How to shipping products from China to Amazon FBA in the US, as a first time seller?
I am a new seller on Amazon FBA and I'm struggling with the shipping logistics for my products from China to the port of Los Angeles, and then to the Amazon fulfillment centers.
I have 74 cartons in total:
- 23 cartons of one product, each weighing 14.8kg (32.63 lbs)
- 23 cartons of a second product, each weighing 13.5kg (29.76 lbs)
- 28 cartons of a third product, each weighing 16.8kg (37.04 lbs)
Each carton contains 36 units of the product. Given the number of cartons, I think a Less than Truckload (LTL) shipping plan might be suitable, but I’m open to suggestions from experienced sellers.
I’ve arranged shipping with a freight forwarder through Freightos. They are coordinating with the supplier to send the items to the Chinese port by the end of this week. My supplier insists that I put the Amazon shipping plan labels on the cartons before they are received by the freight forwarder.
The main challenge is figuring out how to get the items from the port of Los Angeles to the Amazon fulfillment center, as this will determine the Amazon shipping labels to print. I don't know the exact shipping date from China or the estimated arrival date. The shipment will take about 32-38 days to reach Los Angeles. I’m also unsure of the receiving address to use for the Amazon shipping plan since I don’t have any contacts near the port of Los Angeles.
If I use LTL shipping, I’m unsure if all products should be on the same pallet or split onto different pallets if they will be sent to different Amazon fulfillment centers. Should palletization be done in China by my supplier or freight forwarder before it gets to the port of Los Angeles? Or will it be done by the Amazon-partnered LTL truck driver when he/she picks the items up?
This has been the most challenging part of starting on Amazon Seller Central. I haven't found clear guidance from Amazon Seller University or YouTube videos. Can anyone help me figure this out? I have about three days to sort this out. What should I do when the items arrive at the LAX port? How should I handle the shipping plan? How should I respond to my supplier about the request for Amazon shipping labels?
Thank you for your help!
How to shipping products from China to Amazon FBA in the US, as a first time seller?
I am a new seller on Amazon FBA and I'm struggling with the shipping logistics for my products from China to the port of Los Angeles, and then to the Amazon fulfillment centers.
I have 74 cartons in total:
- 23 cartons of one product, each weighing 14.8kg (32.63 lbs)
- 23 cartons of a second product, each weighing 13.5kg (29.76 lbs)
- 28 cartons of a third product, each weighing 16.8kg (37.04 lbs)
Each carton contains 36 units of the product. Given the number of cartons, I think a Less than Truckload (LTL) shipping plan might be suitable, but I’m open to suggestions from experienced sellers.
I’ve arranged shipping with a freight forwarder through Freightos. They are coordinating with the supplier to send the items to the Chinese port by the end of this week. My supplier insists that I put the Amazon shipping plan labels on the cartons before they are received by the freight forwarder.
The main challenge is figuring out how to get the items from the port of Los Angeles to the Amazon fulfillment center, as this will determine the Amazon shipping labels to print. I don't know the exact shipping date from China or the estimated arrival date. The shipment will take about 32-38 days to reach Los Angeles. I’m also unsure of the receiving address to use for the Amazon shipping plan since I don’t have any contacts near the port of Los Angeles.
If I use LTL shipping, I’m unsure if all products should be on the same pallet or split onto different pallets if they will be sent to different Amazon fulfillment centers. Should palletization be done in China by my supplier or freight forwarder before it gets to the port of Los Angeles? Or will it be done by the Amazon-partnered LTL truck driver when he/she picks the items up?
This has been the most challenging part of starting on Amazon Seller Central. I haven't found clear guidance from Amazon Seller University or YouTube videos. Can anyone help me figure this out? I have about three days to sort this out. What should I do when the items arrive at the LAX port? How should I handle the shipping plan? How should I respond to my supplier about the request for Amazon shipping labels?
Thank you for your help!
4 replies
Seller_0rXAME9V4LQSx
The absolute best advice is to send it to yourself first. Exam everything. Does the product count match? Are the different sku labeled correctly. Open a few at random, are they complete and working? Only once you know everything is right would I send it to amazon. While it costs more to do this correctly versus shipping directly to amazon, the cost to have to recall your inventory or for the inventory to be deemed "defective" is much higher.
Topher_Amazon
Hi @Seller_7pXsyCRKntva7, I would echo ST_Tech above in recommending you check the shipments and products yourself before sending to Amazon.
That said, the best resources here would be to view the applicable modules for Send to Amazon in Seller University and check out Amazon Global Logistics (AGL) if so inclined.
Topher
