Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) is a service that stores inventory and fulfills orders for both Amazon and non-Amazon websites using Amazon's fulfillment network. Companies store inventory at Amazon warehouses, and Amazon picks, packs and ships orders when customers purchase products through external websites.
With MCF, Amazon handles fulfillment of orders from channels outside of Amazon.com, such as a merchant's own online store. Inventory is stored in Amazon FCs and delivered using Amazon's shipping services when an order comes through a non-Amazon sales channel.
Key benefits include access to Amazon's fulfillment infrastructure, powerful inventory management capabilities, fast shipping options, and not having to operate your own fulfillment centers.
Some limitations are restricted product categories like toys, video games, etc. Also orders are delivered in Amazon branded packaging instead of the seller's own branding.
Fees consist of monthly storage fees based on inventory volume stored at Amazon FCs, as well as per order fulfillment fees based on order weight, dimensions etc. There are no Amazon referral fees.
Yes, you can use MCF even if you only sell on other channels like your own online store and do not sell on the Amazon marketplace.
MCF makes sense for merchants already using FBA who want to grow sales into other channels. For Amazon.com orders, FBA may still be preferable in many cases.
