Amazon's Commingled Inventory Policy: Risks and Recommendations

As an Amazon seller, you have the option to participate in Amazon's commingled inventory system or choose to opt out, keeping your products separate from other sellers. While commingled inventory offers faster and more cost-effective delivery, it also presents significant risks for FBA sellers.

​Understanding Amazon's Commingled Inventory:

​Commingled inventory involves mixing sellers' products with identical products from other sellers and Amazon itself. By participating in FBA's commingled inventory, sellers can offer products without using an FBA label, saving time and effort in preparation.

​The Risks of Commingled Inventory:

1. Susceptibility to Counterfeit Products: Commingled inventory exposes sellers to the risk of selling counterfeit goods. Even if you diligently source and sell genuine products, a poor-quality or counterfeit product delivered from another seller's inventory can harm your reputation and lead to account suspensions.
   
2. Product Quality and Safety Issues: Sellers using commingled inventory may face problems when customers receive poor-quality or damaged products. Unfortunately, sellers often bear the blame for these issues, regardless of whether the product belonged to them or another seller.
   

​Our Recommendation: Opting Out of Commingled Inventory:

​Considering the risks involved, we strongly recommend that Amazon sellers opt out of participating in commingled inventory. By doing so, you can ensure that your sales are exclusively fulfilled by your own products, providing greater control over quality and authenticity.
Opting out requires using unique FBA labels for your products, which may involve additional effort in preparation. However, the benefits of maintaining control over your inventory and protecting your account's integrity outweigh the convenience of commingled inventory.

Conclusion

Amazon's commingled inventory system offers advantages in terms of faster and cost-effective delivery. However, it also exposes sellers to the risks of counterfeit products and quality issues. To safeguard your business, opting out of commingled inventory is a prudent choice. By prioritizing product authenticity, quality, and customer satisfaction, you can protect your account and establish a solid foundation for long-term success on Amazon.