A Major Shift for Amazon Sellers
On January 1, 2026, Amazon stopped providing FBA prep and item labeling services in the US marketplace. Brands and sellers are now fully responsible for making sure every unit is prepped, labeled, and compliant before it reaches an Amazon fulfillment center.
For sellers who relied on Amazon to finish their prep, the work and the cost moved back to their side of the dock. Brands whose 3PL already handled their prep did not have to change anything.
What Changed on January 1, 2026
Amazon's own developer changelog sets out the scope: prep and item labeling services for FBA shipments are no longer available in the US, and the change applies to all inventory sent to US FBA, whether you ship it to Amazon directly or it arrives through Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD), Amazon Global Logistics, Amazon SEND or Supply Chain Portal.
| SERVICE | BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2026 | SINCE JANUARY 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Prep (poly bagging, bubble wrap, taping) | Amazon could prep eligible units for a per-unit fee | The seller or a prep provider preps every unit before it ships |
| FNSKU item labels | Amazon's label service could apply them for a fee | Units must arrive already labeled |
| Prep and label owner on a shipment | Amazon could be named as the owner | Amazon can no longer be named, so the seller owns both |
| AWD, Amazon Global Logistics, SEND and Supply Chain Portal inventory | Amazon prep and labeling could be added | Covered by the same change: no Amazon prep or labeling on the way into FBA |
What This Means for Amazon Sellers
Before the change, many brands relied on Amazon's in-house services for labeling, poly bagging, bubble wrap and taping. With those services gone:
The impact:
Units that arrive without the required prep or labels can be refused or delayed at the fulfillment center
Every seller needs its own prep process, in house or through a provider
Prep labor and materials are now a line in your landed cost instead of an Amazon fee
Amazon can no longer be named as the prep or label owner, so the responsibility sits with the seller
Why 3PLs Are the Key to Staying Ahead
An established 3PL like Asfar Distribution bridges the gap left by Amazon's change:
Professional FBA prep services:
Applying Amazon-approved FNSKU labels
Shrink-wrapping and poly bagging individual units
Bundling multi-packs exactly to spec
Rigorous compliance audits on each shipment to prevent delistings or chargebacks
Fast turnaround times:
Dedicated inbound docks and streamlined WMS
Turn pallets into live ASIN-ready stock in as little as 24 to 48 hours
Stay in stock during peak seasons and avoid "out of stock" ranking drops
Storage and inventory management:
Real-time inventory tracking and perpetual cycle counts
FIFO staging zones designed around Amazon's FC transfer requirements
Avoid overshipment fees or stranded inventory
Experience with Amazon's strict guidelines:
We live and breathe Amazon's loading, carton-packing, and labeling standards
Your inbound shipments pass inspection the first time
Avoid costly rejections, delays, and additional fees
How Sellers Prep FBA Inventory Now
With Amazon out of prep, sellers run one of three setups:
In house. Works at low volume if you have the space, the labels, the poly bags and someone who keeps up with the current FBA prep requirements. The cost is your own labor, and the risk is that it breaks at Q4 volume.
A dedicated prep center. Built for Amazon-only sellers: receive, prep, label and ship to the fulfillment centers. Check minimums and Q4 turnaround before you commit.
A 3PL that runs FBA prep and your other channels. The same building preps your FBA shipments and ships Shopify, Walmart and wholesale orders from one inventory pool, so replenishing Amazon never means moving stock between providers. That is how we run FBA prep in Houston, and our Houston FBA prep options comparison sets all three side by side.
What prep costs now. Our published rates are FNSKU labeling from $0.50 per unit, polybagging from $0.50, inspection from $0.15 and bundles from $1.50, with a 24 to 48 hour turnaround. The FBA prep cost guide prices out a full shipment.
The Cost of Getting Prep Wrong
Sellers still prepping ad hoc face real consequences:
Financial risks:
Rejected shipments mean wasted shipping costs
Non-compliant products may be disposed of by Amazon
Lost sales from out-of-stock periods while resolving prep issues
Potential account health warnings or suspensions
Lock In Your Prep Before Q4
Q4 is when ad hoc prep breaks: inbound volume peaks, and a refused or delayed shipment costs selling days you do not get back. At Asfar Distribution, we handle FBA prep for brands of all sizes, from sellers shipping a few hundred units to those moving thousands of units per week.
Our Houston facility is Amazon-ready, and our team knows exactly what Amazon requires for every product category. Let us handle your prep so you can focus on selling.
Looking for a reliable FBA prep partner? Asfar Distribution in Houston, TX handles all your Amazon prep needs: inspection, labeling, polybagging, and shipping directly to Amazon FCs. Request a quote today.