Searchers asking how to prep products for FBA usually want a clear sequence — not a wall of policy links. This guide walks through ten numbered steps our Milton Keynes prep team uses daily, with photos from the bench. If you prefer to outsource, our Amazon FBA prep services UK follow the same SOPs with transparent prep centre pricing.
Step 1: Inspection
Open inbound cartons at a clean receiving bench. Match the delivery note to your purchase order and count units per SKU. Look for crushing, moisture, crushed barcodes, missing inserts, or expiry dates inside the compliance window Amazon expects. Photograph discrepancies and notify your supplier before prep starts — rework is cheaper at receiving than at the FC.
Step 2: Sort & count
Segregate SKUs into labelled totes or lanes. Reconcile counts to your WMS or spreadsheet — if Seller Central inbound quantities do not match physical stock, fix the plan before labelling. Quarantine overages, shortages, and “unknown barcode” units so they cannot enter the prep line by mistake.
Step 3: FNSKU labelling
Generate FNSKU labels from Seller Central or your prep software. Apply on a flat, smooth surface — not over seams, corners, or the manufacturer barcode unless your listing settings require it. Scan every unit after application; a wrinkled or faded label is the fastest route to Amazon FBA prep rejection.
Step 4: Polybagging
Loose items, textiles, and dust-sensitive SKUs often need a clear polyethylene bag. Use minimum 1.5 mil film, seal openings, and print suffocation warnings when the opening perimeter exceeds Amazon’s threshold. Keep the FNSKU scannable through the bag — see our Amazon poly bag requirements UK reference for edge cases.
Step 5: Protection & bubble wrap
Fragile goods need bubble wrap or rigid mailers so they survive FC conveyor handling. Tape loose flaps, cap sharp edges, and re-scan barcodes after wrapping. This step adds labour — factor it into your FBA prep cost calculator if you outsource.
Step 6: Bundling & multipacks
Multipacks must arrive at Amazon as one sellable unit. Shrink-band or bag the set, apply the FNSKU to the outer sellable surface, and confirm the unit count matches the listing variation. Mixed-component bundles need a checklist per ASIN so components are not swapped between batches.
Step 7: Cartonisation
Pack cartons to Amazon weight and dimension limits with enough dunnage to prevent shifting. Mixed-SKU cartons are allowed only when your inbound plan supports them — label each box with the correct Amazon box ID and keep a packing list photo for disputes.
Step 8: Shipment plan & FC labels
In Seller Central, confirm or create the inbound shipment plan. Print FC labels and apply one per carton — flat, visible, and unscannable duplicates removed. Mismatched plans are a top cause of check-in delays; reconcile SKU quantities one last time before pallets are wrapped.
Step 9: Final QC
Run a bench QC pass: random scan samples from each carton, verify polybag seals, confirm expiry dates face outward where required, and sign off the batch in your WMS. Treat this as non-negotiable — catching one mislabelled SKU here avoids a full shipment rejection at the FC.
Step 10: Dispatch to Amazon
Book SPD or LTL collection aligned to your FC appointment window. Apply pallet labels if shipping LTL, stretch-wrap securely, and upload tracking to Seller Central the same day. For shipment booking support, see our Amazon FBA shipments UK service.
Free FBA prep checklist (PDF)
Download our printable FBA Prep Checklist — one page per shipment with tick boxes for inspection, labelling, polybagging, carton QC and dispatch.
Enter your email in the newsletter form below and add FBA Prep Checklist in the message field on our contact page — we will send the PDF within one business day. (Subscribe + request — no extra software required.)
When to use a prep centre instead
If you are shipping more than a few hundred units per month, juggling multiple SKUs, or facing repeated FC rejections, a UK prep centre usually pays back in time and avoided fees. Compare fulfilment and prep pricing before your next inbound — many sellers hybridise: fast movers through FBA prep, long-tail via SFP or FBM from the same warehouse.
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