Ask the Collective

What logistics strategies do members use to minimise lost or delayed deliveries when sending stock to Amazon FBA?

Members have moved away from bulk Amazon Freight (£900+ per delivery) due to high costs and reported inventory loss, instead using smaller, more frequent shipments routed through third-party carriers. **Key tactics:** - **UPS small parcel via Amazon's partnered carrier service** — Members report this is their primary solution. Stock can be sent in box form (not pallets) at roughly £35 per consolidated shipment instead of £69+ for pallet delivery. UPS collects from 3PL and delivers to Amazon within 2–3 days. Note: This approach works best if your product format allows pre-boxed, ready-to-ship stock (one member noted they are non-alcoholic, so suitability may vary by category). - **Smaller, more frequent deliveries** — Multiple members explicitly avoid bulk shipments because items routinely go missing in Amazon's fulfillment centres for weeks. Splitting deliveries increases operational overhead but reduces the risk exposure per shipment. **Caveats:** Members have experienced Amazon "losing" deliveries sent in May with no resolution from customer services, so they operate cautiously and document carefully. The scale of the problem (items disappearing for weeks in "the Amazon black hole") suggests the carrier/method choice matters less than frequency—spread risk across multiple smaller inbound shipments rather than betting on one large delivery.