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This chapter helps you streamline your FBA shipping and fulfillment with a clearer shipping plan workflow, smarter carrier selection (SPD, LTL, FTL), and practical guidance on Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) and third-party logistics (3PL). Examples are written for Amazon.com, but the same decision logic works for global sellers shipping into US, UK, and EU marketplaces.
Quick note on 2026 changes: Amazon inbound requirements evolve fast, especially around prep and labeling. Use this guide as a workflow, then confirm the latest policy inside Seller Central before you ship.
Operational edge: Track demand and fees before you ship. Better replenishment planning reduces stockouts, split shipment surprises, and expensive storage exposure.
Question: What is the fastest, least error-prone way to create an FBA shipping plan? Answer: Use the Send to Amazon workflow, start from your FBA SKUs, confirm a real ship from address, build reusable packing templates, then review FC assignments and print the correct box labels for each destination.
Shipping plan flowchart
Pro Tip
Name shipments with a consistent pattern, for example, Supplier, SKU, month, batch. This makes split shipment tracking and 3PL handoffs easier later.
Common Mistake
Entering carton dimensions in centimeters or weight in kilograms without converting. One wrong unit can inflate carrier quotes and cause inbound receiving issues.
Use SellerSprite Sales Estimator to sanity check expected velocity, then run Profitability Calculator to verify margin after inbound shipping and FBA fees. This reduces the risk of shipping too much inventory or pricing too low.
Open Sales Estimator Open Profitability Calculator
Question: What should I verify before I lock my FBA shipping plan? Answer: Confirm carton count, total units, ship date realism, prep and labeling responsibility, and inbound limits. Then verify FC splits match what your supplier can label and route correctly.
Warning
Do not use a random ship from address to try to influence warehouse placement. FC assignment is automated and can change. A real address matters for compliance, return routing, and carrier pickup documentation.
Scenario A: split shipment labeling mixup
A seller created one plan, got two FC destinations, then sent the PDF labels to the supplier without explaining carton counts per FC. Result: cartons were labeled incorrectly and inbound receiving stalled. Fix: send a short routing sheet: destination A cartons, destination B cartons, plus label files separated by destination. Verify a photo of the first labeled carton before the supplier labels the full batch.
Scenario B: inbound limit blocks replenishment
A seller tried to ship 90 days of coverage and hit an inbound limit. They reduced cartons at the last minute and still launched understocked. Fix: use a two-wave plan: ship a launch batch first, then a replenishment batch once sell-through confirms velocity. Track velocity daily during week 1 and adjust.
Question: How do I choose between Small Parcel Delivery (SPD) and pallet freight (LTL or FTL)? Answer: Use SPD for cartons and lower volume inbound. Use LTL when you ship pallets but not a full truck. Use FTL when volume fills most of a truck, and you want fewer touchpoints and more stable inbound.
If you are uncertain, start with SPD for your first inbound wave, then shift to LTL once you have stable sales velocity and carton specs.
Treating LTL like SPD. Pallet freight requires clean pallet builds, correct pallet labels, and consistent cartons per pallet, or your receiving can slow down.
Question: When should I use Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) instead of shipping myself? Answer: Use MCF when you already have inventory in FBA, want faster delivery for off-Amazon orders, and your off-Amazon volume is still manageable enough to avoid overselling across channels.
MCF setup checklist (simple workflow)
Inventory sync is the hidden risk. If you run deals on Shopify while Amazon sales spike, you can oversell. Build a buffer and update your reorder point once you add MCF volume.
Question: Should I add a 3PL or keep everything in FBA? Answer: Add a 3PL when you need overflow storage, faster replenishment, inspections, prep and labeling help, or operational flexibility that FBA alone cannot provide.
Ask for a 30-day pilot with one SKU family and one replenishment cycle. Measure accuracy, turnaround time, and communication speed before you scale volume.
Question: What is the simplest replenishment approach that works for most FBA sellers? Answer: Set a reorder point based on sales velocity and lead time, then ship smaller, more frequent replenishments until your demand is stable enough to justify LTL or larger inbound waves.
Practical formula
Reorder point (units) = Daily sales velocity x Total lead time (days) + Safety stock
Use Sales Estimator as a starting point, then adjust based on your own sell-through and risk tolerance.
Use Product Tracker to monitor competitor price changes, BSR shifts, and seasonality signals, then align your inbound plan to demand instead of guesswork.
Learn Product Tracker Install Chrome Extension
Question: Does this shipping plan workflow change by country or marketplace? Answer: The workflow is similar, but lead times, cost drivers, and compliance checks differ. Choose your strategy based on where inventory starts, where it lands, and how you handle prep and labeling.
China to US FBA
US domestic replenishment
UK and EU marketplaces
Split assignments are common and often help Amazon position inventory closer to customers. Focus on execution: separate labels by destination and give your supplier or forwarder a routing sheet with carton counts per FC so cartons do not get mixed.
Start in your Shipping Queue and use Send to Amazon. Confirm your ship from address, then check whether inbound limits or missing carton data is blocking the next step.
Prep and labeling requirements are evolving, and some services may be reduced or removed depending on program and marketplace. Plan as if you or your supplier or 3PL will handle prep and labeling, then confirm the latest requirement and cutover timing inside Seller Central before you ship.
Use MCF when you want to ship from existing FBA inventory and your off Amazon volume is manageable. Use a 3PL when you need more control, inspections, custom packaging, or higher order volume diversification beyond what MCF makes convenient.
Switch when pallets reduce labor and risk. If you routinely ship many cartons per replenishment, LTL can lower touchpoints and improve inbound stability, but only if pallet build and labels are executed cleanly.
Start a free 3-day trial to forecast demand, estimate fees, and plan SPD or LTL replenishment with clearer numbers before you send inventory.
Start Free 3 Day Trial Install Free Chrome Extension
Share your negotiation situation, get feedback, and learn from other sellers in the SellerSprite Discord and Facebook Group.
Join SellerSprite Discord Join SellerSprite Facebook Group
Ready for the next step? Open the SellerSprite Academy course directory to continue building your Amazon FBA skills chapter by chapter.
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SellerSprite Team
The SellerSprite team supports Amazon sellers with practical playbooks and tool-driven workflows across product research, operations, and growth. Our guidance is shaped by recurring execution patterns we observe from a large global seller base, plus ongoing iteration from the SellerSprite platform and extension ecosystem.
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