A while back I mentioned that I have purchased some Amazon food category products. I wanted to make sure you knew that I was holding on to some food products that I felt would not hold up to heat.
I have watched the product reviews on Amazon and noticed that summer was the time for complaints about melted food shipped out to customers.
Amazon does have a warning on their site that explains the hot and cold temp. extremes… but we can all forget things we have read (or missed reading).
Foods and Beverages
Food and beverage products (or units containing food or beverage) will only be accepted if they meet the following requirements:
- Products that can expire must have the expiration date printed on the master carton in 36+ pt font AND on individual/retail display unit. Lot numbers alone are insufficient.
- Products that are not deemed to be subject to melting (chocolate, paraffin, etc). Temperature-sensitive products must be able to withstand a minimum temperature of 50 degrees and a maximum temperature of 100 degrees for the duration of the product’s shelf life without adversely affecting product quality. Carton markings must not include storage temperature requirements unless expressed explicitly as a range from 50 to 100 degrees. No products requiring refrigeration or freezing are allowed.
- No perishables are allowed; a shelf life of less than 90 days is unacceptable.
- Product must be fully enclosed and sealed in packaging suitable for shipping.
This is an article that is just another reason to keep your perishable stock problems in mind before shipping:
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-allentown-amazon-complaints-20110917,0,1246510.story
I also have picked up some body butter type products that I will hold on to for another month or so.
I (as a customer) would not want my face creams or food products stored at the over 100 degree temps I know these warehouses have experienced.
But… I will order products that temp. doesn’t really create an issue – I’m not a coffee connoisseur – I just want my coffee cheap. 
And Amazon does that for me – automagically every month.
p.s. I started selling on Amazon in May of 2011 with just a test of a few products and was blown away by my success right off the bat. – Of course – I’ve now had some failures to match up with the successful parts and I’ll be sharing all of that with you.
You can read about my journey so far in this 54 page report:
Click Here ==>>Amazon Arbitrage
Debra,
We talked about this subject on Jordan’s site, since I sent in 4 bags of candy on the 9th of this month would it be in my best interest to have them shipped back? I can inspect them & FBM them if ok.
This last line in Az’s warning: Product must be fully enclosed and sealed in packaging suitable for shipping.
What do you suggest proper packaging would be for the candy (each bag) in your picture above?
Thanks Jim R
PS could you tell me a little about the Commentluv checkbox below the submit button?
Hi Jim…
I’ve since looked at the bags of M&M’s that I purchased and they don’t have an expiration date… so I’m going to sell them “sell fulfilled”. Personally – If it’s just 4 bags I’d have Amazon dispose of them and not worry about it.
Write off the cost against your inventory as a loss (for taxes) and chalk it all up to learning.
If I were to send the bags in (which I’m not) I would have wrapped each one in plastic wrap. What Amazon want’s to make sure is that you don’t have bags of candy that can easily open and spill. Plus – these bags would get pretty
trashed up in shipping so wrapping in plastic would keep them shiny and new.
About Comment Luv – When you leave a comment and check the box – you get a back link to your website.
Well I have to keep my fingers crossed, right after I posted the message I got an email that I sold one bag, its on its way to NY.
I’m in Illinois & az’s warehouse is in Indiana, we have been having cooler temps lately so hope luck is with me. I’ll take your advice on having them destroyed.
I was scouting in the grocery store the other day and wondered if Amazon has any problems with mice & food products.
Thanks on the comment luv I thought that was how it works, now to get a website LOL