Essential Shipping Supplies for Amazon FBA Sellers

Part 4

This is the fourth part in my ongoing Amazon FBA Seller series. If you missed them, here are the first three  articles:

1. Follow Along as I Become an Amazon FBA Seller
2. Getting Started With Amazon FBA
3. Two Essential Tools for Amazon FBA Sellers

To sell on Amazon, you need to find, or source, items to sell. Then you need to obtain them and prepare them before you put them into a box to ship to an Amazon Fulfillment Center (FC). While it might be tempting to jump right into sourcing products, the inbound (to Amazon) shipping step is critical to your success. High-potential inventory does you no good if it's sitting in your garage, living room, or warehouse because you do not have the correct supplies to prep and ship them out. That's why I researched shipping materials and got them ordered before I sourced my first products.

Here is my initial list of equipment and supplies for general-purpose Amazon FBA selling (see below to see which specific products I bought):

Equipment

• Label printer
• Shipping scale
• Tape dispenser
• Box cutter
• Tape measure
• Permanent marker (Sharpie)
• Carton sizer tool (optional)

Disposable Supplies

• Boxes for shipping to Amazon
• Packing tape
• Packing material (stuffing)
• Bubble wrap
• Poly bags
• FNSKU labels
• Shipping labels
• "Sold as Set" stickers
• Rubber bands
• Opaque tape

Equipment

There are two indispensable pieces of hardware that you are going to need if you are going to be serious about being an Amazon FBA reseller. The first is a scale to weigh your inbound packages and the second is a dedicated label printer. 

Label Printer

You don't need to start out with a dedicated thermal label printer, but I chose to do so because I'm committed to this business and it will be much more efficient and cost-effective in the long run. You can use your existing laser printer with sheets of "30 Up" labels ($37.99 for 500 sheets). Each sheet has 30 1x2 5/8" labels which are suitable for printing the "fnsku" labels that Amazon requires on individual items (more on this in next week's article on prepping and shipping). The problem with these is if you have only eight products to label, you have to burn a whole sheet of 30, or else mess around with formatting on partially-used sheets. You have the same issue with printing shipping labels that go on your inbound packages to the Amazon FC.

I am fortunate in that I have the ability to spend a little bit on equipment from the outset, so I bought a dedicated Rollo Label Printer. This thermal printer is fast and does not use ink or ink cartridges so you don't have an ongoing expense aside from labels. It also self-adjusts to the label size so you can easily switch from fnsku labels to shipping labels. 

Rollo has two options:

• Rollo Wireless Printer – (currently $279.99)
• Rollo USB Printer – (currently $179.99)

The wireless printer is a new addition and frees you up from being tied to your laptop or computer with a cable. That can be a great help if you are working out of your kitchen or garage since you can put the printer in your packing workspace without having to also find room for your computer. I bought the wireless printer and will have a more extensive review of it once I've set up my shipping process and have had a chance to use it a few times. 

You can find the Rollo USB printer on Amazon, but it actually cost more ($199) than on Rollo's site when I looked, and Rollo included a $20 box of 500 shipping labels for free. You can use any compatible labels in the Rollo printer, unlike some other choices which only work with their own (expensive) labels. Their labels are competitive, so I'll stick with them as I move forward.

• 4x6" Stack Labels – $19.99 for 500
• 4x6" Rolled Labels – These are the same shipping labels as above but on a roll rather than in a stack. $19.99 for 500.
• 2x1" Barcode Labels – Use these to print your individual fnsku labels. $9.99 for 1000.
• Label Holder – If you have space behind your printer, you can get their label holder which holds both stacked and rolled labels. $19.99

Shipping Scale

There are a lot of shipping scales available on Amazon. Since I was ordering a printer from Rollo, I went ahead and ordered their Rollo Shipping Scale as well. It's cost competitive and I figured they would have good support, unlike a generic private label scale that I might find on Amazon. Make sure your scale can measure at least 50 pounds. The Rollo scale has both tare and hold functions which will be useful. You can use the Hold button to freeze the displayed weight after you remove your package so you don't have to remember the total when you go to enter it on Seller Central. $39.99

Tape Dispenser

Hopefully you are going to be packing and shipping a lot of boxes to Amazon. Get yourself a sturdy, safe and reliable tape dispenser to . I like this heavy-duty dispenser by Tendo, but you there are a lot of options to choose from if you don't want to spend as much.

• Tendo Heavy Duty Shipping Tape Dispenser – $19.99
• Heavy Duty Packing Tape Gun 2-Pack – 16.98 for two

Box Cutter

A box cutter is another essential piece of equipment. You will use them to open incoming inventory, to break down and recycle your old boxes, and to re-open outbound packages in which you inevitably forgot to include one of your items. Look for a box cutter that is ergonomic, sturdy, and safe with a retractable blade. You will be using it a lot.

• Geaber Box Cutter 4-Pack – I love the handles on these, as they fit snugly in your hand and they don't slip. They also fold up to fit easily into your pocket. $11.99 for four utility knives and 10 extra blades.
• Heavy Duty Box Cutter 4-pack – If you prefer the more traditional look and feel, these should work fine for you. $12.99 for four utility knives and 10 extra blades.

Tape Measure

Inbound packages to Amazon need to meet their requirements, including:

• No side greater than 25"
• Less than 50 pounds

You might know the dimensions of your boxes if you buy them new, but if you forage for boxes or re-use boxes from received inventory, then you'll want a tape measure nearby sot hat you can enter the proper dimensions in the Ship To Amazon workflow. If you don't have on hand already, you can pick one up at a hardware store like Home Depot or from Amazon.

• Komelon SL2825 Self Lock 25-Foot Power Tape – Over 13k reviews with 5 stars, so this is the one I would get if I didn't already have one in my toolbox. $9.73 for a 25' tape measure

Permanent Markers

When you're packing up a multi-box shipment, you'll want to keep track of what is in each box, the box number, and so on. I like to use colored (non-black) Sharpies so I can see my notations easily and immediately.

• Sharpie Permanent Markers, Brush Tip, Assorted  – 20.58 for 12

Carton Sizer Tool

You use a carton sizer tool to cut a too-large box down to just the right size for its contents. Your shipping costs are a function of both weight and dimensions. A large 40 pound box will cost you more to ship than will a small 40 pound box. 

If you don't have the right size box though, then you use whatever you have on hand. Rather than stuffing the box with void material, it might make more sense to cut the box down to a more appropriate size. To be honest, I'm torn on this tool. I don't have one, but I can see how it could be useful. The tool can save you a few dollars on each shipment, and will soon pay for itself. 

So, this tool might make sense for new sellers. I'll consider buying one going forward. Once you scale up and are sending in multiple shipments a week you will likely have a stock of boxes in various sizes and won't need it anymore.

• Carton Sizer Tool – This is the only one I've found that has a lockable sizer so that your cuts are exactly parallel to the top of the box. All the others I found from a Google search required you to freehand the scoring which is sure to lead to crooked folds. Click the link to go to the Associated Bag page. They have a video that shows you how easy it is to use. $26.75

Disposable Supplies Choices

Disposable supplies are those that you use one time in your shipping process. Essentially, they are the supplies that get thrown away when the box is opened and unpacked at the FC. Don't spend any more money on these items than you have to, but make sure they meet Amazon's standards. You don't want to have items rejected in the FC because they were damaged in transit.

Most of these things are self-explanatory, and in fact you might already have some around the house. However, there are a couple that bear discussion.

Boxes

Your inbound cartons are one area where you can save money. You do not need to buy or use brand new boxes. You can use any carton that meets Amazon's size requirements and that will safely protect your shipment from damage. Following are some ways to get boxes for your inbound shipments.

Used Boxes

Boxes that have been broken down already can be reconstituted with packing tape.

• Re-use boxes from your received inventory shipments or personal items 
• Ask at your local retailer if you can have their empty boxes. You might talk to the manager and arrange for suitable boxes to be set aside for you before they are recycled. This works best if you are making their lives easier, not more difficult.
• Ask for old boxes on your local Nextdoor or Facebook group. Join your local Facebook "buy nothing" group, as the members tend to be environmentally conscious and fans of re-purposing items rather than throwing them out.
• Scrounge recycling Dumpsters for clean boxes. (I pretty much only do this in our own building's Dumpsters; make sure you get permission, before entering private property.) 

True story: after working on this article today, I took the dog out for her walk and this is what I saw just around the corner:

They are now in my hallway and I'm set for my first shipment next week! Too funny...

New Boxes

You can buy new boxes from:

• Hardware stores (Home Depot, Lowes)
• Box stores (yes, those exist)
• Self-storage locations
• Moving truck rental locations
• Amazon
• Walmart

Initially, I am going to use re-purposed boxes as much as possible. If you need new boxes, I recommend that you go to your local Home Depot and buy the size box that you need for your current shipment. You don't want to sink a bunch of money into boxes of various sizes that  just sit on your shelf until you need one of that size. In addition, you want to use the smallest box that safely fits your merchandise. The larger your box, the more you will pay for shipping, given equivalent weight. 

Finally, Home Depot or Walmart are likely to be cheaper per box than even Amazon, although prices fluctuate frequently.

After a while, you will get an idea of the common box sizes that you are using. Then, when you begin to scale up, you can buy in bulk for better pricing. 

Size and Weight Limits

Amazon has size and weight limits for inbound FBA shipments:

• No more than 25" on any side
• No more than 50 pounds

Make sure any box you purchase is rated for at least 50 lbs. I would aim for 75 lbs or higher.

My Choices

Here are some links to items I bought, or which I have seen recommended:

Packing Tape

• Scotch Heavy Duty Shipping Packaging Tape¹ – Costs a bit more than generic brands, but I feel like I really don't want my boxes to come open in transit. $29 for 436 yards (8 rolls).
• Scott Heavy Duty Packaging Tape – Guaranteed to stay sealed, or so they say. $25 for 328 yards.
• Amazon Basics Packaging Tape for Shipping – If I were to choose a generic brand to save a little bit of money, I would probably go with Amazon's brand. It costs about half (per foot) of Scotch brand tape. $19.36 for 655 yards.

Box Cutters

I already had a couple at home so I didn't have to buy a new one. You will eventually be opening a lot of boxes so I recommend a box cutter with a good grip and a retractable blade. I would order this Geaber Box Cutter 4-pack. $12 for four.

Packing Material

You need material to fill the void spaces in your box so that your items don't shift or slide around. Most people can't afford an air-cushion machine so here are some alternatives:

•  Save received material from personal and inventory shipments for re-use.
• Save paper bags from grocery shopping. Loosely wrinkle them up into a ball shape.
• Void fill paper – The pillow shape helps absorb shocks. $47 for 1660'. 
• Craft Paper – Like with paper bags, you can form the paper into balls to fill your void space. $14 for 1200'.

I have a bunch of paper grocery bags from home delivery that I've been saving, so I'll use those up and then I'll order a roll of craft paper. You can also sometimes get craft paper at party supply stores like Party City, and at crafting stores like Michael's.

Bubble Wrap

You need bubble wrap, or bubble wrap pouches for fragile items that might break in transit. I plan to wrap all glass bottles in bubble wrap. Here is are some options from Amazon:

• 2-Pack Bubble Chshioning Wrap Rolls – Two 72' rolls with perforations every 12 inches which makes it easy to tear off the amount you need. It also comes with some Fragile stickers, which are probably useless, but you can try, right? This is what I ordered this week, just to have some around. $17.90 for 144'.
• Amazon Basics Perforated Bubble Cushioning Wrap – Amazon Basics version. $21.99 for a single 175' roll. 
• 4x6 Bubble Pouches – Useful for small items and at only $.09/pouch, it might be more cost effective or efficient than using bubble wrap and tape. $17.49 for 200.
  • 4x7.8" – $18.49 for 200 ($.09 ea)
  • 6x8" – $15.99 for 100 ($.16 ea)
  • 6x10" – $16.49 for 100 ($.16 ea)

These are just examples. I looked for items with 4-5 stars and hundreds of reviews. As with other supplies, you might be able to find it elsewhere for less than Amazon. For me, with the small quantity I need initially, it's worth the convenience. When I scale, I'll look at alternatives for better cost and efficiency.

Poly Bags

Poly bags are self-sealing, clear, plastic bags that serve two purposes:

1. Protect against leakage and damage to the rest of your shipment if a product breaks.
2. Used to bundle multiple items together into sets.

Amazon requires that poly bags be clear (see-through) and that each bag has a suffocation warning on the bag. You can either buy bags with an imprinted warning, or you can buy stickers separately and put them on during prep. I want to be as efficient as possible, so I looked for self-sealing poly bags that have an imprinted label. Since I have no idea what products I'll find, I ordered combo packs that have a variety of sizes.

• Small Poly Bag Combo Pack – 100 each of 4x6",, 5x7", 6x9", and 8x10". $22.89 for 400.
• Medium Poly Bag Combo Pack – 100 each of 6x19", 8x10", 9x12", 11x14". $25.89 for 400.
• Large Poly Bag Combo Pack – 100 each of 9x12", and 11x14", 14x20". $34.89 for 300.
• X-Large Poly Bag Combo Pack – 100 each of 16x22", 20x24", and 24x28". $38.69 for 300.

I ordered only the small and medium for now. Note that there's some overlap in the sizes.

Miscellaneous Items

In addition to the above, you might also need the following items:

• Sold As Set Stickers – Use these on the outside of your poly bags when you create bundles to ensure that Amazon FC employees don't open your bags and check in the contents as individual products. $9.62 for 1000 stickers.
• #33 Rubber Bands – Use these to secure product boxes such as shoes that might open in transit. $16.99 for 600.
• No-Residue Masking Tape – Use opaque tape to cover up individual UPC symbols on products when you create sets. This tape won't leave a residue on the product. Use scissors to make a clean cut so it looks professional when your customer receives the product. $9.91 for two 60 yard rolls.

Sales Taxes on Materials

If you have a reseller certificate from your state, can you buy your shipping supplies tax-free? From my understanding, the answer is mostly no, but with some exceptions. If the item is included with the product, then it is considered part of what you are selling and you do not have to pay sales tax on the item. So poly bags, Sold as Set stickers, and rubber ands would count, but shipping boxes and void material would not. Bubble wrap that you wrap individual products in would count, but if you use bubble wrap as void material, then you would have to pay sales tax on it. 

Note that I am not a tax advisor or CPA. Consult your own tax advisor before you use buy any supplies tax-free. When in doubt, just pay the sales or use tax as it's not worth risking your entire business over a couple of dollars in savings.

My Total Cost

Aside from software subscriptions (which I haven't actually had to pay for yet because I'm still in the free trial period), these supplies are my first actual startup business expenses. All told, I've spent $439.40 for equipment and supplies. You can probably spend a similar amount, given the following:

• I bought the more-expensive wireless printer. I could have saved $100 by getting the USB printer. 
• I had some items like packing tape, tape dispenser and box cutters on hand already. I will have to replace or replenish those at some point, but I'm re-using everything I can to save money initially. If you don't have these extra items, you'll probably need to spend about $100 more than I did, but if you buy the USB printer, it's a wash.

Final Thoughts and Next Up

Here is a page in Seller Central that explains Amazon's packaging requirements. Always refer to SC for up-to-date requirements.

This items in this article are likely not exhaustive, since I'm learning as I go and sharing what I learn with you. If you can think of anything I've forgotten, let me and other readers know in the comments. 

Next week: I have already sourced a few products and bought 4-6 units of each, so next up is to figure out how to get those packaged up and sent in to Amazon.

Stay tuned, and follow me on Twitter (@garlick) to never miss an article drop.

¹ The affiliate links in this article support my writing and I thank you in advance for using them.