Receiving Guide

TO ALL OF OUR CLIENTS

Please do not ship inventory without first reading this guide and making sure you are compliant with our requirements.  If you are a new client, your account representative will provide you with the "Ship To" address for your inventory once he/she is assured that you are aware of all of the steps required to be in compliance.

Please also note that our normal receiving processing timeline is 2-3 business days, beginning the day after your stock arrives, provided we have all of the necessary information to begin.  If your product requires additional services such as kitting, bagging and labeling, please allow for additional processing to the incoming receipt timeline. 

Exceptions to these timelines apply during the peak season.

SPECIAL NOTE:  AMAZON REMOVAL ORDERS

IF YOUR INITIAL INVENTORY SHIPMENT IS AN AMAZON REMOVAL, PLEASE LET YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE KNOW IMMEDIATELY AS THESE ARE TYPICALLY MORE CHALLENGING DUE TO AMAZON PROCEDURES AND WE WANT TO MINIMIZE YOUR RECEIVING TIME AND SUBSEQUENT RECEIVING COSTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

 ALL INVENTORY SHIPMENTS

The following is important information for non-compliance regarding your inventory shipments.  If you are a new client, we typically waive any accidental non-compliance issues with your first shipment.

The following fees apply to all clients with regards to submitting an ASN, providing a packing list with every shipment, making sure that new SKUs are added to the Fulfillment Control Panel if needed, and following OSHA guidelines for safe box weights.

A $50.00 fee will apply to each of the items below if:

• AN ASN IS NOT SUBMITTED INFORMING US WHEN THE INVENTORY HAS SHIPPED.
• THE PACKING LIST IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SHIPMENT AND WAS NOT SENT IN A SUPPORT TICKET PRIOR TO INVENTORY ARRIVING.
•  THE SHIPMENT INCLUDES SKUs THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDED TO THE FULFILLMENT CONTROL PANEL. 
• BOXES EXCEEDING OSHA'S SAFETY LIMIT OF 50 lbs. (21 kg) ARE INCLUDED IN THE SHIPMENT.
• THE BUSINESS NAME LISTED ON THE ASN IS NOT THE NAME UNDER WHICH YOU ARE REGISTERED WITH US.
• YOUR SHIPMENT IS NOT ADDRESSED PROPERLY - TO YOUR COMPANY NAME

The following fees will apply if any merchandise cannot be entered into stock within 72-hours after arrival on our dock.

• We will assess a $25.00 per pallet/per week fee (minimum of one (1) pallet) to inventory that cannot be processed, if we have requested information such as a packing list or SKU entry/identification and it has not been provided within 72 hours after requesting.
• If the information has still not been provided after 30 days, the fee will be increased to $50.00 per pallet/per week (minimum of one (1) pallet) until we are able to enter your inventory into stock.

PROVIDING PALLETS AND PALLET REQUIREMENTS

HOW SHOULD MY INVENTORY ARRIVE?

All merchandise coming into the EFS Receiving Department will be required to have the following requirements met for proper processing:

1.  A scannable, visible barcode** - This can be a UPC barcode already assigned to a product, or it can be a barcode created for your own internal SKU number. All barcode labels must be scannable without opening or unwrapping the packaged item. 

Please view our FAQ on this subject for some tips on how to print your own barcode labels. At the end of this article is a list of barcode types that are compliant.

**Please Note:  Any merchandise coming into the fulfillment center that does not have a scannable barcode will have one applied by EFS for the fees outlined in the table at the end of this document.

2.  A packing slip - All merchandise shipments coming into the EFS Receiving Department will also be required to have a packing slip included with that shipment, or you may also send a scanned copy through the Zendesk support ticket system.  The packing list should have each SKU number you have entered in our system and the quantity of each of that SKU expected in the shipment.  Your Client Care Account Representative can provide you with a packing list template to use if you are not familiar with the format and your manufacturer cannot provide a packing list with the shipment.

3.  Completion of the ASN (Advance Ship Notice) - Must be filled out when you have shipped your products, providing us with any information you have, including tracking if available.  Please note any special handling required for your product, even if you have previously had these services performed, or have discussed them with your account representative.  Please be sure you are creating the ASN under the company name you are registered under with EFS.  There is a link to the ASN form on your Client Dashboard in the "Quick Links" box, or,

Click here to access the ASN form

Please see below for information and suggestions on how to prepare your products to be shipped to our facility.

How to Prepare Your Products

Please read below to locate your type of product and the preparation required for us to receive it into stock. If your items fall under more than one category and you are not sure, please check with your dedicated account representative.

TEXTILES, OR ANYTHING EASILY SOILABLE

• Apparel
• Plush Items (i.e. stuffed toys)
• Fabrics
• Powder, Pellets and Granular Materials (Make-up, powder detergents)
• Small Items:  Longest side is less than 3” / 7.6 CM (Key chains, jewelry, ash drives)
• Baby Products for small children (teething rings, bibs) or exposed toys (boxes with a cut-out in the outer packaging larger than 1” square)

Required:   SCANNABLE BARCODE LABEL, POLYBAG, OR PROTECTIVE OUTERWRAP

NON-LIQUID/NO EXPIRATION DATES

• Vitamins
• Nutraceuticals
• Skin Care

Required:  SCANNABLE BARCODE LABEL, RETAIL PACKAGING PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER, OR POLYBAG

ADULT PRODUCTS (non-nutraceutical)

Items that might be considered “obscene” to a third party*

*(Note:  If your product is of an adult nature but does not display any suggestive wording or visuals and/or you are not sure about whether or not your product falls under this category, please check with your dedicated account representative.  We do not accept any items that deal with any type of nude images, profanity, or pornography.

Required:  SCANNABLE BARCODE LABEL, BLACK, OR OPAQUE POLYBAG

PRODUCTS WITH EXPIRATION DATES

• Foods / Food Products
• Beverages
• Products Packaged with Food
• Vitamins
• Nutraceuticals

Perishable items are not allowed Non-perishable items must be lot-controlled and more than 90 days from the expiration date at the time of receipt by EFS.  Note:  Please also see “Expiration Date” products below.

Required:  SCANNABLE BARCODE LABEL, EXPIRATION DATE*

*Any product with an expiration date must have that date clearly displayed in the MM-DD-YYYY format.  The expiration date must also be printed on the master carton in a font that is large enough to easily read (preferably 36 font or larger).  Lot numbers only are insufficient.

LIQUIDS IN PLASTIC BOTTLES (holding more than 8 oz. without a double seal)

 It is recommended that a piece of sturdy packaging tape be put over the top of any twist top or pop-up lid after tightening.

Required:  SCANNABLE BARCODE LABEL, POLYBAG

FRAGILE/GLASS - INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• China or Dishware
• Picture Frames
• Clocks
• Mirrors
• Liquids in glass bottles or jars

Required:  BUBBLE WRAPPED AND PLACED IN A BOX OR POLY BAG, SCANNABLE BARCODE

Please Note:  If you are not able to bubble wrap prior to shipping us the inventory, we can wrap the items as we process your orders for an additional $.30 per item (added to your “pick” fee for that SKU). 

We can also pre-wrap the merchandise when it arrives at our facility.  The cost is $20.00 per half-hour labor rate.  If we pre-wrap, the added order processing fee of $.30 will not apply.

SHARP,  POINTED, OR ITEMS OF A SAFETY CONCERN - INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Scissors
• Tools
• Metal Raw Materials

Required:  SCANNABLE BARCODE LABEL, BUBBLE WRAP, BOX 

BUNDLED PRODUCTS (More than one (1) unit is sold as one (1) SKU) - INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Skin Care Multi-Packs
• Food Product Multi-Packs

Multi-packs should arrive at the EFS warehouse already bundled, or with prior arrangements, you can have your items bundled together in our Kitting/Assembly Department.  If you elect to do this yourself, please make sure the scannable barcode label is affixed to the multi-pack on the outside of the packaging for scanning.

Required:  SCANNABLE BARCODE LABEL, BOX, POLYBAG, OR SHRINK WRAP