FBA Prep and Inspection Services
We specialize in working with Amazon FBA sellers on all types of products. We offer receiving, inspection, prep, labeling, storage services, and much more.
21,265 sq foot warehouse
Here’s a picture of our warehouse in Hillsboro, Oregon. We have 16 employees, and plenty of space available to help you grow your business.
Locally And Family Owned
This is a photo of our Founder and CEO, Jim McKenzie Smith, and his family. Jim started the business in 2004.
FBA Prep, FBA Inspection, and FBA labeling services for Amazon sellers.
FBA Prep Services
We provide 3PL services for Amazon FBA Sellers who specialize in private label, wholesale, or online arbitrage. We have experience in both Seller Central and Vendor Express.
FBA Inspection
We have inspection services that will meet every need. From basic exterior carton checks, to detailed piece by piece inspections.
FBA Storage
Storage rates at Amazon are skyrocketing! Store the majority of your Amazon FBA inventory with us, then ship into the Amazon warehouse as needed to replenish your inventory.
Our Location
We are located in sales tax free Oregon. Our 21,265 sq foot warehouse is in Hillsboro, which is just west of Portland.
More Information On Our Services
RECEIVING
We have the warehouse space and readily available labor to receive shipments as small as a few boxes or as large as 40 foot containers. We will help you scale your business without the need to lease your own warehouse and hire employees.
INSPECTION
We have accurate and efficient inspection services. From basic exterior carton checks, to detailed unit by unit inspections.
CARTON FORWARDING SERVICES AND LTL FREIGHT SHIPPING
We offer carton forwarding services (freight forwarding), priced per carton. We can palletize and help you save money by transitioning to LTL freight shipments as well as leveraging UPS’ low shipping rates.
LABELING – KITTING – BUNDLING – PHOTOGRAPHY
We can make any adjustments needed to your shipments before sending into Amazon FBA. This includes labeling, kitting, bundling, photography and more.
STORAGE
We provide additional warehouse storage as needed at better rates than Amazon. Split your shipments by sending part to Amazon, and storing the remainder with us. As the stock on Amazon runs low, we replenish as needed.
STATUS UPDATES
We love great communication. We keep you updated with the current status of your shipment. From receipt to inspection, to shipping, we keep you informed every step of the way.
CUSTOMS BROKERAGE SERVICE PACKAGES
We have door-to-door solutions to import your products from overseas to our warehouse in the US, and then into Amazon FBA from there. We have solutions available whether or not you reside in the United States. Check out our Customs Brokerage Package For US-based Importers or our Customs Brokerage Package For Foreign Importers.
FAQ
Can you process my items, only after a certain amount of items have arrived?
Yes, absolutely. We call this "bin and hold, then process". It is common in the used book industry, for example. Be advised that storage fees may apply for bin and hold. Contact us for pricing and more details.
Do you work with online arbitrage FBA sellers, or only wholesale and private label?
Yes, we do work with online arbitrage sellers. Contact us for more details. Also, please check out pricing page, which details out different rates for sellers doing arbitrage.
Are you in a sales tax free state?
Yes, we are located in Oregon which is a sales tax free state. This is important for many online arbitrage sellers, as it can save a lot of money in having items shipped with no sales tax. The average combined sales tax rate in the United States for the second quarter of 2015 was 8.454 percent.
What currencies do you accept for credit card payment?
We currently accept USD, GBP, AUD, NZD, CAD, SGD, ZAR, EUR, DKK, SEK, NOK, HKD, MYR, JPY, CHF, INR, PLN, CZK, RUB, BRL, PHP, RON, MXN. We accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and PayPal. You do not need a US address for your credit card to go through, but if you have any trouble when entering your credit card, please contact us and we will help.
What is the nearest sea port to your warehouse for container shipping?
The Port of Portland does not allow sea vessels/containers, due to the Longshoremen issue. Importing to Seattle Port or Long Beach Port then freight/rail to our warehouse is the usual option.
Can I send part of my inventory into Amazon, and store the remainder with you?
Yes! Split up your shipments by sending part to Amazon, and then storing the remainder with us. As your stock on Amazon runs low, we will replenish as needed.
I have units already in FBA. May I ship them to you, then you process them, and ship back to Amazon?
Yes. We've done this work many times. Here is the process:
1. Create a removal order and have the items shipped to us.
2. Send us the PDF file of the new FNSKU 30-up labels (if re-labeling is needed).
3. We receive the inventory and process it as needed.
4. You create the shipping plan, indicating the number of destinations.
5. We box, and tell you the box dimensions and weight.
6. You finalize the shipping plan and send us the UPS labels.
7. We ship to Amazon.
Receiving, prep, and shipping costs will apply. See our pricing page for details.
Will I have a dedicated Account Manager when using McKenzie Services?
Yes! All of our pricing plans and services include an experienced and dedicated Account Manager as your single point of contact with our company.
How do I sell on Amazon as a non-US resident?
This How to be an International Seller article by Bob Sled Marketing covers this topic in terrific detail. Check out part 3 of the article, which covers common questions about how to import products into the US.
Do you require me to have a US address?
No, a US address is not required for doing business with us, or for selling on Amazon US. We currently accept payment in USD, GBP, AUD, NZD, CAD, SGD, ZAR, EUR, DKK, SEK, NOK, HKD, MYR, JPY, CHF, INR, PLN, CZK, RUB, BRL, PHP, RON, and MXN. For non-US residents, this How to be an International Seller article by Bob Sled Marketing covers this topic in terrific detail. Check out part 3 of the article, which covers common questions about how to import products into the US.
What kinds of products can you prepare for shipment to Amazon?
We can prep and handle just about any product. Our company has a long history and expertise in books, but we've since branched out as an Amazon FBA focused warehouse logistics company who can handle nearly anything that Amazon sells.
Do you store my credit card? Is it secure?
We do not directly save your credit card, but we use Stripe.com to store your credit card information when you create an account with us. Stripe has been audited by a PCI-certified auditor and is certified to PCI Service Provider Level 1. This is the most stringent level of certification available in the payments industry. To accomplish this, they make use of best-in-class security tools and practices to maintain a high level of security at Stripe. More information may be found here.
When will you charge my credit card?
We do not charge your credit card until all the prep work is complete, and your items are ready to ship to Amazon. Or, periodically for storage fees (after our storage fee grace period). In a related topic, our policy is to not start work on a job until an account is officially set up with a credit card on file.
Do you have an online system where I can track my storage inventory?
Yes, we can definitely use an online system to track your inventory. What we use depends on how complex your inventory needs are. We can do something simple such as a shared Google Spreadsheet, or some cloud based software that's more complex. Our CEO's degree and background is in Computer Science and software development, so this is absolutely something that sets McKenzie Services apart from the competition. We use online systems and software to make our warehouse processes more accurate and efficient.
What is the process for Online Arbitrage?
Here is the high-level process for online arbitrage:
- You shop online and have items shipped to our warehouse (we are in a tax-free state, which saves you money).
- We receive your items, unbox, count, and do a visual inspection.
- We periodically (weekly, or bi-weekly, for example) prep and process your items in a batch job. This includes the FNSKU labeling.
- As part of #3, you create the shipping plan from your Amazon seller central account, and send us the UPS labels for the outbound cartons.
- We ship your cartons to Amazon.com FBA warehouses (Fulfillment Centers).
I am not based in the USA. How do I import as a foreign Importer of Record?
To be a Foreign Importer of Record, you will need a Customs Assigned Number and a Customs Bond. Contact us for Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Brokerage and Freight Forwarding/International Shipping package options and pricing.
How do you track my inbound inventory, or what is currently received at your warehouse?
We use a shared Google spreadsheet as a live received report. This tracks information such as the date of arrival, inbound shipment ID #, product ID # (PID), status, quantity, product description, UPC, expiration date, any issues, warehouse storage location, and comments. Watch our video for more info on our received report. The advantage of a shared Google spreadsheet is that the data is always live and updated. In contrast, emailing spreadsheets of information back and forth creates copies of the data, which goes stale. Another advantage of a shared Google spreadsheet is that notifications of changes can be easily turned on for us and for the client–to do this you simply go to Tools–>Notification rules.
Do you offer direct to customer (order fulfillment) services as well?
We usually only offer FBA prep, inspection, and storage services. We will consider direct to customer order fulfillment, in some cases, if the volume is significant. Contact us for details and a price quote.
Do you have 24 hour video surveillance?
Yes. We take security very seriously. We have 3 Nest Cameras, recording video to the cloud 24/7. The video can be accessed remotely by Managment. In addition, every employee we hire has a full criminal background check. The building is also locked down with motion sensors and door sensors. If those sensors are tripped during non-business-hours, a security monitoring company is notified and police are immediately dispatched.
Are you close to an Amazon FBA Warehouse, and what will be the cost to ship my products to Amazon?
Yes, we are close to an Amazon FBA Warehouse. However, are you must be familiar with "distributed inventory placement". By default, when you create a shipping plan, your shipment may be divided into multiple shipments, each directed to a different fulfillment center. This division is called distributed inventory placement. Units of an ASIN will be sent to a maximum of three destination fulfillment centers in the U.S. The destination fulfillment centers are selected based on the products you're shipping and where you are shipping from. By having your inventory spread across multiple fulfillment centers across the country, the person who buys your product will receive it faster than they would if your inventory was in a single fulfillment center farther away from the buyer. But, if you sign up for the Inventory Placement Service, Amazon will assign you a single Amazon fulfillment center to which you can send all units of a specific ASIN in a shipment. A per-item service fee applies. More info is here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201233560
May I grant you permission to access my Seller Central account on my behalf?
If it is mutually agreeable to you and to McKenzie Services, and if it makes BOTH you and McKenzie Services more efficient/accurate, then yes. But, we reserve the right to decline this, or bill hourly for this service, if there is no efficiency/accuracy benefit. Setting up the permissions may be accomplished by using the Seller Central Rights Manager screen. If this is agreed upon, we will provide detailed instructions on which permissions to select in order to give McKenzie Services access to limited areas of your Seller Central account. We will not create listings for you, as this is not part of our services. We will only print FNSKU labels, and assist with the creation and/or finalization of your FBA shipping plans.
Are my items insured while at your warehouse?
Some of you have asked questions and expressed concern regarding the insurance coverage of your items while they are in the possession of McKenzie Services. First and foremost, we take great pride in the care and safety we provide for your items. From the time they arrive at our loading dock, through the processing line, all the way until the boxes get shipped off; we are fully aware of the value these items have for both yourself and us, as a business.
Our current insurance policy is written such that we are covered for items housed in our warehouse, located at 21220 NW Amberwood Dr, Hillsboro, OR 97124. This includes personal property, including inventory and property of others while it is in the case, custody, and control of McKenzie Services up to a specific amount. If you feel that your items are high value items or irreplaceable, we would be happy to ask our insurance provider specific coverage questions. The coverage mentioned above begins when McKenzie Services takes possession of the property and ends when McKenzie Services relinquishes control.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to our team members as they would be happy to assist you.
How do I qualify for wholesale pricing (versus online arbitrage)?
The basic difference between Wholesale and OA from our perspective – to qualify for WholeSale – it needs to be one product, from one vendor, in one incoming shipment and 1 outgoing shipment – then it would be Wholesale. Otherwise, it is OA.
I am brand new to selling on Amazon. May I still use your services?
For people that are brand new to Amazon, we highly recommend doing the prep yourself for the first month. In our experience, it is a great learning experience to do the work yourself at first. Then, after you have a good handle how to do all the receiving, labeling, creating the FBA shipping plans, and outbound shipping, reach out to us and we can talk more about doing the work for you.
Will you notify me when you receive my orders?
Yes, we will notify you once we’ve received your shipment. We will also notify you of any issues during the inspection or processing of your order.
How long will it take to process my orders?
We aim to process your shipment within 48 hours. For larger orders or if you requested a large amount of extra processing, this time may be slightly extended. We’ll also need to receive shipping labels from you before your shipment can go to Amazon.
Do I have to provide the shipping labels?
Yes, we will provide you with the information needed to generate your labels when processing is complete so that you can provide them to us.
How long will you store my merchandise, and what does it cost?
We will store as long as needed. Please see our Simple Storage Pricing.
Do you offer warehousing and shipping for books?
No, I am sorry but we do not offer any service for new or used books. We are a used bookseller ourselves, so this would be a conflict of interest.
