FBA prep is the process of inspecting, labeling, packaging, and shipping products to Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon centres so they meet Amazon’s receiving requirements and are ready for storage, picking, and delivery to end customers. In Canada, FBA prep centres bridge the gap between your manufacturer or supplier and Amazon’s strict inbound standards.
Amazon does not accept inventory that fails to meet its prep and labeling requirements. Products arrive at the fulfillment centre and get rejected, charged additional fees, or commingled with other sellers’ stock. A Canadian FBA prep centre handles compliance before shipment so your inventory is accepted cleanly and your seller metrics stay intact.
What Does FBA Prep Actually Involve?
FBA prep is a set of specific, documented tasks that Amazon requires before inventory enters their fulfillment network. Each requirement is published in Amazon Seller Central’s FBA Prep and Labeling Requirements guide. Failure to comply results in rejected shipments, per-unit non-compliance fees, or inventory being marked as unfulfillable.
The core prep services include:
FNSKU labeling. Every unit sent to Amazon FBA must have a scannable barcode. If you use FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit) labels instead of the manufacturer’s UPC, each unit gets a printed FNSKU barcode sticker applied over or adjacent to the original barcode. FNSKU ties the product to your specific seller account and prevents commingling with other sellers’ identical products.
Poly bagging. Products that are loose, have openings, or could be damaged by dust or moisture must be sealed in transparent poly bags. Amazon specifies minimum bag thickness (1.5 mil) and requires a suffocation warning on bags with openings larger than 5 inches. Poly bags must be sealed and the barcode must be scannable through the bag.
Bubble wrapping. Fragile items require bubble wrap protection. Amazon specifies that bubble-wrapped items must have at least two inches of coverage on all sides and the wrapping must be secure enough that the product does not shift inside. The FNSKU label goes on the outside of the bubble wrap, not underneath it.
Case packing. Multiple units of the same SKU are packed into standard shipping cartons. Amazon requires that case-packed items contain identical units (same SKU, same condition, same quantity per case). Mixed-SKU cartons follow different rules and require individual unit labels visible on the outside.
Expiry date labeling. Products with expiry dates (food, supplements, cosmetics) must have the expiry date clearly printed on the product or unit packaging. Amazon requires a specific date format and rejects inventory within 90 days of expiry for most categories.
Suffocation warnings. Any product packaged in a poly bag must include a printed suffocation warning in multiple languages if the bag opening exceeds 5 inches. The warning must be legible and permanently affixed to the bag.
What Is the Difference Between FNSKU and UPC?
This distinction is critical for Canadian sellers and it causes more prep errors than any other issue.
| Barcode Type | Assigned By | Purpose | Commingling Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPC / EAN | GS1 | Universal product identification across all retailers | High (Amazon may commingle with other sellers’ stock) |
| FNSKU | Amazon | Ties specific units to your seller account | None (units tracked to your account only) |
UPC (Universal Product Code) is assigned by GS1 and identifies the product globally. If you and five other sellers all sell the same product with the same UPC, Amazon can commingle your inventory. This means your customers might receive a unit sourced from a different seller’s stock. If that other seller sent counterfeit or damaged product, the complaint lands on your account.
FNSKU is Amazon’s internal barcode that links each physical unit to your seller account. When FNSKU is applied, Amazon tracks your inventory separately. Your units are stored, picked, and shipped as yours alone. No commingling.
The recommendation for almost every seller is to turn off commingling in Seller Central and use FNSKU labels on all units. The labeling cost at a prep centre ($0.15 to $0.30 per unit) is trivial compared to the risk of receiving an IP complaint or A-to-Z claim because a commingled unit from another seller was defective.
Your FBA prep centre in Canada should print FNSKU labels from your Seller Central product pages, apply them cleanly over or adjacent to the existing UPC barcode, and verify scannability before sealing the carton.
How Does Case Packing Work for FBA Shipments?
Amazon’s case packing requirements determine how individual units are packed into shipping cartons for inbound fulfillment centre shipments. Getting this wrong causes receiving delays, inventory reconciliation problems, and additional Amazon fees.
Case-packed products. If every unit in a carton is the same SKU, same condition, and same quantity, it qualifies as case-packed. Amazon processes case-packed cartons faster because they scan one unit and multiply by the quantity. Each carton needs an FBA shipment label on the outside.
Individual products (mixed cartons). If a carton contains different SKUs or different quantities of the same SKU, each unit inside must be individually labeled with its FNSKU, and the carton gets an FBA shipment label on the outside.
Carton specifications. Amazon sets maximum carton dimensions (25 x 25 x 25 inches for standard size) and maximum weight (50 lbs per carton). Oversize or overweight cartons get rejected at the fulfillment centre. Use new, sturdy corrugated cartons. Amazon does not accept damaged, crushed, or repurposed boxes with old labels still visible.
Packing lists. Every carton in a shipment needs a packing list or the FBA box content information must be provided through the Seller Central shipment workflow. Amazon is increasingly requiring box-level content information (what is in each specific carton) rather than shipment-level information (what is in the entire shipment).
Your Canadian prep centre should manage the entire case packing process: selecting the right carton size for your product dimensions, packing to Amazon’s specifications, applying carton labels, and providing box-level content information through your Seller Central account.
Should You Ship to Canadian or US Amazon FBA Centres?
This is the strategic decision that affects your cost structure, delivery speed, and regulatory burden. Canadian sellers have three options:
Option 1: Ship to Amazon.ca FBA centres (Canadian). Your prep centre ships to Amazon’s Canadian fulfillment centres (located in the GTA, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal markets). Products are available for Amazon.ca customers with Prime-eligible delivery speeds. No cross-border duties or customs clearance required.
Option 2: Ship to Amazon.com FBA centres (US). Your prep centre ships to US-based Amazon fulfillment centres. Products are available for Amazon.com customers, the far larger marketplace. This requires US customs clearance, an Importer of Record, and payment of US duties and taxes.
Option 3: Amazon North America Remote Fulfillment (NARF). You store inventory in Canadian FBA centres and Amazon makes it available on Amazon.com. Amazon handles the cross-border shipping to US customers. The trade-off is slower delivery to US customers and higher per-unit fulfillment fees compared to US-stored inventory.
| Factor | Amazon.ca FBA (Canada) | Amazon.com FBA (US) | NARF (Canada storage, US listing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketplace | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| Storage location | Canada | United States | Canada |
| Customs clearance | Not required | Required (CBP) | Amazon handles |
| Duties and taxes | None | Seller responsible | Included in fees |
| Prime delivery speed | 1-2 days (Canada) | 1-2 days (US) | 4-7 days (US) |
| Fulfillment fees | Canadian rates | US rates (often lower) | Premium rates |
| Setup complexity | Low | Medium-High | Low |
For most Canadian sellers starting out, Amazon.ca FBA is the simplest path. For sellers with meaningful US demand, shipping to US FBA centres from a Canadian prep centre is the higher-margin play, but it requires customs infrastructure.
What Are the Duty and Tariff Considerations for Canadian Sellers Shipping to US FBA?
Cross-border FBA shipments from Canada to US fulfillment centres are commercial imports into the United States. They are subject to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) clearance, and the seller (or their Importer of Record) is responsible for duties and taxes.
Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). Every product has an HTS classification code that determines the duty rate. Rates vary from 0% to 25% or more depending on the product and country of manufacture. A product manufactured in Canada may qualify for duty-free treatment under CUSMA (Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement). A product manufactured in China and shipped through a Canadian prep centre to the US pays the applicable MFN duty rate.
Importer of Record (IOR). The IOR is the entity legally responsible for the import. If you are a Canadian company shipping to US FBA, you need either a US-based entity to act as IOR or a US customs broker willing to serve as IOR. Amazon does not act as IOR for FBA shipments.
De minimis threshold. US de minimis for duty-free entry is $800 per shipment. FBA inbound shipments almost always exceed this threshold, so de minimis does not apply. Full customs entry is required.
Section 321 and Type 86 entries. Some brokers use Section 321 entry types for lower-value commercial shipments. The rules around this are evolving and enforcement is tightening. Work with a customs broker who specializes in e-commerce imports to ensure your entry type is compliant.
Sales tax obligations. Selling on Amazon.com from Canadian inventory may create US state sales tax nexus. Amazon collects and remits marketplace facilitator tax in most states, but you may still have registration and filing obligations. Consult a cross-border tax advisor.
Your Canadian FBA prep centre should coordinate with your customs broker on HTS classifications, documentation requirements, and commercial invoice preparation. The prep centre generates the packing lists and commercial invoices. The broker handles the customs entry. The carrier handles the physical border crossing.
What Does FBA Prep Cost in Canada?
FBA prep pricing in Canada is typically charged per unit with additional fees for storage, receiving, and shipment creation. Here is the typical cost structure:
| Service | Typical Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Receiving and inspection | $25 - $50 per pallet or $0.15 - $0.30 per unit |
| FNSKU labeling | $0.15 - $0.30 per unit |
| Poly bagging | $0.25 - $0.50 per unit |
| Bubble wrapping | $0.50 - $1.00 per unit |
| Case packing | $2.00 - $5.00 per carton |
| Shipment plan creation | $5.00 - $15.00 per shipment |
| Storage (during prep) | $25 - $45 per pallet per month |
| Freight to FBA centre | Variable (by distance and mode) |
Total per-unit cost for a standard prep job (receive, label, poly bag, case pack) typically falls between $0.75 and $1.50 per unit for standard-size products. Oversize products, fragile items requiring bubble wrap, and products needing inspection or kitting run higher.
Compare these costs against Amazon’s own prep fees. Amazon charges $0.55 USD per unit for labeling and $0.70 to $1.60 USD per unit for other prep services. Using a Canadian prep centre is almost always cheaper than relying on Amazon to prep at the fulfillment centre, and it gives you quality control over the process.
How Do You Choose a Canadian FBA Prep Centre?
Not every warehouse that offers FBA prep actually does it well. Amazon’s requirements are specific and change frequently. A prep centre that worked six months ago may be using outdated label formats or non-compliant poly bags today.
Requirements to verify:
- Current knowledge of Amazon Seller Central prep requirements (updated regularly)
- Ability to print FNSKU labels from your Seller Central account
- Quality inspection processes (checking for damage, defects, missing components)
- Poly bag inventory in the correct mil thickness with suffocation warnings
- Experience with your product category (apparel has different prep than electronics)
- Shipment plan creation capability through Seller Central
- Carrier relationships for LTL shipments to Amazon FBA centres
- US customs documentation capability if shipping cross-border
Location matters. Choose a prep centre close to the Amazon fulfillment centres you ship to most frequently. For Amazon.ca, the major FBA facilities are in the Greater Toronto Area and Metro Vancouver. A prep centre in Toronto minimizes freight cost and transit time to GTA-based Amazon facilities. A prep centre in Vancouver serves the western Canadian Amazon centres.
For shipments to US Amazon FBA centres, a prep centre in southern Ontario offers the shortest cross-border transit to the cluster of Amazon facilities in the US Northeast and Midwest.
Integration matters. The best FBA prep centres integrate with your Seller Central account and your inventory management system. They receive shipments from your supplier, prep to your specifications, create FBA shipment plans in Seller Central, and ship directly to the assigned fulfillment centres. You monitor the process through a dashboard or WMS portal. You should not need to manually create shipment plans or generate labels yourself.
How Does Warehouse Bridge Support FBA Prep Operations?
Warehouse Bridge deploys 3PL fulfillment and e-commerce fulfillment operations that include FBA prep as part of a broader fulfillment strategy. For brands selling on Amazon alongside their own DTC channels, the ideal setup is a single warehouse that handles both FBA prep (shipping to Amazon) and direct fulfillment (shipping to end customers).
This eliminates the need for a separate prep centre and a separate fulfillment provider. One facility, one WMS, one inventory pool. The system allocates inventory between FBA replenishment and DTC orders based on your rules.
We deploy these combined operations across Toronto and Vancouver, with facility selection driven by your Amazon FBA centre assignments, your DTC customer distribution, and your supply chain origin. For brands importing from Asia, a Vancouver prep and fulfillment operation captures port proximity. For brands targeting the US Amazon marketplace, a southern Ontario location minimizes cross-border freight.
The prep requirements are Amazon’s. The execution is your 3PL’s. The orchestration is ours.