Sell 'Time- or Heat-Sensitive' products? Let's hear your feedback.
Your products may have a shelf life, but your expertise only grows stronger with time.
If you sell time- or heat-sensitive products, you know you face some unique challenges. We'd love to hear from you about these, and let you share feedback and advice with other sellers.
- Have you tried FBA and merchant-fulfilled, and what pros and cons have you experienced for each when selling these kinds of products?
- What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were getting started?
- Do you have any packaging and labeling suggestions that have saved you time, money, or frustration?
- And of course, what would you like us to share with policy-makers for this area?
If you're just getting started in this area, below are a few links to help you out.
Forums Article: What to Know about FBA and Expiration Dates
Expiration dates on seller-fulfilled products
Expiration dates on FBA products
Seller-fulfilled meltable product policy
UPVOTE / DOWNVOTE this post if you enjoy seeing content like this. Leave a comment on this post with questions you may have about this topic and let us know what Listing on Amazon subject matters you want us to feature next!
5 replies
Seller_kPsgE9cDZSpjF
Pros:
1) Repeat buyers love FBA
2) Through FBA allowed to ship faster to our customers
Cons:
1) Having zero knowledge of how our goods housed. Meltables being in AZ vs being in WA the temp is vastly different.
2) Shipping expirables/meltables, arriving damaged due to improper packaging, or handling.
3) Amazon's Warehouse not operating on a FIFO method on products.
What I wish I knew:
1) Amazon doesn't ship meltables with a cooling pack
2) Amazon is quick to dispose of expired goods
3) Amazon doesn't take blame for melted/expired items.
I would love for the following features to be added for Expirables/Meltables:
1) Amazon Warehouses to operate on a FIFO (First In, First Out) rule for all products.
2) I would love to be able add lot no. and expiration dates on shipments on an FNSKU level so we can recall only issue lots, or expired goods.
3) If a customer receives an expired good, Amazon to accept some responsibility and not fully the sellers as they are housing the goods and we are not able to enter expirations, meltables, or lot no to manage the goods for inventory management.
4) Amazon should work it out logistically how to make sure the meltables are able to be shipped all year round. People love their chocolate!
I will add more as I come up with ideas.
Seller_ZLQf72P9Mcay5
WAY too many products that don't expire at all (think wood chips for barbecuing/meat smoking or scented candles not made of plant wax) are being categorized as having an expiration date.
It needs to be easier to change products so that only products with an actual expiration date have this requirement. If a product is obviously not a time-sensitive product, we need to be able to update that quickly.
Seller_YunKOBrYj8sxY
Feedback:
1. Heat Sensitive products are already (Oct 15th to April 15th) flagged by Amazon, but they need to be stored in cooler locations. Don't send them to Arizona or Texas or Florida, even winters are too hot sometimes.
2. It's so hard to get good rank back after showing out of stock from April 15th-Oct 15th. Each year it's a battle.
3. Amazon has got to get rid of low inventory fees for heat sensitive products that have to be out April 15th. Of course....inventory numbers are going to go below normal averages because they are due out of the warehouse! And then you want to charge high return charge fees for anything left. You can not win.
Sell 'Time- or Heat-Sensitive' products? Let's hear your feedback.
Your products may have a shelf life, but your expertise only grows stronger with time.
If you sell time- or heat-sensitive products, you know you face some unique challenges. We'd love to hear from you about these, and let you share feedback and advice with other sellers.
- Have you tried FBA and merchant-fulfilled, and what pros and cons have you experienced for each when selling these kinds of products?
- What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were getting started?
- Do you have any packaging and labeling suggestions that have saved you time, money, or frustration?
- And of course, what would you like us to share with policy-makers for this area?
If you're just getting started in this area, below are a few links to help you out.
Forums Article: What to Know about FBA and Expiration Dates
Expiration dates on seller-fulfilled products
Expiration dates on FBA products
Seller-fulfilled meltable product policy
UPVOTE / DOWNVOTE this post if you enjoy seeing content like this. Leave a comment on this post with questions you may have about this topic and let us know what Listing on Amazon subject matters you want us to feature next!
Sell 'Time- or Heat-Sensitive' products? Let's hear your feedback.
Your products may have a shelf life, but your expertise only grows stronger with time.
If you sell time- or heat-sensitive products, you know you face some unique challenges. We'd love to hear from you about these, and let you share feedback and advice with other sellers.
- Have you tried FBA and merchant-fulfilled, and what pros and cons have you experienced for each when selling these kinds of products?
- What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were getting started?
- Do you have any packaging and labeling suggestions that have saved you time, money, or frustration?
- And of course, what would you like us to share with policy-makers for this area?
If you're just getting started in this area, below are a few links to help you out.
Forums Article: What to Know about FBA and Expiration Dates
Expiration dates on seller-fulfilled products
Expiration dates on FBA products
Seller-fulfilled meltable product policy
UPVOTE / DOWNVOTE this post if you enjoy seeing content like this. Leave a comment on this post with questions you may have about this topic and let us know what Listing on Amazon subject matters you want us to feature next!
5 replies
5 replies
Seller_kPsgE9cDZSpjF
Pros:
1) Repeat buyers love FBA
2) Through FBA allowed to ship faster to our customers
Cons:
1) Having zero knowledge of how our goods housed. Meltables being in AZ vs being in WA the temp is vastly different.
2) Shipping expirables/meltables, arriving damaged due to improper packaging, or handling.
3) Amazon's Warehouse not operating on a FIFO method on products.
What I wish I knew:
1) Amazon doesn't ship meltables with a cooling pack
2) Amazon is quick to dispose of expired goods
3) Amazon doesn't take blame for melted/expired items.
I would love for the following features to be added for Expirables/Meltables:
1) Amazon Warehouses to operate on a FIFO (First In, First Out) rule for all products.
2) I would love to be able add lot no. and expiration dates on shipments on an FNSKU level so we can recall only issue lots, or expired goods.
3) If a customer receives an expired good, Amazon to accept some responsibility and not fully the sellers as they are housing the goods and we are not able to enter expirations, meltables, or lot no to manage the goods for inventory management.
4) Amazon should work it out logistically how to make sure the meltables are able to be shipped all year round. People love their chocolate!
I will add more as I come up with ideas.
Seller_ZLQf72P9Mcay5
WAY too many products that don't expire at all (think wood chips for barbecuing/meat smoking or scented candles not made of plant wax) are being categorized as having an expiration date.
It needs to be easier to change products so that only products with an actual expiration date have this requirement. If a product is obviously not a time-sensitive product, we need to be able to update that quickly.
Seller_YunKOBrYj8sxY
Feedback:
1. Heat Sensitive products are already (Oct 15th to April 15th) flagged by Amazon, but they need to be stored in cooler locations. Don't send them to Arizona or Texas or Florida, even winters are too hot sometimes.
2. It's so hard to get good rank back after showing out of stock from April 15th-Oct 15th. Each year it's a battle.
3. Amazon has got to get rid of low inventory fees for heat sensitive products that have to be out April 15th. Of course....inventory numbers are going to go below normal averages because they are due out of the warehouse! And then you want to charge high return charge fees for anything left. You can not win.
Seller_kPsgE9cDZSpjF
Pros:
1) Repeat buyers love FBA
2) Through FBA allowed to ship faster to our customers
Cons:
1) Having zero knowledge of how our goods housed. Meltables being in AZ vs being in WA the temp is vastly different.
2) Shipping expirables/meltables, arriving damaged due to improper packaging, or handling.
3) Amazon's Warehouse not operating on a FIFO method on products.
What I wish I knew:
1) Amazon doesn't ship meltables with a cooling pack
2) Amazon is quick to dispose of expired goods
3) Amazon doesn't take blame for melted/expired items.
I would love for the following features to be added for Expirables/Meltables:
1) Amazon Warehouses to operate on a FIFO (First In, First Out) rule for all products.
2) I would love to be able add lot no. and expiration dates on shipments on an FNSKU level so we can recall only issue lots, or expired goods.
3) If a customer receives an expired good, Amazon to accept some responsibility and not fully the sellers as they are housing the goods and we are not able to enter expirations, meltables, or lot no to manage the goods for inventory management.
4) Amazon should work it out logistically how to make sure the meltables are able to be shipped all year round. People love their chocolate!
I will add more as I come up with ideas.
Seller_kPsgE9cDZSpjF
Pros:
1) Repeat buyers love FBA
2) Through FBA allowed to ship faster to our customers
Cons:
1) Having zero knowledge of how our goods housed. Meltables being in AZ vs being in WA the temp is vastly different.
2) Shipping expirables/meltables, arriving damaged due to improper packaging, or handling.
3) Amazon's Warehouse not operating on a FIFO method on products.
What I wish I knew:
1) Amazon doesn't ship meltables with a cooling pack
2) Amazon is quick to dispose of expired goods
3) Amazon doesn't take blame for melted/expired items.
I would love for the following features to be added for Expirables/Meltables:
1) Amazon Warehouses to operate on a FIFO (First In, First Out) rule for all products.
2) I would love to be able add lot no. and expiration dates on shipments on an FNSKU level so we can recall only issue lots, or expired goods.
3) If a customer receives an expired good, Amazon to accept some responsibility and not fully the sellers as they are housing the goods and we are not able to enter expirations, meltables, or lot no to manage the goods for inventory management.
4) Amazon should work it out logistically how to make sure the meltables are able to be shipped all year round. People love their chocolate!
I will add more as I come up with ideas.
Seller_ZLQf72P9Mcay5
WAY too many products that don't expire at all (think wood chips for barbecuing/meat smoking or scented candles not made of plant wax) are being categorized as having an expiration date.
It needs to be easier to change products so that only products with an actual expiration date have this requirement. If a product is obviously not a time-sensitive product, we need to be able to update that quickly.
Seller_ZLQf72P9Mcay5
WAY too many products that don't expire at all (think wood chips for barbecuing/meat smoking or scented candles not made of plant wax) are being categorized as having an expiration date.
It needs to be easier to change products so that only products with an actual expiration date have this requirement. If a product is obviously not a time-sensitive product, we need to be able to update that quickly.
Seller_YunKOBrYj8sxY
Feedback:
1. Heat Sensitive products are already (Oct 15th to April 15th) flagged by Amazon, but they need to be stored in cooler locations. Don't send them to Arizona or Texas or Florida, even winters are too hot sometimes.
2. It's so hard to get good rank back after showing out of stock from April 15th-Oct 15th. Each year it's a battle.
3. Amazon has got to get rid of low inventory fees for heat sensitive products that have to be out April 15th. Of course....inventory numbers are going to go below normal averages because they are due out of the warehouse! And then you want to charge high return charge fees for anything left. You can not win.
Seller_YunKOBrYj8sxY
Feedback:
1. Heat Sensitive products are already (Oct 15th to April 15th) flagged by Amazon, but they need to be stored in cooler locations. Don't send them to Arizona or Texas or Florida, even winters are too hot sometimes.
2. It's so hard to get good rank back after showing out of stock from April 15th-Oct 15th. Each year it's a battle.
3. Amazon has got to get rid of low inventory fees for heat sensitive products that have to be out April 15th. Of course....inventory numbers are going to go below normal averages because they are due out of the warehouse! And then you want to charge high return charge fees for anything left. You can not win.
