Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging @ Amazon. com

Amazon’s Frustration-Free Packaging: Easier, Cheaper, and Better for the Environment

E-commerce giant, Amazon, introduced Frustration-Free Packaging to the online shopping industry in 2008. This initiative was started as an innovative solution to the growing concern about the environmental inefficiency of product packaging, and to help relieve customers of wrap rage.

If you hate wrestling your items out of their impractical packages using unsafely sharp objects, if you would like to be better informed about your online purchasing options, or if you’re simply curious, read on to know more about Amazon’s frustration free packaging—what it is, what it does, how it compares to shipping your items via standard packaging, and whether or not it’s worth it.

What is the Frustration-Free Packaging?

For those of you who are reading about this for the first time, or for those of you who have seen that little button that says ‘frustration free packaging’ whenever you’re about to check out an item but never quite knew what it meant, you might be asking: what does frustration free packaging mean? What makes a package frustration free?

A frustration free package is easy to open.

No more box cutters or knives. No more struggling to rip apart elaborate casing and facing the risk of paper cuts and wounds. With items shipped in frustration-free packaging, customers can unwrap their package within a matter of seconds. With an easy pull of a tab or by simply taking out the item enclosed inside, they’ll be able to use their item as soon as possible, without all the… well, frustration.

A frustration free package keeps an item secure.

Frustration-free packaging was designed specifically for the e-commerce industry. Items shipped using frustration free packaging have all undergone lab testing, making the items inside just as safe as they would be in their standard packaging.

A frustration free package is good for the environment.

Made with a more efficient packaging design, and constructed using much less packaging materials, a frustration free package is not only an ally to help customers fight wrap rage, but it is also a friend to the environment. In addition, it is composed of 100% recyclable materials.

It eliminates the use of an additional shipping box by removing the regular casing around it and maximizing the use of only one shipping box, all while keeping the item just as secure as it would have been had it been shipped in its regular casing and yet another, bigger shipping box. Through the implementation of this innovative packaging program, Amazon was able to avoid using 360 million shipping boxes.

Frustration-free packaging also does not make use of Styrofoam or plastic; through this method, in 2013 alone, frustration free packaging allowed Amazon to eliminate nearly 24.7 million pounds of excess packaging material.

Combining all of these factors and components, a frustration free package ultimately reduces waste in the supply chain.

Frustration Free Packaging Vs Standard Packaging

Before the introduction of Amazon frustration free packaging, items purchased online could only be shipped through standard packaging. Standard packaging uses excess packaging materials, such as extra shipping boxes and plastic wrapping and clamshells, making them bad for the environment, hard to open, and inducing wrap rage among customers. Usually welded shut inside elaborate plastic cases, also known as plastic clamshells, or chained to a cardboard box with unforgiving wire ties, any and every item purchased online was a headache to open. This was a big problem that Amazon wanted to address using their new packaging program.

Frustration-free packaging is an easier, cheaper, and more environment-friendly alternative to standard packaging. Using exclusively recyclable packaging materials (no Styrofoam and plastic!) getting your items shipped via frustration free packaging not only frees you from the stress and the struggle of trying to tear through your package with a hacksaw, it also allows you to help the environment in your own little way. What’s more is that frustration free packages are smaller in size and much lighter in weight, which means that they ultimately use less fossil fuel to deliver.

Frustration-Free Packaging Program

Amazon’s packaging program is quite strict in terms of upholding packaging quality and item safety, and understandably so; only authorized brands and resellers that have undergone the application process for frustration-free packaging, and whose products have all been reviewed by Amazon, can have their items marked as available for shipping via certified frustration-free packaging.

Sellers that want to become authorized for frustration-free packaging must submit:

Authorized reseller documentation in the form of a website URL An authorization letter and other details that can help Amazon identify them on the authorized dealer page Pictures of frustration-free packaging inventory - one picture showing the top and/or front of the package, which should show the seal, and another picture showing the identifier barcode of the product.

To further proceed and apply to sell a restricted frustration free packaging ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number), sellers must complete the following steps:

Secure the information stated above.

Fulfill an online enrollment form, which can be found on their website. Listed below is a guide to filling up the online enrollment form for sellers

A. From the Amazon catalog, select the product for which you want authorization to sell.

B. Agree to the terms and conditions.

C. Submit the two pictures, as stated before.

D. Submit authorized reseller documentation. The request and documents will be evaluated after submission.

In addition, Amazon has a few reminders for vendors who wish to make their items eligible for frustration-free packaging.

The packaging must be sealed properly, with no holes or windows. It must be able to secure the item from the beginning of the shipping process until it reaches the customer

A bar code, description, and regulatory markings must be assigned to the packaging for purposes of ensuring cost efficiency.

The packaging must be easy to open; by the name ‘frustration free packaging’, meaning the item must be able to be removed from the package in under 120 seconds. Additionally, the package must not have plastic wires, inserts and clamshell casings.

Packaging materials used must be 100% recyclable and marked as so. The shipper is responsible for safely fitting the product in the packaging and allowing a maximum of only 2 inches of packaging material to surround the product.

These measures may seem like a lot, but frustration free packaging was created with the customer in mind. These requirements and precautions protect against unauthorized sellers and resellers, and largely prevents them from profiting off of products that are unreliable or aren’t theirs to legally distribute.

With the packaging program in place, unauthorized sellers will not be able to sell products without the original manufacturer’s approval. They would have to create entirely new listings with absolutely no product reviews and no sales history, which will make it very difficult to achieve successful sales because product reviews and sales history are major contributors to a seller’s success on Amazon, as customers largely rely on pictures of a product and other customers’ reviews about a product as a basis of whether or not they will purchase it.

Is Frustration-Free Packaging Worth It?

Yes. Availing of frustration-free packaging (which is usually cheaper than standard packaging!) has been proven time and time again to be worth the effort of launching the initiative in the first place. From just being available to 19 products, the frustration free packaging option has now grown to include well over 250,000 products on Amazon’s enormous catalog.

These numbers aren’t entirely surprising, as frustration free packaging is not only convenient for customers but also beneficial to the environment. It is no wonder at all that the frustration free packaging option has now become one of the very first things that Amazon customers look for when making a purchase.

The creation of this packaging program has not only boosted customer satisfaction and sales, but it has also improved product reviews and feedback from sellers.

Don’t Leave Product Reviews in the Background

Undoubtedly, improving your product and customer service make a big impact on your sales, however, don't forget to always provide your customers an opportunity to submit product reviews and seller feedback. If you don't know where to start, sign up for SageMailer free 21-day trial so that you can automate sending emails to a customer who purchases your products and ask them for reviews and feedback on their purchasing experience.

Alex Harrison

Amazon & eCommerce Hacks

✓ PPC Strategy ✓ FBA Business ✓ Amazon SEO ✓ Increasing Sales ✓ Amazon Repricer

Amazon Seller Central: Individual vs. Professional Account

If you are interested in launching an Amazon FBA Business, you have to confront several choices. The first thing that you need to decide on is whether you want to make an Amazon individual seller account or an Amazon professional seller account.

Effective Ways to Use FBA Small and Light Program to Save on Fees

The traditional FBA program sets a standard fulfillment fee to every product sold. Sellers who are selling products which cost lower than $10 may not be able to make a profit if they are charged based on this standard fulfillment fee. Why?

Frustration-free packaging

Frustration-Free Packaging is packaging that is made of 100% recyclable materials, easy to open, and designed to ship products in their original packaging, which eliminates the need for an additional shipping box. "Frustration-Free Packaging" was designed with the customer in mind, making it easier to liberate products from their packages while also reducing waste.

Since 2008, Frustration-Free Packaging has grown to include more than 750,000 products. As of December 2017, Amazon’s sustainable packaging innovations have eliminated 215,000 tons of packaging material and avoided 360 million shipping boxes.

We started small with just 19 of the worst offenders—products enclosed in hard plastic cases known as "clamshells" and secured with plastic-coated wire ties, which are commonly used in toy packaging.

To certify products as part of our Frustration-Free Program, Amazon works with manufacturers worldwide, helping them innovate and improve their packaging functionality, reducing waste throughout the supply chain. By thoroughly testing products in the Amazon Packaging Lab in Seattle and our fulfillment centers across the globe, Amazon identifies specific steps that manufacturers can take to improve their packaging and ensure customers’ products are well protected all the way to their final destination.

SAME PRODUCT, BETTER PACKAGING: AMAZON’S FRUSTRATION-FREE PACKAGING

Amazon’s Frustration-Free Packaging is an initiative designed to alleviate ‘wrap rage’ by featuring products in recyclable boxes that are easy to open and contain fewer excess materials.

“We’ve all experienced the frustration of trying to remove a product from nearly impenetrable packaging like plastic clamshell cases and products bound by dozens of wire ties,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon. com. “We’ve worked with both manufacturers and customers to design Frustration-Free Packaging that is easy-to-open, protects the product and reduces waste.”

You already know that Amazon is customer centric so the power wielded by customer ratings and feedback drive much of Amazon’s customer experience programs. FFP is no exception. The customers helped guide this program on product packaging and their advice has been the driving force behind hundreds of packaging improvements each year.

With reference to the original purpose, FFP was not created with the protection of the seller in mind, though now it is also a major bonus side effect.

Benefits of frustration-free packaging for customers

Frustration-free packaging products are tested by Amazon according to the industry standard ISTA-3A for single parcel shipment. This test simulates shipping and delivery conditions through a series of drop and vibration tests.

In addition, this packaging is recyclable and does not include excess packaging materials such as hard plastic clamshell casings, plastic bindings, and wire ties. The boxes have been designed in a way so that they can be opened without a box cutter or knife while protecting products just as well as traditional packaging. Products can be shipped in their own boxes, without an additional shipping box.

Benefits of frustration-free packaging for manufacturers

Manufacturers will benefit directly by expanding their reach to a growing segment of Amazon customers who look for frustration-free packaging. Once the packaging is approved, they will have the option to print or affix the Frustration-Free Packaging logo onto their package (for free). This may help lower the chances of the product getting damaged during shipping.

In addition, manufacturers will enjoy the benefits of additional Amazon merchandising and promotions and potentially lower costs by reducing packaging materials, transportation, and waste in the supply chain.

Check out the video below to see what Amazon is doing to reduce the so-called ‘wrap rage’.

Protect Your Amazon Business: Frustration-Free Packaging

By Tina Marie Bueno | December 8th, 2015

In our last article, we covered how Brand Registry adds an important layer of protection for your products, but as we mentioned previously, even Brand Registry is not a 100% deterrent. However, at iLoveToReview, some our seasoned Sellers have moved to a much less known Amazon program that offers big protection: Frustration Free Packaging (FFP) .

Amazon’s Frustration-Free Packaging is an initiative designed to alleviate “wrap rage” by featuring products in recyclable boxes that are easy to open and contain fewer excess materials.

“We’ve all experienced the frustration of trying to remove a product from nearly impenetrable packaging like plastic clamshell cases and products bound by dozens of wire ties,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon. com. “We’ve worked with both manufacturers and customers to design Frustration-Free Packaging that is easy-to-open, protects the product and reduces waste.”

You already know that Amazon is customer centric so the power wielded by customer ratings and feedback drive much of Amazon’s customer experience programs. FFP is no different. They helped guide this program on product packaging. This advice has been the driving force behind hundreds of packaging improvements each year.

As you can see from its purpose, FFP was not created for Seller protection reasons at all; however, it is indeed a major bonus side effect.

How Does It Help My Amazon Business?

Amazon’s Rule: Once a product is certified FFP, only manufacturers and authorized resellers may list the FFP product on Amazon. com . What this means for you is that while Brand Registry offers some leverage with Amazon, if you also use FFP, you have in essence, built an extremely protective layer around your products since NO ONE else can use FFP for your brand.

CPC Strategy, a leading e-commerce marketing firm, explains that if a brand’s existing packaging qualifies for FFP, Amazon will not allow any other unauthorized sellers to bid against that listing (without their approval under FFP). As a result, FFP can provide brands with a significant advantage over the Buy Box and help protect them against unauthorized sellers.

Below are preparatory steps to set FFP enrollment in motion:

Your product must already exist in the Amazon. com catalog to be evaluated. If it is a new product that is still being developed, Amazon recommends that you create the ASIN with a future release date. All products must be new, not used.

Set your listing to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). FFP products are FBA only.

Enroll in the Brand Registry program. You must be registered for the brand of the product you plan to submit to FFP. ( Use the unique identifier such as the UPC from your Brand Registry process or the GCID generated by Amazon when you were accepted. )

While you are waiting for Brand Registry approval, design and order samples of your packaging according to Amazon’s Frustration-Free Guidelines. DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Amazon’s Library of FFP Designs is the go to resource for acceptable materials. Depending on your current package, only a few minor adjustments, if any, may be necessary. Just imagine your product packaging and label is mail ready. In other words, it is ready to ship without being put in another box. Also, protect your product inside (if needed) which may require a corrugated insert or a simple air pillow. (By the way, if you do not need a custom made insert, Amazon also sells corrugated, recycled boxes.) Once you have your packaging component(s), upload pictures (two minimum) of your FFP product. One picture should display the outside of the closed package, including markings for proposed graphics. The second picture should display the internal packaging a customer would receive in the mail. Additional pictures of internal components or alternate views help to expedite the certification process.

Heads up….Amazon may ask for physical samples. When you are hopefully FFP certified, it will be time to send your inventory for FBA.

FFP could mean spending more on packaging than originally planned, but securing your product listing is priceless.

Tina Marie Bueno is a global citizen with an MBA in Int’l Business plus over 20 years of content marketing experience both in the U. S. and overseas. As iLoveToReview’s Marketing Director, she strives to deliver relevant content to serve Amazon businesses of all sizes.