Running Low On Inventory

There's no rule that says you need to ship your products by one method only. Now... in a perfect world, we'd ship all our inventory by the cheapest method possible. Unfortunately, the cheapest method possible is often the slowest (i.e. boat). And the fastest method is the most expensive (air). But what if we could do both? Say you're running low on inventory. It's totally "allowed" to break up your shipment. Calculate how many units you'll need to avoid running out of stock at Amazon, and send that amount by air. Then, send the rest by boat. You'll save a bunch of money and won't run out of stock. :) The best of both worlds. Most sellers wait too long and then scramble when it's already too late. If you plan ahead even a little, this combo method buys you time, saves cash, and protects your rank. Pro tip: Negotiate with your freight forwarder early. Let them know you want a split shipment. They've done this before. They'll help you coordinate it. And if they won't? Find one who will.

The Hybrid Shipping Strategy for Amazon Inventory Management

Combining air freight and sea freight for the same product is not new, but most sellers do not implement it because it feels complicated. Here is how to make it simple:

1. Calculate your daily sales velocity. Look at your last 30 days of sales and divide by 30.
2. Estimate your sea freight transit time. From factory to FBA receiving, sea freight typically takes 45-60 days door-to-door.
3. Calculate your coverage gap. Multiply daily velocity by transit time. If you sell 20 units per day and sea freight takes 50 days, you need 1,000 units to cover the gap.
4. Air freight the gap. Ship enough units by air to cover the time between now and when your sea shipment arrives. Air freight takes 7-14 days door-to-door.

Yes, the air-freighted units have higher landed cost and lower margins. But going out of stock is far more expensive. A stockout tanks your organic ranking, and recovering that ranking can take weeks of heavy PPC spend. The higher shipping cost on a small air shipment is insurance against a much larger loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does sea freight take from China to Amazon FBA warehouses?

Door-to-door, including manufacturing lead time, port-to-port transit, customs clearance, and Amazon receiving, expect 45-60 days total. Port-to-port transit alone is typically 20-30 days. Always add a buffer for delays.

When should I use air freight instead of sea freight for Amazon inventory?

Use air freight when you are at risk of going out of stock before your sea shipment arrives. Also use it for initial product launches, during Q4 when receiving times are unpredictable, and for lightweight products where the cost difference is small.

How much does air freight cost compared to sea freight for Amazon FBA?

Air freight typically costs 4-8x more than sea freight per kilogram. However, air freight arrives in 7-14 days versus 30-45 days for sea freight. For small, high-margin products, the cost difference per unit is often minimal.