@papy not upset at all, and do understand the point. Only a cautionary note for all - on this forum, we are the serious sellers, the people who are looking to build a good business, and each of us has worked hard to build the best reputation. We should all be careful how we express our comments, so it is not suggested that anyone here is trying to find a way to buck the system or get around rules. I joined this platform because of the people on it, and I hold all the sellers here in high regard and respect the knowledge and advice that is part of this forum.
The way amazon organizes their warehouse causes product packaging to age fairly quickly, because every item can be handled multiple times per day while workers are rummaging through a bin to find another product. I don’t know if this would solve your particular issue, but putting products in a poly bag will protect the actual product packaging fairly well. The plastic bag itself will look very worn after some time in the warehouse, but because plastic is extremely durable the contents don’t suffer much wear and tear.
Probably wouldn’t be appropriate for soap, but thanks for the suggestion. We used to just shrink wrap each bar with a label n the outside, but several weeks ago, we started using boxes with the shrink wrapped bars inside. I don’t have any experience yet with the new package, but we plan on removing anything that sits for 180 days which isn’t very common for us, but sometime happens when an ASIN becomes slow for whatever reason - we can never predict what will move fast because it changes constantly.
-Ana
You appear to have some sort of problem with me. Apologies that what I wrote was seen as some sort of an attack. It wasn’t. I hold myself to the highest regard here in terms of being someone that is knowledgeable about Amazon and the CPG industry after doing this for the last 25 years (7 years on Amazon) and a desire to actually be helpful.
With that said, here’s a link to the policy and a screen shot of the removal order limitations that went into effect on 4-15-23. It looks like you can work with this policy though if your inventory levels are under 8 weeks which would seem doable.
AGAIN, I agree with you and your position / workflow to ensure the best possible experience for consumers and doing the right thing. Unfortunately, Amazon has to do what Amazon has to do to prevent the bad actors that are very abundant on the marketplace from doing bad actor things. We all have to live and deal with that.
Asserting why Amazon may or may not do something in policy, does not simply imply all other sellers have done something nefarious. As a reader, please utilize the highest of integrity by using civil discourse to iron out any “suggested” confusion or perceived slight, before publicly asserting what one thinks an author may or may not have negatively implied.
Give others the benefit of the doubt when possible.
Thanks for posting that @ASV_Vites !
-Ana
Quick update about Amazon declaring that they do not follow FIFO methodology.
The following is stated in the " Remove inventory automatically" section:
The last sentence “go to Expiration dates on FBA products” makes me believe that they do make exceptions in such cases, as mentioned previously by RiverRetail.
I believe that they use some type of FIFO on a PER WAREHOUSE basis.
So they choose the warehouse that fulfills the inventory based on the best location that has inventory, and only then will FIFO apply.
Thanks to all for their input!
I’m new to here and new to Amazon selling products with expiration dates, so pardon my naivete if it’s obvious!
Question for this thread… If you do adopt the “change the SKU each year” strategy, what happens to all your subscribe-and-save orders? Aren’t they tied to a particular SKU?
Welcome to SAS!
Being a holiday weekend, it might be a while before a SAS member with experience with this comes back with an answer … but we welcome you!
Welcome to SellersAskSellers, and good question! Tagging @primetime @Spaghetti @GGX for visibility.
I didn’t think about this fact since I don’t use S&S, but this is true, S&S is tied to the SKU so you can’t change it.
The ASIN is what’s in the Subscribe and Save program, not the sku for that ASIN.
I think you may be incorrect but hopefully someone knows for sure.
That’s why I said I didn’t know for sure.
What I do know is S&S offers are enrolled under ASIN, not SKU. That’s why I have my theory.
I find it difficult to believe that those that manage their perishable products by SKU are locked out of this program.
With that said, managing perishable items by SKU is not a function Amazon has or recommends. It’s a workaround for the most ridiculous practice FBA has - Not managing perishable inventory FIFO, even though they are supplied the exp date upon shipment creation.
Every other 3PL / warehouse in the industry has been managing this since the early 90’s so I guess Amazon is 30 years behind the times.
ALSO, and MOST IMPORTANTLY - if this is indeed the case, Amazon is breaking federal law which is nothing new for them.
For example, it is the law to capture lot number for ecommerce when shipping products that have a lot # for anti-terrorism reasons to notify consumers of recalls by lot.
I have a lot of personal experience with this when, in a past life, we migrated our shipping from our own DC’s, to a 3PL.
I will admit here that I was wrong when talking about FBA being registered with the FDA for warehouse compliance. Some of you might have noticed that I deleted a response on this topic about a month ago. They aren’t and have been aggressively fighting this with some BS loophole for FBA being a grocery store or some ■■■■ like that.
In this regard, and others, Amazon is despicable!
ETA - It may have been this thread where I wrote and then deleted the response mentioned above now that I am looking at it…
Hey welcome!
I confirm. S&S is tied to the SKU, and you have to ask seller support to transfer the subscriptions to the new SKU
Thank you for the clarity on this.
Thanks @Spaghetti! Do you do this by opening a case with regular SS, or is there a specific email address?
The last line above the excel box in @GGX 's image
To request a transfer of subscriptions for a Subscribe & Save offer that requires a new SKU, contact your Amazon account manager, or you can get support on the Contact us page. You must provide the following imformation:
Basically if you use S&S you avoid changing SKUs unless you absolutely have to. Anytime there’s something manually involved at Amazon it tends to go badly.