Overview

On February 16, 2024 Helium 10 unveiled its FBA Inbound Placement Service, a feature that lets Amazon sellers dictate the exact fulfillment centers that receive their stock. The rollout coincides with Amazon’s recent increase in FBA fees, prompting merchants to look for ways to safeguard margins. By steering inventory to preferred locations, sellers can trim storage expenses, speed up replenishment, and dodge costly long‑term storage charges.

Key Points

• Launch timing — The placement tool went live on February 16, 2024, aligning with Amazon’s latest fee adjustments.
• Direct center selection — Sellers can now choose specific fulfillment hubs instead of leaving the decision to Amazon’s automated algorithm.
• Potential fee reduction — Targeted placement can eliminate excess stock in premium‑cost warehouses, sometimes saving an entire month’s long‑term storage fee.
• Seamless integration — The service lives inside Helium 10’s existing inventory and shipment panels, removing the need for extra logins or third‑party apps.
• Eligibility requirements — Only accounts on the Professional selling plan that hold at least 500 units across their catalog qualify for the feature.
• Live performance data — Users receive real‑time metrics on placement success, enabling quick tweaks before the next shipment cycle.

How the FBA Inbound Placement Service Works

1. Choose Target Fulfillment Centers — Within Helium 10’s shipment creator, the seller marks the exact Amazon warehouses where inventory should land.

   • Example: A vendor selling summer swimwear selects a West‑coast hub to cut delivery times for California buyers during peak season.

2. Submit Placement Preferences — The platform records the chosen centers and checks them against Amazon’s current capacity limits.

   • Example: If the preferred West‑coast hub is operating at 90 % capacity, Helium 10 automatically proposes the nearest facility with available space, such as a nearby Arizona center.