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.

What to prioritize to achieve success on Amazon

We’ve identified the mistakes to avoid, so the next task is to determine the best way for you to gain traction in your Amazon selling journey. Here are some key areas and tasks to focus on.

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.

Stay on top of rule changes

• Set up RSS news feed alerts for updates when Amazon makes a change or launches a statement.
• Visit forums for every territory you trade in to gather intel on how other sellers manage their obligations.
• Update your standard operating procedures to align with Amazon’s updates.
• State your requirements in brand and packaging guidelines and standard operating procedures.
• Read Amazon’s Brand Protection report.

Master inventory prep and shipping

• Delegate product packaging and order fulfillment to an experienced Amazon prep center.
• Use fast carriers with excellent track records.
• Offer fast and simple return options for your Fulfilled By Merchant orders.
• Understand your inventory needs at different times of the year using inventory forecasting.
• Keep backup stock at key locations.
• Partner with local suppliers in case of emergency.

Need help getting your products Amazon-ready? Talk with MyFBAPrep.

Products and branding

• Double-check that products aren’t restricted or prohibited before sending them to Amazon or listing them for sale DTC.
• Ensure your packaging is sturdy and protects your items.
• Price competitively and use repricing software to execute adjustments automatically.
• Embrace Brand Registry.
• Make your name recognizable by branding your packaging, Amazon store, and social media professionally.
• Invest in A+ content.
• Offer subscriptions and bundles where possible.
• Direct your external website to your Amazon store.

Continue investing in marketing

• Know which metrics to track in your ad campaigns.
• Determine which optimizations will help you maximize ad spend.
• Drive external traffic through resources like PPC, blogging, and affiliate marketing.
• Pay attention to reviews and share user-generated content.
• Create an ad optimization schedule and stick to it.

Have the right money mindset

• Adopt a growth mindset and commit to scaling.
• Say “no” to laziness.
• Negotiate EVERYTHING, from fulfillment to stock prices.
• Save six to 12 months of business expenses for emergencies.
• Set aside a portion of your profits each month in preparation for Q4 expenses.

Wrapping up: Take the right steps on Amazon

It takes strategic knowledge, commitment, and resources to thrive in the Amazon marketplace. However, many sellers become too focused on money-making tactics and forget to watch out for harmful errors.

To protect your business, pay close attention to Amazon’s ToS and adjust your approach based on policy and rule changes. Choose your products wisely, tweak your marketing campaigns often, and adopt reliable prepping, packing, and fulfillment to stay on Amazon’s good side.

Despite your best efforts though, you’ll slip up occasionally. But mistakes are normal, so don’t aim for perfection. Instead, take Amazon’s lead and commit to continuous improvement in every area of your business. By investing in the aspects we’ve recommended, you’ll circumvent fatal errors and guide your Amazon business toward success.

Published: December 9, 2025
Updated: March 3, 2026