What are Amazon fulfillment services? FBM vs FBA vs MCF

Overview

What are Amazon’s fulfillment services? Amazon is not just one of the largest online marketplaces in the world, it is also a major logistics and fulfillment powerhouse. Millions of sellers around the globe rely on Amazon to reach customers quickly, manage inventory efficiently, and scale their businesses without needing to operate complex warehouse operations.

To support different business models, Amazon offers multiple fulfillment options.

• FBM — Fulfilled by Merchant — gives sellers full control over fulfillment by letting them manage shipping and customer service independently.
• FBA — Fulfillment by Amazon — allows sellers to outsource storage, shipping, customer service, and returns to Amazon.
• MCF — Multi-Channel Fulfillment — extends Amazon’s logistics network to orders from external sales channels, such as e-commerce stores, marketplaces, or your website.

Let’s take a closer look and explore the pros and cons of each.

What is FBM on Amazon

Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM) is Amazon’s fulfillment model where sellers manage the entire order process themselves.

The seller is responsible for:

• Storing inventory
• Packing orders
• Shipping products
• Handling customer service and returns.

FBM gives sellers full control over their logistics operations. This option is often chosen by businesses that already have their own warehouse, use third-party logistics providers, or sell products that are not suitable for Amazon’s fulfillment network due to size, handling requirements, or cost structure.

With FBM, sellers still benefit from Amazon’s marketplace visibility, but fulfillment is handled independently.

How does Amazon FBM work

To use FBM, sellers must have an active Amazon Seller account and list their products on the Amazon marketplace. When a customer places an order, the seller — not Amazon — is responsible for every step of the fulfillment process.

The seller manages:

• Shipping methods and carriers
• Delivery timelines
• Customer communication
• Returns and refunds

How to work with FBM:

1. Store inventory in your own warehouse or with a logistics partner
2. Receive an order on Amazon
3. Pack and ship the order directly to the customer

What is FBA on Amazon

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is designed for sellers who want to store products in Amazon fulfillment centers and have Amazon handle storage, shipping, customer service, and returns for Amazon marketplace orders.

FBA allows sellers to leverage Amazon’s sophisticated logistics network and offer fast, reliable delivery to customers. Products fulfilled through FBA are often eligible for Prime shipping, which can improve visibility, sales, and customer trust.

How does Amazon FBA work

The FBA process is designed to be simple and scalable for both individual sellers and businesses.

1. Send your inventory to Amazon: Prepare products according to Amazon’s packaging and labeling requirements and ship them to Amazon fulfillment centers.
2. Storage and availability: Amazon stores the inventory and makes it available for purchase on the marketplace.
3. Order fulfillment: When a customer places an order, Amazon handles the picking, packing, and shipping of the product, often with fast options like Prime delivery.
4. Customer service and returns: Amazon manages all post-purchase operations, including customer inquiries, refunds, and returns.

Please note: Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) can be used only for orders placed on the Amazon marketplace. It does not fulfill orders from other sales channels.

When a seller expands beyond Amazon and starts selling on platforms like eBay, WooCommerce, or other e-commerce channels, Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) is required. To connect and manage these non-Amazon orders, a third-party integration tool such as Nembol is needed.

What is MCF on Amazon

Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) is a fulfillment solution that allows sellers to use Amazon’s world-class logistics network to manage and ship orders from any sales channel, not just Amazon’s own marketplace. This means sellers can store inventory in Amazon fulfillment centers and have it shipped directly to customers who order from their own ecommerce site, other marketplaces like eBay or Shopify, or even social media stores.

MCF is particularly valuable for sellers who operate across multiple channels but want a centralized, reliable fulfillment system. By using MCF, sellers can reduce the complexity of managing multiple warehouses, ensure fast and trackable delivery, and provide a professional, consistent shipping experience for customers, without having to invest heavily in their own logistics infrastructure.

Benefits of using Amazon MCF:

• Single inventory pool: One stock can serve multiple sales channels, helping prevent overselling and stockouts.
• Fast and reliable shipping: Orders are fulfilled from Amazon’s network of fulfillment centers, offering predictable delivery times.
• Scalable solution: Sellers can easily handle growing order volumes without adding warehouse space or staff.
• Seamless integration: MCF can be connected to e-commerce platforms and marketplaces for automated order routing. Nembol’s Amazon MCF integration makes this process easier.

By leveraging MCF, sellers gain access to Amazon’s logistics expertise and infrastructure while maintaining control over where and how their products are sold. 

How does Amazon MCF work

To use Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF), sellers must have an active Amazon Seller account and send inventory to Amazon fulfillment centers. This inventory can then be used to fulfill orders from external sales channels, such as e-commerce websites, social commerce platforms, or third-party marketplaces.

MCF can be used regardless of whether you sell on Amazon’s marketplace or not.

There are two main ways to get started:

• If you already sell on Amazon, your products are already stored in Amazon fulfillment centers, so you can immediately use that inventory to place MCF orders. No additional registration is required. Each time you receive an order, simply log in to Seller Central and create an MCF order for your external sales — or use a third-party tool like Nembol to automate the process.
• If you’re new to Amazon, you must create a Seller account, sign up for fulfillment services, and start using MCF to store inventory and ship orders through Amazon’s logistics network. Your products must have SKUs — no ASIN or Amazon listing is required. You can connect Nembol to automatically transfer and fulfill orders from eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce, and other channels via Amazon. Once an MCF order is submitted, Amazon handles the picking, packing, and shipping of the products. The package is delivered directly to the customer, with tracking information available for both the seller and the buyer.

Note: Returns can also be sent back to Amazon’s fulfillment centers, allowing eligible products to be reintegrated into available inventory. Since these orders originate outside of Amazon’s marketplace, customer communication and support remain the seller’s responsibility.

What is the difference between Amazon MCF and FBA

While both Amazon MCF and FBA use the same fulfillment network, they serve different purposes and target different sales scenarios. Understanding the distinctions helps sellers and businesses choose the right solution for their needs.

The main differences can be summarized in the table below:

Nembol’s Amazon MCF Integration

Nembol added integration with Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment.

Your orders from eBay, Shopify, or WooCommerce can now be sent directly to Amazon fulfillment centers. Sellers can manage multi-channel fulfillment through Amazon’s logistics network from a single platform — no need to maintain separate warehouses.

Get early access to beta test this new feature!

Requirements to participate:

• Active Amazon Seller account
• Sell on eBay, Shopify, or WooCommerce
• Products must have SKU codes

Important: You do not need to sell on Amazon or create Amazon listings. This Nembol feature simply transfers your eBay, Shopify, or WooCommerce orders for shipment via Amazon MCF.

Supported channels:

• Shopify
• eBay
• WooCommerce

Want to participate in the beta program? Contact us