Shelf Life and Expiration dates - what determines when product is Unfulfillable?
I need to better understand Shelf Life and Expiration dates. I have read all of the information on Amazon, Seller University, other Seller Forums conversations, etc. I still don't understand when Amazon stops selling a product and moves it to Unfulfillable. I will use an example:
* Shelf Life is listed as 365 days (275 + 90 days). Fulfillment Center receives the product on January 1, 2024.
* Expiration date on product is June 1, 2025.
Question: If all of the units do not sell - approximately what date will the product be marked as Unfulfillable? 275 days after January 1,2024? 365 days? June 1, 2025? Another date?
Please do not just cut and paste what I have already read - I have read it all. The only way I am going to understand this is by the example above.
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
Shelf Life and Expiration dates - what determines when product is Unfulfillable?
I need to better understand Shelf Life and Expiration dates. I have read all of the information on Amazon, Seller University, other Seller Forums conversations, etc. I still don't understand when Amazon stops selling a product and moves it to Unfulfillable. I will use an example:
* Shelf Life is listed as 365 days (275 + 90 days). Fulfillment Center receives the product on January 1, 2024.
* Expiration date on product is June 1, 2025.
Question: If all of the units do not sell - approximately what date will the product be marked as Unfulfillable? 275 days after January 1,2024? 365 days? June 1, 2025? Another date?
Please do not just cut and paste what I have already read - I have read it all. The only way I am going to understand this is by the example above.
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
7 replies
Seller_4zBzdtgCyS9EI
depends on the product. Say you have vitamins and there are 180 daily serving and another set of vitamins with 60 daily serving, the first one would have 120 days less time than the second.
Bryce_Amazon
Greetings @Seller_zBmye40YONshP,
Thanks for posting! I know you mentioned reading every resource, but in the event other sellers find this thread I thought I'd document some things. From the Seller Central help page:
" Fulfillment center shelf life
This attribute tells us how many days your product can be kept on a shelf in a fulfillment center without losing effectiveness. If you answer Yes for Is product expirable, then you must enter a value for Fulfillment center shelf life." (Emphasis mine).
If a product is kept in an FC beyond its shelf life, it runs the risk of arriving to the customer with only a little bit of time before the expiration date hits - not a great buyer experience.
To use your example, the shelf life is listed as 365 days thus the product would be marked unsellable at the end of its shelf life (365 days).
Hope this helps, let me know if you have any other thoughts!
- Bryce
Bryce_Amazon
Greetings,
At the time of check-in at Amazon fulfillment center, all products must have a remaining shelf life that allows sufficient time for the product to be consumed in full, plus an additional 90 days. For example, a bottle of supplements with 240 daily servings must have a remaining shelf life of 240 days and an additional 90 days, which makes 330 days.
Use the above calculation (sufficient time to use the the product + 90 days) to determine the shelf life of your inventory. There are also guidelines on this page.
The shelf life date is determined by the future date at which point the product will lose its effectiveness. If the inventory your sending in your two shipments (Jan & Feb) are from the same batch of production, I would assume they would have the same shelf life as they have the same length of effectiveness. However not knowing your exact situation or products I can't say with absolute certainty. I recommend reviewing the above linked Seller Help page, as well as this page on expiration dates.
If you have additional thoughts or questions, please let me know!
- Bryce
Seller_z3XfkorVSmnEY
50 days prior to mfg expiration + number of "servings" if something like vitamins.
