What Is An Amazon Fulfillment Center?

You've probably heard of Amazon fulfillment centers if you're in the eCommerce business. But what are they exactly, and how do they work?

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What Is An Amazon Fulfillment Center?

Amazon fulfillment centers are large warehouses where Amazon stores the inventory for their eCommerce business. When an order is placed on Amazon, the stock is pulled from the fulfillment center and shipped to the customer. Amazon fulfillment centers are also known as Amazon distribution centers.

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Amazon uses these facilities to store products until they are sold. When a product is sold, it is shipped from the fulfillment center to the customer. Amazon operates several hundred fulfillment centers around the world.

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Amazon US Fulfillment Center Locations

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How Do Amazon Fulfillment Centers Work?

Amazon fulfillment centers are the heart of the company's eCommerce operations. These vast warehouses play a crucial role in Amazon's strategy by housing inventory from third-party sellers and fulfilling customer orders. The company operates more than 175 fulfillment centers around the world, and each one is designed to maximize efficiency.

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1.Receive Inventory from Third Party Sellers

Amazon fulfillment centers receive inventory from third-party sellers who use the Amazon marketplace to sell their products. The stock is stored in the fulfillment center until it is sold. When a customer orders a product, it is pulled from the shelves and shipped to them.

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2. Fulfill Orders from Customers

Amazon fulfillment centers also fulfill orders from customers who purchase products directly from Amazon.com. Orders are received electronically and picked, packed, and shipped by workers in the fulfillment center.

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3. Ship Products to Customers

Once an order is fulfilled, the products are sent to the customer via one of Amazon's shipping partners. Products are typically delivered within 1-2 days to customers in the United States.

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What Are The Benefits Of Using Amazon Fulfillment Center?

Fast shipping times

Amazon's fulfillment centers are designed for efficiency. This means that orders are typically fulfilled and shipped quickly. Amazon has distribution centers across the globe, so there is usually a center near the customer. This allows for fast shipping times. Amazon also has a fulfillment program called Amazon FBA.

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This program allows businesses to store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers. This will enable companies to take advantage of Amazon's fast shipping times. Consequently, customers can receive their orders quickly.- Low prices: Because Amazon fulfillment centers are so efficient, they can offer low prices on their products. This is one of the reasons why Amazon is such a popular eCommerce platform.

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Wide selection

Amazon fulfillment centers are inventory warehouses that Amazon uses to store products from third-party sellers as well as Amazon's inventory. It means that customers have a wide selection of products when shopping on Amazon.

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The Amazon distribution center is a type of amazon fulfillment center used to store and distribute products to Amazon customers. An amazon fba business is a type of business that uses Amazon's fulfillment services to store and ship products to Amazon customers. By using Amazon's fulfillment services, companies can save time and money on shipping and handling costs.

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Convenience

Amazon fulfillment centers are designed to make it easy and convenient for customers to receive their orders. Customers can track their orders online and receive updates on the status of their shipments. Amazon distribution centers are located strategically across the country, making it easy for customers to get their orders quickly and efficiently.

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Amazon FBA businesses also can use Amazon Prime, which provides free two-day shipping for eligible products. As a result, Amazon fulfillment centers offer a variety of benefits that make it easy and convenient for customers to receive their orders.

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What Are The Costs Of Using Amazon Fulfillment Center?

Amazon fulfillment center fees are determined by the size and weight of the products being stored and shipped.

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Standard Size Products

Are those that weigh less than 20 pounds or have dimensions smaller than 18x14x8 inches. The fulfillment fees for standard-size products can vary anywhere from $2.41 for products that weigh under 1 pound to more than $4.71 if it is over 2 pounds. Anything over 2 pounds is charged an additional $0.38 per pound over the first 2 pounds.

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Oversize Products

Some oversized items cost more to ship than others due to weight or dimensions. For instance, an oversize item that weighs less than 70 lbs. But it has dimensions over 60 inches on the longest measured side and will cost $8.13 to ship, plus a $.38/lb fee for every pound over the first 2 lbs.

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Similarly, an oversize item weighs more than 150 lbs. And dimensions over 108 inches on the longest measured side will cost $137.32 to ship, plus a $0.91/lb fee for every pound over the first 90 lbs.

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Additional Fees

Amazon fulfillment center fees are additional fees applied to products sold through the Amazon Fulfillment program. The fee is $0.40 per item and is used for products that Amazon Distribution Centers sell. This fee is in addition to the standard Amazon FBA business fees, and it is applied to all apparel items sold through the program. The fee is used to cover the cost of packaging and shipping the items, and it is also used to cover the cost of storage and customer service.

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The cost of using Amazon fulfillment centers varies depending on the type of service you use:

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Storing

Amazon has various fees associated with storing inventory in its fulfillment centers. The short-term monthly storage fee can vary from $0.48-$2.40 per cubic foot, and the mid-term storage fee (from 181-365 days) is charged at a rate of $3.45 per cubic foot. Anything that Amazon stores longer than one year will cost the seller $6.90 per cubic foot.

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Picking

Picking is selecting the products that a customer has ordered from the shelves in the fulfillment center. The cost of selection is $0.69 per unit.

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Packing

Packing is the process of packaging the products that a customer has ordered. The cost of packing is $0.48 per unit.

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Shipping

Shipping costs vary depending on the shipping method you select and the shipment's destination.

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Things To Consider When Choosing A Fulfillment Center

The cost of using a fulfillment center is essential when choosing a fulfillment center for your business. However, there are a variety of other factors to consider as well.

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1. Location: The fulfillment center's location can impact the shipping cost, and the time it takes for customers to receive their orders.

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2. Services: The services offered by the fulfillment center can impact the cost of using the center. For example, some centers provide storage and shipping services, while others only offer shipping services.

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3. Capacity: The capacity of the fulfillment center can impact the cost of using the center. The larger the ability of the center, the lower the price per unit of storage.

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4. Experience: The experience of the fulfillment center can impact the cost of using the center. The more experienced the staff, the lower the price of errors and mistakes.

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5. Reputation: The reputation of the fulfillment center can impact the cost of using the center. The more reputable the center, the lower the customer service price and returns.

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How To Find The Best Fulfillment Center For Your Business

There are a few things you can do to find the best fulfillment center for your business:

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1. Research: Research different fulfillment centers and compare their services, prices, and locations.

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2. Read reviews: Read reviews of different fulfillment centers to get an idea of their reputation and quality of service.

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3. Ask for recommendations: Ask other businesses in your industry for recommendations of fulfillment centers they use.

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4. Compare costs: Compare the cost of using different fulfillment centers to find the most affordable option for your business.

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Conclusion

Amazon fulfillment centers are a vital part of the eCommerce process. By understanding how they work, you can take advantage of their many benefits and find the best one for your business. Simpl Fulfillment is here to help you with your fulfillment needs, so don't hesitate to get in touch today.

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What Is An Amazon Fulfillment Center?