Most FBA check-in problems trace back to prep – a missing FNSKU, a bag without a suffocation warning, an expiration date Amazon cannot read. Here is the checklist we run thousands of units through every week at our Illinois prep center.
1. FNSKU labeling
- If your product is commingled-ineligible, used, or brand-gated – or you simply want your inventory tracked as yours – it needs an FNSKU label covering the original UPC/EAN barcode.
- Print at 300 DPI or better; smudged or low-contrast labels fail scanning at check-in.
- One scannable barcode per unit. Two visible barcodes is a rejection waiting to happen.
2. Poly bags and suffocation warnings
- Bags with an opening of 5 inches or more need a printed suffocation warning (on the bag or a sticker).
- Use bags at least 1.5 mil thick; thin bags tear in transit and expose the product.
- Anything powdery, liquid, or leak-prone should be bagged even when not strictly required – one leaked unit can damage a whole box of sellable stock.
3. Bundles and multipacks
- Bundled units must be sold as one: add a “Sold as set – do not separate” label.
- The bundle gets its own FNSKU – not the barcode of any single item inside it.
4. Expiration-dated products
- Amazon generally wants at least 105 days of shelf life remaining at check-in for consumables – check the current policy for your category before shipping.
- Dates must be printed in an accepted format and readable on the outside of the unit and the master carton.
5. The box itself
- Standard boxes: 50 lb max, sturdy, with 2 inches of cushioning around fragile goods.
- Box labels on a flat surface, not over seams. No prohibited carrier markings from reused boxes.
DIY or prep center? Do the math
Prepping 50 units on your kitchen table is a Saturday. Prepping 500 with labels, bags, and a carton plan is a job. At our Illinois warehouse, FNSKU labeling runs $0.60/unit for wholesale clients ($0.70 standard) and poly bag or bundle work $0.65/unit, with receiving and inspection included – the full rate card is on our FBA prep services page. If you are weighing FBA fees on a specific product, run it through our free FBA profit calculator first.
Buying inventory and prepping it in one place saves a freight leg: wholesale clients ship lots straight from our racks to Amazon. See current wholesale details or open an account.