Flipkart seller guide
Fulfilment by Flipkart (FBF) vs Seller-Fulfilled: Which Should You Choose?
Flipkart gives sellers two ways to get orders to customers: you pack orders yourself and Flipkart's logistics collects them, or you send stock to Flipkart warehouses under Fulfilment by Flipkart (FBF). Each suits different products.
Seller-fulfilled
You keep inventory, pack each order and hand it to Flipkart's pickup. Full control and no stock locked in warehouses. You need daily packing discipline and space. Best for new sellers, wide size ranges and products with uncertain demand.
Fulfilment by Flipkart (FBF)
You send stock in bulk to Flipkart fulfilment centres. Flipkart stores, packs and ships, which often means faster delivery and the F-Assured badge that shoppers trust. You pay storage and fulfilment charges and must plan consignments carefully. Best for fast-moving best sellers.
Comparing costs properly
Compare total cost per order: under seller-fulfilled, include your staff time, packaging, space and errors; under FBF, include storage, fulfilment and inbound shipping. For steady sellers FBF often wins; for slow or seasonal items seller-fulfilled usually does.
A hybrid approach
Start seller-fulfilled, identify products that sell consistently, then move them to FBF while continuing to sell long-tail items yourself. Review monthly.
Preparing FBF consignments
- Create the consignment in Seller Hub.
- Label products and boxes as instructed.
- Print box labels cleanly – the FBF box label tool crops them to 4×6.
- Book the inbound appointment and track receiving.
Operations for seller-fulfilled
Set a fixed daily cut-off, print labels in one batch, and pack by SKU. Crop Flipkart labels to 4×6 with the Flipkart label crop and add invoices only if you need them in the parcel.
Inventory planning for FBF
Send stock based on sales velocity and the time it takes to replenish. Too little and you go out of stock in the warehouse; too much and storage costs pile up. Start with your top sizes and colours, review weekly, and replenish in smaller regular consignments.
Handling returns in each model
Under FBF, returns are received at the fulfilment centre; check their status and request removal of unsellable stock. In seller-fulfilled, returns come to you – inspect them on camera, restock good items and claim for wrong or damaged returns.
Signs it is time to move a product to FBF
- It sells every day consistently.
- Delivery speed is a visible disadvantage versus competitors.
- Your team spends too much time packing it.
- It is small, light and not fragile.
Checklist
- Sales velocity reviewed per SKU
- FBF candidates chosen
- Consignment and box labels tested
- Seller-fulfilled packing SOP written
- Monthly review of mix
Free tools for Flipkart sellers
The Flipkart label crop on LabelCroppers crops Flipkart and Ekart labels from the A4 PDF to 4×6, with an optional invoice page after each label, blank-page skipping and auto-rotate. FBF sellers can split consignment box labels with the FBF box label tool. Everything runs in your browser – your orders and customer data are never uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Does FBF help ranking?
Faster delivery and the F-Assured badge can improve clicks and conversion, which supports visibility.
Can I use both methods?
Yes, many sellers use FBF for best sellers and seller-fulfilled for the rest.
Marketplace fees and policies change often. Always confirm current rules in your seller panel.