Until the end of 2025, a seller could ship unlabelled goods and pay Amazon to label, bag or bundle them on arrival. From 1 January 2026, Amazon no longer offers prep and item-labelling services for FBA shipments in the US store — including shipments through AWD and Amazon's own freight programmes. Shipments that arrive without proper prep can be refused or charged, and damaged or untraceable units may not be reimbursed. The cheapest place to do the work is now the factory line.
Unit-level prep
| Task | What to check |
|---|---|
| FNSKU unit label | Each sellable unit labelled with the seller's FNSKU (unless the listing uses manufacturer barcodes); scannable, not on a curve or seam; old barcodes covered |
| Poly bags | Transparent, sealed; suffocation warning printed or labelled where the bag opening is large enough to require it |
| Fragile items | Bubble wrap or boxes that pass a drop test |
| Sets and multi-packs | Bundled so they cannot separate; “Sold as set — do not separate” label |
| Expiry-dated goods | Expiry date on each unit and carton in the required format |
| Origin marking | “Made in Vietnam” or “Made in Cambodia” on the product or retail package — see origin marking |
Carton and pallet level
- One FBA box ID label per carton, on a flat side, not across a seam; remove old shipping labels.
- Carton weight and dimensions within Amazon's current limits, with team-lift or mechanical-lift labels where required — check the limits in Seller Central before you choose your master carton size.
- Box content information submitted, so cartons can be received without opening.
- Pallets built to Amazon's specifications (standard size, stable stacking, stretch-wrapped) with pallet labels on the required sides.
Building prep into production
- Get the label files from the Amazon account owner before packing starts — FNSKUs, box labels, destination per carton.
- Print with a thermal printer at the right size and test scan a sample.
- Add prep steps to the line and to the inspection checklist; record carton counts per SKU and destination.
- Photograph labelled units, cartons and pallets before loading — evidence for any dispute.
If the factory cannot prep, a 3PL in Vietnam or the US can — see direct to FBA vs 3PL vs AWD. Related: export packing and labelling for the US · FBA requirements for household goods.
Amazon changes its inbound rules, fees and capacity limits regularly, and US duties change too. Use this article as general guidance and check the current requirements in Seller Central and your HTS code before each shipment.
Balance Trans delivers DDP from factories in Vietnam and Cambodia to Amazon fulfilment centres, AWD and US 3PL warehouses — export clearance, sea or air freight, US customs with an importer of record, duties paid and appointment delivery. See DDP to the USA or send your shipment plan for a quote.