Short answerFBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) means Amazon stores and ships your products; FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) means you or your 3PL do. FBA offers Prime eligibility and hands-off shipping; FBM offers more control, avoids Amazon storage fees and suits oversized or slow-moving items. Many sellers use both.
How FBA works
You send prepped inventory to Amazon fulfillment centers. Amazon ships orders, handles customer service and returns, and listings are typically Prime-eligible. You pay fulfillment and storage fees, and capacity limits may restrict how much you can send.
How FBM works
You keep inventory in your own space or with a 3PL and ship orders yourself within your handling time. You control packaging and inventory, and avoid Amazon storage fees, but you're responsible for shipping performance.
Side-by-side
| FBA | FBM | |
|---|---|---|
| Who ships | Amazon | You or your 3PL |
| Prime eligibility | Typically yes | Only via programs like Seller Fulfilled Prime |
| Storage | Amazon fees and capacity limits | Your 3PL's rates |
| Prep required | Yes, to Amazon's rules | Your own standards |
| Best for | Fast-moving, standard-size items | Oversized, slow-moving, multichannel stock |
The hybrid approach
A common strategy: keep inventory at a 3PL, send prepped replenishments to FBA for fast movers, and fulfill other orders (or FBA stock-outs) via FBM from the same warehouse. Konsey Logistics supports both — FBA prep and FBM fulfillment.