FBA Prep Center in New Jersey —
Edison, NJ

ARDI's FBA prep center in Edison, New Jersey handles FNSKU labeling, poly-bagging, bundling, and carton forwarding to Amazon FBA warehouses on the East Coast. Located 25 miles from Port Newark and within 65 miles of five Amazon fulfillment centers.

Amazon SPN Partner
1–2 Day Turnaround
25 mi to Port Newark
35,000+ sq ft
$100K Cargo Protection
January 2026 Update

Amazon FBA Prep Is
Now Mandatory

Amazon discontinued its in-house FBA Prep Service in January 2026. Sellers who previously relied on Amazon to label, bag, and prep their inventory must now use a third-party prep center or handle preparation themselves before shipping to FBA.

This change affects every Amazon seller who ships to FBA without pre-applied FNSKU labels. Without proper prep, Amazon rejects inbound shipments or charges penalty fees. A dedicated FBA prep center eliminates this risk and keeps your inventory moving to the shelf.

ARDI Express warehouse workers prepping inventory
Comparison

Why an Integrated Prep Center Beats the Alternatives

Amazon sellers looking for FBA prep in 2026 face three model types. Each has a structural gap that ARDI fills:

China-Based Prep

FBABEE model

How it works: Prep happens in China before shipping: labeling, bagging, inspection at supplier factory.

What's Missing: Prep is locked before ocean transit. If goods arrive damaged, mold-contaminated, or Amazon changes requirements mid-transit — you can't re-prep. No US-side inspection. No placement fee split.

US-Only Prep Center

AMZ Prep model

How it works: Receives goods already in USA. Handles labeling, bagging, forwarding to Amazon FCs. 50+ locations.

What's Missing: Zero international freight. Seller must arrange own China → US shipping, customs clearance, and drayage to the prep center. Two or three vendors to coordinate. Two invoices. Finger-pointing when something goes wrong.

ARDI Integrated Model

Factory → Amazon

How it works: FMC-licensed freight forwarding + own NJ warehouse + FBA prep + drayage from Port Newark. One company from factory to Amazon shelf.

Nothing missing. Full pipeline under one company. Cargo protection up to $100,000. Prep after US arrival = inspect post-voyage + re-prep if needed + bi-coastal split to eliminate placement fees.

Services

FBA Prep Services at Our Edison, NJ Facility

Amazon sellers looking for FBA prep in 2026 face three model types. Each has a structural gap that ARDI fills:

Full Pricing
  • 01

    FNSKU Labeling

    Print and apply FNSKU barcode labels to each unit. Covers existing manufacturer barcodes per Amazon requirements. Thermal-printed labels for scan reliability.

    $0.35/unit 1–2 days
  • 02

    Poly-Bagging

    Seal products in clear poly bags with suffocation warning labels. Required for textiles, plush items, and products with loose parts.

    $0.30/unit 1–2 days
  • 03

    Bubble Wrap / Overboxing

    Wrap fragile items in bubble wrap or place into protective overboxes. Amazon-compliant prep for glass, ceramics, electronics, and liquids.

    $0.50/unit 1–2 days
  • 04

    Bundling & Kitting

    Assemble multi-SKU sets into single FBA-ready packages. Apply ‘Sold as Set’ labels. Custom insert placement and marketing material.

    $0.70/set 1–2 days
  • 05

    Suffocation Labels

    Apply suffocation warning stickers to all poly-bagged items with opening >5 inches. Amazon compliance requirement since 2024.

    Included With poly-bag
  • 06

    Shrink Wrapping

    Heat-shrink wrap for multi-packs, box sets, and items requiring tamper-evident sealing.

    $0.40/set 1–2 days
  • 07

    Inspection & QC

    Visual inspection for damage, missing parts, wrong items. Count verification against packing list. Photo documentation on request.

    Included With unloading
  • 08

    Carton Building

    Pack prepped units into Amazon-compliant cartons. Apply carton labels. Optimize box sizes to minimize dimensional weight fees.

    Included With unloading
Key Service

FNSKU Labeling Service — What Sellers Need to Know

What is FNSKU?

FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit) is Amazon's unique barcode that ties a product to your specific seller account. Unlike a UPC or EAN, an FNSKU ensures that your inventory is never commingled with another seller's stock of the same product.

Why every unit needs it

If you ship to FBA without FNSKU labels, Amazon either rejects the shipment or defaults to commingled inventory. Commingling means a customer could receive another seller's counterfeit or damaged stock under your listing — resulting in negative reviews and potential account suspension.

Our labeling process

We print FNSKU labels in-house using thermal printers for maximum scan reliability. Labels are applied over existing manufacturer barcodes. Each unit is scanned after labeling to verify accuracy before packing into cartons. Error rate: under 0.1%.

ARDI Express FNSKU labeling process

< 0.1%

Error Rate

Thermal

Label Printing

100%

Post-Scan Verify

Protection

Cargo Protection at Our NJ Prep Center

Your inventory is protected while in ARDI's Riverside warehouse. ARDI guarantees compensation at full invoice value (up to $100,000) for goods lost or damaged under ARDI's direct control — from container unloading through prep completion to Amazon dispatch. Warehouse-stage claims are resolved within 3 months.

Why this matters for prep

When you use a separate prep center that isn't your freight forwarder, liability gaps form at every handoff. The forwarder says "we delivered full container." The prep center says "we only received this count." With ARDI, one company unloads your container, counts units, preps, and dispatches. Documented chain of custody eliminates finger-pointing.

Cargo guarantee does not cover goods confiscated by regulatory agencies. ARDI's goal is to prevent this from happening. Through our pre-shipment inspection service, ARDI verifies HS codes, required certifications (FDA, CPSIA, FCC), and labeling compliance before your goods leave the factory. This reduces the risk of US Customs seizure to near zero.

What's covered at the prep stage:

  • Loss or damage during warehouse receiving and unloading
  • Loss or damage during FBA prep (labeling, bagging, bundling, carton building)
  • Loss or damage during warehouse storage before dispatch
  • Compensation at commercial invoice value, up to $100,000

Resolution: Warehouse-stage claims resolved within 3 months.

What's not covered:

  • Goods transferred to third-party carriers (UPS, FedEx, Amazon SPD/LTL) with documented proof of handoff — carrier liability applies
  • Goods confiscated by US Customs, FDA, or other regulatory agencies due to non-compliance with import requirements
Workflow

How FBA Prep Works: Port to Amazon Shelf

ARDI Express warehouse prep process

Inventory arrives at our Edison dock either via container drayage from Port Newark (25 miles) or from your own shipping arrangements. Here is the NJ-specific prep workflow:

  1. 01

    Receiving & Count Verification

    We unload your shipment, count every unit against the packing list, and flag discrepancies. Container unloading takes 2–4 working hours. Individual pallets and parcels are processed same-day.

  2. 02

    Prep Plan Assignment

    Each SKU gets a prep plan based on Amazon’s 2026 category requirements. Our team checks the current FBA prep requirements for your ASINs and applies the correct combination of labeling, bagging, wrapping, or bundling.

  3. 03

    FNSKU Labeling & Packaging

    Labels printed and applied. Poly-bags sealed. Bundles assembled. Each unit inspected before packing. Our SPN certification means Amazon has verified our prep quality and processes.

  4. 04

    Carton Building & FBA Forwarding

    Prepped units packed into Amazon-compliant cartons. Carton labels applied. SPD shipments dispatched to EWR4 (30 mi), TEB6 (35 mi), ABE8 (65 mi), or any assigned FC. Same-day dispatch for orders completed before 2 PM EST.

Total prep turnaround: 1–2 days from receiving to dispatch for standard orders.

Same-day prep available for urgent shipments under 500 units. Full container loads: 2–3 days including unloading.

Coverage

Fulfillment Coverage: NY/NJ Metro & East Coast

The exact path your container takes from factory to Amazon shelf through our Edison facility

ARDI Express Riverside warehouse interior
Destination Distance
EWR4 (Robbinsville, NJ) SPD cartons arrive same day 30 miles
TEB6 (Teterboro, NJ) Same-day delivery 35 miles
LGA9 (Queens, NY) Next-day delivery 40 miles
JFK8 (Staten Island, NY) next-day delivery 45 miles
ABE8 (Breinigsville, PA) next-day delivery 65 miles
Port Newark: same-day container drayage 25 miles
Facility

35,000 sq ft

Operated by ARDI Express LLC

NY metro coverage

20M+

Population within 2-hour radius for DTC

Our prep center operates inside the same 3PL warehouse that handles container unloading, storage, and fulfillment. Inventory moves from container to prep station to Amazon in one facility with zero truck transfers between buildings.
Protection

Online Arbitrage & Book Prep

Online Arbitrage Prep

Remove retail packaging, apply FNSKU labels, poly-bag per Amazon's category requirements, and pack into mixed-SKU cartons. We handle both individual units and bulk OA shipments.

Book prep

Condition verification (New, Used-Like New, etc.), FNSKU labeling, poly-bagging for books with dust jackets, and carton building optimized for book weight limits. We know Amazon's book-specific prep requirements.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Amazon discontinued its in-house prep service in January 2026. Sellers must now use a third-party FBA prep center or handle labeling, bagging, and packaging themselves before shipping to FBA warehouses.
FNSKU is Amazon's unique barcode that ties a product to your seller account. Every unit sent to FBA must have an FNSKU label unless you opt into commingled inventory (not recommended). Without proper FNSKU labels, Amazon rejects inbound shipments.
Standard turnaround is 1–2 business days from receiving to FBA dispatch. Same-day prep is available for urgent orders under 500 units. Full container loads (FCL) take 2–3 days including unloading and quality inspection.
ARDI guarantees compensation at full invoice value (up to $100,000) for cargo lost or damaged in ARDI's Edison warehouse. This covers every stage from container unloading through prep completion. Claims are resolved within 3 months. Coverage does not apply to goods transferred to third-party carriers (UPS, FedEx) with documented handoff, or to goods confiscated by regulatory agencies for non-compliance with US import requirements.
Yes. Our Edison facility is 35 miles from Manhattan and serves the entire NY/NJ/CT tri-state area. Sellers based in New York City often use us because Edison offers lower warehouse costs than NYC while maintaining same-day access to all major Amazon FCs in the region.
New Jersey hosts many FBA prep providers due to its port proximity and Amazon FC density. ARDI differentiates by combining FMC-licensed freight forwarding with FBA prep under one company — container goes from Port Newark to our dock to Amazon without a third-party handoff. Most NJ prep centers handle only the prep step, not the upstream freight.
Yes. We prep OA shipments including retail packaging removal, FNSKU labeling, poly-bagging, and mixed-SKU carton building. Both individual units and bulk OA shipments accepted. No minimum order requirement.
Yes. ARDI Express is an Amazon Seller Performance Navigator (SPN) partner. Our prep processes are verified by Amazon to meet FBA compliance standards. SPN status means Amazon has audited and approved our labeling, packaging, and shipping procedures.
Contact

Get a Quote for FBA Prep in New Jersey

Amazon stopped doing prep in January 2026. If your goods arrive at an FBA warehouse without proper FNSKU labels, poly-bags, or packaging — Amazon rejects them. Don't lose sales waiting for a prep solution. Tell us your SKU count, prep requirements, and monthly volume. Receive per-unit pricing and turnaround time within 24 hours.