Amazon Solves Common eCommerce Challenges With Frustration-Free Packaging Service
Amazon now has over 300 million customers in its shops worldwide. This stat portrays how attractive the platform is to online merchants. But why is Amazon so successful? It's simple: their pros outweigh their cons, making them the platform with the best customer experience in the market. And one of the best pros they offer is Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging.
The number of users is continually growing, which indicates two things: Amazon is a credible and trusted company, and people will buy products there. On the other hand, these facts seem inviting to new members, knowing that their products will be accessible to a vast market base. It will also provide a safe, fraud-free experience.
On top of that, you can avoid the all-too-common headaches associated with stocking your items. Amazon has over 175 fulfillment centers worldwide. Each provides multiple valuable services at a small fee, including storing your inventory, managing it and shipping it to your customers. But one exceptional service released in 2008 and is still notable today is their Frustration-Free Packaging.
What Is Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging?
The Frustration-Free Packaging programs are a cure for eCommerce retailers' shipping problems. A product’s physical integrity is compromised during delivery, which is usually avoided by ensuring the packaging is 'heavily armored. However, issues arise when customers have difficulty unboxing.
Frustration-Free Packaging was designed and introduced to address these issues. This service focuses on protecting the product while ensuring a simple unboxing experience for the customers.
Amazon is a big advocate for social and environmental responsibility - very timely in today’s marketplace, where many packaging designers champion sustainable designs. In line with those principles, Frustration-Free Packaging is made from 100% recyclable materials. So not only is it safe and practical, but it's also eco-friendly.
The Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging is a set of guidelines that sellers must comply with regarding their packaging. The initiative was first launched in 2008, and in its first decade, it helped Amazon reduce the usage of 250,000 tons of packaging materials and avoid the use of 500 million boxes!
While the company had a hiatus on the enrollment of new Frustration-Free Packaging sellers, it's exciting to hear Amazon has expanded this program, letting the vendors know they will be accepting new merchants until December 31st, 2022.
So how do you qualify for the Frustration-Free Packaging? Apply for certification after ensuring your packaging is designed appropriately and durable. In short, you need to follow the Amazon packing guidelines.
Introduce Your Customers to Your New, Easy-To-Open, Fully Recyclable Packaging Design
To preserve its elite status in the eCommerce industry, Amazon urges its sellers to redesign their packaging and improve customer experience. With your new packaging 'uniform,' your brand will showcase that it cares for your customers' time and addresses sustainability issues.Â
Similar to how branding experts focus on efficient and eco-friendly packaging designs to convey a brand’s values, this will help you build trust with your consumers while contributing to a more sustainable future!
Another plus for this initiative is that you, as a seller, will discover new cost savings by finding suitable packaging for your product. Think of Frustration-Free Packaging as a cozy and practical space for your product rather than a massive house for a single resident. It's stylish and takes up less space.
The guidelines vary, but it's safe to say that your packaging should not have more than 2.00 (50mm) of empty space surrounding the product.
We've gone over the appearance, but what about the functionality? Customers will be delighted to know that Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging can be unboxed in under 120 seconds! Less need for scissors or similar cutters to open a package. Plus, customers can say goodbye to plastic inserts, packaging peanuts, shredded paper and blister packs.
By making your packaging box simpler and less expensive to produce, you could become eligible to pass the design test and are now ready to test the durability.
Testing Your New Package
Now that your design is ready, you can test it and see if you can apply for certification. You can undergo testing at any APASS lab or ISTA-certified facility. The test you have to pass is the Amazon ISTA 6 SIOC test. There are eight different types of tests, each catering to a particular range of weights and sizes:
- Type A: Individually-packaged products less than 50 pounds and less than 165 inches in width.
- Type B: Individually-packaged products from 50 pounds to 100 pounds and less than 165 inches in width.
- Type C: Individually-packaged products over 100 pounds and less than 165 inches in width.
- Type D: LTL delivery of individually-packaged products less than 100 pounds or width greater than 165 inches
- Type E: LTL delivery of individually-packaged products greater than 100 pounds or width greater than 165 inches
- Type F: LTL delivery of individually-packaged products via the Pallet Handling Method
- Type G: LTL delivery of individually-packaged TV/Monitor less than 150 pounds and width less than 165 inches
- Type H: LTL delivery of individually-packaged TV/Monitor greater than 150 pounds or width greater than 165 inches
Your packaging will be evaluated based on durability through free-fall drop and vibration testing, effectively simulating the supply chain demand test for potential damage. Remember that Amazon estimates their lab testing time at approximately ten days.
Once you've passed these tests, you can apply for the certification.
Getting the Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging Certified
Before certifying, ensure your packaging is ready for shipping to Amazon Fulfilment Centers. You can lose the certificate in case of a delay, meaning you would have to go through the tests again.
Other factors you should consider:
- Are your open edges sealed properly? Staples are disallowed as a sealing method, but you can use them on your glue joints.
- Are your locking tabs secured? Note that these elements also have to be taped or glued.
If you're positive that your boxes are ready to be deployed, you need to:
- Go to the Amazon Vendor Central.
- Click on Support, then Contact Us.
- Identify your business group.
- Search for the Amazon Packaging Certification support topic.
- Present the ASINs enrollment form and the ISTA6 packaging test report for every primary ASIN.
Overcoming the Strict Guidelines To Preserve Your Brand Image
We understand that your packaging design is a rudimentary part of your brand's identity. And since the outer layer of your new Frustration-Free Packaging is challenging to play around with, you can still stamp your mark on the inner side.
How cool is it to have a customer open the box conveniently and find an awesome brand signature printed on the inside? Experiment with a new landscape and create the best new packaging designs!
Another cute and thoughtful distinctive feature for your products can be a custom packaging insert. It can be as simple as a "thank you" note, a promo code for their next purchase or a sticker with your brand logo. Either way, these details will never fail to put a smile on your customer's face.
Who Is Eligible for the Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging?
Unfortunately, there are some limits on who can partake in the benefits of the FFP. The packaging can be too small or too big. There's an upper limit on the weight of the products as well. HAZMAT products can't get certified.
However, Amazon works hard to provide safe spaces for other vendors. Even if you cannot get the certification, you should consider all the alternatives you have as an FBA vendor.
You can certify your products with Small and Light. It will enable you to get lower fulfillment costs, and you can improve your customer experience by providing them with free shipping. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, head over to Amazon, complete the easy 6-step process and reap the benefits of Small and Light.
For international sellers, you can integrate all your products through FBA export. This option enables you to sell all your products from fulfillment centers in the US.
And if you have regular customers for your products, you should check out Amazon's Subscribe and Save. You can market your products by letting your customers know they'll get your products with a discount and stimulate them to repurchase them!
Lastly, you can boost your sales based on your marketing. The company ensured more than enough Amazon Marketing Services. Whether you'll work on your SEO, per-per-click or sponsored ads, marketing on the platform offers endless options to help you sell your products and enhance your brand image.
