FBA prep (Amazon FBA preparation) is the preparation of stock for delivery to Amazon fulfillment centers according to Amazon's binding requirements: FNSKU labels, polybags with a suffocation warning, bundling of sets, carton build and shipment labels. Non-compliant deliveries are rejected or reworked at a charge.
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What is FBA prep?
FBA prep is the collective term for all the work steps that prepare stock for delivery to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Amazon accepts only goods in its fulfillment centers that comply exactly with its own packaging and labelling guidelines. Every deviation leads to chargeable rework, delays or rejection of the delivery. Unlike the goods receipt of an ordinary warehouse, there is no room for interpretation.
Prep is carried out by the manufacturer, by the seller, by Amazon itself (at a charge) or by a fulfillment provider with a prep service, often called pre-FBA. Stock arrives at the provider's warehouse from the manufacturer or from import, is checked and prepared, and goes on to Amazon in partial quantities.
Why a prep warehouse in Germany makes sense for international sellers
Germany is Amazon's largest European marketplace, and stock for Amazon.de is delivered to fulfillment centers that Amazon assigns per shipment. For a seller in the UK, the US or Asia this creates a practical problem: an import consignment cannot simply be pointed at an Amazon dock. It has to be cleared, checked, labelled and split according to the shipping plan, and Amazon delivery appointments have to be booked. A prep warehouse inside Germany acts as the buffer between your import and Amazon: one inbound delivery, several compliant replenishment shipments. The customs and VAT background is covered under cross-border fulfillment.
What FBA prep involves in practice
- Unit labelling: an FNSKU label on each unit, with the manufacturer barcode covered.
- Polybagging: a transparent bag with a suffocation warning for textiles, loose items, soft toys and anything with a larger opening, sealed so that nothing falls out.
- Bundling: multi-part sets combined into one bundle, marked "Sold as set, do not separate" and given one FNSKU for the set.
- Protective packaging: bubble wrap for glass and ceramics, protective packaging for electronics, secured lids for liquids.
- Best-before labelling: expiry date legible in the format DD.MM.YYYY, with remaining shelf life above Amazon's minimum requirement.
- Carton build: cartons within the size and weight limits (typically up to 15 kg, heavier ones with a warning label), no mixed cartons without approval, Amazon carton label on the outside.
- Pallet delivery: Euro pallet, stretch wrap, pallet labels on four sides, height limit, delivery within a booked time slot.
Never send 100 % of a batch to Amazon. If you keep 20 to 30 % at the prep provider, you can replenish when capacity limits apply, keep serving orders from your own shop and other marketplaces, and avoid long-term storage fees for stock that sits at Amazon too long.
Why FBA prep matters for online sellers
Amazon penalises prep errors hard. Relabelling and repackaging in the fulfillment center cost noticeably more per unit than at a provider, and repeated violations can lead to exclusion from Amazon's prep service or to intake stops. Then there is time: in peak season a rejected pallet quickly costs two to three weeks of lost sales.
Typical prices for prep services at German providers in 2026:
| Service | Typical German market price |
|---|---|
| FNSKU label per unit | €0.15 to €0.35 |
| Polybag per unit | €0.20 to €0.50 |
| Bundle / set per piece | €0.50 to €1.50 |
| Goods receipt per pallet | €4 to €15 |
| Storage per pallet space and month | €8 to €25 |
How these items fit into the overall bill is explained under fulfillment costs.
A further advantage of the intermediate prep step is quality control. Imported stock is checked for quantity, damage and labels before it enters a system that does not forgive mistakes. With direct delivery from the manufacturer to Amazon, that checkpoint disappears completely.
Stock held back at the prep warehouse does not have to wait. The same inventory can serve your own shop, eBay and merchant-fulfilled Amazon orders; this is the idea behind multichannel fulfillment, and it is the main difference between a pure prep center and a full 3PL.
How LogYou handles it
LogYou offers pre-FBA and FBA prep from its warehouse in Butzbach, central Germany, alongside Amazon fulfillment for merchant-fulfilled (FBM) and Seller Fulfilled Prime orders. LogYou is an official Amazon Selling Partner, connected through the SP-API. Stock that is not sent to Amazon stays in LogShip inventory, where you see live stock levels and can use it for shop and marketplace orders. An overview of all services is on the services page; storage is covered under warehousing, and you can request a prep quote through the contact form.
Frequently asked questions about FBA Prep
What does FBA prep include?
What does FBA prep cost at a German provider?
Can I ship stock straight from the manufacturer to Amazon?
Questions about FBA Prep for your shop?
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