Last updated: November 4, 2026. Marketplace rules below were checked against published sources on this date.
Quick answer: In 2026, Amazon stopped offering prep and item labeling for FBA shipments in the U.S. (January 1) and ended stickerless commingled inventory for most sellers (March 31). Walmart still offers limited paid prep for WFS, but bundles and many other jobs are on the seller. The result: more sellers now rely on a 3PL or prep center to receive, label, bag, bundle and ship their inventory correctly before it reaches a fulfillment center.
This guide explains what changed, what a 3PL does, and how to choose a prep and fulfillment partner that keeps your shipments moving.
What changed at Amazon FBA in 2026?
Amazon ended FBA prep and item labeling in the U.S. on January 1, 2026
Amazon told sellers: "Starting January 1, 2026, we'll no longer offer prep and item labeling services for FBA shipments in the US store" (reported by Packaging Insights). Before that date, sellers could pay Amazon to apply FNSKU labels, polybag items or bundle units at the fulfillment center. Now that work has to be done before the shipment arrives.
According to the same report, the change covers FNSKU labeling, bagging, bundling and other prep steps, and it applies to inventory sent through Amazon's own inbound programs as well as standard FBA shipments. Amazon's guidance is to prep in-house, use your own prep provider, or use a third-party provider. Units that arrive without the required prep are not eligible for reimbursement if they are lost or damaged.
Amazon ended stickerless commingling on March 31, 2026
For years, many FBA units were "commingled": identical items from different sellers were stored together under the manufacturer's barcode. Amazon ended that practice for shipments received on or after March 31, 2026 (PPC Land, March 2026). What it means now:
- Brand owners with the Brand Representative role in Brand Registry can generally ship products that carry a valid manufacturer barcode (UPC, EAN, ISBN or JAN) without an Amazon label.
- Sellers who are not the brand owner must put an Amazon FNSKU label on every unit.
- Products with no manufacturer barcode, or with a barcode exemption, need an Amazon label no matter who sends them.
- Inventory already in FBA before the change was not affected. Units that arrive without a required label can be flagged and are not reimbursable.
For a seller shipping a few hundred units, that can mean hundreds of labels to print, cover old barcodes with, and check, on every inbound shipment.
What are Walmart's WFS prep rules?
Unlike Amazon, Walmart Fulfillment Services still offers limited prep for a per-unit fee, according to Walmart's WFS prep services guide (last updated October 8, 2026). Key points from that page:
- WFS prep covers polybagging and item labeling only.
- Bundles are not covered. Sellers must bundle sets themselves and mark them "Sold as set."
- Prep has to be chosen when the shipping plan is created. It cannot be changed afterward without canceling the plan and starting over.
- Unplanned prep costs more and can take up to 10 business days, which delays when your items go live.
- Items that don't meet WFS packing and label requirements may be refused or delayed.
In practice, many WFS sellers prep before shipping so their inventory is received and sellable faster, and they avoid extra fees.
Why a 3PL matters more in 2026
A 3PL (third-party logistics provider) is a company that receives, stores, preps, packs and ships inventory for other businesses. With both major marketplaces pushing prep back to sellers, a good 3PL or prep center now does the work that used to happen inside the fulfillment center, plus the checks that keep shipments from being refused.
- Fewer rejected or delayed shipments. Labels, bags and cartons are done to spec before freight leaves.
- No garage full of boxes. Inventory is received, counted and stored in a real warehouse.
- Time back for selling. Sourcing and marketing grow a business. Peeling stickers doesn't.
- One partner for every channel. The same team can prep for online marketplaces, ship wholesale orders to stores, and send parcels to individual customers.
What services does a 3PL or prep center provide?
Receiving and inspection
The 3PL unloads your shipment, counts units against your packing list or purchase order, and checks for damage, so problems are caught before inventory goes anywhere else.
Barcode and FNSKU labeling
Printing and applying marketplace labels, covering old barcodes, and adding carton labels so each unit scans correctly at the fulfillment center.
Polybagging and protective packaging
Bagging loose or fragile items with suffocation warnings where required, and adding bubble wrap or dunnage to protect them in transit.
Bundling and kitting
Kitting combines separate items into one sellable unit, such as a multi-pack or a back-to-school set of pens, notebooks and glue sticks. The kit gets its own label and is marked as a set.
Warehousing
Storing inventory on shelves or pallet racks so it's ready to ship when you need it.
Pick and pack
Pulling the right items for each order, packing them in the right box with protection, and labeling them for the carrier.
Carton, pallet and freight preparation
Building cartons and pallets to the receiving rules of the destination and coordinating parcel or LTL (less-than-truckload) freight.
B2B vs. B2C fulfillment: what's the difference?
B2C fulfillment ships small orders, often one or two items, to individual shoppers. B2B fulfillment ships larger orders, often full cases or pallets, to stores, offices, schools, warehouses or fulfillment centers. B2B means case packs, carton labels and freight paperwork. B2C means speed and accuracy on many small parcels. If you sell both ways, a 3PL that handles both saves you from juggling two warehouses.
How to choose a 3PL or prep center: 10 questions to ask
- Which marketplaces and channels do you prep for today?
- How do you keep up with marketplace label and prep rule changes?
- How do you receive and count inventory, and how do you report shortages or damage?
- Do you apply FNSKU labels, polybag and build bundles in-house?
- Can you prepare carton labels, pallets and LTL freight?
- What is your daily cutoff time, and how soon do shipments leave after that?
- How often do you count inventory, and how will I see stock levels?
- Are there setup fees, monthly minimums or long-term storage charges?
- Where is your warehouse, and how close is it to my suppliers?
- Can I reach a real person on the phone when something goes wrong?
Why location matters: prep and fulfillment in California
A California warehouse sits close to West Coast ports and suppliers. Inventory can be received and prepped without a long cross-country haul first, then shipped to fulfillment centers and customers nationwide.
3PL and prep FAQ
Does Amazon still prep or label FBA inventory in 2026?
No, not in the U.S. store. Amazon stopped offering FBA prep and item labeling services on January 1, 2026. Sellers now prep inventory themselves or use a prep provider or 3PL before it ships to a fulfillment center. Units that arrive without required prep are not eligible for reimbursement if lost or damaged.
Do I need FNSKU labels after the end of commingling?
If you are not the brand owner, yes. Since March 31, 2026, sellers who are not the brand owner must label every unit with an Amazon FNSKU. Brand owners with the Brand Representative role can generally use the manufacturer barcode. Products without a manufacturer barcode need an Amazon label either way.
Does Walmart WFS offer prep services?
Yes, but only polybagging and item labeling, for a per-unit fee. Bundles are not covered, so sellers must bundle sets themselves and label them "Sold as set." Prep has to be chosen when you create the shipping plan, and unplanned prep can add up to 10 business days.
What is a 3PL in simple terms?
A 3PL is an outside company that handles your logistics. It receives your inventory, stores it, preps and packs it, and ships it to customers or fulfillment centers. You keep control of your products and sales, and the 3PL does the physical work.
What is the difference between a 3PL and a prep center?
A prep center focuses on getting inventory ready for its next stop: inspecting, labeling, bagging, bundling and packing cartons to a destination's rules. "3PL" is the broader term and also covers storage, order fulfillment and freight. Many providers, including SN International, do both.
What does pick and pack mean?
Pick and pack is how an order is filled. A warehouse worker picks the ordered items from their shelf locations, packs them in a box or mailer with protective material, seals it and adds the shipping label.
Is a 3PL worth it for a small business?
Often, yes, once prep and shipping start taking time away from selling, or when inventory outgrows your space. With marketplaces no longer prepping for you, a 3PL also lowers the risk of refused shipments and lost reimbursements.
Marketplace rules change often. Always confirm the current requirements in your own seller account before you ship.
Prep and fulfillment with SN International
SN International LLC (SNILLC) is a California supplier and prep and fulfillment partner in one. From our warehouse in Rancho Cordova, California, our team receives, inspects, labels, polybags, bundles and ships inventory for online sellers and wholesale buyers, and ships nationwide. We work to be the best prep partner our customers have ever used, with careful work and our most competitive pricing. Because we also sell 100% genuine brand-name office, school and facility supplies, straight from the brands with no counterfeit or closeout products, you can source inventory and have it prepped in the same place. Wholesale and retail customers shop in one store, and real people answer the phone Monday to Friday.
Visit our prep services page, contact us, or call (888) 795-8816, Monday to Friday, 9 to 4 Pacific, to get a quote.
Related reading: The Hidden Costs of In-House E-Commerce Prep and What is MOQ in Wholesale?
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