A Complete Professional Guide to Amazon Logistics Programs: FBA, FBM, MCF, Buy Shipping, Amazon Shipping & More

Amazon has built one of the most sophisticated global logistics networks in the world. Over the past decade, Amazon has been steadily expanding not only its fulfillment infrastructure (FBA) but also its transportation network (Amazon Shipping), its multi-channel capabilities (MCF), and its hybrid logistics tools (Buy Shipping, SFP).

For sellers operating in the U.S., EU, or globally, understanding these programs is not simply terminology — it directly impacts:


	

	
Inventory allocation strategy
	
	

	
Cost structure (storage, pick-pack, shipping, returns)
	
	

	
Delivery performance & account health
	
	

	
Cross-border logistics planning
	
	

	
Multi-channel fulfillment efficiency
	
	

	
Operational automation
	


This article provides a professional deep dive into every critical Amazon logistics concept, how they differ, and how sellers should apply them strategically.



1. Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)

Overview

Amazon FBA is Amazon’s flagship fulfillment program, in which sellers ship inventory into Amazon’s fulfillment centers (FCs). Once received, Amazon becomes responsible for the entire downstream operation: storage, picking, packing, delivery, returns processing, refunds, and customer-facing inquiries.

Key Operational Processes


	

	
Inbound logistics

	

		

		
Inventory shipped to Amazon FCs via SPD (Small Parcel Delivery), LTL/FTL, or AGL (Amazon Global Logistics).
		
		

		
Amazon requires strict labeling, carton weight/dimension compliance, and ASIN preparation standards.
		
	
	
	

	
Storage

	

		

		
Inventory stored with monthly storage fees (billed by cubic feet).
		
		

		
Aged inventory incurs long-term storage or aged inventory surcharge.
		
	
	
	

	
Order fulfillment

	

		

		
Amazon picks, packs, and ships every order.
		
		

		
Prime delivery standards apply: 1-Day, 2-Day, or same-day depending on regional availability.
		
	
	
	

	
Returns processing

	

		

		
Amazon handles customer returns, quality grading, and restocking/disposals.
		
	
	


Strengths


	

	
Highest conversion rate due to Prime badge.
	
	

	
Best delivery speed at scale.
	
	

	
Amazon handles customer support and reverse logistics.
	
	

	
Ideal for repeatable, fast-moving SKUs.
	


Limitations


	

	
Higher fees for oversized or low-turnover products.
	
	

	
Less flexibility in packaging and branding.
	
	

	
Risk of FC inventory limits or capacity restrictions.
	
	

	
Inventory stranded costs and removal fees.
	


Best Use Cases


	

	
Ecommerce-first brands
	
	

	
Fast-turnover SKUs
	
	

	
High Buy Box competition categories
	
	

	
Lightweight, standard-size products
	




2. FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant)

Overview

With FBM, sellers list products on Amazon but self-fulfill orders using their own warehouse or a 3PL. Amazon does not touch the inventory.

Operational Responsibilities


	

	
Seller picks, packs, ships orders.
	
	

	
Seller manages delivery SLAs.
	
	

	
Seller handles customer inquiries and returns.
	
	

	
Tracking information must be valid and on time.
	


Advantages


	

	
Lower storage and handling cost for slow-moving products.
	
	

	
Greater control over packaging and branding.
	
	

	
No dependency on Amazon FC capacity or restock limits.
	


Challenges


	

	
Lower conversion rate (no Prime badge).
	
	

	
Must meet Amazon’s valid tracking rate, on-time delivery rate, and cancellation metrics.
	
	

	
Higher risk to account health.
	


Best Use Cases


	

	
Bulk or oversized goods
	
	

	
Made-to-order products
	
	

	
Categories unsuitable for FBA (hazmat, fragile, seasonal)
	




3. SFP (Seller Fulfilled Prime)

Overview

SFP allows FBM sellers to display the Prime badge while fulfilling orders from their own warehouse or 3PL. This hybrid model offers Prime-level visibility without using FBA.

Strict Requirements

SFP is one of the most demanding Amazon programs:


	

	
1–2 day nationwide coverage
	
	

	
Use of Amazon Buy Shipping–approved carriers
	
	

	
Same-day or next-day handling cutoffs
	
	

	

	
99% on-time delivery
	
	
	

	
<0.5% cancellation rate
	
	

	
Weekend operations in many regions
	
	

	
Ship-from-location must meet Amazon standards (quick handling, reliable transit zones)
	


Advantages


	

	
Maintain Prime badge without FBA inventory
	
	

	
Control over branding and packaging
	
	

	
Suitable for oversized/expensive-to-store items
	


Limitations


	

	
Very high operational cost
	
	

	
Requires advanced warehouse infrastructure
	
	

	
Carrier constraints, delivery commitments, and compliance monitoring are strict
	


Best Use Cases


	

	
Sellers with strong in-house logistics
	
	

	
Large sellers with nationwide coverage
	
	

	
High-margin items where FBA is cost-inefficient
	




4. Amazon MCF (Multi-Channel Fulfillment)

Overview

Amazon MCF extends Amazon’s fulfillment capabilities beyond Amazon marketplaces. Sellers store inventory in Amazon FCs, and Amazon ships orders generated from external platforms:


	

	
Shopify
	
	

	
TikTok Shop
	
	

	
WooCommerce
	
	

	
eBay
	
	

	
Etsy
	
	

	
Magento
	
	

	
Custom websites
	


How It Works


	

	
You send inventory to FBA.
	
	

	
Amazon allocates part of your FBA inventory to MCF.
	
	

	
Orders from external channels are pushed to Amazon.
	
	

	
Amazon picks, packs, and delivers through its network.
	


Service Levels


	

	
Priority (1-Day)
	
	

	
Expedited (2-Day)
	
	

	
Standard (3–5 Days)
	


Advantages


	

	
Amazon-level reliability for all channels
	
	

	
High accuracy rate
	
	

	
Centralized inventory pool
	
	

	
Fast fulfillment comparable to FBA
	


Limitations


	

	
No Amazon Prime branding outside Amazon
	
	

	
MCF inventory cannot be mixed with FBA orders dynamically
	
	

	
Higher shipping cost vs. Amazon-based orders
	
	

	
Branding neutral — Amazon packaging sometimes used or removed depending on region
	


Best Use Cases


	

	
DTC brands scaling up
	
	

	
Multi-channel sellers
	
	

	
Shopify stores competing on fast delivery
	




5. Amazon Shipping

Overview

Amazon Shipping is Amazon’s standalone last-mile carrier service, similar to UPS, DHL, or FedEx.

It delivers both:


	

	
Amazon orders
	
	

	
Non-Amazon orders (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.)
	


Important Distinction

Amazon Shipping is not a fulfillment program.

It is strictly a delivery network / transportation service.

Coverage & Capabilities


	

	
Doorstep-to-doorstep delivery
	
	

	
Real-time tracking
	
	

	
Weekend operations
	
	

	
High-density urban coverage
	
	

	
Amazon DSP (Delivery Service Partners) handle many deliveries
	


Advantages


	

	
Competitive pricing
	
	

	
Strong delivery speed
	
	

	
Native integration with Buy Shipping
	
	

	
Reduces dependency on USPS/UPS
	


Limitations


	

	
Available in limited regions (U.S., UK, some EU countries)
	
	

	
No warehousing — only transportation
	
	

	
Cutoffs vary by region
	


Best Use Cases


	

	
FBM sellers
	
	

	
MCF hybrid strategies
	
	

	
High-volume same-region shipments
	




6. Amazon Buy Shipping

Overview

Buy Shipping is a portal inside Seller Central that allows sellers to purchase Amazon-approved shipping labels for FBM or SFP orders.

Core Features


	

	
Access to Amazon’s negotiated shipping rates
	
	

	
Auto-upload of tracking numbers
	
	

	
Compliance validation (protects account health)
	
	

	
Full integration with Amazon Shipping, UPS, USPS, DHL, etc.
	


Why Sellers Use Buy Shipping

Using Buy Shipping provides Amazon-backed delivery validity. When sellers purchase labels here, Amazon verifies the shipment was sent using an approved carrier and service.

This helps protect:


	

	
On-time delivery score
	
	

	
Valid tracking rate
	
	

	
Late shipment metrics
	
	

	
Order Defect Rate (ODR)
	


Best Use Cases


	

	
FBM and SFP sellers
	
	

	
Sellers concerned with account health
	
	

	
Sellers wanting automated label workflows
	




7. Amazon Easy Ship (India, UAE, KSA, etc.)

Overview

Easy Ship is Amazon’s pickup-based fulfillment service in certain markets where FBA penetration is lower.

How It Works


	

	
Seller stores inventory at their warehouse
	
	

	
Amazon picks up the order
	
	

	
Amazon handles the last-mile delivery
	


Advantages


	

	
No need to drop parcels off
	
	

	
Faster-than-FBM
	
	

	
Amazon-controlled logistics performance
	


Limitations


	

	
Available only in select regions
	
	

	
Not as fast as FBA
	
	

	
Requires geographic proximity to pickup zones
	




8. AGL (Amazon Global Logistics)

Overview

Amazon’s international freight forwarding service for sellers shipping inventory from Asia to Amazon FBA warehouses globally.

Services Included


	

	
Ocean freight (LCL, FCL)
	
	

	
Air freight
	
	

	
Customs clearance
	
	

	
Destination delivery to Amazon FCs
	
	

	
Cargo tracking
	


Advantages


	

	
Simplified end-to-end supply chain
	
	

	
Amazon knows inbound ETAs → smoother receiving
	
	

	
Competitive freight rates
	
	

	
Reduced lead-time variability
	


Best For


	

	
China-based manufacturers
	
	

	
Global FBA sellers
	
	

	
Brands needing stable freight arrangements
	




9. AML / AMZL (Amazon Logistics)

Overview

Amazon Logistics (AMZL or AML) is Amazon’s internal logistics umbrella, covering:


	

	
Middle-mile
	
	

	
Last-mile
	
	

	
DSP (Delivery Service Partner) program
	
	

	
Amazon hub lockers
	
	

	
Amazon Shipping
	
	

	
Transportation hubs and sort centers
	


It's part of Amazon’s vertically integrated logistics infrastructure.



10. Amazon DSP (Delivery Service Partners)

Overview

Amazon DSP is a network of independent delivery companies operating small fleets to deliver Amazon packages — wearing Amazon uniforms, using Amazon vans.

These partners play a key role in Amazon Shipping, FBA deliveries, and MCF last-mile.



11. Amazon Relay

Overview

Relay is Amazon’s transportation platform for trucking companies performing middle-mile, line-haul, and inter-facility transfers.

Not used by sellers directly, but crucial to Amazon’s logistics architecture.



Full Comparison Table for Professionals


	

		

			
Program
			
Storage
			
Who Ships
			
Channel
			
Speed
			
Main Benefit
		
	
	

		

			
FBA
			
Amazon warehouse
			
Amazon
			
Amazon orders
			
1–2 days
			
Prime badge, fastest growth
		
		

			
FBM
			
Seller
			
Seller
			
Amazon orders
			
Varies
			
Full control, low cost
		
		

			
SFP
			
Seller
			
Seller but Prime-standard
			
Amazon orders
			
1–2 days
			
Prime without FBA
		
		

			
MCF
			
Amazon warehouse
			
Amazon
			
Non-Amazon orders
			
1–5 days
			
Amazon-level fulfillment for external channels
		
		

			
Amazon Shipping
			
Seller
			
Amazon carrier
			
Any platform
			
1–5 days
			
Amazon as standalone carrier
		
		

			
Buy Shipping
			
Seller
			
Seller/Carrier
			
Amazon orders
			
Varies
			
Protects account health, label consistency
		
		

			
Easy Ship
			
Seller
			
Amazon pickup
			
Amazon
			
Fast
			
Amazon-managed last mile
		
		

			
AGL
			
N/A (freight)
			
Amazon
			
FBA inbound
			
N/A
			
Simplifies cross-border logistics
		
	

 

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Amazon Logistics Program for 2025

The Amazon logistics ecosystem has evolved into a multi-layered infrastructure supporting:


	

	
Marketplace fulfillment (FBA, SFP, FBM)
	
	

	
Multi-channel operations (MCF)
	
	

	
Carrier services (Amazon Shipping)
	
	

	
Compliance & performance tools (Buy Shipping)
	
	

	
Global freight (AGL)
	


For sellers, the key is strategic allocation:


	

	
Use FBA for high-velocity Amazon SKUs
	
	

	
Use MCF for Shopify/TikTok/eBay to benefit from Amazon’s speed
	
	

	
Use FBM for slow-turnover inventory
	
	

	
Layer Buy Shipping for account health
	
	

	
Use AGL to stabilize cross-border supply
	
	

	
Use Amazon Shipping for domestic delivery with competitive rates
	


In today’s environment — where delivery speed, operational efficiency, and inventory positioning determine competitiveness — understanding these distinctions is essential.

 

The Automation Layer Amazon Sellers Didn’t Know They Needed: 4Seller

As Amazon’s logistics ecosystem becomes increasingly interconnected, sellers need tools that can unify data, automate workflows, and eliminate manual operational friction. This is where 4Seller adds significant value for Amazon-focused and multi-channel merchants.

1. Automated Multi-Channel FBA Fulfillment (Zero Manual Work Required)

4Seller allows sellers to route Shopify, TikTok Shop, eBay, Etsy, WooCommerce, Temu, Shein, and other channel orders directly to Amazon FBA through fully automated rules.

Here’s how it works:


	

	
Define logistics rules in 4Seller (e.g., auto-fulfill all U.S. Shopify orders via FBA).
	
	

	
Once an eligible order is created on any connected channel:

	→ 4Seller automatically submits the fulfillment request to FBA

	→ Amazon picks, packs, and ships the order

	→ Amazon returns the tracking number to 4Seller

	→ 4Seller auto-syncs the tracking number back to the sales channel

	→ Order is automatically marked as fulfilled / shipped
	


No manual downloading, uploading, or handling of any files.

No human intervention required.

No risk of delays, invalid tracking, or operational bottlenecks.

This is especially powerful for brands running both Amazon and DTC channels, because it creates a single inventory pool inside FBA that can serve all platforms automatically.



2. Real-Time FBA Tracking, Sync, and Status Updates

4Seller maintains tight integration with Amazon’s API to ensure:


	

	
Real-time inventory sync across channels
	
	

	
Instant retrieval of FBA tracking numbers
	
	

	
Automatic push-back of shipment status
	
	

	
Unified order dashboards for Amazon + non-Amazon marketplaces
	


Sellers gain a consolidated view of order flows and logistics performance without switching between dashboards.



3. Fully Free — No Subscription Fees, No Hidden Costs

Perhaps most importantly, 4Seller is 100% free to use:


	

	
No monthly subscription fees
	
	

	
No per-channel charges
	
	

	
No per-order fees
	
	

	
No hidden automation costs
	


Sellers can leverage enterprise-level automation and multi-channel FBA fulfillment without adding operational expenses — a major difference compared to traditional ERPs, OMSs, or middleware tools.



Final Thoughts

Amazon’s logistics programs — from FBA and MCF to Buy Shipping and Amazon Shipping — have reshaped global fulfillment standards. To take full advantage of these systems, sellers need equally advanced operations software.

4Seller provides an automation-first infrastructure that helps sellers:


	

	
Use FBA as a multi-channel fulfillment hub
	
	

	
Reduce manual work by 90–100%
	
	

	
Maintain accurate tracking sync across all channels
	
	

	
Scale operations without scaling headcount
	
	

	
Improve delivery speed and customer satisfaction
	




For teams expanding across Amazon, DTC, and new marketplaces, 4Seller acts as the operational backbone that keeps every channel flawlessly connected.

Let’s connect and grow together 🚀

📩 Business Inquiries / Partnership:

Email: [email protected]

🌐 Official Website: 

www.4seller.com/signUp.html?source_code=ywdvvwczh5

🔗 Follow 4Seller on Social Media:


	
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4seller-erp
	
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erp4seller/

💬 Join Our Global Seller Community

Exchange insights with 5,000+ e-commerce sellers sharing real growth strategies:

👉 https://chat.whatsapp.com/HZmWyTxfiiVG0jb96e26Dy

Written by Joline Chan — E-commerce growth strategist & SaaS content creator.

Follow me for practical guides on TikTok Shop, Temu, and Amazon seller automation.


	
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zuzhuolin-chen/
	
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091407104294