When creating an FBA shipment, Amazon may divide your inventory into multiple destinations instead of sending everything to one warehouse. This is called a split shipment.
While it may seem inconvenient, Amazon does this for several operational reasons.
📦 1. Faster Delivery to Customers
Amazon distributes inventory across different regions so products are stored closer to buyers.
👉 This helps:
Speed up Prime deliveries
Reduce shipping times
Improve customer experience
🏢 2. Warehouse Capacity Balancing
Some fulfillment centers may:
Be full
Have limited space
Handle only certain inventory types
👉 Amazon spreads inventory to avoid overloading one warehouse.
📍 3. Inventory Distribution Strategy
Amazon wants inventory available across multiple locations to:
Reduce out-of-stock risks
Improve nationwide coverage
Handle demand more efficiently
🏷️ 4. Different Product Types or Requirements
Certain products may need to go to specialized warehouses based on:
Size (standard vs oversized)
Hazmat classification
Fragile items
Category restrictions
👉 This can automatically trigger shipment splits.
💸 5. Lower Placement Fee Options
Amazon often offers:
Lower inbound placement fees
In exchange for more shipment splits
👉 Choosing cheaper shipment options usually means more warehouse destinations.
⚙️ 6. Operational Efficiency for Amazon
Splitting inventory helps Amazon:
Optimize logistics
Reduce internal transfer costs
Process inventory faster across the network
⚠️ How Split Shipments Affect Sellers
Split shipments may result in:
More boxes and labels
Increased shipping complexity
Higher carrier costs
More prep and packing time
💡 Can You Reduce Split Shipments?
Yes, by selecting:
Minimal Shipment Splits
Inventory Placement Service
👉 But these options may include additional placement fees.
🔄 How It Works in AccelerList
When using AccelerList:
Shipment destinations are still determined by Amazon
Split shipment behavior comes directly from Amazon’s FBA system
✅ Summary
Amazon creates split shipments to improve delivery speed, balance warehouse capacity, optimize inventory distribution, and reduce operational costs. While it can increase seller workload, it helps Amazon maintain efficient fulfillment across its network.