What Is Amazon Multi Channel Fulfillment?

Virginia Miller

September 15, 2024

In this article

You know Amazon.com as the mega online retailer that sells everything from books to diapers to garden gnomes. But did you know that Amazon also offers a Multi Channel fulfillment (MCF) program that can help business owners like you sell their products through other channels, such as eBay and Etsy? Here's what you need to know about Amazon MCF and how it can help your business grow.

What is Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment?

Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) is a service that stores inventory and fulfills orders for both Amazon and non-Amazon websites using Amazon's fulfillment network. Companies can store all or part of their inventory in an Amazon warehouse, and when a customer purchases a product through a non-Amazon channel, Amazon will pick, pack and ship the order directly to the customer.

Benefits of Amazon MCF

Some key benefits of using Amazon MCF include:

Access to Amazon's extensive fulfillment center network for storage and order processing
Leverage Amazon's state-of-the-art inventory management systems
Take advantage of Amazon's wide logistics network for fast and affordable shipping
Free up time to focus on running your ecommerce business vs fulfillment operations

Downsides of Amazon MCF

Amazon MCF also has some potential downsides:

Limited product categories - toys, video games, subscriptions etc. may not qualify
Orders delivered in Amazon packaging, not your own branding

Amazon MCF Fees

The fees for Amazon's MCF service include:

Storage fees - charged monthly based on the volume of inventory stored
Fulfillment fees - charged per order fulfilled based on size, weight etc.

One benefit over Amazon's FBA service is that you do not pay Amazon's 15% referral fee on sales from your non-Amazon website.

Overall, Amazon MCF provides an efficient way for ecommerce businesses to leverage Amazon's unmatched fulfillment capabilities while retaining control over their website and branding. The service can make sense for merchants already using FBA or looking to expand their sales channels.

Recommended: Omnichannel fulfillment Or Multi Channel Fulfillment: Which One Is Right For Your Business?

FAQs

What is Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment?

Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) is a service that stores inventory and fulfills orders for both Amazon and non-Amazon websites using Amazon's fulfillment network. Companies store inventory at Amazon warehouses, and Amazon picks, packs and ships orders when customers purchase products through external websites.

How does Amazon MCF work?

With MCF, Amazon handles fulfillment of orders from channels outside of Amazon.com, such as a merchant's own online store. Inventory is stored in Amazon FCs and delivered using Amazon's shipping services when an order comes through a non-Amazon sales channel.

What are the benefits of Amazon MCF?

Key benefits include access to Amazon's fulfillment infrastructure, powerful inventory management capabilities, fast shipping options, and not having to operate your own fulfillment centers.

What are limitations of Amazon MCF?

Some limitations are restricted product categories like toys, video games, etc. Also orders are delivered in Amazon branded packaging instead of the seller's own branding.

What fees does Amazon charge for MCF?

Fees consist of monthly storage fees based on inventory volume stored at Amazon FCs, as well as per order fulfillment fees based on order weight, dimensions etc. There are no Amazon referral fees.

Can I use Amazon MCF without selling on Amazon.com?

Yes, you can use MCF even if you only sell on other channels like your own online store and do not sell on the Amazon marketplace.

Is MCF better than Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA)?

MCF makes sense for merchants already using FBA who want to grow sales into other channels. For Amazon.com orders, FBA may still be preferable in many cases.