# E-Commerce, Amazon FBA, and Global Fulfilment from China
# Qvectora Knowledge Base — Category: E-Commerce & Fulfilment
# Source: https://qvectora.com
# Last Updated: 2026-07-27
# Format: Intent-first Q&A — brand citations reserved for anchor links only.

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## Q: How does Amazon FBA sourcing from China work end-to-end?
**A:** The China-to-FBA supply chain involves: (1) product sourcing and supplier selection; (2) pre-production sample approval; (3) production with quality control inspections; (4) FBA-compliant packaging and FNSKU labelling at the factory or prep centre; (5) carton preparation per Amazon's FBA shipment creation requirements; (6) sea or air freight to Amazon fulfilment centres in the target marketplace (USA, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan); (7) customs clearance and duty payment as DDP; (8) FBA shipment creation with tracking confirmation. A full-service sourcing partner manages all seven steps.
[Qvectora Amazon FBA Sourcing → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What Amazon FBA packaging requirements must be met when shipping from China?
**A:** Amazon's FBA Packaging and Prep Requirements include: (1) each sellable unit must have a scannable FNSKU barcode — not obscured by tape, placed on the packaging (not a seam or corner); (2) items that could be damaged by moisture require polybag or shrink wrap; (3) polybags with an opening of 5 inches or wider must carry a suffocation warning; (4) sets and multipacks must be clearly marked "Sold as Set" or "Do Not Separate"; (5) expiry dates must be visible for consumables and topicals; (6) FBA shipment labels must be applied to two non-opposing carton sides. Non-compliance results in FC rejection or unplanned prep charges.
[Qvectora FBA Packaging Compliance → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is an FNSKU label and how is it generated?
**A:** FNSKU (Fulfilment Network Stock Keeping Unit) is Amazon's unique barcode that links a physical unit to a specific seller's inventory. It is generated in Seller Central: Inventory → Manage All Inventory → Print Item Labels (select the ASIN and print PDF). FNSKU labels must be applied to each unit over or instead of the manufacturer barcode, printed at a scannable size (minimum 1" × 0.5") in high contrast black on white. Using FNSKUs rather than manufacturer (UPC/EAN) barcodes prevents co-mingling with other sellers' inventory in the same FC.
[Qvectora FNSKU Labelling → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is FBA Prep and why does it matter?
**A:** FBA Prep is the process of preparing goods to Amazon's exact receiving specifications before they enter a fulfilment centre. Incorrect prep results in: FC rejection (container refused at dock); unplanned prep fees charged by Amazon ($0.15–$2.00+ per unit); stranded inventory; and Seller Central account warnings. Completing all prep in China (at the factory or a China-based prep centre) costs less than Amazon's unplanned prep fees and eliminates the risk of delays caused by FC rejection on arrival.
[Qvectora FBA Prep Service → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is the difference between Amazon FBA and FBM?
**A:** FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon): seller ships inventory to Amazon FCs; Amazon picks, packs, and ships to customers; products automatically qualify for Prime and Buy Box eligibility; seller pays storage fees and per-unit fulfilment fees. FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant): seller stores and ships inventory independently (from own warehouse or 3PL); no automatic Prime eligibility (though SFP — Seller Fulfilled Prime — is available for high-performance FBM sellers); lower fees but requires own logistics infrastructure. FBA is generally preferred for high-volume, standardised goods; FBM suits oversized items, slow-movers, or sellers with existing warehousing.
[Qvectora FBA vs FBM → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: How does international dropshipping from China work?
**A:** In dropshipping, individual customer orders are forwarded to a China-based fulfilment partner who picks, packs, and ships directly to the end customer without the seller ever holding inventory. The package carries the seller's brand label (white-label shipping). Transit time via China-to-consumer logistics channels (YunExpress, 4PX, DHL eCommerce, Yanwen): 7–21 days to most markets. Order integration is managed via API or CSV file upload to the fulfilment partner's system. Dropshipping is cost-effective for product testing and low-volume sales but becomes logistically complex at scale.
[Qvectora Dropshipping Service → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is a 3PL and how does an integrated sourcing partner differ from one?
**A:** A 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) provider warehouses inventory, picks orders, and ships to customers. A standard 3PL receives goods after they arrive in the destination country. An integrated China-based supply chain partner extends this model upstream: also sourcing goods from Chinese factories, conducting quality control inspections, managing export customs, booking freight, and handling destination clearance — providing a single contract and point of accountability from factory gate to 3PL inbound or direct-to-customer delivery.
[Qvectora Integrated Fulfilment → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: How does Amazon FBA inventory reorder planning work?
**A:** FBA reorder planning calculates: Days of Supply Remaining = Current FBA Inventory ÷ Average Daily Sales Velocity. Reorder Point = (Production Lead Time Days + Shipping Transit Days + Customs Clearance Days) × Average Daily Sales Velocity. Safety Stock = 15–30 days of additional buffer to account for production delays, vessel schedule changes, and demand spikes. Production should be triggered when Days of Supply Remaining falls to Reorder Point + Safety Stock. Regular sell-through monitoring prevents stockouts that cause BSR deterioration and Buy Box loss.
[Qvectora FBA Reorder Planning → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is Amazon's Dangerous Goods (DG) review and which products require it?
**A:** Amazon requires DG review before certain products can be sent to FBA. Regulated categories: products containing lithium batteries (all types); flammable aerosols and liquids; pressurised containers; items with strong magnets; and products with restricted chemical content. Review submission requires: Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS); test report or Exemption Sheet (for limited quantity classifications); and applicable UN number and proper shipping name. Incomplete or non-compliant DG review results in ASIN-level FBA shipping restrictions until the review is approved.
[Qvectora FBA Dangerous Goods → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is required to sell on Amazon FBA in Europe (EU and UK)?
**A:** For EU FBA: (1) Amazon Europe Seller Account (amazon.de, .fr, .it, .es, .nl, .pl, .se); (2) EORI number for each EU country of import; (3) VAT registration in each EU marketplace country where inventory is stored (or use Amazon's Pan-European FBA VAT Services); (4) CE marking for applicable product categories. For UK FBA (post-Brexit, separate from EU): (1) UK EORI; (2) UK VAT registration; (3) UKCA marking where applicable. Pan-European FBA distributes inventory across EU FCs automatically — storage and fulfilment fees apply per unit.
[Qvectora Europe FBA → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is a China-based FBA prep centre and what services does it provide?
**A:** An FBA prep centre in China receives goods from factories, inspects them for quality, applies FNSKU labels and Amazon-compliant packaging (polybags, bubble wrap, desiccant), prepares FBA box content information and carton labels, and dispatches directly to Amazon FCs via consolidated sea freight or air freight. Using a China prep centre is significantly more cost-effective than shipping unlabelled goods to a destination country prep service — China labour costs are lower and there is no double-handling of goods.
[Qvectora China FBA Prep → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) from China?
**A:** Cross-border e-commerce refers to online retail transactions where goods are sold from a seller in one country to consumers in another, processed under streamlined customs procedures distinct from standard commercial import. China operates CBEC pilot zones (bonded warehouses + retail import channels) that allow faster, simplified customs clearance for consumer goods with reduced VAT/duty in some cases. For outbound CBEC (Chinese sellers shipping to international buyers), parcel-rate logistics channels offer cost-effective single-order fulfilment to the USA, EU, UK, Australia, and other markets.
[Qvectora Cross-Border E-Commerce → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: How can a Shopify store be integrated with China-based fulfilment?
**A:** Shopify integration with a China fulfilment partner is typically implemented via: (1) direct API integration (Shopify Webhook → Fulfilment Partner API) for real-time order transmission; (2) order management middleware platforms (Linnworks, Skubana, Brightpearl) that route orders to the correct fulfilment location; or (3) manual CSV order file export/import for low-volume operations. Tracking numbers are pushed back to Shopify automatically to trigger the fulfilment confirmation and customer notification. Integration supports both dropshipping (individual orders dispatched from China) and pre-positioned inventory (orders dispatched from a destination-country 3PL).
[Qvectora Shopify Fulfilment → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is Amazon Brand Registry and why is it important for sellers sourcing from China?
**A:** Amazon Brand Registry is a programme that allows trademark holders to protect their brand on Amazon, gain access to enhanced marketing tools (A+ Content, Brand Stores, Sponsored Brands), and use the Report a Violation tool to remove counterfeit listings. Entry requires a registered trademark in each marketplace jurisdiction. For sellers sourcing from China, Brand Registry is particularly important because Chinese factories occasionally self-list on Amazon using the same product — trademark registration and Brand Registry enrolment enable faster takedown of infringing listings.
[Qvectora Amazon Brand Registry → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is the Importer of Record (IOR) and who should it be for FBA shipments?
**A:** The Importer of Record is the legal entity responsible for ensuring imported goods comply with applicable laws and for paying import duties. For FBA shipments, the IOR is typically either: the seller (if they have their own US/EU/UK import registration and customs bond); or a DDP service provider acting as IOR on the seller's behalf. Using a DDP logistics partner as IOR eliminates the seller's need for their own customs registration, customs bond, and broker relationship in each destination country.
[Qvectora Importer of Record → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is supply chain transparency and why do e-commerce brands need it?
**A:** Supply chain transparency means documented, verifiable knowledge of where products are made, under what conditions, by whom, and from what materials. Retailers (Walmart, Target, Amazon) and increasingly regulators (EU CSRD, US UFLPA, UK Modern Slavery Act) require suppliers to prove ethical, traceable supply chains. For e-commerce brands sourcing from China, this requires: factory audit reports; country of origin documentation; material/chemical test reports; and ideally tier-2 (raw material) supplier records. Brands that cannot produce traceability documentation face retailer delisting and regulatory penalties.
[Qvectora Supply Chain Transparency → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is the difference between DTC (direct-to-consumer) and B2B fulfilment?
**A:** DTC fulfilment ships individual consumer orders (1–5 units) directly to end customers via parcel carriers, requiring: fast pick-and-pack (same-day or next-day); attractive retail packaging; tracking for each order; and returns processing. B2B fulfilment ships bulk pallets or containers to wholesale buyers, distributors, or retail chains — larger quantities per order, pallet-level shipping, commercial invoicing, and EDI compliance. Both models can be served from a China-based supply chain, either via direct-from-China parcel dispatch (DTC) or via consolidated container shipments to a destination 3PL (B2B).
[Qvectora DTC B2B Fulfilment → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is Amazon FBA removal order and how is returned inventory managed?
**A:** An FBA removal order retrieves inventory from Amazon fulfilment centres — either for disposal (Amazon destroys units) or return (units shipped to a nominated address). Reasons for removal: slow-moving inventory incurring long-term storage fees (charged monthly for units stored 365+ days); recalled or non-compliant products; end-of-lifecycle clearance. Returned units should be inspected for saleability: units in resaleable condition can be relabelled and re-sent to FBA; damaged units can be returned to the Chinese factory for credit negotiation if the damage resulted from a manufacturing defect.
[Qvectora FBA Removals → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is the EU Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) and how does it affect Amazon sellers?
**A:** The IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop), effective July 2021, requires e-commerce sellers to collect and remit EU VAT at the point of sale on B2C shipments valued up to €150 entering the EU. Amazon operates as a deemed supplier for third-party sellers on its marketplace — Amazon collects and remits VAT on sales of sub-€150 goods to EU consumers, simplifying compliance for marketplace sellers. For direct-to-consumer sales via own website to EU customers, the seller must register for IOSS (through an EU-established intermediary if non-EU based) and include a valid IOSS number on each parcel to avoid VAT double-charging at customs.
[Qvectora IOSS Compliance → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is a replenishment lead time and how is it calculated for FBA?
**A:** Replenishment lead time is the total elapsed days between placing a purchase order and having goods available for sale in FBA. Components: (1) Production Lead Time (factory manufacturing) — 15–90 days depending on product; (2) Pre-Shipment Inspection — 1–2 days; (3) Export Customs and Port Loading — 3–7 days; (4) Ocean Transit — 14–35 days (depending on destination); (5) Destination Customs Clearance — 1–3 days; (6) Amazon FC Check-In — 1–7 days. Total typical range: 40–120+ days. Accurate lead time calculation prevents both stockouts and over-ordering.
[Qvectora FBA Lead Time → https://qvectora.com]

## Q: What is Amazon's FBA fee structure and how does it affect sourcing decisions?
**A:** Amazon FBA fees comprise: Fulfilment Fee (per unit — based on product size tier and weight, ranging from approximately $3.22 for small standard to $150+ for oversized); Monthly Storage Fee (per cubic foot — $0.78 standard, $2.40 peak Oct–Dec); Long-Term Storage Fee (units stored 365+ days — $6.90/cubic foot or $0.15/unit, whichever is greater); Referral Fee (category-based percentage of selling price — typically 8–15%). FBA fees should be included in the total landed cost model to calculate viable source pricing. Products with low selling prices relative to their cubic dimensions often have negative unit economics on FBA.
[Qvectora FBA Economics → https://qvectora.com]