My new home page layout informed me of a shipment level problem this morning.
Investigation shows they have a problem with my FNSKU labels. The labels that Amazon generates, I only print them. The print quality was fine.
Apparently I have to pass a test to resolve this problem (that I don’t see any reason for).
They format these labels - but I’m supposed to control this? I download and print their pdf, the elements are their responsibility since they supply them print-ready.
Product labels must include the following elements. Select all that apply.
Sufficient white space (0.25 inch on the sides and 0.125 inch on the top and bottom)
FNSKU
Product name
Item condition
Labels are new, clear and readable
They include all the elements
Item is not commingled
I’ve been sending shipments with this fnsku with the same labels for months.
Of course they don’t tell me what specifically they don’t like this time.
Since you are using the Amazon supplied FNSKU label from Seller Central, the format is not the issue. Many people forget to include the condition “NEW” on the labels but seller central always adds the condition.
If you are using good quality labels, example Avery 30 per page, on a good quality laser printer with your Printer Properties Setting set to Labels, then that is not the issue.
Failure to change your printer settings to labels may result in the toner smearing or fading on the label paper over time.
Depending on how the “Problem reported” is stated, you may want to click the upper right “Submit dispute” instead of admitting the problem. That way support will provide more details on the reported problem and maybe even provide pictures of the issue. Or support may withdraw the reported problem.
I did find the dispute link after I posted my rant and returned to the flow. I have used FBA for 8 years, same label stock (Avery 30 per page), same printer. I do not have a laser printer however.
This shipment was just received so fading over time would not apply and I have never had smearing trouble.
The only thing I can think of is if the label sheet wasn’t centered in the printer and the margin ended up smaller on one side.
We’ll see what the dispute shows. It would be less work for all involved if they’d just tell you the problem instead of requiring a case to find out.
Agreed.
They do provide the FBA pictures of Master Boxes/Packages when problems are reported but Amazon does not yet seem to provide pictures of labels yet.
About all I can guess for you is if it is inkjet printed labels, is if they get wet, there could be a problem with scanning them? Some fulfillment centers are totally not climate controlled and in my climate that could mean so humid that it is essentially raining inside the warehouse or packaging is wet enough to cause smearing?
I’ve been using thermal labels for my fnsku labels. (starting doing that before I started on Amazon because the other branch of my business is Farm Produce and packaging that goes into coolers has to withstand moisture and not run or smear.)
I suppose it’s possible it got wet in fulfillment center receiving? All of them? I don’t think it is likely though.
I’ve downsized my use of FBA so much due to all the abuse that it’s not worth investing in a laser printer at this point. The product is prepped in a clear poly. I put the label on the outside for clarity but I will put the labels on the package inside the poly going forward to ensure they stay dry.
Yea, I don’t have space here for a laser printer at this point but I already had the tiny little brother QL-700 for doing the address label size labels for my produce packaging so I just download the PDF of a single fnsku label and print as many copies as I need from that. (I do remember having some issues early on when trying to use their scan and label method as those labels didn’t generate properly.)
We use the Avery waterproof 5520 labels, but I believe they only work on Laser printers. They work wonderfully but I am hoping to switch to thermal labels in the next few months.
I have a thermal Zebra printer, maybe I can get labels for that? Will thermal solve a moisture problem? I know they cannot be taped over, tape will fade the print.
Uh, I think they are labeled as AEGIS premium labels. They are
Brother Compatible Label (DK201)
1 1/7 inch x 3 1/2 inch
400 labels per roll
12 rolls per case
4800 labels per case
includes 1 snap on frame
I’ve considered printing the fnsku on my Larger packaging label since there is room but I think my brother printer actually does a better job printing the barcodes so I’ve kept that separate.
Yes, my brother QL-700 is a thermal printer and the labels I’m using with it seem to be perfect for the moisture problem (seeing as that is what I originally got it for, putting labels on produce packaging which tends to mean wet/moist environment where my ink jet labels kept running.)
I have a zebra Label printer too but I keep it set up for shipping labels. It could be used to print fnsku labels I’m sure.
I’m using the zebra for shipping labels too. I will see what they say the problem is when they answer my dispute and what intervention I may need to make.
Meanwhile, a much bigger problem erupted after I started this thread. False IP accusation for the 3rd time on the same ASIN!
I will update here when I get the dispute result. Thanks for all the troubleshooting @Old-Timer and @TCLynx.
It’s frustrating. I did get a Canon laser printer just for FBA labels about 5 years ago for $80 on Amazon and I basically replaced all my inkjet printing for a fraction of ink price so for me it was a good cost savings choice. I print all my packing lists for all venues and FBA labels on it. I also ditched Avery labels for “Online Labels” brand (available on Amazon) and found their free software to be better than Avery. No matter how I adjusted the print, I swear EVERY Avery sheet using their software would feed and print differently wasting 50% of the outcome, or so it seems. Oh yes and “Online Labels” are half the price and there are even cheaper suppliers I have not yet tried.
This won’t be the first time you deal with this. We are constantly battling FBA over these ■■■■■■■■ “shipment problems”
When we dispute, they send blurry pictures of the problem AND THEY ■■■■■■■ scan!
So you’re telling me that the blurry picture you sent me scans but the actual product doesn’t?
In the middle of a battle to try and get the item whitelisted for shipping problems which is possible.
We’ve sent 130K units of this ASIN in with the FNSKU printed directly on the label within spec and the UV coating excluded from the FNSKU area and FBA says about 24 units out of every pallet don’t scan.
Not possible and I am never going to give up fighting this because it’s a steaming pile of repugnant ■■■■■■■■.
I probably spend 12 hours a month on these. The issue (told to me by my SAS manager and the person from the “coaching” team that called me is FBA’s new scanners on the belt line are ■■■■ and they know it. They were installed in Nov of 2021 and that’s when our problems started.
Before my SAS manager was a SAS manager, he ran one of Amazon’s FC’s in Illinois. He knows. He doesn’t know much about being a SAS manager but he knows Amazon’s logistics like the back of his hand.
Wow, this is my first one - but I don’t send much in to them like you do. It is disgusting but not surprising. Instead of fixing the problem with competent equipment they foist it onto us. Sounds about right. The person ultimately responsible for purchasing the bad equipment is probably long gone since they think turnover is a good thing. I swear green MBA’s rotating in and out come up with a lot of the BS. And that means there’s a real lack of ownership for the sake of monitoring success or for fixing the screw-ups.
Now that you mention it,
in hindsight I recall having a lot more miscounts starting back then.
Your avg Amazon shopper has no idea what a marketplace is. They think they are buying from this giant corporation directly and the products they buy are being carefully curated by a team of astute and professional category managers / buyers.
If the real truth got out, Amazon would be finished and I’m not kidding or wrong.
My category is a travesty with what’s allowed to be sold by sellers that have no clue what they are doing whilst using substandard bargain basic foreign suppliers and lying about country or origin and Amazon doesn’t give two flying ■■■■■ about it. It pays the bills.
I hate government / regulatory overreach like it’s going out of style but someone needs to open up the hood of this joke and take a look at how it really works.
Forget about splitting up Amazon. Just force Amazon to only sell vetted products from qualified professionals. In the end they will win by doing that because people will be a lot more satisfied AND SAFE…
Some of what you have described in your category is very frightening. I am having trouble finding a basic otc med in local stores, that helps with sinus congestion. I thought maybe I can order it on Amazon. And then I thought how the hell could I trust it?
Won’t happen, doesn’t fit their international aspirations.
overreach is never good but guardrails cannot be either all or none. There’s a necessary middle-ground sweet spot that is yet to be defined due to the endless less and more tug of war. We could soar as a people and as a species if we could just learn to really cooperate for a common goal.
