FNSKU Explained for Sellers – Understand Barcodes with Ease

Did you know you can be among the many sellers who average more than $250,000 in annual sales on Amazon? You can leverage the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program to deliver products to your customers from the platform’s fulfillment centers. 

You’ll only need a special FNSKU identifier to ensure smooth deliveries and to attribute each FBA product sale to you. But what exactly is it, and how can you use it to optimize your inventory management and Amazon shipping process? 

Discover this and more in today’s guide!

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However, you still need a dependable freight forwarder to help ship your products from your manufacturer or supplier to Amazon FBA. 

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You can use our digital dashboard to manage the shipping process yourself or leave everything to us while you focus on growing your FBA business. 

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What is FNSKU and Why It Matters?

FNSKU stands for Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit, an Amazon-exclusive labeling and barcode system used for products fulfilled by Amazon. 

Amazon has an FNSKU barcode generator that produces a seller-specific FNSKU label to ensure each product in Amazon’s fulfillment centers is credited to the right seller. 

The FNSKU is also specific to each product on the Amazon FBA system, ensuring the right customer receives the exact product they ordered.

Each FNSKU label typically includes the following elements:

• Seller details 
• Name of the product
• A short description of the product 
• Condition of the product (it could be new, used, etc.)
• Scannable barcode

FNSKU labeling is important to sellers, customers, and even Amazon for several reasons:

• With the right FNSKU labels, every product you sell and fulfill via Amazon FBA can be correctly attributed to your seller account, ensuring you get paid for each sale. 
• Each product you sell reaches the right customer. 
• FNSKU labels help Amazon track each inbound and outbound unit to avoid losing track of items. 
• The FNSKU system optimizes Amazon shipping since Amazon can trace and route units more efficiently, ensuring faster deliveries. 

FNSKU vs. Other Product Identifiers

Whether you are new to Amazon or a veteran seller, it’s easy to get confused by all the product identification systems on the platform. 

Let’s see how the FNSKU compares to other common identifiers:

FNSKU vs. ASIN

ASIN is short for Amazon Standard Identification Number, a unique identifier shared by every seller offering the same product in Amazon’s catalog. 

Both ASIN and FNSKU are alphanumeric numbers or barcodes. However, ASIN is primarily specific to a product, while FNSKU is primarily specific to the seller and, by extension, to a product they offer. 

The ASIN is used primarily for search and cataloging purposes. In contrast, the FNSKU is primarily used for inventory tracking so that each product can be easily attributed to a specific FBA seller. 

As such, every product on Amazon has an ASIN, but not every product has an FNSKU. 

FNSKU vs. SKU

SKU stands for Stock Keeping Unit, and it is an optional code you assign to different products for internal inventory management purposes. 

You can create your own SKU or use your manufacturer’s SKU labeling system. 

The SKU differs from FNSKU in that sellers use it to track inventory internally, while Amazon uses FNSKU to track items shipped through Amazon FBA.

FNSKU vs. UPC

Universal Product Code, or UPC, is a product identifier assigned by a manufacturer to a product. It is the same for identical items sold by different sellers.

An UPC label has a barcode that allows manufacturers, retailers, and distributors to manage and track inventory. 

While UPC can help manage your Amazon catalog, it doesn’t help with Amazon inventory management and product tracking because it doesn’t identify the seller. 

Additionally, UPC labels are recognized and scannable globally, while FNSKU labels are only scannable within the  Amazon FBA ecosystem. 

How to Find and Generate FNSKU

Generating or finding FNSKU for your products is easy on Amazon. 

Here’s how you can do it:

1. In your Amazon Seller Central account, enlist your products with Amazon FBA and use FNSKU as your preferred barcode setting. This prompts the platform to activate your inventory and process FNSKU barcodes.
2. Click “Manage Inventory” in Seller Central to access the “FNSKU” column. 
3. Look up the product you want to label and click the “Edit” drop-down.
4. Indicate the size, number of labels you need, and the correct paper and sticker types. 
5. Click “Print Item Labels”.
6. Amazon will generate a PDF file with all the required FNSKU labels for the product. 

FNSKU Labeling Requirements and Best Practices

To use Amazon FBA, the platform requires you to follow specific FNSKU label requirements. 

Let’s check out the key ones to consider:

• Each label must be large enough for easy scanning, with a recommended minimum size of 1” x 2-⅝”. (You can change the size depending on your product and its packaging.)
• Use a 0.25” margin on the sides and 0.125″ margins at the top and bottom. 
• Each label should be printed in black ink on white, non-reflective paper. 
• Each FNSKU label must have the product name, unique FNSKU code, product condition information, and an FNSKU barcode. 
• The FNSKU barcode must be clear, easy to read, and scannable. It should take up most of the real estate on the label. 
• You must place the label on a flat surface in an easy-to-spot location on the outside of the packaging. 
• Each FNSKU label must be secured on the packaging with a strong removable adhesive and shouldn’t peel off during handling or shipping. 
• Each label must be durable enough to resist friction, temperature changes, and moisture during storage, handling, and shipping. 

Here are some helpful FNSKU labeling best practices to consider:

• Do not place the label over images or text, as they might obscure it. 
• If you sell products in a group or case pack, ensure each product has its own FNSKU label. Also, apply an FNSKU label to an external surface on the packaging of the entire set. 
• Never place the label along curves, corners, or edges, where scanning could be difficult. 
• Double-check that every item has the correct FNSKU label before shipping it to an Amazon fulfillment center. 

Step-by-Step Way to Apply FNSKU Labels

Once you have prompted Amazon to generate FNSKU labels for you, applying them is easy using the procedure below:

1. Print the labels in black ink on white, adhesive-backed, non-reflective printing paper. (You can print at 300 DPI if you have a laser printer. If you don’t have a printer or know how to print FNSKU labels through Amazon, you can outsource printing to a local print shop.)
2. Remove any other barcode on the product or packaging, such as the manufacturer’s UPC.
3. Affix each FNSKU label on its product before shipping, ensuring you follow the above requirements and best practices for label placement. 
4. Now that the products are properly labeled, you can ship them to Amazon for fulfillment. 

Note: If you can’t apply the FNSKU labels yourself, your supplier can do it for you. You only have to arrange for them to access the barcode, and they can place the label on the product. 

Alternatively, you can have Amazon apply the labels for you. The Amazon label service costs a fee, typically $0.55 per unit. 

While Fulfillment by Amazon makes your work easier as a seller, it also has several challenges. 

The entire supply chain, including sourcing products and shipping directly to Amazon FBA from the manufacturer or supplier, can be overwhelming. 

That’s why you should look for an Amazon freight forwarder – Ship4wd. We offer Amazon sellers a reliable digital platform that helps them optimize their shipping process. For example, you can use our platform for shipping from China to the Amazon FBA.

To start using our platform, you just have to create an account. It includes a detailed freight forwarding cost calculator that lets you generate and compare shipping rates from multiple carriers in real-time.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Here are some common questions about FNSKU labels:

Is There a Way to Bulk Print FNSKU Labels?

Yes. You can print FNSKU labels in bulk for a given batch of products. From your seller central account, select the SKUs under “Manage Inventory.” Go to “Batch Action,” indicate the number of labels you need, and click “Print Labels.” 

For Amazon FBA, go to “Manage FBA Inventory,” choose the item, and click ” Print Labels,” indicating the number of labels you need. 

Why Does Amazon Require FNSKU Instead of UPC?

Amazon requires the FNSKU because the UPC or universal product code assigned by a manufacturer isn’t Amazon-specific, which means it can’t help with Amazon product tracking. 

FNSKU is required to track products fulfilled through Amazon FBA. It is seller-specific and connects inventory to that seller to attribute the sale to them. 

Can I Reuse an FNSKU Code on Amazon?

No. You can’t reuse an FNSKU code since each code is unique to you as the seller and each product. 

You must generate a new code for each product you list on the marketplace, even if the product is from the same batch. 

Conclusion

Now you know what FNSKU stands for and how to optimize it, it’s easier to secure all your Amazon FBA sales and maximize your income. 

While you can count on Amazon FBA to deliver sold products to the right customers, getting the products to Amazon fulfillment centers can be a headache. 

However, when you work with Ship4wd as your Amazon freight forwarder, we can help ship your products to Amazon FBA both domestically and internationally from countries such as China.

Let us help you simplify and optimize your Amazon supply chain and shipping process — register a free Ship4wd account today.