Amazon's European FBA Warehouse Shipping Strategy Guide

Are you an Amazon seller who wants to expand your business to the whole of Europe? Have you ever been overwhelmed by various problems with FBA warehouse shipping? Have you ever been troubled by delays caused by incorrect labeling or costs caused by improper logistics selection?

Labeling and packaging requirements for European FBA warehouses

Label requirements

FBA label: At least one FBA barcode label must be affixed to the outer box of each box of goods so that Amazon staff can scan and enter the warehouse smoothly. It is best to cover the label sticker with transparent tape to prevent it from falling off or being damaged.

Product label: The product itself needs to be affixed with a "small label" containing information such as FNSKU code, barcode, MADE IN CHINA logo, etc. The barcode must be clearly visible to ensure that the product can be accurately stored.

Special label: For fragile items, a fragile label needs to be affixed; for goods that exceed a certain weight standard, a "Team Lift" or "Mech Lift" label needs to be affixed to prompt staff to carry multiple people or mechanically.

Packaging requirements

Outer box specifications: The outer box must be strong and regular to prevent damage to the goods. Different sites have specific requirements for carton size. For example, any side of the carton in the US site must not exceed 63.5cm, and the Japanese site must not exceed 50cmx60cmx50cm. Boxes that exceed the size requirements must be placed on specific pallets.

Packaging materials: It is prohibited to use materials such as packing tape and nylon fiber tape that may affect warehouse operations.

Have you chosen the right FBA first-leg logistics?

Faced with multiple modes of transportation such as air, sea, rail and truck, do you feel at a loss? Each mode has its own unique advantages and limitations. How to make the best choice based on your product characteristics, timeliness requirements and budget constraints?

Amazon European FBA warehouse first-leg logistics selection

Transportation mode: There are four types of transportation modes for the first leg of European FBA, including air freight, sea freight, rail freight and China-Europe truck. Sellers need to choose the most suitable transportation mode according to their own needs.

Air freight line: fast timeliness and good stability, suitable for sellers with high requirements for logistics timeliness.

Sea freight: the lowest cost, but slower delivery time, suitable for sellers who are cost-sensitive and have low time requirements.

Rail freight: the transportation cost is lower than air freight but higher than sea freight, and the delivery time and stability are between the two.

China-Europe Cargo Airlines: fast delivery time and low rates, becoming an important logistics configuration for many sellers to replenish stocks during the peak season.

Freight forwarder selection: when choosing an FBA freight forwarder, you need to pay attention to the reliability, professionalism, logistics demand satisfaction, reputation, after-sales service, and corporate strength of the freight forwarder.

ChinaDivision, as your cross-border logistics expert, will tailor the best transportation plan according to your specific needs. We have in-depth cooperation with many well-known freight forwarders to ensure that your goods can arrive at the European FBA warehouse in the most appropriate way, at the fastest speed, and at the lowest cost.

European FBA warehouse cargo declaration and taxation

For goods declared below 135 pounds, express delivery (such as DHL, UPS, FedEx) is usually selected to the European FBA warehouse. Since Amazon is not the consignee, a prepaid tariff service (DDP) is required when shipping.

Under normal circumstances, the local value-added tax (VAT) number is required for customs clearance of goods. However, many sellers do not have local VAT numbers, so shippers are generally not required to provide personal VAT numbers.

Please note that the after-sales VAT generated by the later sales of goods on the Amazon platform cannot be taxed. Therefore, it is recommended to declare according to the normal selling price to avoid punitive tariffs imposed by customs revaluation.

Import duties and VAT numbers for high-value goods

For goods declared above 135 pounds, import duties (Duty) will be incurred. If the seller does not provide a local tax number for customs clearance, the risk is greater, especially for goods shipped to the German FBA warehouse.

It is recommended that sellers operate legally in the local area and provide a usable VAT number.

FBA warehouse appointment delivery and logistics selection

Amazon FBA warehouses require appointment delivery. Logistics suppliers are usually not designated by Amazon, but UPS has an independent operating area in Amazon FBA warehouses.

The first-leg logistics mainly choose UPS, DHL or dedicated logistics. At the same time, Amazon FBA warehouses have different operating models, including self-built warehouses, rented warehouses, and warehouses outsourced to third parties.

Goods packaging and standard requirements

Amazon's FBA warehouses in each country have detailed requirements for goods packaging and transportation. Before delivering goods, please learn in detail the requirements of the warehouse to which you are delivering to avoid rejection or return.

How to solve the problem of warehouse division?

Inventory management: Release Amazon logistics products with the same SKU in countries such as Germany, France, Italy or Spain, and deliver the inventory to the corresponding Amazon operation center. This helps avoid additional logistics costs.

Do I need to register for local VAT?

Normally, you do not need to provide a local personal VAT number. However, you need to ensure that you comply with the VAT regulations of each country.

Common problems and solutions for Amazon logistics delivery in Europe

Sent to the wrong warehouse: If the goods are still in the freight forwarder warehouse, you can ask the freight forwarder to make changes; if the goods are already on the way, you need to contact the freight forwarder to communicate with the carrier to intercept and change the address.

Lost or damaged goods: If the goods are lost or damaged due to Amazon, you can contact Seller Support to apply for investigation and claim.

Wrong labeling: If the goods have not been shipped, you can ask the freight forwarder to relabel; if they have been shipped, it is recommended to change the address to the overseas warehouse to relabel before sending them to the Amazon warehouse.

Let ChinaDivision be your European market accelerator

Now, you have seen your pain points and understood the professional solutions that ChinaDivision can provide for you. It's time to take action. Let's work together to start a successful journey in the Amazon European market!

At ChinaDivision, we provide one-stop label printing and packaging services to ensure that your goods meet Amazon's strict requirements from the inside out. Whether it is the precise printing of FBA barcode labels, the standardized pasting of product labels, or even the intimate reminders of special labels, we will handle them for you one by one, so that your goods can be stored without worries.

If you have any questions or needs about Amazon's European FBA warehouse shipments, please feel free to contact us. ChinaDivision will help you easily master every challenge of cross-border e-commerce with professional order fulfillment services!