Question about changing package dimensions (and therefore inventory unit volumes and unit weights)
Hi - it’s coming up to Christmas, so here I am again on Amazon FBA, and therefore on the forum again 
This year I’ve found some new packaging for my products which will make the individual packed items a bit lighter, and also a bit smaller in terms of cubic centimetres. (Photo shown below, but basically I’m going from a small PIP box to a cardboard envelope.)
…but of course that means that my inventory unit volumes and unit weights will change.
-
I can’t find a way to manually tweak the volumes and weights on the existing inventory, so is there even a way to inform Amazon that I’ve made this change?
-
Am I right in thinking that I can just continue to use the same SKU and barcode stickers as before, and just send the new-package versions to Amazon’s fulfilment centre? Or should I make the change ‘properly’ and list them as new SKUs because of the change in weight and dimensions? (The products themselves are exactly the same as before, so I’d prefer not to start up with new SKUs etc - especially because they’re letters of the alphabet, so that would mean multiplying the time/effort by 26).
-
If I ask Amazon to re-measure the packages, will it matter if some of the old-package stock are still left in the various fulfilment centres?
All advice gratefully accepted - I’d like to know what the best-case and worst-case scenarios are, so I can hopefully avoid any daft mistakes.
Thanks.
Question about changing package dimensions (and therefore inventory unit volumes and unit weights)
Hi - it’s coming up to Christmas, so here I am again on Amazon FBA, and therefore on the forum again
This year I’ve found some new packaging for my products which will make the individual packed items a bit lighter, and also a bit smaller in terms of cubic centimetres. (Photo shown below, but basically I’m going from a small PIP box to a cardboard envelope.)
…but of course that means that my inventory unit volumes and unit weights will change.
-
I can’t find a way to manually tweak the volumes and weights on the existing inventory, so is there even a way to inform Amazon that I’ve made this change?
-
Am I right in thinking that I can just continue to use the same SKU and barcode stickers as before, and just send the new-package versions to Amazon’s fulfilment centre? Or should I make the change ‘properly’ and list them as new SKUs because of the change in weight and dimensions? (The products themselves are exactly the same as before, so I’d prefer not to start up with new SKUs etc - especially because they’re letters of the alphabet, so that would mean multiplying the time/effort by 26).
-
If I ask Amazon to re-measure the packages, will it matter if some of the old-package stock are still left in the various fulfilment centres?
All advice gratefully accepted - I’d like to know what the best-case and worst-case scenarios are, so I can hopefully avoid any daft mistakes.
Thanks.
10 replies
Seller_DTufFoxJuMU0M
I would be tempted to use new SKU’s for the simple reason that you can then set the new measurements.
if you send them off to Amazon you are going to have to get them to remeasure mostly everything, and they will only allow you 20 a month, and there is a chance they will measure the old box and then tell you you can’t remeasure that sku for another 60 (or 90?) days…
Either that or wait until all your stock of each letter has sold before replacing with the new packaging - then once that stock has been received request the remeasurement.
Technically you aren’t supposed to have the same ASIN twice in FBA, but I have before by accident and didn’t get in trouble, it was a low number though. If questioned why you could explain about the change in packaging, and that once the original skus are finished you will be deleting them
If yu don’t use new skus you also have no way of knowing which packaging remains at the warehouses… and 6 months down the line they could lift a box and measure it and assign it to that sku then making you pay more for every item you sell until you notice and request a remeasurement again…
This is all assuming that changing the packaging moves you up/down a price band, if you would be paying the same fba fee I wouldn’t bother with the hassle, unless you want to track returns etc in case you are worried about them getting damaged in the envelope.
To change the dimensions make sure you have all attributes clicked, my listing screens are all up the left at the moment, so they seem to be tweaking… some are the new style, and some are the old styles, and the boxes are in different places…In the new style its under the “shipping” heading - but I have usually been unlucky in changing measurements after the fact and have had to use remeasurements to get these changed after sending in stock
Seller_7VbclcPFFRTnc
are they small and light ?
if so, have you actually checked that they will be in a lower price band ?
the dimensions look roughly the same and unless its less than 80g , it will more than likely be the same weight band too
they both still look to be
Standard envelope 210 g or less
33 X 23 X 2.5 cm or less
Seller_r1BWHFE9Q49m3
Thanks @Dedez and @The_Little_Shop.
The old package was a standard envelope (60g or less, and <= 33x23x2.5cm).
I assumed that the new packaging was going to be in the same price bracket for fulfilment fees, but I’ve just measured it again and I’ve realised I might be able to get it into the smallest bracket (80g or less, and <= 20x15x1cm). In that case, it might be worth changing the SKUs.
Thanks again - your replies really helped.
Seller_DTufFoxJuMU0M
I really hate that machine haha, the amount of greeting cards it measures at over 1cm “high” is unreal 
Seller_r1BWHFE9Q49m3
As always - VERY helpful replies, thanks.
The envelope in the photo was one that I’d been testing (by treading on it with the product inside, then opening it to see if there was any damage!), so it had gone a bit wonky. New envelopes with the product in them are 8mm thick or less. I’ve cut myself a little postal guide today to check them, and I can see clear daylight through the top of the 1cm slot
…but if the evil cubiscan thing measures greeting cards at over 1cm thick then I’m sure it will have even more fun with my wooden decorations. Hmmmm.
Sorry for this further question then, but:
Theoretically what would happen if I create the new-package SKUs and am happily paying the small-envelope-80g-or-less-&-20x15x1cm (currently 65p), but then Amazon later measures them as being more than 1cm thick?
Would I ‘just’ get backdated charges at the standard-envelope-60g-or-less-&-33x23x2.5cm rate (currently 86p)? Or would Amazon try to fine me or charge me extra on top of that?
Seller_DTufFoxJuMU0M
Yeah same as Little Shop.
They don’t back charge if they randomly measure it, but they will back refund if you request a remeasurement and they were wrong.
