I am doing low-mid scale OA and considering using prep center. I found that there are around 25 amazon FBA centers in Oregon and only 1 amazon FBA center in Montana. Do prep centers in Montana charge me with higher fees to carry my products to amazon FBA centers in other states? I am asking this because the average per unit price is 1 dollar for Montana prep centers, whereas the average per unit price is 1,75 dollar for Montana prep centers. If Montana prep centers charge me with high transportation cost to amazon fba centers, it would make a difference on my decision, thanks.
Montana prep centers typically offer lower per-unit fees, but the potential downside is higher outbound shipping costs since there is only one Amazon FBA center in the state. If your shipments are sent to multiple fulfillment centers across the country, you may end up paying more in transportation fees compared to using an Oregon prep center, which has 25 FBA centers nearby, reducing the chances of long-distance shipping. To make an informed decision, check whether Montana prep centers use Amazon’s Partnered Carrier Program, as this could help reduce costs. You should also ask them for an estimate of the average outbound shipping cost per unit to determine if the lower prep fee still provides overall savings.