Frequently asked questions
Grouped the way you'll actually use them. Can't find your answer? Contact us. We have an instant contact policy.
Which services do you offer?
FBA prep services. We are committed to prepping your inventory in complete compliance with Amazon FBA Packing and Prep Requirements. We claim that you will not find any prep center faster and cheaper than PrepBuddies.
Shipping to USA Amazon FBA. We consolidate your various inbound shipments and send them to USA Amazon fulfillment centers from Canada with one of the lowest shipping rates.
Amazon returns / FBA removal orders. Customers that need to remove their inventory from Amazon FBA to another address in Canada can use this service. The manpower required prevents many prep facilities from offering it. Once inventory leaves FBA centres it ships out as a flood of single-unit shipments, but we provide it at a very affordable price.
Box forwarding. When your items don't require any prep work, we store and forward your boxes as received, to Amazon FBA or other addresses. If needed we can consolidate or separate your items into larger or smaller boxes.
What is retail & online arbitrage support?
We are proud to be the first prep center in North America, if not the whole world, to support customers in RA/OA.
Retail arbitrage support. Thousands of people sell on Amazon Canada while living in another corner of the world, enjoying online arbitrage, private label and wholesale. Now you can take advantage of retail arbitrage too: we pick up your orders from thousands of large retail stores in Ontario, pack them and send them to Amazon for you. If you need us to, we can even pay for you without any fee.
Online arbitrage support / Buy For Me. A totally free service when you let PrepBuddies handle prep and shipping to Amazon. Some of the largest retailers don't accept international credit or debit cards. Tell us what you need through your dashboard, and we buy the item, receive it, pack it and send it to Amazon in no time. We can also ship it to another address.
Which sellers do you work with?
We do not limit ourselves. We work with online arbitrage, private label and wholesale sellers.
Do I need to sign any agreements with PrepBuddies?
During account activation you will be asked to read our service agreement and agree to our services. You can find it here: Terms and Conditions.
What happens to lost or damaged items in the PrepBuddies warehouse?
PrepBuddies takes full responsibility for lost and damaged items that are caused by us. We are not responsible for shipments that don't reach our warehouse, or for shipments after the carrier picks them up.
How do I contact PrepBuddies?
We have an instant contact policy. For urgent issues, reach us on WhatsApp. For general issues, email info@prepbuddies.ca.
Which address do I send inbound shipments to?
Every customer account has a distinct address that serves as the recipient of all shipments made to PrepBuddies. You will find your unique address on your PrepBuddies dashboard. Register for an account to receive yours.
Our postal code in Canada is N5X 0B7, for customers who want a shipping estimate from vendors without opening an account.
How do I ship products to PrepBuddies?
- Dashboard → Inbound → Send Inventory.
- Fill out the form for each item included in the shipment.
- After each item, click to enter your next item.
- Check the box "Send Received Inventory Directly to Amazon FBA" so we prep and ship without waiting for further confirmation.
- Click Send Shipment to complete your shipping plan.
Please estimate your prep costs using our pricing page and top up your wallet so there's enough balance for prep fees. It speeds up the process. Make sure to fill out this form before sending us any inventory.
Are there any inbound receiving fees?
No.
Do you inspect items when receiving?
During receiving, if any damage is detected on a shipping box we immediately open the box and check the items. If items are damaged we take photos and reject the shipment so you can claim a refund for the rejected delivery. We report damaged items and rejected deliveries to you with pictures.
Do you prep used books?
Yes. However, we do not clean them. We remove old stickers, put each book in a polybag, label them and send them to FBA.
How long until my inventory is prepped and sent to Amazon?
When it comes to speed, we are the best: we guarantee to prep and send every inventory to Amazon within 3 days maximum, or the related inventory's prep fees are free of charge. The guarantee depends on three conditions:
- When creating your inbound shipment (or an RA/OA purchase or pickup order), select "Send Received Inventory Directly to Amazon FBA" so we can ship without seeking further confirmation.
- Keep enough credit in your wallet to cover the prep fees for that inventory.
- Connect your Amazon account so we can print item labels and shipping labels. Your account is safe with us, and this is optional: you can create item and shipping labels yourself and send them to us, but the process takes a bit longer.
Do you send shipments to USA Amazon FBA from Canada?
Yes, and we ship at a very affordable price. You can even combine different inbound shipments you've sent us: when we receive them, we prep the items and consolidate boxes to minimize your shipping cost.
How do I create a removal order / Amazon return?
- Dashboard → Inbound → Amazon Returns.
- Fill out the form for each ASIN.
- Click Send Request.
Use your PrepBuddies address when you create the removal order on Amazon.
How do you deal with disposals? Is it really free?
Yes, it is free. When you ask us to dispose of an item, we deliver it to local Goodwill Donation Centers.
What is the minimum order limit?
Again, we have no limits!
What are the monthly subscription fees?
We don't have any monthly fees.
What does FBA prep cost?
Prep is priced per unit on a 30-day billing period, and the rate drops with your volume: $1.10 per unit at 100–399 units, $0.85 at 400–1249 units, $0.75 at 1250–2499 units and $0.65 at 2500–10000 units. Over 10,000 units, get in touch.
All prices are in CAD and exclude taxes. The full rate card, add-ons included, is on our pricing page.
Are there really no hidden fees?
Yes. We back the promise by publishing everything: the pricing page lists every fee we charge: the prep tiers, the add-ons, storage, Canada → USA FBA shipping, even the non-compliance fees from our own terms. If a service isn't listed, contact us for an estimate before we start.
Do you charge storage fees?
Storage is free for the first 7 days of every shipment. From day 8, storage is $50.00 per pallet (48″ × 40″ × 52″) and $15.00 per bin.
Do you need to manage inventory planning on my Amazon Seller account? Can I opt out?
Yes we do. It's part of how we deliver the 3-day guarantee (see "How long until my inventory is prepped and sent to Amazon?"). The inventory-planning permission lets us sync with your Amazon Seller account and print FNSKU labels for every item and shipping labels for every box, which speeds up our process significantly. When you register, you'll receive an e-mail walking you through granting it. Your account is safe with us.
You may opt out. In that case:
- As soon as you create an inbound and send items to us, e-mail the FNSKU labels for every item in your shipment.
- Once we receive, prep and box your items, we e-mail you the quantity, dimensions and weight of the boxes to be sent to Amazon.
- Create your shipment plan using that information and e-mail us the shipping labels. We print them, stick them on the boxes and send the boxes to Amazon.
Still have questions?
Instant contact policy: WhatsApp for anything urgent, e-mail for everything else. We reply within one business day.