At its core, a prep center acts as an intermediary between the seller’s suppliers and Amazon’s fulfillment network.

When inventory arrives at the prep center, the facility typically performs several steps before the products are shipped to Amazon.

Common services include:

• Receiving shipments from retailers, distributors, or manufacturers
• Inspecting items for damage or missing components
• Applying Amazon FNSKU labels
• Poly-bagging products when required by Amazon
• Bubble wrapping fragile items
• Bundling or multipacking products
• Packing items into cartons for shipment to Amazon fulfillment centers

Once the products are prepared and packed, the prep center ships the inventory according to the shipment plan created in the seller’s Amazon account.

Prep centers are used by many types of Amazon sellers.

Some sellers use prep services because they do not have warehouse space or staff available to handle inventory preparation. Others use prep centers as a way to scale their operations without managing the physical handling of products themselves.

Prep centers are commonly used by sellers who source inventory through:

• online arbitrage
• wholesale distribution
• private label imports
• retail arbitrage

International sellers who do not have a physical presence in the United States also rely heavily on prep centers to prepare inventory before it enters Amazon’s fulfillment network.

Preparing inventory for Amazon can become time-consuming as a seller’s business grows.

Each product must meet Amazon’s packaging and labeling requirements before it can be accepted into a fulfillment center. Sellers handling large volumes of inventory may find that preparation work quickly becomes a bottleneck in their operation.

Prep centers solve this problem by handling the physical preparation work so sellers can focus on sourcing products, managing listings, and growing their business.

In many cases, sellers also use prep centers to simplify logistics. Retailers, distributors, and manufacturers can ship inventory directly to the prep center instead of sending it to the seller first.

The process of working with a prep center is generally straightforward.

First, the seller sends inventory to the prep center from a supplier, retailer, or manufacturer. The prep center receives the shipment and inspects the products to ensure they arrived in acceptable condition.

Once the items are ready to be processed, the prep center prepares the products according to Amazon’s requirements. This may involve labeling, packaging, bundling, or other preparation tasks depending on the product.

After the items are prepared, the prep center packs the products into cartons and ships them to the appropriate Amazon fulfillment centers.

Most modern prep centers use inventory management systems that allow sellers to track incoming shipments, request processing, and monitor the status of their inventory through an online dashboard.

Amazon requires all inventory entering its fulfillment network to meet specific preparation standards.

These requirements are designed to ensure products arrive safely, can be scanned properly, and can move efficiently through Amazon’s warehouse system.

Preparation requirements may include:

• FNSKU labeling
• protective packaging for fragile items
• poly-bagging products with loose components
• expiration date labeling when applicable
• proper carton packing and shipping labels

Because these requirements can change over time, many sellers rely on prep centers that stay current with Amazon’s policies and preparation guidelines.

Not all prep centers operate the same way. Sellers should evaluate several factors before choosing a prep service.

Important considerations may include:

• pricing structure and per-unit fees
• processing speed and turnaround time
• storage policies
• communication and customer support
• capacity to handle the seller’s expected volume

Sellers who are evaluating prep centers should review available providers and compare their services carefully before sending inventory.