The key point of the promotion is to lower the barrier of entry in terms of logistical costs for those SKUs for which the marketplace expects increased demand and wants to "lay the straw" in advance based on availability. In practice, this is a balance management tool: it is beneficial for the platform that the running positions are distributed closer to the buyer, and warehouses are loaded with the necessary items to the peaks.
Formally, the mechanism sounds simple: some of the goods from the approved list can be shipped free of charge using the "WB Warehouse" (FBW) model — in the supply types "box", "monopallet", "piece pallet". But nuances are important for business.:
- the promotion does not apply to the entire range, but to a specific list of items/items (that is, you can only "get" into it with the correct SKUs);
- savings occur precisely at the stage of acceptance/incoming logistics within the FBW model — this helps to unload the cost and work more aggressively with the price, especially in categories with thin margins.;
- free acceptance in "expensive" warehouses can dramatically change the optimal distribution scheme: where previously the seller avoided the warehouse because of the fee, now there is a window to occupy a favorable geography.
For foreign economic activity and importers (including those working with supplies from China), the action provides a tactical advantage, but requires planning discipline. If you deliver goods in batches, free shipping to WB warehouses can partially offset the growth of external logistics and fluctuations in rates. However, there is a risk of "eating up" the benefits with mistakes at the junction: the wrong item/category, the wrong type of delivery, a mismatch in packaging or labeling — and the free story turns into a paid one, plus fines/improvements in the warehouse. Therefore, the promotion window should be used as an excuse to restore order in operations: check the list of goods, distribute shipments in advance by type of delivery, take photos of packaging, and check the availability of dates and warehouses in the office.
Practical checklist before shipping for the promotion:
- confirm that your SKUs are included in the approved list and are correctly listed as "subjects";
- choose the right type of delivery (box/monopallet/piece pallet) for a specific product;
- plan the shipment so that it falls within the promotion period and is included in the delivery plan;
- Strengthen packaging control: free acceptance does not eliminate safety requirements, and errors at the entrance quickly "eat up" any savings.
