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Q: What are Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and the Amazon Fulfillment Web Service (Amazon FWS)?

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) allows registered merchants to utilize Amazon.com’s world-class fulfillment operations. Using FBA, merchants send inventory to Amazon’s fulfillment centers and when orders are placed (on Amazon.com or through other merchant sales channels), Amazon will pick, pack and ship the products to the merchant’s customers—anytime, and to any place.

Amazon Fulfillment Web Service (Amazon FWS) extends the benefits of FBA by allowing merchants to programmatically integrate FBA directly into their own web sites or other sales channels, and automatically store and ship inventory from Amazon’s warehouse, creating a nearly virtual business.
Q: What can I do with Amazon FWS that could not be done with Fulfillment by Amazon?
Previously, Fulfillment by Amazon functions could only be accessed via manual web interfaces or flat file feed submissions. Amazon FWS now enables merchants or developers to programmatically access these functions via two web service APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) inbound and outbound. The Inbound service allows the merchant to create and send inbound shipments of inventory to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. The Outbound service allows merchants to utilize Amazon’s fulfillment processing for orders filled on the merchants website or other third party web sites.
Q: What functions does the Amazon FWS API enable for merchants?
Amazon FWS provides web site to web site integration for merchants to perform both inbound and outbound FBA functions programmatically. Once a merchant has integrated their software or web site with Amazon FWS they can make web service requests to create inbound shipments of inventory to an Amazon warehouse, and request outbound fulfillment orders.
Q: What can I do with the Amazon FWS inbound service?
Registered merchants can use the inbound service to specify what inventory they wish to be fulfilled by Amazon, and request inbound shipments to be created for it. Our tools cover everything from label creation, to packing slips. Merchants can also take advantage of Amazon’s highly discounted UPS shipping rates.
Q: What can I do with the Amazon FWS outbound service?
The outbound service enables you to fulfill orders from sales channels other than Amazon.com using the inventory that you have stored in the Amazon fulfillment center. Using the outbound service you can submit order fulfillment requests to Amazon.com by directly integrating with our underlying APIs. When you submit a fulfillment request, you include the buyer’s address, shipping instructions (including the method and ship speed for Amazon to use), and you can even include a customized note to the buyer on the packing slip. When using the outbound service, Amazon will pass the cost of shipping through to you. Prices vary depending on the item and the shipping method used for fulfillment.
Q: Who should use Amazon FWS?
Any merchant or software developer can use Amazon FWS to automate the tasks related to Fulfillment by Amazon on an existing merchant selling account.
Q: I’m not a software developer; can I still use FBA?
Any merchant can take advantage of Fulfillment by Amazon using its simple web-based forms and tools. Key operations such as generating inventory listings and submitting bulk orders can also be done via simple web interfaces or using flat file feeds. For a complete review of Fulfillment by Amazon see http://fba.amazon.com/
Q: How reliable are Amazon’s fulfillment services?
Amazon.com operates one of the largest consumer order fulfillment networks in the world. Our customer satisfaction and services have been highly rated by leading consumer organizations and e-commerce reviews.
Q: How do I manage my transactions once I start using Amazon FWS?
Any amount of inventory and/or orders can be designated as either fulfilled by Amazon or the merchant at any time allowing sellers the flexibility to use FBA as much or as little as they want. In addition to using Amazon FWS to automate FBA transactions, merchants can also choose to use manual tools to perform the same tasks at any time. You’ll be able to view all of your transactions on your account activity page in Seller Central.
Q: How will I be charged and billed for my use of FBA?

Use of the Amazon Fulfillment Web Service is free; you will not receive an Amazon Web Services bill. For physical storage in Amazon’s fulfillment network and for each fulfillment transaction you generate, you will be charged by FBA according to FBA pricing?.

Charges related to using Fulfillment by Amazon include physical storage of inventory in Amazon’s warehouse, fulfillment order fees, and shipping fees. Merchants will be charged at the time of the order and these charges are displayed on the “Amazon Fulfillment Orders” screen and the Reports/Payments page in Seller Central, and are debited against the merchant’s account.
Q: How do I get started?
If you’re interested in Amazon Fulfillment Web Service, click the “Sign Up for Web Service” button on the Amazon Fulfillment Web Service Detail Page. As part of the sign up process, you will be asked to create an Amazon Web Services developer account if you do not already have one. After you sign up, please get started with our technical documentation .
Q: How is Fulfillment by Amazon related to Amazon Web Services?
Amazon Web Services exposes Fulfillment by Amazon’s functionality via Amazon Fulfillment Web Service. Amazon FWS is one of many web services offered to the developer community and supported by Amazon Web Services. Amazon FWS is for those merchants who wish to integrate their businesses more deeply with FBA but any business can use Amazon FBA without using Amazon FWS.
Q: Where can I find additional information regarding Fulfillment by Amazon?

For general information regarding FBA, please visit http://fba.amazon.com.

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