Amazon changes its rules often. Each shift can affect how sellers run their businesses. One of the latest changes is the decision to discontinue prep labelling services. That means sellers must now handle labelling on their own or find outside help.
This policy matters more than it seems. Labelling is not just about stickers on a box. It affects compliance, inventory accuracy, and shipping timelines. Errors can trigger fees, penalties, or even account suspensions. Many new sellers overlook this until it costs them money.
Here is where Manage Amazon comes in. We specialize in helping sellers adjust to Amazon’s rules quickly. Our team can guide you through labelling requirements, monitor your store, and reduce risks. If you are new, the learning curve feels steep. You do not need to figure it out alone.
What Exactly is Changing with Prep Labelling
Amazon once offered a service to label inventory for sellers. You shipped products to the warehouse, and Amazon handled the barcodes. This option is disappearing. Sellers must now send inventory already labelled or pay third-party providers.
Amazon says this change streamlines their warehouse operations. In practice, it shifts responsibility to sellers. Large brands with teams can adapt easily. New sellers face the bigger challenge.
The policy means you must either:
- Print and apply every barcode yourself, or
- Hire an outside prep center to handle it before shipment
Both paths add time and cost.
Why this Matters for Beginners
Beginners often focus on product sourcing and marketing. Backend tasks like labelling do not feel urgent until they go wrong. Yet improper labels can block inventory, create stranded listings, or delay restocks.
Amazon is strict on compliance. If your labels do not match listing details, the system flags the inventory. That creates delays during high-demand periods. Small mistakes like covering barcodes with tape or misplacing labels lead to rejected shipments.
The burden now sits entirely with sellers. That is why preparing early matters.
Hidden Costs of Self-Labelling
On paper, self-labelling sounds cheap. Buy a printer, order labels, and handle it in-house. Many beginners take this route. Yet the hidden costs add up fast.
- Time drain: Applying hundreds of labels is slow. Every misprint wastes more time.
- Material waste: Label sheets, toner, and misaligned prints cut into margins.
- Shipping errors: Wrong barcodes lead to returns and lost inventory.
When sellers add these up, outsourcing often looks cheaper. Third-party prep centers charge per unit but remove the risk.
Why Amazon is Shifting the Responsibility
Amazon warehouses are crowded. The company wants faster receiving times. Every extra step slows down operations. Removing labelling services forces sellers to send inventory in ready-to-scan condition.
This fits Amazon’s broader trend. They want sellers to take more responsibility for compliance. The same pressure shows in packaging, shipping standards, and restricted products.
If you want to sell in Amazon restricted categories, you must already prove tighter control. Labelling falls under the same mindset.
How to Adapt Without Losing Momentum
Adjusting to this change requires a process. The first step is choosing whether you will label yourself or outsource. Both choices require planning.
- Self-labelling: Invest in a thermal printer, barcode software, and quality control steps. Make sure every product matches the ASIN exactly.
- Outsourcing: Research prep centers with good track records. Compare per-unit fees to your own hourly value.
No matter what you choose, treat labelling as core to your operations. Do not treat it as an afterthought.
How Manage Amazon Can Guide You
Our team helps sellers stay compliant with Amazon’s constant policy shifts. Labelling is just one piece. We track requirements across storage, packaging, and listing management. That saves sellers from last-minute surprises.
When you work with Manage Amazon, you get:
- Store monitoring to catch compliance issues early
- Guidance on shipment prep, including labelling standards
- Support to keep your account in good standing
The biggest risk for beginners is missing details. We cover the details so you can focus on growth.
What Happens if You Ignore the New Rules
Some sellers think they can get by without proper labels. That rarely ends well. Amazon scans every unit on arrival. If barcodes are missing or incorrect, the warehouse rejects the shipment.
Rejected shipments trigger costly returns. In some cases, Amazon disposes of the stock entirely. Repeated mistakes risk account suspension. For sellers trying to increase product ranking, suspension halts momentum and crushes sales.
Compliance is not optional. It is the foundation of selling on Amazon.
Labelling & Listing Accuracy Go Hand in Hand
Labelling is not just a warehouse step. It connects directly to how products appear on Amazon. Each label ties to an ASIN. If your listing details do not match the product, you risk confusion for both the system and the customer.
This is why listing accuracy matters. Apply the same care to your listings as you do to your labels. That means following the two-part title rule, checking bullet points, and writing descriptions that avoid errors. When your listings and labels match, your store runs smoothly.
Other Areas Where Sellers Miss Compliance
Labelling is one shift, but it points to a larger issue. Many sellers miss Amazon’s rules across the board. Common areas include:
- Design errors: Poor quality images or missing details. You can apply simple listing design tips to prevent this.
- Reviews: Failing to track authenticity. If you do not spot fake reviews, you risk penalties.
- Shipping prep: Sending inventory in packaging that fails drop tests.
Each of these mistakes connects to compliance. Amazon updates policies frequently. Staying updated is the real competitive edge.
What New Sellers Should Prioritize Now
With prep labelling services ending, new sellers should take three steps immediately.
- Audit your process: Check your shipments for barcode accuracy. Fix issues before they scale.
- Invest in tools: Buy a thermal printer, use Amazon’s barcode downloads, and keep materials stocked.
- Build a backup plan: Identify at least one reliable prep center in case demand spikes.
Doing this early prevents chaos during peak seasons.
How Manage Amazon Supports Long-Term Growth
Beyond compliance, Manage Amazon focuses on growth. We help sellers increase product ranking with smart listing optimization and marketing support. We look beyond today’s rule changes to build sustainable systems.
Our team provides end-to-end support. From shipment prep to customer feedback management, we close the gaps that new sellers often miss. Many beginners underestimate how much small errors cost over time. We step in to protect margins and keep sales moving.
FAQs
Why should I care if Amazon stopped doing prep labelling for me and you?
You should care because shipments without proper labels get delayed or rejected. Amazon requires every unit to arrive ready for scanning. Ignoring this rule risks blocked inventory and extra costs.
What happens if you and I send products without the right labels?
If products are sent without the right labels, Amazon may refuse the shipment or charge extra fees. In some cases, inventory can be disposed of. That is why accuracy in labelling is critical for every seller.
How can Manage Amazon help you and me with labelling problems?
Manage Amazon helps by monitoring compliance, setting up correct labelling processes, and preparing shipments correctly. The team handles the details so sellers avoid penalties and focus on sales. Beginners benefit the most from this support.
Why should I and you trust Manage Amazon with store compliance?
You should trust Manage Amazon because the team specializes in keeping stores updated with Amazon’s changing policies. They prevent costly mistakes, guide sellers through new rules, and protect account health while growth continues.
The Bottom Line
Amazon’s decision to discontinue prep labelling services adds work for sellers. It is not the last policy change, and it will not be the hardest. The sellers who succeed treat compliance as a foundation, not an afterthought.
Beginners who act now will avoid blocked shipments, hidden costs, and account risks. You can manage labelling yourself, or you can outsource it. What matters is having a clear process.
If you want help building that process, Manage Amazon is here. We keep your store updated with Amazon’s latest rules, support your growth, and reduce risks. Selling on Amazon is competitive, but compliance does not have to slow you down.
