I'm trying to move to FBA but problems with variation listing
OK, So I've been FBM for a while now and decided to take the next step to move to FBA. Currently, I only have one product with 4 variations, the variations are defined as QUANTITY i.e.(number of items) which are 1,2,3 and 5.
OK, the issue overview is, when I am moving the products to FBA, why am I asked within each separate variation, rather than the parent?
I want to send, let's say 400 products and FBA to fulfil the orders depending on the quantity ordered. I appreciate that a seller may not wish to go FBA for all variations, so this simply breaks things up, but what if a seller (like me) wants to shift all variations (QUANTITY) to FBA.
If I was to move each variation, one by one to FBA, then I guess I go to an area where I give Amazon the information i.e. what I am going to send etc. Would I have to then say I am sending 400 products and they are to be used for all variations? (ideal solution) OR do I have to breakdown the 400 products and assign a qty to each variation? (not ideal solution)
I did try to move one variation to FBA, but I held back because once I move it, the product becomes inactive as soon as you do this. I am also planning ahead and preparing right now as the stock is not due for a couple of weeks.
Please can someone help?
Many thanks
I'm trying to move to FBA but problems with variation listing
OK, So I've been FBM for a while now and decided to take the next step to move to FBA. Currently, I only have one product with 4 variations, the variations are defined as QUANTITY i.e.(number of items) which are 1,2,3 and 5.
OK, the issue overview is, when I am moving the products to FBA, why am I asked within each separate variation, rather than the parent?
I want to send, let's say 400 products and FBA to fulfil the orders depending on the quantity ordered. I appreciate that a seller may not wish to go FBA for all variations, so this simply breaks things up, but what if a seller (like me) wants to shift all variations (QUANTITY) to FBA.
If I was to move each variation, one by one to FBA, then I guess I go to an area where I give Amazon the information i.e. what I am going to send etc. Would I have to then say I am sending 400 products and they are to be used for all variations? (ideal solution) OR do I have to breakdown the 400 products and assign a qty to each variation? (not ideal solution)
I did try to move one variation to FBA, but I held back because once I move it, the product becomes inactive as soon as you do this. I am also planning ahead and preparing right now as the stock is not due for a couple of weeks.
Please can someone help?
Many thanks
7 replies
Seller_zDUw7ekrB6OEy
Each pack size will have a different ASIN, sku and fnsku, so you will need to bag and label each pack size. We sell cups in packs of 2, 3 and 4. These are sent to FBA packed as packs of 2, 3 and 4 and stored as separate ASINs at the fulfilment centre.
As for your last point, you can create another offer for each item and put FBA at the end of the SKU. That way you can keep some back to sell while the FBA ones are in transit. From you dispatching a shipment to it becoming sellable on FBA can take up to 2-3 weeks.
Seller_IzdvLR8SWAvWf
Hey and thanks for your reply. Not what I wanted to hear regarding pack size, that's a bit of a nightmare job as everything comes single. What's the points of Amazon having quantity options if it's not got the flexibility.
Do you know if there is a way where I can just send and do this without splitting them up? I know that mean I would have to relist, but I can do that just for FBA as you've suggested.
Seller_mS10UjVYuuGor
As noted above, what you're doing is bundling items that haven't been bundle packaged by the manufacturer so you'll need to physically create the bundle yourself before sending them in and label it properly for Amazon who will see each pack size as a different item (making sure your packaging hides the original barcodes). Also if you sell out of singles Amazon will not be able to break up a 5 pack to fulfil orders for singles.
If you think about how an Amazon warehouse works asking them to pick multiples isn't practical. If you send 400 units in they won't be kept together, Amazon may send 20 to one fulfilment centre and 5 to another. Even if you have 100 of the same item in a fulfilment centre your items will not be stored together, they'll be wherever there is a suitable space. If Amazon had to pick 2, 3 or 5 seperate items you'd be charged 2, 3 or 5 x per item FBA fees.
First off i'd be tempted to only send in singles to FBA and continue fulfilling your larger pack sizes as FBM until you can assess if the extra packaging cost, possibly proportianally higher storage costs if bundles sell slower vs lower FBA costs (per unit) but lower sale price (per unit assuming you discount the multiples) makes your bundles via FBA feasable.
Seller_IzdvLR8SWAvWf
Thanks for your response. I think this will be a good work around at least for the short-term. Singles are the best seller and, 2's are getting popular, so I might bundle that and send too.
The only reason I was a little frustrated with this is because I purposely set up the listings as quantity (variations) purely for this move to FBA. Now only to find out it's not the solution and even worse, there isn't really a solution.
I can see that if I set up a listing with a business price, I can give discounts up 5 different quantity tiers. That's effectively the same thing but this is only for business customers..
I appreciate what you say about Amazon side of it, but I am sure I am not the only one and that wants this (for retail customers) and I thought Amazon, would not see this as an impossible mission to achieve. Same principle as the Business discounts set up.
Seller_76AUwmqvSyRIM
Research "virtual bundles" as they may achieve what you want however keep in mind that Amazon will charge you FBA fees for each unit, not for each bundle. Not an ideal solution.
Sending them in prepacked in whatever pack size you want is the answer, as @Seller_zDUw7ekrB6OEysaid.
Glenn_Amazon
Hi there @Seller_IzdvLR8SWAvWf,
It looks like @Seller_zDUw7ekrB6OEy and @Seller_76AUwmqvSyRIM have given you some options regarding your FBA offers. Amazon will not be able to assemble your offers together and are stored at the ASIN level. As you have found out, Variations are only used for managing how they appear on the website. If you have any further questions feel free to reach out again. Thank you.
-Glenn
