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Issue 120: How to get same-day FBA check-in to beat Q4 delays

Hello, MyFBAPrep Sellers!

Today we share how to streamline your Q4 logistics to protect yourself from delivery delays or overloaded systems. We also share how to run an FBA audit, and how to balance risk and reward when it comes to inventory management.

The Secret to Beating Q4 FBA Delays: From Inbound to Checked-in on the Same Day

Q4 can make or break your Amazon sales—but what happens when your products get stuck in Amazon’s fulfillment center backlog?

With MyFBAPrep, your inventory gets checked in same-day, so your products are ready for sale faster.

Here’s how we help you stay ahead of the holiday rush:

Fast-Track Check-In: Your FBA inventory is prepped and shipped within hours.
Nationwide Network: 100+ locations across the U.S. for quicker transit times.
Skip the Inbound Queue: Avoid Amazon’s bottlenecks and stock-outs.
Real-Time Tracking: Full visibility from prep to check-in.

Ready to keep your products moving this Q4? Let’s talk!

Learn How to Get Same-Day FBA Check-In

Beating Q4 Stress: Supplement Your Holiday Logistics

Can you switch 3PLs in October? Not really. Onboarding would be too complex, a new 3PL could have the same Q4 challenges, and changing 3PLs would disrupt your order fulfillment.

If you’re worried about your Q4 logistics capacity, instead of switching 3PLs, augment your logistics ecosystem.

Alleviate the burden on your 3PL and reduce opportunity for error by padding your logistics setup:

Outsource FBA or other marketplace prep services, so your 3PL doesn’t have to worry about copacking, shrinkwrapping, and the like.
Work with another company to handle your reverse logistics, as the holidays (and immediately after) are a time when returns shoot up.
If you’re putting together holiday packs, work with a specialized prep company to prepare these bundles in advance.
If you have a healthy subscription or subscription box source of revenue in addition to your main store, consider training and having a dedicated logistics partner to handle these from start to finish.

How to Conduct an Effective Amazon FBA Audit

To fully comprehend your Amazon FBA brand’s health and pinpoint areas for improvement, focus on these five key FBA audit categories.

1. Inventory management

Ensure precise records
Identify slow-moving and excess inventory
Evaluate inventory turnover rate and calculate days of inventory on hand (DIOH)
Incorporate best practices for inventory forecasting and planning

2. Pricing strategy

Review current pricing strategies
Adjust prices based on market trends and competitor analysis
Quantify the impact of different pricing strategies
Determine the effectiveness of dynamic pricing tools

3. Fee management

Learn FBA’s fees
Pinpoint unnecessary fees
Employ strategies to lower FBA costs
Monitor refund rates and chargeback fees

4. Customer experience

Monitor customer feedback
Ensure timely and accurate order fulfillment
Manage returns and refunds effectively

5. Sales performance

Review sales data and trends
Hone in on top-performing and underperforming products
Calculate key performance indicators (KPIs)
Add up sales for each product category and sales channel
Gauge the effectiveness of marketing and advertising campaigns

Get all the details on Amazon FBA audits.

Is selling with Amazon FBA still worth it?

Although there are pros and cons of working with FBA, we believe it’s a resounding yes – merchants should absolutely still be selling with FBA. Learn more about how to set up a winning FBA strategy and get a breakdown of the challenges.

Inventory Management Techniques: Balancing Risk and Reward

Lesley Hensell, also known as “the suspension lady,” has significant experience with the pitfalls of poor inventory management. In our interview with her, Hensell discussed how mismanagement of stock on Amazon could lead to not only overstock fees and cash flow problems but also more severe consequences like account suspensions.

This risk is particularly pressing due to Amazon’s evolving focus areas and enforcement tactics, which now include severe penalties for transgressions like selling inauthentic items or having linked accounts that violate platform policies.

Given the platform’s increasingly strict governance, Hensell emphasized the importance of being proactive. These inventory management techniques are essential to avoid the cascading negative effects of inventory issues, which can even lead to being prohibited from selling certain brands.

Learn how to manage your inventory from the experts.

Partner Tip of the Month:
Use Amazon’s AI chatbot Rufus for Listing Optimization

79% of top-performing Amazon sellers utilize AI tools to enhance their listings. As the digital environment evolves, leveraging technology becomes essential for standing out in the marketplace. One of the most effective tools is Amazon’s AI chatbot, Rufus!

What Can Rufus Do?

Amazon’s Rufus is a chatbot powered by generative AI. Designed to be an expert shopping assistant, Rufus is poised to assist every customer with expertise seamlessly.

Here’s how to make the most of this powerful Amazon AI tool for listing optimization:

Utilize Rufus to identify high-ranking keywords relevant to your products.
Input your draft titles into Rufus and get feedback on your titles for better CTR.
Use Rufus to craft compelling product descriptions that convert.
Rufus can analyze customer reviews and feedback for your product to refine listings.
Ask Rufus about current market trends related to your niche to stay updated.
Start implementing these tips today to enhance your visibility and boost sales!

Learn More from MMF Infotech

Tip: If you want guided help in creating personalized Amazon campaigns, book a call with our friends at MMF Infotech to learn more.

Top Industry News

10 Ways 3PLs Can Help Your Business Save Money (Gembah)
In most cases, they present a cheaper alternative that’s less resource-intensive and lower risk than setting up similar shipping capabilities in-house. They also give eCommerce brands access to professional fulfillment at a much earlier stage in the business life cycle. As a result, 3PLs are growing rapidly, with over 21,000 such businesses in the U.S. Further, these providers handle an estimated 60% of all global retail shipments.

Three Pillars Of A Well-Optimized Inventory And Supply Chain System (Forbes)
Inventory and supply chain are two of the main gears that allow the e-commerce engine to run, so they need to stay in pristine condition. However, optimizing these two elements typically involves a complicated balance of data, logistics and third-party suppliers.

Amazon Will Start Offering Regular and Grocery Items in a Single Same-Day Order (Engadget)
Amazon said on Wednesday that it’s rolling out new online ordering methods for Prime members, including the ability to bundle standard orders and groceries in one same-day shipment. The company is also adding more combined Amazon / Whole Foods fulfillment centers and trialing a store where robots pack your Amazon orders while you shop for groceries.

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days was the Company’s Biggest October Shopping Event Ever (Amazon)
Amazon announced that Prime Big Deal Days was its biggest October shopping event ever. More Prime members shopped compared to last year and took advantage of early holiday deals, marking the kickoff to the holiday season with higher sales and more items sold during the two-day event than any previous October shopping event. Globally, Prime members saved more than $1 billion across millions of deals, including on seasonal merchandise and gifts.

Amazon Adds GenAI Shopping Guides to Personalize eCommerce Experience (PYMNTS)
Amazon has implemented new generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technology in an attempt to improve product research and personalize shopping recommendations on its eCommerce platform, joining a growing trend of AI adoption in online retail. These guides, powered by GenAI, consolidate critical product information such as features, brands and customer insights.

USPS Plans To Discontinue Dual Labels For Private Shippers, Saying They No Longer Serve Postal Service Interests (Value Added Resource)
USPS has proposed a new rule that would amend the Domestic Mail Manual to discontinue the use of dual shipping labels by industry shipping partners as Delivering For America plan looks to move away from policies and services that “no longer serve the interests of the Postal Service.”

Pitney Bowes Launches eCommerce Shipping Platform (Supply Chain Dive)
Pitney Bowes has unveiled a platform for e-commerce businesses to strengthen their shipping operations. The ShipAccel platform integrates with a variety of national and regional carriers, offering discounted rates from the likes of UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service. It also connects to e-commerce marketplaces such as Amazon, Shopify and eBay.

Manage Shipments Anytime, Anywhere with the Amazon Shipping App (Seller Central)
Amazon recently launched its Amazon Shipping app that allows sellers to get live pickup updates, manage pickups, request help, and monitor cases—all from your mobile device.

Google Shopping’s Getting a Big Transformation (Google Blog)
People shop across Google more than a billion times a day to do things like virtually try on clothes before they buy, shop what they see with Lens and research prices. The company has been using advances in AI to make shopping on Google even easier. Now its paired the 45 billion product listings in Google’s Shopping Graph with Gemini models to transform the online shopping experience with a new, personalized shopping home, which is rolling out in the U.S. over the coming weeks, starting today.

Poshmark to Eliminate Fee on Buyers 3 Weeks After Implementation (PYMNTS)
Poshmark will return to its original fee structure three weeks after introducing a new one that aimed to balance fees between sellers and shoppers. The short-lived fee structure that was implemented Oct. 3 lowered fees for sellers but raised them for buyers.

Here are Five Global eCommerce Trends to Watch out for (CEO Magazine)
As the world continues to evolve digitally, ecommerce has become a cornerstone of modern business. In the dynamic landscape of ecommerce, 2024 is shaping up to be a year of significant innovation and adaptation. With the number of smartphone users likely to reach 7.1 billion by the end of 2024, the online retail opportunity is huge.

Digiday+ Research: Brands, Optimistic About Holiday Sales, Focus Marketing Efforts on eCommerce and Social (DigiDay)
Digiday’s survey found that social commerce grows even more in importance than owned e-commerce channels for holiday shopping. Seventy-six percent of brand, retailer and agency pros said this year that social commerce grows more important to their sales during the holiday season.

Amazon vs. Walmart: Ecommerce Comparison of Two Retail Giants (Digital Commerce 360)
While Walmart’s market share has been steadily increasing, Amazon remains the dominant force in ecommerce. Combined, these two giants now account for over 50% of all global online sales within the Top 2000.

Until next time,
Rachel Andrea Go
Marketing Director, MyFBAPrep