🧭 Overview
When preparing items for FBA, you may encounter two types of labels:
FNSKU Labels
Merchant Ticketing Labels
👉 While both are related to product identification, they serve very different purposes.
🏷️ What is an FNSKU Label?
FNSKU (Fulfillment Network SKU) is a unique barcode assigned by Amazon to your specific product listing.
📦 Purpose:
Identifies your inventory inside Amazon’s warehouse
Links the item directly to your seller account
✅ Used for:
FBA shipments
Tracking inventory in Amazon fulfillment centers
📌 Key Points:
Required for most FBA items
Must be placed on each individual unit
Replaces or covers the original barcode (UPC/EAN)
🎟️ What is a Merchant Ticketing Label?
A Merchant Ticketing Label is an optional label added by the seller.
📦 Purpose:
Provides additional information for your own tracking
✅ Common uses:
SKU identification
Price labels
Internal tracking (bin location, notes, etc.)
📌 Key Points:
Not required by Amazon
Used for your internal workflow only
Does not replace FNSKU
⚖️ Key Differences
Feature | FNSKU Label | Merchant Ticketing Label |
Required by Amazon | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Used by Amazon | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Purpose | Inventory tracking in FBA | Internal tracking |
Placement | On each unit | Optional |
Replaces barcode | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
📦 When Should You Use Each?
✅ Use FNSKU Labels:
When sending items to FBA
To ensure Amazon can track your inventory
✅ Use Merchant Ticketing Labels:
If you want to:
Track items internally
Add SKU or pricing info
Organize inventory before shipping
⚠️ Important Notes
FNSKU labels are mandatory for FBA (unless using manufacturer barcode option)
Merchant labels are for your convenience only
Do not confuse or substitute one for the other
🧠 Example
You’re sending a book to FBA:
📌 FNSKU label → scanned by Amazon
📌 Merchant label → shows your SKU or notes
👉 Both can exist on the same item, but only one is required by Amazon.
✅ Quick Summary
FNSKU = required, used by Amazon
Merchant Label = optional, used by you
👉 Always apply FNSKU labels for FBA shipments.