What is an Amazon prep center?

Amazon Prep Centers are third-party businesses that provide prep services for Amazon sellers. These centers are located all over the world and offer a variety of services, including receiving, inspecting, labeling, packaging, and shipping products to Amazon fulfillment centers.

Amazon sellers use prep centers to save time and ensure that their products meet Amazon’s requirements for labeling and packaging. By outsourcing these tasks to a prep center, sellers can focus on other aspects of their business, such as sourcing products, managing inventory, and optimizing their listings.

To use a prep center, sellers typically send their products to the center, either directly or through a freight forwarding service. The prep center then inspects the products, labels them according to Amazon’s requirements, and packages them for shipment to an Amazon fulfillment center. The seller is responsible for paying the fees associated with the prep center’s services, as well as the shipping costs to send the products to the center.

Amazon provides a list of approved prep centers on its website, and sellers can choose a center based on its location, pricing, and services offered.

Why use an Amazon prep center?

There are several reasons why an Amazon seller may choose to use a prep center:

1. Saves time: A prep center can handle many of the time-consuming tasks involved in preparing products for sale on Amazon, such as labeling, packaging, and shipping. This frees up time for the seller to focus on other aspects of their business, such as sourcing products or improving their listings.
2. Reduces costs: Using a prep center can also help reduce costs associated with preparing products for sale on Amazon. For example, a prep center may be able to consolidate shipments, negotiate better shipping rates, or reduce labor costs associated with labeling and packaging products.
3. Ensures compliance: A prep center can help ensure that a seller’s products are compliant with Amazon’s policies and requirements for labeling and packaging. This can help prevent issues such as delayed shipments, returns, or negative feedback from customers.
4. Provides expertise: A prep center may have expertise in specific areas, such as bundling products or complying with international shipping regulations. This expertise can help sellers optimize their listings and improve their overall business operations.
5. Scalability: A prep center can help sellers scale their business by handling the increased volume of orders and shipments that come with growth. This can help sellers avoid the need to hire additional staff or invest in expensive equipment.

Overall, using a prep center can help Amazon sellers save time and money, ensure compliance with Amazon’s policies, and improve their business operations.

How to Choose an FBA Prep Center?

When choosing a prep center for Amazon, there are several factors to consider to ensure that the center meets your needs and helps you optimize your Amazon business. Here are some tips on how to choose a prep center:

1. Location: Consider the location of the prep center and its proximity to your suppliers and Amazon’s fulfillment centers. A center that is located closer to these locations can help reduce transportation costs and improve efficiency.
2. Services offered: Look at the services offered by the prep center and make sure they align with your needs. Some common services include inspection, labeling, packaging, bundling, and shipping.
3. Reputation: Research the reputation of the prep center and read reviews from other Amazon sellers who have used their services. Check for any complaints or negative feedback, and make sure the center has a good track record of meeting deadlines and providing quality service.
4. Pricing: Consider the pricing structure of the prep center and compare it to other centers to ensure that you are getting a fair price. Look for any hidden fees or additional charges that may be added on top of the basic fees.
5. Communication: Check the communication channels and responsiveness of the prep center. Make sure that you can easily get in touch with them and that they provide regular updates on the status of your shipments.
6. Compliance: Verify that the prep center is familiar with Amazon’s policies and requirements for labeling and packaging, and that they can help ensure that your products are compliant with these requirements.

By considering these factors, you can choose a prep center that meets your needs and helps you grow your Amazon business.

What does it cost to use an Amazon prep center?

The cost of using an Amazon prep center can vary depending on the specific services offered by the center and the volume of products being shipped. Here are some factors that can influence the cost:

1. Services offered: Different prep centers may offer different services, such as inspection, labeling, bundling, or packaging. The cost will depend on which services are required.
2. Volume: The more products being shipped, the lower the per-unit cost may be. Some prep centers offer discounts for larger volumes of shipments.
3. Product complexity: More complex products may require additional services, such as assembling or disassembling parts. This can increase the overall cost of the prep center’s services.
4. Shipping costs: The cost of shipping products to the prep center and from the prep center to Amazon’s fulfillment centers will also factor into the overall cost.
5. Additional fees: Some prep centers may charge additional fees for special services or rush orders.

It’s important to compare prices and services offered by different prep centers to ensure that you are getting a fair price. Amazon provides a list of approved prep centers on its website, and sellers can request quotes from multiple centers to compare prices and services. Additionally, sellers should factor in the cost of the prep center’s services when setting their prices for products sold on Amazon.

Amazon prep centers in sales-tax-free states

Using an Amazon prep center located in a sales-tax-free state can be a strategy for reducing the overall cost of preparing and shipping products to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. This is because sellers may be able to avoid paying sales tax on the services provided by the prep center. However, it’s important to note that the exact tax laws and regulations vary by state and can change over time.

Currently, some of the sales-tax-free states in the United States are:

1. Alaska
2. Delaware
3. Montana
4. New Hampshire
5. Oregon

However, it’s important to consider other factors beyond sales tax when choosing a prep center, such as the location, services offered, reputation, and pricing. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to use a prep center located closer to the supplier or Amazon’s fulfillment centers, even if it’s in a state that charges sales tax.

It’s important to consult with a tax professional or legal advisor to understand the tax implications of using a prep center in a sales-tax-free state and to ensure that all tax requirements are met.

As mentioned above, some prep centers are located in sales tax free states so if you are doing online arbitrage, simply enter the address of your prep center to avoid paying your states sales-tax. 

1. Prepandpack

Pricing: As low $0.60 per unit

Turnaround time: 24-72 hours

Location: Multiple locations

Services: Amazon FBA prep, third-party fulfillment and storage, returns, etc.

2. Smart Prep Center
Pricing: As low $1.15 per unit

Turnaround time: 24-48 hours

Location: Delaware

Services: Amazon FBA prep, third-party fulfillment and storage, freight forwarding, returns, etc.