Shipping Freight to a Cahoot Network Partner should follow the Amazon FBA Product Prep and Shipment guidelines published in Seller Central. Determining the type of preparation required to ship your products safely to a Cahoot Network Partner is your responsibility. Failure to comply with FBA product preparation requirements, safety requirements, and product restrictions may result in the refusal by the Cahoot Network Partner to accept the shipment. The guidelines are designed to ensure the safe handling by warehouse staff, transportation by carrier employees, and delivery to customers. 

Note: Before you ship inventory to a Cahoot Network Partner, ensure you have received Shipment Approval from Cahoot in your Advance Shipping Notice. 

Video Walkthrough

 

Inventory Packaging Requirements

The items should arrive at the partner’s location ready to be fulfilled. The partner is only expected to either attach a shipping label directly to the manufacturer packaging or pack the item within the instructed packing material before shipping.

Follow these guidelines for adequate packaging:

• Each unit of inventory should have a label clearly identifying its contents (see below for Inventory Labeling Requirements)

• Items with expiration dates should have a visible expiration date on each unit displayed in the format MM-DD-YYYY or MM-YYYY.

• Units that should be shipped in a set or pack of more than one or together with other products (kits, bundles, multi-packs, etc.) should be pre-assembled in suitable packages (poly bags, etc.) and must be clearly labeled with a barcode unique to the set. For example, a "2-Pack" should have a uniquely distinct barcode compared to a "3-Pack" of the same product.

• All packaging including loose sleeves, pouches and poly bags should be secured with a non-adhesive band or removable tape

• Bags that have an opening that measures more than 5 inches when laid flat must have a suffocation warning printed on or affixed to them in a prominent location and in a legible font size

 

Special Packaging Instructions

Some products such as liquids and fragile glass items require extra care and attention while packing for shipment. Please follow these guidelines as applicable to ensure all inventory packaged for shipment and delivery to Cahoot Network Partners and Customers passes the drop test (see below for details).

Liquids

Liquid products should be packaged in one of the following materials:

• Boxes if the products are double-sealed

• Poly bags or shrink-wrap if the products are not double-sealed, or more than 16 oz. even if they are double-sealed

• Bubble wrap and/or dunnage if required to pass the drop test

Sharp Units

Sharp units should be packaged such that no person handling the items from the initial shipment creation process through to the receiving and final fulfillment processes are able to be hurt by them. Using Boxes and dunnage is best practice. Alternatively, ensure that the packaging covers the sharp points by means of footprint or blister packs, both of which should be securely fastened to the unit.

Fragile Units

Fragile units should be packaged to ensure they don’t break at any time during fulfillment. They should be packaged in boxes with cushioning that disallows movement within and ensures they pass the drop test. If not, the second option is to completely wrap them in bubble wrap ensuring product labels/barcodes are on the outside of the bubble wrap.

Plush Units

Plush units must be sealed in poly bags or shrink-wrapped in plastic so that they are not exposed to dust, dirt or humidity.

Baby Products

No product meant for children younger than four years old should have exposed area more than 1” x 1”. Exposed areas should be packed in transparent poly bags or shrink-wrapped.

Apparel, Fabric, and Textiles

Cloth products must be sealed in poly bags or shrink-wrapped in plastic so that they are not exposed to dust, dirt or humidity. Use boxes for material such as leather that can be damaged by plastic. Shoes should be packed in boxes or plastic bags in pairs. They should not be packaged in singles or in groups of more than two.

Jewelry

Jewelry can be packed in boxes or poly bags depending on its original packaging. Jewelry pouches should be packed individually in plastic bags that are transparent. The plastic bags should be of appropriate size to be able to hold the pouch. Boxes made of fabric-like material should also be bagged or boxed. Boxes made of a material that can be cleaned easily do not have to be bagged.

Boxes that have sleeves don’t need to be bagged or boxed if the sleeves are snug enough to not slide off in transit. Otherwise, the labels could be lost and items displaced.

Products smaller than 2 inches

If the products are smaller than 2 inches on any side, then the product label may not stick without going over the side. In that case, the products should be bagged in a poly bag slightly bigger than 2 inches so the barcode is readable with the label on bag.

Pellets, Powders, and Granular

Pellets, Powders, and Granular products are dry goods that are pourable and can cause damage during shipping and when stored. These products should be packaged securely to pass the drop test without the contents of the container leaking or spilling. Items that cannot withstand the drop test on their own must be packaged in poly bags. Items in glass containers should adhere to ‘Fragile Units’ packaging instructions. 

Adult Products

Adult products should be bagged in black, opaque bags to prevent offending any person handling the items during fulfillment.

 

Note: All products classified as hazardous materials or that have a Flash Point less than 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93.33 degrees Celsius) are expressly prohibited from the Cahoot program, and it is not recommended to consider temperature sensitive products at this time.

 

The Drop Test

All products packaged for shipment to Cahoot Network Partners or Customers must be able to withstand a drop from 3-feet high onto a hard surface without causing breakage, damage, or leaking. It consists of five drops in total:

 

Condition Guidelines

The following guidelines apply to all product categories:

New

A brand-new item in its original packaging (certain items like shoes may be re-boxed). Any original manufacturer's warranty still applies in full.

Renewed

A pre-owned product that was inspected and tested to work and look like new by a qualified supplier/vendor or product expert. The product has minimal to no signs of wear, no visible cosmetic imperfections, and may include relevant accessories that may be generic. The product comes with a warranty offering a replacement or refund within 90 days of purchase if the product does not work as expected.

Used - Like New or Open Box

A product in perfect working condition, with minor damage possible. Original packaging may be missing but instructions for use are included.

Used - Very Good

A product in good working condition but may show some limited signs of wear such as small scratches or cosmetic blemishes. Original packaging may be damaged, or product may be repackaged, and the item could be missing some accessories. 

Used - Good

A product in good working condition and functions properly, but it shows wear such as scratches or cosmetic damage from consistent use. Original packaging may be damaged, or product may be repackaged, and it may be missing some parts or accessories such as assembly hardware or an instruction manual.

Used - Acceptable

A product that continues to function properly but is fairly worn with aesthetic issues such as scratches, dents, and worn corners. Original packaging may be damaged, or product may be repackaged, and it may be missing some parts or accessories such as assembly hardware, a USB cable, etc.

 

Inventory Labeling Requirements

Loose products

• Each unit must have a label that is visible after prep is complete, and it must contain a scannable barcode (ISBN, UPC, EAN, JAN, ASIN or FNSKU), an item description, and the item's condition (see Condition Guidelines). The unit's barcode must not be punched out, marked over, covered, or otherwise obstructed.

  • Labels containing FNSKU should be created in Seller Central by creating a mock FBA Shipment for the SKU

• Labels should be printed on a white background

• UPC 128 standard should be used for barcodes

• Font size should be at least 8 pt but recommended to be more than 12 pt

• Fonts should distinguish lowercase letter ‘i’ from upper case letter ‘I’, and between the number ‘0’ (zero) and letter ‘O’

• Labels should be at least 1” in height and at least 2” in width

• Labels should be applied directly to the individual SKU sold as a single line item unless the surface material of the SKU will not sufficiently support a label

  • A single inventory label may be applied to a container or bin where single line item SKUs are stored only if the SKU doesn’t have a surface amenable for a label. Sellers should include the box label to be used by Shipping Partners in their inbound shipment.

Case-packed products

• All products in a box must have matching SKU and condition and must have been packaged together by the manufacturer.

• All boxes with the same product must contain equal quantities of that product in each box. For example, a case pack of 24 units must always contain 24 units.

• ASIN, Seller SKU, and Item Description must be clearly printed on a label securely affixed to the box containing case-packed products.

• In some cases, a manufacturer or distributor may package more than one case pack into a larger box called a Master case or Master carton. Master cases do not qualify as a case pack and must be split at the appropriate case pack level and labelled accordingly.

 

 

Cahoot Prep Service

Cahoot Network Partners may choose to offer product preparation services to one another, but it is not required for participation in the Cahoot Network. When available, fees for the service will be collected by Cahoot and remitted to the Partner performing the service.

 

Cahoot Prep Service Per Unit Fees

 

 

• Products that need to be grouped into sets, multi-packs or otherwise assembled, must contain explicit instructions for prep guidance and incur an additional $0.20 per unit.

• Inventory that is not properly prepared/labeled may either be 1) prepared/labeled on the merchant’s behalf and invoiced accordingly, or 2) returned to sender, at Cahoot’s sole discretion.

• Fees based on the “size” of a product are calculated using Cahoot’s information about the weight and dimensions of that product at the time the fee is calculated.

  • Standard-size items weigh 20 lb or less and do not exceed 18 inches on its longest side, 14 inches on its median side, and 8 inches on its shortest side. Any item exceeding these dimensions is considered oversize.

 

Inbound Shipment Instructions

There are three ways to ship inventory:

1. Parcel Delivery: The units are packed in boxes or cartons, also called master cases when multiple case-packed boxes are packaged together into a single carton. The shipment can consist of one or more of these boxes or cartons.

2. LTL/FTL Delivery: For substantially large shipments, it is better to do Less than Truckload or Full Truckload (LTL or FTL) shipping. In this case, the units are shipped on a pallet. The units may be stacked individually, directly on the pallet, or be packed in boxes or cartons that are stacked on pallets.

3. Shipping Container Delivery: Cahoot also supports delivery of shipping containers into the network. Unlike Parcel, FTL and LTL shipments, however, container shipments have added complexity such as devanning, tallying, checking and preparation of an Overages, Shortages & Damages report, drayage, etc. Fees for receiving shipping containers follow market conditions, so please request a quote before shipping. These fees are paid directly to the Cahoot partner for performance of this work on your behalf. Inventory must either be prepped before shipping, or prep fees may apply.

* Consider shipping inventory direct from suppliers. Add your approved Cahoot Ship To Addresses to your supplier accounts and arrange for delivery of inventory directly into the network to keep costs down. Ensure Product Preparation Requirements are completed as described above.

 

Parcel Delivery (Box Shipment)

If you are shipping through parcel shipping service, use boxes or cartons that can withstand the standard shipping process. The standard boxes used in stores or in LTL/FTL pallet shipments may not be strong enough. Please follow these guidelines for shipping parcels.

• Each box should contain items from one Approved Cahoot shipment only

• The quantity and ASIN of products should match the shipment approved by Cahoot

• Boxes heavier than 50 pounds should indicate ‘Team Lift’ on the top and sides of the box

• Boxes heavier than 100 pounds should indicate ‘Mech Lift’ on the top and sides of the box

• Remove or cover any previous labels (including fragile and hazardous) that are no longer applicable

Additional recommendations:

• Parcels containing multiple units should not exceed 25 inches on each side

• Use Regular slotted cartons with B-Flute, ECT-32 (edge crush test) and 200 lb/sq. inch (burst strength)

• Use adequate cushioning material

• Use strong tape designed for shipping

• Do not use string or paper over-wrap

 

LTL/FTL Delivery (Pallet Shipment)

Use pallets that are in good condition and are not made of weak materials such as cardboard or particleboard.

• Stage boxes using standard pallet stacking requirements. Do not use extra packing, straps or elastic to pack boxes on pallets

• Total weight should not exceed 1500 pounds

• The contents of pallets must not overhang by more than 1”

• All pallets are recommended to be wrapped in plastic preferably clear stretch-wrap, to prevent shifting during transit. Shipment labels should be placed on the outside of the stretch-wrap

Additional Recommendations:

• Use 40” x 48”, 4-way access wooden pallets unless products require larger pallets

• Use GMA Standard Grade B pallets or higher

• Use GMA Grade 1A pallets for Food, Grocery and Health & Beauty products

• Do not use PECO pallets which cannot be moved using a standard pallet jack

 

Shipping Labels

Instructions for application:

• Each box or pallet should have its own shipping label

• Do not place shipping labels across seams that could be cut during shipment receipt

• Do not place shipping labels closer than 1.25” from the edges of the box or pallet

 

Bill of Lading

LTL/FTL pallets and containers may have a Bill of Lading in addition to, or in replace of, a Carrier Shipping Label.

• Include all reference numbers and Cahoot Master Product ID’s for the SKU’s enclosed

• Standard BOL information:

  • Your Name

  • Your From Address

  • Carrier Name

  • Carrier’s reference number (PRO#)

  • Correct name and quantity of the enclosed SKU’s

  • Trailer and seal number

  • Shipped Loan and Count or SLC (optional)

 

                                 Sample BOL:

Packaging Materials

Shipments should include the packaging materials to be used for each shipment from a Shipping  Partner’s Location, (boxes, cushioning, etc.), along with any packing instructions, if applicable. If you are shipping your inventory to a Cahoot Network Partner directly from your supplier, you are still required to send packaging materials and packing instructions separately. Shipping Partners may use their own packing materials on-hand and in stock if approved by the partner.

 

Receiving

When receiving a shipment from a Cahoot Network Partner, document the Quantity Received, Packaging Materials Received, and Shipment Condition in your Cahoot Advance Shipping Notice within 24 hours of delivery.

• Add your local BIN location where the inventory will be stored to the Package Data for the SKU in Cahoot

• Add the receivers initials to certify shipment quantity and condition

• The Inbound Shipment Details received from Cahoot contains SKU, ASIN, UPC (or alternative), Image, and Original Qty for each product. This info is provided in a printable format and should be cut out and securely affixed to the bin, shelf or case-packed box as appropriate. These materials are to be used to ensure pick accuracy.