FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon) and FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) are the two ways to get orders to Amazon customers. With FBA, Amazon stores, packs and ships your products. With FBM, you or your own warehouse do it. For most sellers based in Pakistan who sell on Amazon US or UK, FBA is the practical choice, but FBM has its place. Here is how to decide.
FBA vs FBM at a glance
| FBA | FBM | |
|---|---|---|
| Who stores and ships | Amazon | You or a 3PL warehouse |
| Prime badge | Yes, automatically | Only through Seller Fulfilled Prime, which is hard to qualify for |
| Customer service and returns | Handled by Amazon | Handled by you |
| Fees | Fulfilment fee per unit plus monthly storage fees | No Amazon fulfilment fees, but you pay shipping and warehouse costs |
| Control over stock | Lower, stock sits in Amazon warehouses | Full control |
| Best for | Small, fast-selling products | Large, heavy, slow-moving or custom items |
Why FBA usually wins for sellers in Pakistan
- You are not in the same country as your customers. Shipping single orders from Pakistan to the US or UK is slow and expensive. FBA solves this by holding stock close to buyers.
- Prime sells. Many Amazon shoppers filter for Prime, and FBA products get the badge automatically.
- Amazon handles customer service and returns, which matters when you are working in a different time zone.
- Better chance at the Buy Box compared with most FBM offers on the same product.
When FBM makes more sense
- Oversized or heavy products where FBA fees eat most of the margin.
- Slow-moving items that would collect long-term storage fees.
- Handmade or made-to-order products that you cannot stock in advance.
- Testing a product in small quantities through a US or UK 3PL before sending stock to Amazon.
Understanding FBA costs
FBA has two main costs on top of Amazon’s referral fee: a fulfilment fee for every unit sold, which depends on size and weight, and monthly storage fees, which rise in the October–December peak season. Use Amazon’s Revenue Calculator before you choose a product, and aim for products that are small and light enough to keep these fees low.
How Pakistani sellers get stock into FBA
- Your supplier, often in China, produces the goods.
- A freight forwarder ships them by sea or air to the US or UK.
- A prep centre or 3PL checks, labels (FNSKU) and packs the units if your supplier has not.
- The stock is sent into Amazon’s warehouse through a shipment plan in Seller Central.
Many sellers use a hybrid model: FBA for best sellers, and FBM through a 3PL as a backup when FBA stock runs low.
Get help with FBA
At EcomXpert we teach FBA shipment planning, prep and fees in our Amazon course in Lahore, and we handle FBA prep, labelling and shipping coordination for sellers through our 3PL and FBA prep service. If you would rather have the whole account managed, see our Amazon account management service.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FBA and FBM?
With FBA, Amazon stores, packs, ships and handles returns for your orders. With FBM, you or your own warehouse handle storage and shipping yourself.
Is FBA better for sellers in Pakistan?
Usually yes. Shipping single orders from Pakistan to US or UK customers is slow and costly, while FBA keeps stock near buyers and gives products the Prime badge.
Can I use both FBA and FBM?
Yes. Many sellers use FBA for fast-moving products and FBM through a 3PL as a backup or for large, slow-moving items.
How do I ship products to Amazon FBA from China?
Your supplier produces the goods, a freight forwarder ships them to the US or UK, a prep centre labels them if needed, and they are delivered to Amazon using a shipment plan from Seller Central.
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