In a recent Seller Central release, Amazon announced that effective January 1, 2026, they would no longer offer their prep and item labeling services for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) shipments. Originally introduced to “protect products during the shipping process”, Amazon recognizes that its marketplace sellers have evolved alongside the platform in recent years, implementing internal platforms and leveraging prep partners that have essentially rendered FBA’s prep and item labeling service obsolete. With the discontinuation of this program, sellers are now left with two options: DIY or find a trusted service provider to partner with. 

“This has massive implications for sellers that are leveraging Amazon's prep services”, says Kayvon Nazarian, Co-Founder and CEO of ZonPrep. “They now have 5 months to find a partner they trust to prep their products, while managing the most critical time of the year for most sellers.”

The release continues to state that shipments created prior to January 1, 2026 will continue to receive prep services, even if the product arrives after the said date. However, shipments that are created after the January 1st deadline that do not meet FBA Prep guidelines will not be eligible for lost or damaged inventory reimbursement. According to Lou Casados, Head of Sales at ZonPrep, “Amazon eliminating prep services is in line with their goals of promoting operational excellence as a growth lever for sellers. Those that invest in strong prep and FBA shipping plans will be able to use these changes as competitive advantages.”

ZonPrep is one such preferred Amazon partner available to sellers who prefer to avoid the DIY route. Offering Amazon FBA Prep and Kitting Services, as well as Cross Dock Consolidation and FBA Shipping Solutions, Nazarian shares, “We are ready and eager to take on clients needing to prep at least 50,000 units per month to ensure you don't miss a beat in January!”