily, and proper labeling and packing help streamline the workflow.
• 😀 If your product does not meet Amazon’s packaging requirements, it may cause delays, loss, or damage.
• 😀 Shipping labels should be placed on flat surfaces to avoid damage, and avoid covering seams on boxes.
• 😀 Only one scannable barcode should be placed on each unit to prevent confusion and delays during processing.
• 😀 Loose packaging materials like peanuts or shredded paper are not allowed, as they slow down the receiving process.
• 😀 Units requiring additional prep will be sidelined for special handling, which could cause delays of up to two days.
• 😀 Amazon performs a 6-sided check on each unit upon arrival to ensure it is undamaged and correctly labeled.
• 😀 If there is a mismatch between the product title and unit, the unit will be flagged for problem-solving.
• 😀 Units that pass the receiving process are routed for storage and assigned to specific locations in inventory for fast order fulfillment.

Q & A

Why is it important for products to be packaged properly before shipping to Amazon fulfillment centers?

Proper packaging ensures that units are received efficiently, reducing the risk of damage, loss, or incorrect receipt. It also helps Amazon process millions of orders daily and provides the best experience for customers.

What happens if a unit does not meet Amazon's packaging and labeling requirements?

Units that don't meet the requirements may be delayed, lost, damaged, or incorrectly received. These units will also cause delays in processing and could require additional handling or problem-solving.

What is the role of the shipping label during the inbound process?

The shipping label is scanned by an Amazon Associate to ensure the shipment ID exists in the system and that the shipment is at the correct fulfillment center. It must be placed on a flat surface to remain scannable and avoid delays.

Why should multiple boxes not be taped or banded together when shipping to Amazon?

Multiple boxes taped or banded together can create confusion and complicate the scanning and receiving process, leading to delays and potential errors.

What packing materials are allowed for Amazon shipments, and why are others prohibited?

Foam air pillows and full sheets of paper are recommended as packing materials. Loose packaging materials, like packing peanuts or shredded paper, slow down the receiving process and are not allowed.

What happens if a unit does not have a scannable barcode?

Units without a scannable barcode or with multiple barcodes are sidelined for proper identification by an Amazon problem-solver, which can delay the receiving process.

How are case-packed units labeled for Amazon shipments?

Case-packed units should only have barcodes on the individual units, not on the outer carton. Outer carton barcodes could result in multiple items being incorrectly received as one unit.

What occurs if additional prep is required for a product upon arrival at the fulfillment center?

If prep is required but was not completed before shipment, the units will be sidelined for special handling. This can delay the inventory process, taking anywhere from two hours to two days.

What checks are performed on each unit during the receiving process?

Each unit undergoes a 6-sided check for damage, and a title verification is conducted to ensure the product title matches the item. If any issues arise, the unit is sent to the problem-solve area.

What happens if a unit is sent to the problem-solve area?

Units sent to the problem-solve area take longer to receive as they are evaluated in detail by Amazon problem-solvers. Once resolved, the unit is received and placed in a tote for further processing.