Main methods of FBA first leg

1) Direct delivery

For example, DHL, UPS, Fedex, etc., generally the price is good for more than 20kg, and the timeliness is fast, which is suitable for emergency replenishment. Express delivery does not require an appointment to enter the warehouse, but it should be noted that Amazon is not the customs clearance entity and is not responsible for customs clearance and tax payment. You must make a good declaration and prepay the tariff and prepare the local customs clearance importer in advance.

2) FBA dedicated line (air + delivery)

First, it is shipped to the local area by air, and then delivered to the Amazon warehouse by local express. The delivery time is slightly slower than international express, but the price is also much cheaper, and it is very convenient to enter the warehouse without an appointment.

3) FBA first leg of shipping

Sea freight + local customs clearance + delivery to the destination country, the time limit is slightly longer. It takes a long time, usually 30-35 days. In addition, trailer delivery to Amazon generally requires a warehouse appointment, which is more troublesome than express delivery. But the price is cheap. If calculated according to 1CBM=167kg, it is only a few dollars per kg, which is much cheaper than express delivery, and is suitable for non-urgent replenishment.

4) Overseas warehouse transfer

Put the goods in the overseas warehouse of the export company, and you can do Amazon FBA or ship them to buyers on other e-commerce platforms. There are many logistics options for transferring goods from overseas warehouses to Amazon. You can choose express delivery without appointment or trailer delivery. The method is flexible and simple, and you can replenish goods frequently and in a short time. The customs clearance problem has been solved before the goods arrive at the warehouse, so there will be no big problem in sending them from the warehouse to Amazon later.

Price comparison: Overseas warehouse transfer < Ocean freight FBA first leg

Delivery time: Overseas warehouse transfer < International express

Precautions

1. Product packaging

In terms of product packaging, sellers only need to ensure that the products are intact when they arrive at the FBA warehouse and in the hands of customers. Amazon does not have any mandatory requirements for product packaging.

Sellers can use packaging boxes or self-sealing anti-static bags for packaging. It is best if the packaging has a certain texture (of course, safety is a prerequisite) to enhance the customer's consumption experience.

2. Product Label

When using FBA for delivery, products usually have two labels affixed, namely the product label (UPC code label, Amazon system product label, affixed to the packaging) and the outer box label (actual packaging box number, affixed to different sides of the outer box).

When printing labels, sellers should try to use carbon ribbon + coated paper to prevent the text on thermal paper from fading after being left for a long time.

3. Shipping weight

Since the cost of the first leg is relatively high, sellers can reduce volume and cut costs by properly matching light and heavy items.

Cost

Air transport: expensive, short delivery time, medium cargo volume

Ocean freight: low price, long time, large cargo volume

Land transportation: expensive, short delivery time, small volume of cargo

FBA first leg service features

1. Diversification, suitable for all kinds of FBA first-leg of products: If you are in a hurry to replenish the stock, you can use the first-leg of express delivery or air transportation; if you value the cost, you can use the first-leg of sea transportation.

2. Personalization reduces the risk of FBA inventory backlog caused by unsalable products: Products stored in FBA warehouses are associated with accounts, and the same product cannot be sold in multiple accounts. This may cause the same product to be sold out in some FBA warehouses, but unsalable in other warehouses. Using FBA first-leg overseas warehouses and then shipping in batches can effectively avoid the above risks and help you maximize profits.

3. Save the first-leg cost: The domestic FBA logistics sea freight first-leg service is specially designed for B2C cross-border e-commerce sellers. Compared with the traditional sea freight LCL service, it has a lower starting volume, simpler charging items, and lower overall cost, which can help you significantly reduce the FBA first-leg cost.

4. Assist with customs clearance and reduce customs clearance risks: Using FBA overseas companies will assist you in completing customs clearance and prevent high return fees caused by forced return of goods.

FBA first leg matters needing attention

1. When choosing the FBA first-leg service transportation method, sellers need to consider both timeliness and their own capital turnover to reduce costs.

2. In addition to choosing the delivery method, sellers should also consider the weight of the goods when selecting products. If the goods are large in size, they should consider shipping them together with heavier goods to avoid additional shipping costs due to excessive weight.

3. It is recommended to try using multiple modes of transportation at the same time to ensure that your products are in stock and can continue to bring you income and profits, while reducing transportation costs.

4. Before sending the goods to FBA, sellers must first understand the policies and barriers of the country where the selected FBA warehouse is located, and make adequate preparations for FBA first-leg transportation

universal

The minimum tax-free declaration amount for inbound shipments in the United States is 800 USD.

In Europe, as long as the goods enter the local warehouse for sale, they must use their own VAT for customs clearance.

References

• 1. What are the companies that do Amazon FBA first-leg? How to choose? : Sohu [reference date 2019-07-03T16:00:00.000Z]
• 2. What pitfalls should be avoided in Amazon FBA first-leg delivery? : Sohu [reference date 2018-11-28T16:00:00.000Z]