Amazon encourages Vendors to implement EDI and SSCC Labels to avoid upcoming No Carton Label Content Chargebacks.

In recent correspondence to vendors and solution providers, Amazon have outlined the steps that vendors should take in order to avoid the upcoming No Carton Content Level Charge-backs which will be introduced on January 1^st, 2015. According to Amazon, becoming EDI compliant and introducing SSCC/GS1-128 Labels will greatly help to avoid the upcoming charge-backs of $5 per non-compliant carton. A copy of the correspondence is detailed below:

“Dear Amazon Vendor,

In December 2013, we announced new labeling and ASN (Advanced Shipment Notification) requirements, whereby we require all vendors to provide ASNs and carton (package) labels to communicate carton content information. In the March 2014 newsletter, we provided vendors with another reminder and asked vendors to be compliant with these requirements by August 31st, 2014.
As a next step, we will be introducing the No Carton Content Label chargeback. This chargeback will apply when cartons (packages) in your shipment do not have carton content labels with the required information: PO number in both text and Code39 or Code128 barcode form, ASIN, ISBN, UPC, or EAN, Number of units in carton, Expiration date (if applicable), Lot number (if applicable).
Although you may receive notifications about this chargeback as of October 7th, 2014, the charge will be waived through December 31st, 2014. As of January 1st, 2015 we will be enforcing a $5 chargeback per each non-compliant carton (package).
To comply with our policy, you must affix one of the following to each carton (package) in your shipment:
1) SSCC labels (most preferred) - EDI vendors using document 856 can use the SSCC labels to meet the above requirements. We have revised the EDI 856 Technical Specifications document in the Vendor Central Resource Center so that vendors can start providing expiration date and lot number details. If you are not currently using the 856 document, we recommended that you start using it to meet our carton content label requirements. If you are not set up to use EDI, we recommended looking into this option in order to use SSCC labels to comply with this policy.
2) 2D barcode shipping labels - If you're already using the GS1 specifications to generate a 2D barcode, you may continue to do so. We will accept all 2D Barcode shipping labels that meet the GS1-128 standards. If you have not invested in the GS1-128 standards and want to provide us the required information via a 2D barcode, you can also use one of the following formats (in order of preference):

• PDF417 - Besides being an industry standard and one of the speediest formats to read, there is no character limit on this format.
• Data matrix
• QR Code
• Maxi - this has a 93 character limit.

For specifications with illustrative examples, download the North American Shipment Guidelines in the Vendor Central Resource Center, open the NA_Vendor_Prep_and_Trans_Manual.pdf file, and go to the "BPS (Barcode Packing Slips) - 2D barcode shipping labels" section.
3) The redesigned Shipments feature in Vendor Central offers an option to print the required information at the carton (package) level and will be linked to an AMZNCC (Amazon container code) barcode label. To access this feature, sign in to Vendor Central and go to Orders > Shipments.
Note: Labels printed via the Shipments feature in Vendor Central will include the required PO information. If you use one of the other two options, ensure that the labels include the required PO information, or print a separate PO label from the Orders > Purchase Orders feature. “


If you would like further information on how B2BGateway’s EDI and Label solutions can help you avoid the upcoming Amazon Chargebacks, please call +1 401 491 9595 / +353 61 708533 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net