There is a difference between reacting and responding. Reacting is emotional. Responding is thoughtful.
Are you confused about labels? Here is the breakdown:
FBA Labels - When you prepare your products for shipment, you need to print off labels and attach them to your items. Each label is specific for the for product, but also acts as an identifier for your account.
You can choose to turn on the commingle option in your settings. The advantage is that you don't have to label your products. The disadvantage is that your products will get mixed with other like products. Personally, I don't recommend this option. If there is a problem with a product, you have no way of knowing if Amazon actually pulled your item or another seller's item. It would really stink if someone's defective product turned out to be your return, or the cause of your bad feedback. I suggest disabling the commingle option.
You can choose to pay Amazon to label your products. If your shipping lots and lots and lots, then you might consider the fee worth your time, but if you're just shipping a few boxes per week, I highly suggest that you label your own products. There's comfort in having some control.
The rules: You must cover all barcodes on a product. You must use removable labels.
Here is the lowdown: You can use Avery 30 Up removable labels (or similar brand), or if you have the luxury of purchasing a Dymo Turbo Printer, then you can use removable labels and print one at a time. You might have to use extra blank labels to cover larger or additional barcodes. The advantage of 30 Up labels is that you can print all of your labels at once. If you happen to have 30 count of the same item, 30 Up labels will work best for an efficient workflow. If you have 30 different items, then you might want to invest in a Dymo Turbo Printer. I am currently using Avery 30 Up labels while saving my change for a Dymo. The advantage of the Dymo is that you can print one label at a time. Each label has the product name, but if you have similar products, it's easy to get your labels mixed up which can cause you a problem. It slows down the workflow since you have to carefully search for the correct label.
Expiration Date Labels - If you sell an item that expires or has a "Best By" date (like groceries or cosmetics), then you're required to add a removable expiration date label. Your label must say, "Expires by" or "Best by" followed by the date. The date must be in the following format: 04/26/2014. You can print the label out individually with the expiration date, or you can use a set of labels that say "Expires By _/_/_" and fill in the blanks with a black Sharpie. If you have a case pack, you must make your font 36 point. If you're putting a label on a polybag or over shrinkwrap, you can cover it with clear packing tape to make sure that it doesn't fall off.
Suffocation Warning Labels - Amazon states that you must have a suffocation warning label if you are using a polybag that has an opening of 5 inches or more. Some people add a warning label to any plastic wrap (shrinkwrap included) that could get caught in a child's throat or cover their airways.
This is a set. Do not separate. - If you have a multipack, then you need this label to make sure Amazon warehouse workers don't accidentally open your product and separate the contents. This is an insurance label.
Multiple items inside. Please scan separately. - This is not a required label, but it's helpful if you have a lot of small items that you want to place in a large ziploc bag, a box, or envelope to go inside your shipping box. You might want to do this to avoid the small items from getting tossed around, lost in the dunnage, or missed by the warehouse workers.
Ready to Ship Labels - Let's say you're packing a product in a box or bag, and you don't want Amazon to open it. It's ready to ship. Add a "Ready to Ship" label so that the warehouse workers will understand your intentions.
UPC codes - You only need a UPC code if you're creating a NEW listing. You can buy UPC codes on ebay from Leading Edge Codes (no affiliation). This is where I've bought mine. So far, so good. You don't need a label -just the UPC number to input into the form when you create your listing. Another blog post on another day!
Now that you have the skinny on labels, please note that you can download free 30 Up templates for labels from the files found in The FBA Flip Side Facebook group. Join today! (hint, hint)
Are you confused about labels? Here is the breakdown:
FBA Labels - When you prepare your products for shipment, you need to print off labels and attach them to your items. Each label is specific for the for product, but also acts as an identifier for your account.
You can choose to turn on the commingle option in your settings. The advantage is that you don't have to label your products. The disadvantage is that your products will get mixed with other like products. Personally, I don't recommend this option. If there is a problem with a product, you have no way of knowing if Amazon actually pulled your item or another seller's item. It would really stink if someone's defective product turned out to be your return, or the cause of your bad feedback. I suggest disabling the commingle option.
You can choose to pay Amazon to label your products. If your shipping lots and lots and lots, then you might consider the fee worth your time, but if you're just shipping a few boxes per week, I highly suggest that you label your own products. There's comfort in having some control.
The rules: You must cover all barcodes on a product. You must use removable labels.
Here is the lowdown: You can use Avery 30 Up removable labels (or similar brand), or if you have the luxury of purchasing a Dymo Turbo Printer, then you can use removable labels and print one at a time. You might have to use extra blank labels to cover larger or additional barcodes. The advantage of 30 Up labels is that you can print all of your labels at once. If you happen to have 30 count of the same item, 30 Up labels will work best for an efficient workflow. If you have 30 different items, then you might want to invest in a Dymo Turbo Printer. I am currently using Avery 30 Up labels while saving my change for a Dymo. The advantage of the Dymo is that you can print one label at a time. Each label has the product name, but if you have similar products, it's easy to get your labels mixed up which can cause you a problem. It slows down the workflow since you have to carefully search for the correct label.
Expiration Date Labels - If you sell an item that expires or has a "Best By" date (like groceries or cosmetics), then you're required to add a removable expiration date label. Your label must say, "Expires by" or "Best by" followed by the date. The date must be in the following format: 04/26/2014. You can print the label out individually with the expiration date, or you can use a set of labels that say "Expires By _/_/_" and fill in the blanks with a black Sharpie. If you have a case pack, you must make your font 36 point. If you're putting a label on a polybag or over shrinkwrap, you can cover it with clear packing tape to make sure that it doesn't fall off.
Suffocation Warning Labels - Amazon states that you must have a suffocation warning label if you are using a polybag that has an opening of 5 inches or more. Some people add a warning label to any plastic wrap (shrinkwrap included) that could get caught in a child's throat or cover their airways.
This is a set. Do not separate. - If you have a multipack, then you need this label to make sure Amazon warehouse workers don't accidentally open your product and separate the contents. This is an insurance label.
Multiple items inside. Please scan separately. - This is not a required label, but it's helpful if you have a lot of small items that you want to place in a large ziploc bag, a box, or envelope to go inside your shipping box. You might want to do this to avoid the small items from getting tossed around, lost in the dunnage, or missed by the warehouse workers.
Ready to Ship Labels - Let's say you're packing a product in a box or bag, and you don't want Amazon to open it. It's ready to ship. Add a "Ready to Ship" label so that the warehouse workers will understand your intentions.
UPC codes - You only need a UPC code if you're creating a NEW listing. You can buy UPC codes on ebay from Leading Edge Codes (no affiliation). This is where I've bought mine. So far, so good. You don't need a label -just the UPC number to input into the form when you create your listing. Another blog post on another day!
Now that you have the skinny on labels, please note that you can download free 30 Up templates for labels from the files found in The FBA Flip Side Facebook group. Join today! (hint, hint)
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