EN
Just One Sticker Throw a Global Supply Chain Into Chaos
Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) can get a company into big trouble if a single carton is mislabeled. That one mistake may stop a chain where inventory is blocked and sales are frozen, not to mention the loss of the supplier trust.
Imagine this:
An Amazon seller in the US buys transparent PVC packaging bags from a supplier who is located in a different country. The seller orders two SKUs with different colors and quantities. On basis of the customer's sticker files the supplier prints the carton labels and, after that, the labels are stuck during packing.
However, the factory workers got the color labels mixed. They ended up putting the wrong stickers on the wrong cartons.
Barcode scans don't match the ASN (Advanced Shipment Notice) when a shipment is delivered to the Amazon warehouse. Amazon marks the shipment as "quantity discrepancy" or "label mismatch".
And here is what happens:
- Some cartons are rejected
- Inventory is blocked
- Sales listings go inactive
- Storage and investigation fees start accumulating
The seller very nervously contacts the sourcing manager.
This is not a one-off situation — it is one of the most common hidden risks in the Amazon FBA supply chain.
At Tianqin, we watch this particular problem coming up time and time again with transparent PVC bag orders where there is a mix of different sizes, colors, or packaging styles in one shipment.
If you rely on FBA, it is crucial for every B2B buyer to understand what makes this happen and how to steer clear of it.
Why Amazon FBA Cannot Ignore Labeling Mistakes
Amazon FBA runs mostly on automation.
Robots, scanners, and warehouse systems are designed to expect:
- One SKU per carton
- One correct FNSKU label
- One correct quantity per box
There is no room for uncertainty.
In case even a single box has the wrong label:
- Amazon won't know what SKU is inside
- It won't be able to place it in your stock
- It must be put aside for an investigation
Amazon views this as a matter of risk,
From your point of view however, it will be:
- Lost sales
- Delayed launches
- Damaged Best Seller Rank
- Cash flow disruption
Nevertheless, the shipment is usually still at the factory stage when the vast majority of these problems originate.
How the Manual Labeling Inside Factories Is the Culprit
Packaging factories in general - including PVC bag factories - rely on manual carton labeling to a great extent.
To put it differently:
- Workers receive a pile of labels that have been printed
- They try to pair them with cartons through use of color, size, or making notes
- During the pace of packing, labels are attached wrongly most probably
It is even riskier when:
- There are multiple SKUs to be packed in just one order
- The colors resemble each other
- The cartons are of the same size
- The label files are received together
In the real example we observed:
As a result of workers not clearly differentiating between label colors, the incorrect carton labels were used. The inbound shipment did not match the customer's order quantities in the Amazon system.
So, what is the effect? The inventory was not the same as the customer's actual order.
This is a classic failure point of FBA.
The Nightmare Is Just Hidden for B2B Buyers
For Amazon sellers, packaging factories are more than the suppliers - they are an integral part of the logistics system.
Any factory mistake will become the financial responsibility of the seller.
If the labels are incorrect, then:
- Amazon charging for investigation fees
- Charges for re-labeling are incurred
- Removal or disposal fees might be necessary
- Reshipping costs go through the roof
There are three main risks to B2B procurement teams because of this:
1. Loss of money
Even if you did everything right with the factory, Amazon will still have to charge you for their errors.
2. Damaged Reputation
Inventory that is late or wrong affects:
- Customer reviews
- Seller metrics
- Amazon account health
3. Disrupted Operations
Your launch calendar, advertising campaigns, and even your cash flow forecasts are all disrupted.
This is how savvy buyers went from merely demanding cheap prices to insisting on FBA-friendly manufacturing processes.
How We Helped A Client See a Fault as an Opportunity
Recently Tianqin came across a labeling error issue just like this in case of an order for transparent PVC bags.
The problem:
- Factory got carton sticker files from customer's side.
- Color confusion by factory workers.
- Label mistakes were made.
- The customer's inbound shipment was not in line with the actual order.
Instead of blaming or quarrelling, Tianqin did a smarter thing.
They revamped the system.
Customer's Decision
Customer stated:
"We will not be sending carton label files with the product orders anymore. We will be handling the carton labeling ourselves."
Just this one change alone turned the biggest risk sourced by:
manual carton labeling errors at the factory side.
Benefits of Factory Side Label Removal
When factories are in charge of carton labels:
- They have to do all the printing, sorting, and sticking of them by hand
- Almost invariably they do not have Amazon-level barcode scanning
- Mistakes are so simple and quite impossible to find until the goods are at FBA
When customers take care of labels:
- They print labels straight from Amazon
- They have 100% knowledge of which SKU is going into which carton
- They are capable of verifying each and every box before shipment
The risk of mismatch is almost gone when you separate:
- Product manufacturing (Tianqin)
- FBA carton labeling (Customer)
This is a brilliant example of how a change of process can lead to an elimination of systemic risk.
Implications for Purchasers of Transparent PVC Bags
Transparent PVC bags come in a variety of:
- Different sizes
- Thicknesses
- Colours
- Logo variations
Each of these is a separate SKU to Amazon.
However, for the factory workers, the bags appear the same.
This makes it one of the product categories where there is a highest risk of label mix-ups.
Tianqin is now talking about the following:
- No FBA label factory-applied
- Pack well-separated SKUs
- Customer labeling for cartons shipped clean
By doing so, Tianqin becomes a partner like any other manufacturing company without being a logistics bottleneck.
What Discerning B2B Buyers Should Insist From Suppliers
If you're sourcing packaging, bags, or private-label products for Amazon, then here is what you should demand:
1. No FBA Labeling by Factory
Factories can do the following:
- Pack according to SKU
- Seal cartons
- Allow you to do the finishing labeling
2. SKU-Specific Packing
Each carton should be:
- Only one SKU
- One size
- One color
- One version
3. Transparent Packing Lists
Along with each shipment, there should be:
- Carton numbers
- SKU names
- Quantities per carton
4. Photo Evidence Before Delivery
Request for:
- Carton photos
- Open-box photos
- Proof of SKU separation
The above is what Tianqin already adheres to as far as practices go for B2B Amazon buyers.
What is Special About Tianqin’s Way of Dealing with Your Amazon Risk
Tianqin is more than just a PVC bag maker — it is an Amazon seller supply chain risk manager.
They perfectly eliminate:
- Factory barcode mistakes
- Color confusion
- Quantity mismatches
By giving their customers the option to control:
- Label printing
- SKU assignment
- Carton identification
This method ensures the safety of:
- Your FBA account
- Your inventory accuracy
- Your brand reputation
Basically, in Amazon's world, having control means being safe.
Summing Up: Labeling Errors Are Not Trivial
Amazon FBA labels can’t be wrong for cosmetic purposes only.
logically they are also:
- Financial risks
- Interferences in the operation
- Risks at the brand level
The article about Tianqin case does confirm one thing:
The main way to get rid of labeling errors is not to have better control of them but to totally get rid of them on the factory floor.
If you, as a B2B buyer, are looking for sourcing transparent PVC bags or any other private-label products for Amazon, you should go for suppliers who get that:
Your real product is not the bag — it is your FBA inventory accuracy.
Tianqin is a company built around that understanding.