Ways to Get Feedback for Your Amazon Seller Business (2024)

One exciting advantage of selling through FBA is Amazon’s huge fulfillment network. But this can mean your inventory gets moved around in Amazon fulfillment center transfers (aka FC transfers) to meet changing customer demands.

Even as a seasoned seller, you may initially find these mysterious! There’s nothing to worry though. FC transfers are just Amazon optimizing storage and delivery by relocating your products closer to buyers.

In this guide, we’ll break down some simple tips for navigating the FC transfer process smoothly. With the proper preparation, you’ll confidently handle FC transfers and continue succeeding as an Amazon FBA seller.

Here are the key things you should know about managing FC transfers:

1. Monitor your inventory reports to track units in transfer and avoid stockouts.
2. Keep enough safety stock to account for units temporarily unavailable during transfers.
3. List units as available for sale even while in transfer to minimize disruption.
4. Follow up on lengthy transfers and open support tickets for missing inventory.
5. Avoid overstocking and storage fees by shipping more inventory only when needed.
6. Use FBA tools like the inbound placement service to optimize your warehouse network.
7. Stay informed on policy changes that impact FC transfers and storage.

You also need to watch for occasional inventory and fee discrepancies. With Amazon moving thousands of packages daily, issues can arise, such as unaccounted or damaged inventory, FBA fee overcharges, or inbound shipment errors.

Use Getida’s award-winning dashboard technology to detect such discrepancies and claim owed FBA reimbursem*nts. Sign up for an account audit review to see how much you can get in reimbursem*nts right now.

Below, we’ll detail all the vital aspects of FC transfers. You can navigate the FC transfer process smoothly with the right knowledge and preparation.

Amazon has over 185 fulfillment centers (FCs) globally that store and ship products for sellers like you who enrolled in the FBA program. They handle everything – from receiving and storing your products to picking, packing, and shipping customer orders.

When you ship your inventory to Amazon, it gets distributed across multiple FCs located near areas with high customer demand for that specific product category. This placement strategy enables quick shipping times.

Some key facts about Amazon FCs:

• They are large warehouses up to 1 million square feet in size.
• Each FC specializes in specific product categories like apparel, electronics, or books.
• Advanced automation and robotics are used to optimize storage and order processing.
• Hundreds of workers and inventory managers staff each fulfillment center.

Understanding how FCs function provides context on why transfers occur and Amazon’s overall fulfillment strategy. Now, let’s examine the transfer process itself.

An FC transfer simply refers to Amazon moving your inventory from one fulfillment center to another. Amazon does this to optimize its logistics and bring products closer to customers, reducing shipping times and costs.

There are two main ways Amazon conducts these FC transfers:

• Distributed Inventory Placement (DIP): Under this method, Amazon distributes your inventory across multiple FCs, depending on the products you’re shipping and where you’re shipping from. This helps ensure your products are readily available in various regions, but it also means you’ll be charged for separate shipments to these FCs. This is also the default option for sending inventory to FBA.

• FBA Inbound Placement Service (IPS): Amazon recently replaced its “Inventory Placement Service” with a new FBA Inbound Placement Service. It provides more variable placement options than DIP. Under the new system, you can send inventory to the minimal locations Amazon recommends for a fee, send to more locations for a reduced fee, or allow Amazon to optimize placement across 4+ locations at no additional fee.

So why does Amazon transfer inventory between fulfillment centers? There are two key reasons behind FC transfers:

1. Placing Inventory Closer to Customers

Amazon analyzes purchase data to identify regional demand changes. Units are proactively transferred to FCs nearer to areas with rising customer interest.

This placement strategy enables faster delivery times and reduces shipping expenses. It helps Amazon uphold its Prime delivery promises.

2. Optimizing Warehouse Capacity

During busy periods like Prime Day or the holidays, some FCs run out of room to efficiently store and process additional units.

Amazon will transfer excess inventory to other fulfillment centers with ample storage and labor capacity to handle the extra volume. This balancing prevents bottleneck delays at specific FCs.

Now you understand why FC transfers are crucial for Amazon’s global fulfillment operations. Next, we’ll contrast transfers with another common FBA inventory status.

FC processing is another commonly encountered status. It’s essential to understand the difference between an FC transfer and FC processing, as both can impact the availability of your FBA inventory.

FC Processing refers to the internal operations Amazon performs on your inventory when it arrives at an FC. This can include:

• Receiving and inspecting the items
• Preparing the products for storage and sale
• Addressing any issues or discrepancies

During this FC processing period, your items are sidelined and are temporarily unavailable for customer orders as Amazon ensures they are ready for fulfillment.

On the other hand, FC transfer refers to your inventory being physically moved between Amazon warehouses. While your products are in transit, they are also considered “reserved.”

That means they are available for sale but cannot be immediately purchased by Amazon Prime members. Transfers typically take 22-25 days, sometimes even longer, based on distance and volume.

So, in summary:

• FC processing = at one FC
• FC transfer = between FCs

Now that you know what FC transfers are, let’s discuss how they impact your Amazon business.

FC transfers can influence your Amazon seller account in several ways:

• Potential loss of buy box eligibility: Units in the transfer cannot qualify for Prime shipping promises. This can cause you to lose the buy box to competitors with immediate inventory availability.
• Risk of inventory shortages: As units transfer between FCs, fewer are on hand to fulfill orders. This can lead to stockouts if safety stock is inadequate.
• Increased chance of inventory discrepancies: Lengthy transfers create more opportunities for shipments to get unaccounted for or units damaged in transit. Getida can help you get reimbursed for such discrepancies!
• Higher storage fees: Constantly transferring units between FCs rather than letting them sell increases time in storage, resulting in larger monthly storage bills.
• Delayed cash flow: Units stuck in transfer lead to fewer sales, slowing the speed at which you get paid by Amazon.

The negative impacts make handling transfers properly crucial. So, what should you do to avoid transfer-related disruptions? Follow the steps below.

Here are 8 tips for you to master FC transfer management as an Amazon seller:

1. Monitor Your FBA Inventory Reports

The Reserved Inventory report shows how many units are in FC transfer or FC processing. Regularly check this report so you know your true inventory picture.

Watch for large portions of your products suddenly displaying as reserved, indicating a major transfer is occurring. This alert allows you time to take preventive measures.

For example, if you notice 50% of your lawn mower inventory is transferring during the peak summer season, you can proactively ship more units to compensate for the upcoming shortage.

2. Maintain Sufficient Safety Stock

Safety stock means extra units beyond what you expect to sell, kept as a buffer against variability in demand or supply.

Ensure your safety stock levels are sufficient to prevent stockouts during FC transfers. As a rule of thumb, your safety stock amount should cover your daily inventory usage multiplied by the lead time in days.

For example, if you sell 50 units per day on average, and your typical FC transfer takes 3 weeks (21 days), you would aim for 50 x 21 = 1,050 extra units in safety stock to help avoid stockouts during the transfer process.

3. Avoid Overstocking

It’s tempting to ship more inventory to Amazon to compensate for transfers. However, take care not to overstock FCs as this wastes money on storage fees and leads to costly disposal of excess units later.

Closely analyze your inventory data, like sales velocity and seasonal demand, before sending additional products. More inventory should only go if truly needed to meet rising customer orders.

4. List Units As Available for Sale

Even in transfer, you can often list units available for sale on Amazon with a slightly extended delivery estimate. This practice minimizes disruption by allowing sales to occur rather than listing them as out of stock.

KKeep the estimated delivery date open-ended instead instead of specifying a fixed timeframe, like “Arriving within 5-7 business days or more”. Test different available delivery timeframes to find the optimal balance.

This practice minimizes disruption by allowing sales to occur rather than listing as out of stock.

Check the progress of the transfer periodically and extend the estimate further if needed to account for any delays. The goal is to set buyer expectations accurately without over-committing to a tight delivery window.

5. Follow Up on Lengthy Transfers

Occasionally, transfers get severely delayed. If you notice units transferring for over 4-5 weeks, open a support case through Seller Central.

Provide the shipment IDs and inquire about the expected arrival time. Sometimes, bringing attention to a stalled transfer helps get it prioritized again.

6. Utilize FBA Inventory Tools

Take advantage of FBA inventory management features to gain more control over placement while minimizing fees:

• Use the new FBA Inbound Placement Service options to choose how many FCs you want to send inventory upfront. The minimal locations option consolidates shipments for a per-unit fee starting at $0.21. Sending to more locations reduces fees, with 4+ FCs at no additional cost.
• Set Target FCs in Restock Notifications to dictate where new inventory shipments are sent. This prevents overstocking specific FCs and incurring more fees.
• Review FBA Inventory Age Reports regularly. Transfer old inventory nearing the long-term storage fee threshold to faster selling FCs first.
• Explore Amazon services like Multi-Channel Fulfillment and Supply Chain by Amazon for customized placement. These help optimize FC placement and reduce fees.
• Monitor Inventory Health Reports to ensure products aren’t stranded at underperforming FCs, prompting transfers that incur more fees.

Using FBA tools strategically allows you to direct placement in a cost-efficient manner. You can minimize inbound placement fees while optimizing inventory across the FC network.

7. File Reimbursem*nt Claims for Discrepancies

With thousands of FC transfers occurring daily, inventory discrepancies can and do happen. Damaged, unaccounted, or missing units can quickly add up, leading to thousands in unclaimed FBA reimbursem*nts.

There can also sometimes be issues like errors in Amazon FBA inbound shipments and overcharges related to discrepancies between your product weight/dimensions versus Amazon’s records.

Getida provides an award-winning FBA auditing dashboard that uncovers these overlooked reimbursem*nts. Our automated tracking finds more issues than you can manually. Expert claims managers then handle your recovery process, with a 90%+ success rate.

Apply for a comprehensive Getida audit to reveal the full scope of your potential FBA reimbursem*nts. With us, you can turn this revenue stream into fuel for business growth.

8. Stay Updated on Policy Changes

Amazon frequently adjusts aspects of its FBA program, including inventory transfer and storage policies.

Review seller news sites regularly for updates and adjust your FC transfer practices accordingly. For example, new long-term storage fee increases may influence stock levels and shipment volumes!

By following these tips, you can avoid chaotic FC transfers wreaking havoc on your Amazon seller account. But what specific problems should you steer clear of? Let’s examine some key FC transfer pitfalls next.

When navigating FC transfers, beware of these common seller errors:

• Assuming units will transfer quickly without sufficient monitoring or follow-up. Transfers often take weeks, not days.
• Failing to account for transfer delays in inventory replenishment plans, risking unexpected stockouts.
• Not reviewing the Reserved Inventory report frequently enough to stay on top of developing transfer activity.
• Shipping more inventory without analyzing sales data, leading to FC overstocking.
• Neglecting to track and claim reimbursem*nts for any unaccounted, damaged, or misplaced inventory during the transfer process means leaving money on the table.
• Missing FC transfer policy changes like long-term storage fee increases that influence shipment strategies.
• Not utilizing FBA inventory tools to maximize control over placement decisions.
• Opening support cases for delayed transfers too late, allowing permanently lost or damaged units.

With the steps provided earlier and avoiding these mistakes, you can minimize the negative impacts of FC transfers on your seller account.

Now, let’s review some common questions you may have about the FC transfer process.

What is Transfer Out at Amazon?

“Transfer Out” is a status used by Amazon to indicate that your FBA inventory is being moved from one fulfillment center to another. When your products are in the “Transfer Out” status, they are temporarily unavailable for customer orders as they are in transit to the destination FC.

Can You Transfer to Another Amazon Warehouse Being a Seller?

As an Amazon FBA seller, you can’t directly initiate or control the transfer of your inventory between Amazon fulfillment centers. This is a process managed entirely by Amazon based on its logistics and distribution strategies.

Your role is to ensure your inventory is properly received and prepared for FBA and then monitor the status of your products as they move through Amazon’s fulfillment network.

How Long Does it Take to Transfer to Another Amazon Warehouse?

The time it takes for an FC transfer can vary, but generally, it can take anywhere from 22 to 25 days for the entire process to be completed. Sometimes, the transfer may take longer due to weather conditions, government restrictions, or other logistical challenges.

FC transfers are a pillar of Amazon’s global fulfillment operations. But as a seller, they can be confusing to track if you don’t stay on top of them. Follow the tips in this guide to monitor transfers proactively, keep enough stock, and keep selling when you can.

Doing these things helps transfers go smoothly for your business. Also, don’t forget to watch for unreconciled discrepancies like damages or overcharges. Getida provides automated auditing and expert claims management to uncover overlooked FBA seller refunds from these issues.

Sign up for a risk-free analysis of your seller account to see how much you can get in reimbursem*nts! More money back means more to invest in your business.