AWD Experience (Dec 31 2022) Full Container FCL Amazon Warehouse & Distribution Experience
I’m optimistic that this all works and will share the results along the way. Copying @Tiff_Amazon and will post any comments answered from a corresponding case log.
Typical situation: 12 years experience with selling on Amazon. Purchasing full containers out of Shenzehn FOB from a supplier I’ve worked with for many years. The container will have 1,300+ pieces of a sortable production (just under 18x14x8 - 1.16 cu.ft.)". Two units are packed in an outer carton that is 18x14x16. This quantity exceeds our restock level and Amazon was unwilling to budge on that request. In the past we’ve taken product into our Colorado warehouse and sent into FBA. I’m starting the AWD journey on Dec 30, 2022 with one month of product in FBA and roughly 4-5 months in our Colorado warehouse. Product will be ready to ship from the supplier around January 9th with Chinese New Year (i.e. plant shutdowns on January 22).
Because it is FOB from Shenzhen port, I am going with my own carrier rather than Amazon Global Logistics which handles other ports. The carrier has experience with scheduling with FBAs drop-offs. I’ve worked with their customs agent before and this product has been brought in without issue many times.
Essentially, should have enough buffer even if a few things go wrong.
Begin the process: Amazon assigned the IUSL Warehouse in Maryland. Kind of a drag that the product has to go around the canal rather than going west coast. Shipping estimates are 53-60 days instead of 28-35 for west coast. The steps to create the shipment were simple, but unlike FBA, the process did not allow a pallet configuration to be entered - only the number of outer cartons. In my case, there were 676 carton labels that were sent to my supplier to be placed on each carton. Labels have the FNSKU, MSKU, Distribution Center, and a unique Serial Shipping Container Code with bar code for each one.
We are preparing the container as 37 double stacked pallets - each pallet is under 50" and therefore the overall height is under 100" (requirement for FBA to be received). As of this shipment, there are no stated requirements to label the palletized loads or the wooden pallets (which is different than FBA).
The shipper was given the Shipment ID and Reference ID assigned to the shipment at step 4 of the workflow.
The cost to ship from our warehouse to FBA negate the fixed cost of the program and storage pricing seems reasonable. So we’re a little bit scared after reading some other experiences, but at the same time things seem straight forward.
AWD Experience (Dec 31 2022) Full Container FCL Amazon Warehouse & Distribution Experience
I’m optimistic that this all works and will share the results along the way. Copying @Tiff_Amazon and will post any comments answered from a corresponding case log.
Typical situation: 12 years experience with selling on Amazon. Purchasing full containers out of Shenzehn FOB from a supplier I’ve worked with for many years. The container will have 1,300+ pieces of a sortable production (just under 18x14x8 - 1.16 cu.ft.)". Two units are packed in an outer carton that is 18x14x16. This quantity exceeds our restock level and Amazon was unwilling to budge on that request. In the past we’ve taken product into our Colorado warehouse and sent into FBA. I’m starting the AWD journey on Dec 30, 2022 with one month of product in FBA and roughly 4-5 months in our Colorado warehouse. Product will be ready to ship from the supplier around January 9th with Chinese New Year (i.e. plant shutdowns on January 22).
Because it is FOB from Shenzhen port, I am going with my own carrier rather than Amazon Global Logistics which handles other ports. The carrier has experience with scheduling with FBAs drop-offs. I’ve worked with their customs agent before and this product has been brought in without issue many times.
Essentially, should have enough buffer even if a few things go wrong.
Begin the process: Amazon assigned the IUSL Warehouse in Maryland. Kind of a drag that the product has to go around the canal rather than going west coast. Shipping estimates are 53-60 days instead of 28-35 for west coast. The steps to create the shipment were simple, but unlike FBA, the process did not allow a pallet configuration to be entered - only the number of outer cartons. In my case, there were 676 carton labels that were sent to my supplier to be placed on each carton. Labels have the FNSKU, MSKU, Distribution Center, and a unique Serial Shipping Container Code with bar code for each one.
We are preparing the container as 37 double stacked pallets - each pallet is under 50" and therefore the overall height is under 100" (requirement for FBA to be received). As of this shipment, there are no stated requirements to label the palletized loads or the wooden pallets (which is different than FBA).
The shipper was given the Shipment ID and Reference ID assigned to the shipment at step 4 of the workflow.
The cost to ship from our warehouse to FBA negate the fixed cost of the program and storage pricing seems reasonable. So we’re a little bit scared after reading some other experiences, but at the same time things seem straight forward.
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Seller_G3tKlxqw9EUfb
I wonder if there is any way to convince Amazon to allow a Seller to choose East or West Coast, even if only when (projected) space and stocking allows. (Maybe the price could change as necessary?) The inability would appear to be a myopic logistical oversight on their part.
Since Amazon has created AWD, it also would make sense for them to allow the Seller to auto-ship overstock to their own warehouse so that the Seller can meet Amazon’s moving target of allotted space.
(Really I just commented because I wanted to bump)
Seller_OOruz2Ofp0VY5
Yup, I hear your pain.
I am a new seller on Amazon. My new product is ready to ship in China and the factory have asked me to send them pallet labels (8 Pallets, 48 Cartons per Pallet, 12 Units per Carton = 4,608 units total).
I had read about restrictive storage space within FBA for new sellers. So I had planned to use a 3PL in California. Then I read about AWD and thought this would make more sense as the stock would seamlessly flow into FBA automatically.
Like you, I am only offered the Maryland center (annoying). I also can’t select pallets and the only way I can ‘Continue’ with my shipment is to switch it to boxes. I have logged a case with Amazon and tried to speak on the phone 3 times but each time being brushed off. I asked if I could switch to a west coast distribution center and the support agent said ‘no’.
I want to know, if I just send boxes in on pallets, will this cause an issue. I also want to know if it’s likely still easier to use my own 3PL which then feeds into AWD which then feeds into FBA. This all seems mighty complex.
Seller_42ymPbTHfHcms
Update Jan 4: Here’s the Q&A from the case log—
(1) please confirm that pallets do not need any other identification or labeling - and that the pallets themselves do not require any labels?
AMZ: Through my investigation, I confirmed that currently we do not support pallet shipments, so you won’t be able to print labels for pallets since we will only receive the inventory at boxed/cartons level in the Distribution Center (DC). Additionally, you can send the shipment in pallet, however, you should work with your carrier for pallet shipping labels. On the other hand, you should make sure that you have pasted the AWD shipping labels on the boxes which are inside the pallet.
(2) Is there a location to add the PRO#S221231000204 on the workflow tabs?
AMZ: Currently, it is not possible to add tracking numbers to track the status of Upstream shipments and adding it is not required. Once the shipment has been delivered by their carrier, it will take 7 - 10 days for the received items to be checked in and the same to be reflected on the GIV (Global Inventory Viewer) page.
(3) The container will arrive at the end of March in the U.S. - How far in advance does our carrier need to schedule a drop-off?
AMZ: For March, no problem, as soon as the shipment arrives in the US, you can make the appointment. You can, always, reschedule or cancel their appointment if the date seems too far out and does not align with their planning.
(4) Are loose packed products acceptable?
AMZ: for AWD they are not accepted you have to prepare everything in the boxes
Tiff_Amazon
Hi @BBSuppliers:
Happy New Year!
Thank you for mentioning me and sharing your AWD journey with us in the forums.
I will continue to follow your progress here as I believe it is a valuable feedback tool for our partner team to learn more about how sellers are experiencing AWD.
Tiff
Seller_42ymPbTHfHcms
Continued Update - Jan 10
And the container left the factory.
676 cartons with carton labels attached and visible. Typically we floor load (which is allowed at FBA - but not preferred) and it cost $18 per pallet (all new construction with fumigation paperwork sent to our customs agent). Double stacked, we ended up paying $684 (38 pallets).
Side note: last year (Jan 7 2022) we paid freight costs of $26,452 (freight - not insurance/customs) for a container delivered to Fort Collins Colorado - this year the same route was in the $5,273. Having it delivered to Amazon Warehouse in Maryland was $4,109 (not including insurance or customs brokering / bond). I would totally look at Amazon Global Freight, but didn’t want to make a change with supplier at the last minute as we were finishing up production and other issues. Shenzehn Yantian Port is the biggest port in the Shenzehn area. Amazon Global Freight is shipping out of Nansha - which is a smaller port just a little bit north.
Note from my freight shipping agent regarding AWD (IUSL warehouse specifically):
“It’s OK, we delivered cargo to this warehouse recently. The warehouse usually give a late appt. If we couldn’t get delivery date early, we’d better tear down the container, unload cargo in the third warehouse in case per diem fee USD200-USD300/DAY/CONTAINER.”
So, take this with a grain of salt as Nov/Dec are Amazon busy times and that AWD is still relatively new. The Amazon case log response was that this should not be a problem in March - so we will see.
Specific companies that I’m working with on this job: Freightos for booking, Seabay for freight, and ClearitUSA for customs - all with good past experience. Customs paperwork is all filed.
So should be out of China just before Chinese New Year kicks off.
Estimated time of departure: 2023.01.13, subject to any unexpected delay;
Estimated time of arrival @BALTIMORE MD. port : 2023.02.15,subject to any unexpected delay;
Estimated time of delivery: 2023.02.17… Delivery would be followed soon once goods is ready for delivery.
Tiff_Amazon
Hi @Seller_tW1lUDv83pUO2 - I saw your post in another thread today about AWD and wanted to loop you into this ongoing thread.
A fellow seller, @BBSuppliers, is documenting their AWD experience and I thought you might be interested to follow along.
Tiff
Seller_42ymPbTHfHcms
Feb 3 Quick Check-In
Everything seems to be going to plan. The freighter has an arrival date for Feb 13th (so another week and a half) into Baltimore. Again, not using Amazon Global Freight this time so our freight coordinator (Seabay) will need to schedule an Amazon unloading appointment. They are accustom to doing this and Amazon suggested that this should not be an issue during this time of year.
Side note: I've worked with Amazon's customs department on a previous shipment and didn't have any issues. Clearit USA is handling this one and my last shipment. What I like with Clearit is that you have access to a customer dashboard and can upload documentation into distinct locations. In my other experiences, it seems like you throw a whole lotta documents at the customs broker and they chew their way through.
Customs aren't always easy and I've paid $1,800 in the past to have them flag, pull out, unload my entire container, open some items, and repack before clearing it because I didn't file a pre-arrival notice for EPA. A few shipments ago I had packages of screws and some other materials and needed to get a low-volume steel importers license. Just paperwork and no costs to get the license, but those kinda things can hang up a whole shipment. Bamboo plywood has huge tariffs (like 270%) for and ebikes require department of transportation paperwork. The 25% tariffs on Chinese goods is a whole other story.
I'll reach out to Amazon next week before the container arrives to see if there's anything I'm missing.
Seller_42ymPbTHfHcms
@Tiff_Amazon
Still a week out, but the first issue came from our freight broker: "Please be advised IUSL Amazon Warehouse and Distribution Center is a virtual warehouse, no one at there per our trucker."
Question: Our documentation and stickers all say IUSL, but I see #MDT2 at the same address (600 Principio Parkway West, North East, MD 21901-2914). Should they be using this as their physical destination for the container and scheduling? For scheduling, do we need anything other than our shipment ID and Reference ID?
Seller_42ymPbTHfHcms
Feb 8 - Shipment arrives in under a week. Amazon AWD customer service provided two additional documents "AWD Updated" and "AWD Shipment Creation" (not attached here as will likely change and have a static AMZ link in time). Definitely a good step forward.
The Snafu flagged by our trucking line that the IUSL is a virtual warehouse was a valid concern and worth following up on. For my delivery the IUSL warehouse will be received by the physical location of the MDT2 warehouse. As my labels all say IUSL, it's important enough to get it right.
Using the non-Amazon carrier, warehouse scheduling of the container for unloading needs to be done by the trucking company through Amazon's carrier central (CARP). I had to ask the question several times to be absolutely sure what they needed to enter, but Amazon customer service confirmed how to populate the screen [Destination, ARN, PRO, PO]. The one thing that wasn't clear any documentation was that the ARN [Amazon Reference number] is filled into in the mandatory PO field as well.
The details of CARP is not something sellers deal with or even have access to, but just trying to make sure my stuff ends up at the right place. Here's a screen shot of what I'm advising my carrier to fill in based on the information I received.
Seller_42ymPbTHfHcms
Container Arrived in Baltimore... and there's a glitch.
Sending another request through AWD Support via a case log and will try to tie in Carrier Central, but here's the situation. We tried to explicitly verify information with customer service and received this through the case log:
- "Allow me to confirm to you that this information is correct:
- Destination FC: IUSL – 600 PRINCIPIO PKWY W 21901-2914 - NORTH EAST, MD - United States
- ARN: 4L98MQ7P PRO: STAR-RAHG73SP3KF2W PO List: 4L98MQ7P"
Our carrier came back with: There is no option for IUSL in the carrier central list. If they choose MDT2 (which has the same address) the Amazon Reference ID doesn't work (system response below)
- Failed to create appointment: Error on shipment 1: PO 4L98MQ7P is invalid or not destined for FC MDT2
Shipment is under Workflow ID: wf39a7bba8-bdd1-48e0-a1d6-158f208cd006. Product labels are all IUSL. Sending another case log in tonight (Case ID: 12003239271) @Tiff_Amazon
It looks like Amazon Inbound Scheduling has a chat which allows truckers to report issues with their PO. Trying everything tonight..
