What Is The Amazon FNSKU Number？

The FNSKU is an acronym for Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit in Amazon. It is a way Amazon used to identify a product as unique to the seller. All Amazon fulfillment centers use the FNSKU number to easily identify and track your products and are used during the fulfillment process. 

In this blog, we’ll discuss what the Amazon FNSKU does and how you can get one.

Why an Amazon FNSKU is Needed

FNSKU is used by Amazon to print your product labels.This code serves a unique purpose for your product. You might have this question in mind: Why do I need an FNSKU when my product already has a barcode or UPC on it?

Simply because with so many sellers around, there is a big chance that someone else is selling the same product as you are. And if both of you use the same UPC to send the same product, there is a possibility that they end up together. I am pretty sure you do not like it that way don’t you? So to avoid confusion, Amazon wants all sellers to include FNSKU on the shipping label of the product. If this is properly done, pairing up every product to its corresponding seller makes it easier to track. No fuss because it is identified easily thanks to FNSKU.

Also, FNSKU is simply matched with ASIN, no additional label is required. It’s easier and less expensive as well.

Amazon FNSKU for Merchant-Labeled Products

It is important that all products fulfilled by Amazon are properly labelled. If you do the labelling for your products, it is necessary that you paste over older/all other labelling which can be scanned.

Now let’s have a glimpse of what the HS code is about.. This code is a number which aims to help the customs authorities to easily find the matching rate of taxation for an imported good.

All products get documented exactly and the customs tariffs are defined exactly as well. Custom’s recording is done using a tariff number which consists of 8 digits and is necessary for the creation of the import papers.

How to Get an Amazon FNSKU 

Getting an  FNSKU on Amazon is so easy. If you already have this, Amazon can connect your products to you once they arrive in their fulfillment centers. This is also important especially if you are a Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) seller and have plans on shipping products to customers. 

Here’s a tip: Follow these simple steps to obtain an FNSKU for any of the products you sell FBA:

1. Set the product you will sell as FBA (just make sure the product is not set to FBM).
2. Launch the product to Amazon.
3. Amazon will assign an FNSKU to your product once it is already in your catalogue
4. Export the barcode-like code Amazon generates.
5. Affix your FNSKU to your product before you send it into the fulfillment center.

Once Amazon generates it,how can you get the FNSKU code? Just follow the steps below:

1. Go to Manage FBA Inventory
2. Find your product
3. Click the drop down menu to the right of the product
4. Click Print Item Labels
5. Click Print Labels
6. Click OK
7. Apply your new FNSKU to your products

*This is an important note to remember: The process for obtaining the FNSKU is different for Private Label Sellers vs Arbitrage Sellers and Wholesale Sellers. Let’s see how.

• Private Label Seller: You have to create your own unique listing. Once you click “create,” Amazon will generate your FNSKU.
• Arbitrage or Wholesale Seller: Amazon will generate your FNSKU once you enter your price and the condition of the product and if you find the existing listing of your product in the platform. 

Other Barcodes for Amazon

If you are an Amazon seller you know that Barcodes are different from FNSKUs.

The easiest way to understand this is:

• FNSKUs are Amazon-unique codes that are used to trace and identify your products as yours thus holding you accountable for them. 
• Barcodes, on the other hand, are specific to products from the suppliers. Barcodes are used to track inventory during the entire fulfillment cycle.

What Else Do I Need on my Amazon Shipping Label?

Once you are ready to ship your inventory to your Amazon fulfillment center, there are a few things to check in terms of labeling and packaging. Every shipment must be correctly identified with the proper shipment ID label. Print shipment ID labels from the Shipment Creation Workflow. Or, if you have created the shipment already, access it from your Shipping Queue.

Use the following guidelines as your checklist:

• Print labels in a full set – every label is unique so never reuse, modify or copy labels
• Labels should be 1 ⅓ x 4 inches
• Affix labels to a flat full side of the box, not across a seam – you don’t want them sliced or damaged when the box is cut open
• Be sure both the carrier label (FedEx, UPS, ect) and the FBA shipment ID label are firmly attached to a flat surface on the box –do not fold them around corners or over edges
• Ensure both labels are readable and scannable
• Every box you ship needs its own unique FBA shipment ID label – you can print this from your Shipping Queue
• If shipping a pallet – use four labels, one of the top and center of each side
• If shipping multiple case packs in one master carton – the shipment ID label should be on the master carton; do not use any shipment ID labels on case packs inside