Issue 112: FBA Prep Experts vs. 3PL Generalists: How to choose?
Hello, MyFBAPrep Sellers!
In this newsletter we discuss the pros and cons of working with specialists vs generalists, or bringing FBA prep in-house. Then, let’s go into common reasons for Amazon suspensions (and what to do), and Slack groups to level-up your eCommerce growth.
Specialized Amazon FBA Prep Services vs. In-House vs. 3PL vs. Manufacturer
We’ve noticed that many brands, when they need FBA prep services, try to keep everything under one umbrella. That means either managing FBA prep in-house, or asking their manufacturer or generalist 3PL if they’re willing to take on the additional lift. However, there are risks in both of these approaches.
Let’s take a closer look at the pros/cons of each option.
In-house FBA prep pros
- Total control
- Potential cost savings
In-house FBA prep risks
- High cost of initial setup
- Requires ample space
- Time-consuming
- Lack of expertise = high risk of error
3PL generalist pros
- Convenience
- Bundled services
3PL generalist risks
- Lack of specialized knowledge
- Significant learning curve
- Possible lack of accountability
FBA prep from manufacturer pros
- Intimate product knowledge
- Streamlined supply chain
- Just-in-time ordering
FBA prep from manufacturer risks
- Lack of specialized knowledge
- Increased risk of non-compliance
- Less flexibility and control
- Minimal visibility
If you don’t want to read the entire article, we obviously recommend partnering with a specialist FBA prep provider for the best of all worlds. You get deep Amazon expertise and a focus on quality and efficiency, which often saves more for your bottom line in the long run.
Get all the details for each FBA prep option.
Common Reasons for an Amazon Seller Suspension and What to Do About It
- Updating your banking details
- Breaching terms of service
- Providing a bad customer experience
- Opening an additional account without permission
- Upgrading from sole proprietorship to an LLC
- Glitches in the Amazon Matrix
- Inaccurate product description(s)
- Providing incomplete invoices
- Too many receiving errors and incorrectly prepped items
- Inaccurate product versions or expiration dates
Hit with a suspension? Here’s what to do if it happens to you.
Ensure seamless FBA prep compliance and a great unboxing experience with MyFBAPrep
MyFBAPrep has deep experience and expertise when it comes to Amazon, having done it for countless brands and SKUs. Leave your Amazon prep in our hands (and warehouses).
9 eCommerce Slack Groups To Join
eCommerce Slack groups are rich resources for gaining practical knowledge and connecting with other eCommerce professionals. Through these groups, eCommerce merchants and developers can engage with one another to learn, share, and celebrate successes.
These events give attendees access to authorities in their industries and leading eCommerce professionals to help them expand their knowledge and scale their businesses.
Other benefits of joining eCommerce Slack groups include:
- Hiring
- Advice
- Marketing
- Collaboration opportunities
- Market expansion
- Supplier/Vendor or partner discovery
Meet your next favorite Slack community.
Top Industry News
Stord Buys Fulfillment Segment of Pitney Bowes’ eCommerce Division (FreightWaves)
Supply chain logistics company Stord purchased the fulfillment services operation of Pitney Bowes’ ecommerce division. This is the company’s second e-commerce acquisition in four months following its purchase of ProPackLogistics in April. That purchase brought Stord to operating in 1.6 million square feet of fulfillment centers projecting to send out over 25 million direct-to-consumer and business-to-business orders.
Amazon and Walmart Tap Imaging Tech to Improve eCommerce Experience (PYMNTS)
As Amazon and Walmart invest in advanced imaging technologies, they are setting new standards for online shopping experiences. By making their platforms more visually intuitive and interactive, these retail giants are not only catering to current consumer expectations but also shaping the future of eCommerce.
TikTok is Hell-Bent on Growing Shop, but its Viral Spurts Could be Hiding a Key Weakness (INSIDER)
From conversations with e-commerce analysts, TikTok Shop partners, sellers, and creators, it’s clear that Shop is growing steadily in the US and driving meaningful sales for some brands. But third-party data and testimonies from Shop partners show a mixed picture of its first six months of the year. It is by no means a runaway success.
Three Lessons From the Success of Amazon Prime Day (Chain Store Age)
Early results suggest Prime Day 2024 was a sales juggernaut for Amazon and for e-commerce in general. The 2024 edition of Amazon Prime Day is behind us, leaving a trail of what seems to be mostly good news for online retail. Let’s dive into a few specific learnings we can glean from initial results.
How Reverse Logistics can Help Retailers Avoid Ring Around the Collar (FreightWaves)
This cheating of the system can be costly for retailers. In addition to losing customers, the boom of returns can overwhelm a staff, stretching a company’s quality control bandwidth and even slowing the restocking of good items on shelves. According to the National Retail Federation, returns have grown over the past six years. Returns are costly if quality controls and other supply chain checkpoints are not in place.
WTO Countries Sign Global eCommerce Agreement That Would Ban Tariffs (PYMNTS)
Several dozen World Trade Organization (WTO) countries have signed a sweeping agreement governing global eCommerce.
The agreement, adopted Friday (July 26), is the first-ever set of global digital trade rules endorsed by the WTO. It calls for a prohibition on customs duties on electronic transactions and also includes rules for the recognition of e-signatures and safeguards against online fraud.
Until next time,
Rachel Andrea Go
Marketing Director, MyFBAPrep