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Short answer: Amazon rejects or charges for inbound stock that is not prepared its way. Give your supplier a written prep sheet covering the unit barcode, polybag, set labelling, carton size and weight, and carton labels. Amazon changes these rules, so copy the current ones from Seller Central into your purchase order.
The prep sheet
| Item | What Amazon generally requires | What to tell the supplier |
|---|---|---|
| Unit barcode | One scannable barcode per sellable unit, either the manufacturer barcode or an Amazon FNSKU label | Send the label file. State size and position |
| Other barcodes | Covered, so only one scans | Cover or remove any others |
| Polybag | Sealed, transparent, with a suffocation warning on larger bags | Bag thickness, warning text and print size from Seller Central |
| Sets | Marked as a set so they are not separated | "Sold as set, do not separate" label |
| Carton weight | A maximum weight per carton, about 50 lb or 23 kg in the US | Pack cartons under the limit, with margin |
| Carton size | A maximum length on any side | Carton dimensions that comply |
| Carton labels | An FBA shipment label on each carton | You send the labels after creating the shipment |
| Carton contents | Same SKU and quantity per carton makes receiving simpler | Pieces per carton, no mixing unless agreed |
These are the usual headings. Limits differ by marketplace and change, so treat Seller Central as the source.
Towels: specific points
- Compression. Towels are bulky. Vacuum or compressed packing cuts storage and fulfilment fees, which are charged by size. Make sure the pack size you list is the size that arrives, and that the towel recovers after washing. See compressed packing.
- Size tier. A small change in folded dimensions can move a product into a cheaper fee tier. Decide the fold with the fee table open.
- Weight claims. If the listing says 600 GSM, buyers will weigh it. See product claims.
- Colour naming. Listing photos must match the goods. Approve a physical colour sample.
Compliance beyond Amazon's prep rules
| Market | Label basics for towels |
|---|---|
| USA | Fibre content, country of origin, and the identity of the business, on a label |
| UK and EU | Fibre content in the local language |
| All | Care instructions are expected |
Amazon may also ask for test reports or compliance documents for some categories. Children's products have much stricter rules, including hooded towels for babies.
Ship to Amazon direct, or to a prep centre
| Route | For | Against |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier ships direct to Amazon | Cheapest, fastest | Any prep mistake is rejected at the dock |
| Via a prep centre or your own warehouse | You inspect before Amazon does | Extra cost and time |
For a first shipment, a prep centre is cheap insurance. Once two shipments have gone through cleanly, go direct.
A first order plan
- Sample, wash test and photographs first.
- A 500-piece trial with FBA prep written into the order.
- Photos of a packed unit and a labelled carton before the goods ship.
- Wholesale volume, from 2,000 pieces per SKU, once the listing is selling.
Duty for US sellers
Indian towels pay about 9.6 percent MFN plus a 10 percent Section 301 duty in the US. Build that into your landed cost before you set a price. See the India vs China sum.
Our page for Amazon FBA towel sellers has more. To get a quote that includes FBA prep, send us your prep sheet.
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Written by
Dr Abin Babu
Founder & Chairman, Anabyn Global Ventures
Anabyn exports hotel and home linen from Kerala, India. These guides come from the questions buyers ask our desk. About the team
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