The MyFBAPrep team has decades of experience prepping items for Amazon FBA. Having worked with high-volume Amazon sellers across all categories, even the top Amazon seller at the time, we’ve seen all of the common mistakes that brands and manufacturers make when preparing their goods for FBA. Whether items come to us that need fixing, or a customer comes because their previous provider made a mistake, we’ve seen firsthand the things that get overlooked and need to be fixed for FBA.

In this article, we cover the seven most common FBA prep mistakes we’ve noticed, so you can avoid making the same mistake. Remember, starting January 2026, Amazon will no longer support FBA prep. That means the only recourse if you send Amazon goods that aren’t FBA-ready is to have them sent back or disposed of. If you are relying on Amazon’s in-house prep services, you should already be testing alternatives in-house or working with an Amazon-recommended FBA prep service.

7 Most common FBA prep mistakes (and how to fix them)

1. Packaging not meeting Amazon’s drop-test standards

The Amazon drop-test requires that packages can survive being dropped from heights of either 18 or 36 inches, depending on which corner or side of the package you are testing. The drop test measures whether items inside the package are protected based on the packaging and dunnage you’ve chosen.

We often see units that aren’t fully secured inside their packaging, which leads to damage during transit or failure of Amazon’s checks.

Solution: To fix this, ensure your goods are secure and do not move around inside your packaging. Whether you choose hard or soft packaging, your inventory should sit firmly inside with a proper amount of dunnage.

2. Bundles missing required “Do Not Separate” labels

If you’re sending in a bundle meant to go to a customer together under the same SKU, you need to have a clearly labeled package that warns handlers not to separate the products inside. Without this, Amazon may break apart multipacks or sets, causing listing issues and customer complaints.

We’ve seen kits and bundles that come from manufacturers without this label at all, or with “Do not separate” labels in misleading areas.

Solution: Make sure all of your bundles are clearly labeled with a “Do not separate” sticker.

3. Improper protection for glass or fragile items

We’ve seen a lot of sellers try to send in fragile items with inadequate protection. If you use loose bubble wrap instead of compliant bubble bags or protective polybags, it increases the risk of damage and non-compliance.

Solution: Use well-fitted bubble bags or polybags for any glass or fragile items.

4. Use of non-transparent or incorrect polybags

Some facilities use polybags that don’t meet Amazon’s requirements, such as bags without suffocation warnings, bags that cover the barcode without placing a scannable label on the exterior, or bags that force Amazon to open the packaging to identify the unit. Whether the bag is transparent or opaque, Amazon must be able to scan the unit without opening the packaging.

Solution: Use transparent polybags with suffocation warnings, and make it a prep guideline to position a scannable label against the exterior of your polybagged goods.

5. Incorrect sizing

Often, items come in from a manufacturer or supplier with boxes that are too large for the items inside. Or, someone wasn’t sure of the exact dimensions of your product, so they got a “safe” size that would be too large for your item. This is a common mistake that won’t necessarily get you in trouble with Amazon, but it will increase your costs and overhead. Oversized cartons or polybags raise dimensional shipping costs, and you’ll need to use more protective material to protect your items inside.

Solution: Find the best packaging option for every SKU you sell, including bundles. Whether it’s hard or soft packaging, find the smallest size you can use while still securing your items in a way that will protect them to Amazon standards.

6. Labeling inconsistencies

Since labels are the primary identifiers of your product and SKU, they must be placed meticulously. Common labeling issues we’ve seen include FNSKUs placed on seams, barcodes not fully scannable, or missing labels on multipacks and expiration-dated items. If your labels don’t meet Amazon’s standards, your items won’t be seen as fit to enter the FBA network.

Solution: Have a labeling plan and guidelines for each listing. It should include where a label should go, and photo examples of dos and don’ts.

7. Sub-optimal shipping selection regarding placement fees

When you ship items into FBA, depending on how many locations you’re willing to send to, you may need to pay an inbound placement fee. Costs will vary depending on how much you’re shipping, whether you need to batch your items with others, where you’re shipping from, and the like.

However, some facilities do not optimize shipping between SPD, LTL/FTL, and placement-fee options. Importantly, strategically selecting a placement fee can significantly reduce overall carrier costs.

Solution: Work with a logistics partner that can leverage economies of scale (for example, other seller cartons and pallets that need to travel to the same region) to send your items more affordably and strategically into the FBA network.

Ship inventory into Amazon prep-perfect

Amazon no longer offers in-house FBA prep as a fallback, so you need to ensure all items that you send into the FBA network are prepped perfectly the first time. If you send something in that doesn’t meet their standards, or is non-compliant, it’s going to cost more time, money, brand reputation, and opportunity than ever now that Amazon doesn’t offer prep options in-house.

Or, work with Amazon-recommended prep partners like MyFBAPrep! We have decades of experience knowing what works and what doesn’t, how to optimize for FBA, and what to keep an eye on. We also study FBA news and stay abreast of any changes that could affect our clients. Contact us today to get started.