I glanced through the prior topics, but didn't see anything specific to Amazon FBA (Fullfillment By Amazon).  If there was and I missed it, I apologize.

 

I'm looking to sell some Lego sets using the Amazon FBA service and was wondering if anybody has had any experience good or bad selling through FBA.  My concerns are that I have to put an FBA label over the barcode on the box.  Not sure how a collector would feel about having to remove it and potentially damage the box. 

 

Also, a little concerned that the boxes that I send which are in mint condition, may not be received by the customer in mint condition, if you know what I mean.  Just checking to see what others have experienced.  

 

If anybody has any experience buying through an FBA seller, I would appreciate any comments on the buying side too.

 

Thanks!

Friendly reminder to all -  I checked today and realized that I never received a rather large black vehicular lego set which was marked as customer damaged and I had filed a return request for back in January.    Sent in a ticket and they responded telling me it was shipped 2 weeks ago and delivered to me, closed the ticket.

 

Luckily I had pictures taken when I received of the box, tracking # and contents (which included only a single friends advent).

 

Re-opened the ticket and sent the pics as attachments to show them the tracking # matched the one they claimed.

 

Got an immediate response.

 

 

 

 I looked into your case and found that this unit has not been returned to you in this shipment. Even the tracking shows the carrier weight as 0.90 Lbs which clearly states that the item has not returned and has been lost.  I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to you in this regard. Having said that, I have gone ahead and reimbursed you for same to your seller central account.

** Total value of the reimbursement is  247.75 USD.

 

So.. don't forget to check your stuff.  And it doesn't hurt to take pics of everything.

 

I was kinda looking forward to getting that back to keep as a build too.

 

Take pictures of everything, label, box, etc and submit a ticket in sellercentral complaining. Good chance they'll give you a few bucks back. They shipped me a friends advent back with a shipping label on the box to me but then put in a box by itself that was way too big. Beat to heck.

 

Yeah I got nowhere doing this as they stated the customer damaged the item so it doesn't matter how they ship it back to me. What a waste of time but now I know not to bother in the future. I posted pictures of the condition of the returned item in my galley if anyone's curious. The item was new when I shipped it to Amazon.

Yeah I got nowhere doing this as they stated the customer damaged the item so it doesn't matter how they ship it back to me. What a waste of time but now I know not to bother in the future. I posted pictures of the condition of the returned item in my galley if anyone's curious. The item was new when I shipped it to Amazon.

Re-open the case and ask to escalate to US Based FBA support. I just went through the exact same thing and got reimbursed.

Yeah I got nowhere doing this as they stated the customer damaged the item so it doesn't matter how they ship it back to me. What a waste of time but now I know not to bother in the future. I posted pictures of the condition of the returned item in my galley if anyone's curious. The item was new when I shipped it to Amazon.

 

Welcome to FBA selling...you definitely have to build in an extra margin for product damage.  The thing that annoys me most is when I send an item in that may have a slight defect that someone in receiving decides makes it unfulfillable and I receive back an item that is completely trashed.  I toured a fulfillment center a few weeks ago and asked specifically what criteria they use to determine when an incoming item is fulfillable or unfulfillable and the answer was basically that they make that determination based on whether the person receiving the item subjectively thinks about the condition of the item.

Anyone have advice about the best removable labels that won't damage Lego boxes for Amazon FBA barcodes?  I haven't purchased a label printer yet, but it seems like the Dymo 450 or 4XL might be the way to go.  Thanks.

Anyone have advice about the best removable labels that won't damage Lego boxes for Amazon FBA barcodes?  I haven't purchased a label printer yet, but it seems like the Dymo 450 or 4XL might be the way to go.  Thanks.

 

Never had a problem with generic 30334's for the dymo 450 off ebay.

Usually end up buying from houselabels but whoever is cheaper wins.  

Welcome to FBA selling...you definitely have to build in an extra margin for product damage.  The thing that annoys me most is when I send an item in that may have a slight defect that someone in receiving decides makes it unfulfillable and I receive back an item that is completely trashed.  I toured a fulfillment center a few weeks ago and asked specifically what criteria they use to determine when an incoming item is fulfillable or unfulfillable and the answer was basically that they make that determination based on whether the person receiving the item subjectively thinks about the condition of the item.

are you one of those they gave a tour too that they talked about in  their most recent newsletters 

Do you guys ship your packages using brand new (ULINE) boxes or reusable ones?  Is it safer to just buy a strong heavy duty boxy from ULINE instead of perhaps reusing one from Amazon, LEGO, or even Target?  I heard double lined is preferable for larger boxes.

Shipping to Amazon's warehouses I usually use 24 x 18 x 18 boxes from Home depot or Walmart.

I do re-use boxes from amazon or any other all the time- usually either larger boxes for oversized shipments or smaller stuff.

Just use my judgement and make sure the stuff is packed well and the boxes don't crumple.   

I've seen my ups guy pack all of it in the truck.. it needs to withstand a beating.

Shipping to Amazon's warehouses I usually use 24 x 18 x 18 boxes from Home depot or Walmart.

I do re-use boxes from amazon or any other all the time- usually either larger boxes for oversized shipments or smaller stuff.

Just use my judgement and make sure the stuff is packed well and the boxes don't crumple.   

I've seen my ups guy pack all of it in the truck.. it needs to withstand a beating.

 

Thanks. Do you pack the sets nice and tight to fit the most you can or use an excessive amount of air packets, sacrificing some space in the box but preserving their condition?  I'm almost ready to prepare my first shipment and I want to get it right.

Thanks. Do you pack the sets nice and tight to fit the most you can or use an excessive amount of air packets, sacrificing some space in the box but preserving their condition? I'm almost ready to prepare my first shipment and I want to get it right.

nice and tight . Cardboard on top

nice and tight . Cardboard on top

 

Good tip, I presume to add some additional strength/resistance on top?  Double-lined boxes necessary or is that overkill?

Good tip, I presume to add some additional strength/resistance on top? Double-lined boxes necessary or is that overkill?

I use the home depot Large and XL boxes

I use the home depot Large and XL boxes

Not much better advice for fba than this. These boxes are life changing:-)

Thanks for the near real time advice, guys.  I'll grab some of those.  I'm assuming sales aren't that great right now on Amazon/FBA, but can't wait forever to give it a try.

For oversize shipments, I generally use the Large boxes as they are taller. I have the sets positiined vertically and snuggly packed ( don't force). Might need to use some air bags , then cardboard and done. 100% success rate using this method .

Thanks for the near real time advice, guys. I'll grab some of those. I'm assuming sales aren't that great right now on Amazon/FBA, but can't wait forever to give it a try.

it is steady for me. Obviously u make most of your money between nov and jan but so far so good.

the large are 24 x 18 x 18.  for lego that'll fit all the small sets fine. 

wider sets need the xlarge.   I pack them tight - use paper to fill areas so they don't shift during shipping.

I don't excessively bubble wrap around things but it goes from Atlanta to Phoenix pretty often and I'd rather not have a tumbler wrecked enroute.

Thanks for the near real time advice, guys.  I'll grab some of those.  I'm assuming sales aren't that great right now on Amazon/FBA, but can't wait forever to give it a try.

 

All depends on your profit margin goals, cash burn and churn.   You can flip sets today for a $10 profit each, or hold on to them and flip them in 4thQ for a $40 profit each.

There's room in the market for different goals and strategies.  At the end of the day sometimes I scratch my head a bit as to why I'm flipping one set for a small profit happily while holding onto another stubbornly for a long term hoping to eeek out bigger $.     But that's part of the magic to it.

All depends on your profit margin goals, cash burn and churn.   You can flip sets today for a $10 profit each, or hold on to them and flip them in 4thQ for a $40 profit each.

There's room in the market for different goals and strategies.  At the end of the day sometimes I scratch my head a bit as to why I'm flipping one set for a small profit happily while holding onto another stubbornly for a long term hoping to eeek out bigger $.     But that's part of the magic to it.

 

I'm not a big seller, just trying to clear up some inventory where I have several duplicates.  Selling and shipping smaller sets one by one is kind of a pain. 

Not much better advice for fba than this. These boxes are life changing:-)

I will 3rd, 4th, or 5th this. Amazing boxes and very versatile. Also cheap.

Get a carton sizer and learn how to use it well.

are you one of those they gave a tour too that they talked about in  their most recent newsletters 

 

I doubt it.  This was something arranged through a personal contact.

What about box condition of the sets?  Does Amazon refuse sets if they show any sign of shelf wear?  Do they need to be 90-100% mint?  From your experience, what is acceptable to list as new?  If you have any doubt, do you play it safe and list it as Used - Like New even though it sealed?

 

Hoping the experts can also help out with this one.  This thread has been a very good resource.

What about box condition of the sets? Does Amazon refuse sets if they show any sign of shelf wear? Do they need to be 90-100% mint? From your experience, what is acceptable to list as new? If you have any doubt, do you play it safe and list it as Used - Like New even though it sealed?

Hoping the experts can also help out with this one. This thread has been a very good resource.

I only send in new . They have to be gift quality . Would it be something u would gift to a family member for Christmas for example .

They need not be mint , small creases and scratches are fine from my experience

Another hour, another question (I do appreciate the responses and advice, thank you).

 

I know the consensus is that you shouldn't sell large expensive sets via FBA because of the risk of Amazon handlers damaging the sets upon arrival and when packing/shipping.  Other sellers don't recommend selling large, expensive items on Amazon (FBA or not) due to the buyer friendly return policies (ex: one lost claim on a SSD can set you back BIG $).

 

Has anyone considered doing the following though:

• Pack a large exclusive carefully in a shipping box with bubble packs, etc.
• Affix a picture of the set on the outside of this box.
• Affix your FBA label on the outside of this box.
• Pack this box inside another box for shipping
• Ship to Amazon FBA
• Amazon inventories the inner box (with the set and picture on the outside)

I read somewhere that you can do this on Amazon FBA but I'm not sure if its still allowed or if there were restrictions on what types of items you can do this with. Has anyone ever considered this or tried it?