An FBA shipment from China needs an approved chain of decisions, not a promise that every stage takes a fixed number of days. The seller controls the listing, destination marketplace and shipment plan. Suppliers, preparation teams, transport providers and import representatives execute different parts of that plan. This SOP makes the release evidence visible at each handoff.
For the US store, Amazon ended its FBA prep and item-labeling service for shipments created from January 1, 2026. Its current prep-service notice includes inventory arriving through AGL, AWD and other listed programs. Buying a transport service therefore does not establish that the inventory will be prepared at a US fulfillment center. Other marketplaces require their own policy check.
Approve a shipment specification before ordering labels
Create a versioned specification containing the seller account, marketplace, ASIN and seller SKU, approved variant, intended barcode, unit quantity and packaging instruction. Identify the person who can approve changes. A warehouse should not resolve a listing mismatch by choosing whichever barcode happens to scan.
Record product restrictions and any safety, expiry or destination-label obligations separately from physical packing. An item can be packed neatly and still be ineligible for sale or transport. Resolve those questions before asking a preparation team to release it.
Freeze one approved sample or photographic reference for the unit and its finished packaging. Keep the reference linked to the specification version rather than in an unlabelled messaging thread.
Reconcile receiving before starting preparation
The supplier sends a purchase-order and carton map before delivery. Receiving compares actual carton counts, SKU identity, quantities and visible condition with that record. Discrepancies enter a hold queue with photographs and a named owner.
Decide whether the agreed receipt includes a carton count, unit count, sampled inspection or another check. None of these automatically substitutes for the others. Do not mark a full lot inspected because a few cartons were opened for identity verification.
Release approved stock to preparation only when the seller has accepted any shortage, substitution or rework. FulfillNexa by SBT's China-side preparation work should follow that written scope, including approval of extra work, rather than an assumption that every possible correction is included.
Validate the barcode on the finished unit
Check the actual seller, product and marketplace eligibility for the chosen barcode. Amazon's March 2026 barcode change makes historical commingling advice an unreliable basis for a new shipment. Do not treat every brand owner, reseller or product as having the same labeling option.
Print a small approved batch first. Scan the label after it has been applied to the final prepared unit, confirm the encoded identity against the shipment specification, and check that wrapping or folds do not obscure it. Keep a reference photograph showing placement and the associated SKU.
If the seller changes a listing or barcode choice, stop the affected work. Quarantine obsolete label stock and reconcile units already processed before continuing with the new instruction.
Close the carton map before the carrier collects
After preparation, reconcile sellable units, rejected units and remaining stock. Assign every dispatched unit to a carton record. Measure and weigh the completed cartons, including protective materials, instead of reusing a supplier's product-only dimensions.
Use the current shipment plan's destinations and required labels. A changed allocation can invalidate labels printed earlier. Verify the carton contents, destination assignment and carton labels together before sealing and staging the shipment.
The dispatch evidence should include approved quantities, carton identifiers, packed measurements, label references and the collection record. The receiving seller team should be able to investigate one carton without reconstructing the entire order.
Separate transport completion from inventory availability
Confirm importer and broker responsibilities, documents, carrier acceptance and the destination delivery arrangement. Obtain any required appointment or booking information through the appropriate transport process. Do not promise an Amazon receiving date from the vessel or flight arrival alone.
Track physical handoff, customs release, delivery and Amazon receiving as separate events. A signed delivery record does not necessarily mean every unit is available for sale. Reconcile the final receiving result with the dispatched carton map and open discrepancies promptly.
Maintain a change log through the process. The useful SOP outcome is an evidence-backed shipment that can be traced from approved SKU to received inventory, with unresolved exceptions visible to their owners.
Sources and verification links
Operational rules can change. Check the linked primary sources and confirm shipment-specific requirements before booking.