FBA Case-Pack Prep: What Sellers Get Wrong Every Time

Your units can be perfect and your shipment still rejected, because FBA will not accept a carton it cannot scan, stack or count. Supplement sellers hit this more often than most: heavier bottles, longer shelf life expectations and strict expiry labelling all add requirements. Here are the failures we see repeatedly and how to avoid them.

On this page: The Requirements People Miss · Building a Compliant Carton · Avoiding the Common Failures

The Requirements People Miss

1. What does FBA expect from a case?
   A scannable box label with the right identifiers, a carton strong enough to protect the units, units packed so they do not shift, and the correct weight and dimension data in the shipment plan. Anything that cannot be reconciled on arrival becomes a problem.
2. Why do supplements get flagged for expiry?
   Amazon requires a remaining shelf life at receipt, and products below it are refused or disposed of. If your batch ships with less than the required remaining life, the shipment can be rejected regardless of quality. Check the current threshold for your category and plan the production date around it.
3. What is the most common carton mistake?
   A label on the box that does not match what is inside, or no box label at all. FBA reconciles the carton to the shipment plan; a mismatch means the box goes to problem-solve and your inventory is delayed.
4. How tight should the packing be?
   Units should not move inside the carton. Movement causes label scuffing, bottle damage and, for liquids, leakage. Void fill or a snug insert is not optional for a heavy supplement.

Building a Compliant Carton

1. Who should pack the cartons?
   The factory, wherever possible. They have the units on site and can pack to spec, photograph the cartons and ship. Repacking at a third-party prep centre adds handling cost and a chance for error.
2. What labels go on the box?
   The FBA box label with the shipment and carton identifiers, plus any handling icons the contents require. The box label and the unit FNSKU are different things — both are required.
3. How do I handle mixed SKUs in one carton?
   Amazon allows it, but each SKU must be separately labelled and the carton contents must match the shipment plan exactly. Mixed cartons are where counting errors happen, so photograph the contents before sealing.
4. What about the outer shipping label?
   It must be applied so it is scannable and not covered — a common failure is a label placed where it wraps a corner and creases. Keep labels flat and clear of edges.

Avoiding the Common Failures

1. What causes a shipment to be refused outright?
   A missing or unreadable box label, a mismatch between carton contents and the shipment plan, insufficient remaining shelf life, and damaged or leaking units. All four are preventable at the factory.
2. How do I protect against in-transit damage?
   Match the carton strength to the load, immobilise the units, and use a pallet configuration that will not collapse. For heavier supplement bottles, under-specified cartons are the leading cause of damage claims.
3. Should I send a sample carton ahead?
   For a first shipment, yes. Sending one packed carton to your prep centre or a partner to check against Amazon’s requirements catches specification errors before you commit a container.
4. What is the cost of getting it wrong?
   Delayed inventory, removal or disposal fees, and lost selling time during your launch window. The direct fees are usually smaller than the opportunity cost of a late arrival.

Related Reading

See FNSKU labelling for the unit level and label compliance for Amazon listings for the listing side.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.