Skip to main content

MF vs FBA: What's the Difference?

Learn the differences between Merchant Fulfilled (MF) and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), including inventory management, shipping responsibilities, and fulfillment workflows.

Amazon sellers can fulfill orders in two primary ways: Merchant Fulfilled (MF) and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Understanding the differences can help you choose the best fulfillment strategy for your business.

📦 What Is MF?

With Merchant Fulfilled (MF), the seller is responsible for:

  • Storing inventory

  • Packing orders

  • Shipping products

  • Handling customer service and returns

The seller manages the entire fulfillment process.

🚚 What Is FBA?

With Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Amazon handles:

  • Inventory storage

  • Order picking and packing

  • Shipping to customers

  • Customer service

  • Returns processing

Sellers send inventory to Amazon fulfillment centers, and Amazon manages the rest.

⚖️ Key Differences

Feature

MF

FBA

Inventory Storage

Seller

Amazon

Order Packing

Seller

Amazon

Shipping

Seller

Amazon

Customer Service

Seller

Amazon

Returns

Seller

Amazon

✅ Summary

MF gives sellers more control over fulfillment, while FBA offers convenience and Amazon-managed logistics.

Did this answer your question?