Sync Product By fulfillment-type option in the app allows users to manage and sync products between Shopify and Amazon based on their fulfillment method (FBA - Fulfillment by Amazon, or FBM - Fulfillment by Merchant). If a product is available for both FBA and FBM on Amazon, the app provides the flexibility to choose which fulfillment type to link with Shopify.
When FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant) is chosen, all of your products listed as FBM on Amazon will be linked with their corresponding Shopify products. For these FBM products, the app will actively synchronize inventory levels from Shopify to Amazon, ensuring that your Amazon FBM listings reflect the current stock available in your Shopify store.
If FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is chosen, the app will exclusively link your FBA products on Amazon with your Shopify products. However, a key distinction for FBA products is that the app does not sync inventory from Shopify to Amazon. This is because with FBA, Amazon manages the inventory directly from their fulfillment centers.
The source implies a choice between FBA or FBM for the syncing method. It states, "If you choose FBM then all your FBM listed products will be linked... If FBA is chosen then the app will link only FBA products..." This suggests that the selection is for one fulfillment type at a time for the purpose of linking and syncing.
I has ability to specifically manage and synchronize products based on how they are fulfilled on Amazon. This allows for tailored inventory management: FBM products can have their stock automatically updated from Shopify, while FBA products, managed by Amazon, are linked without redundant inventory syncing.
The app does not sync inventory from Shopify to Amazon for FBA products because, under the FBA model, Amazon is responsible for warehousing, picking, packing, and shipping these products. Amazon maintains its own inventory counts for FBA items, making a separate inventory sync from Shopify unnecessary and potentially conflicting.
This feature is designed for merchants who have products listed on Amazon that are fulfilled either by themselves (FBM) or by Amazon (FBA), or both. It provides a mechanism to streamline product management and inventory accuracy between their Shopify store and their Amazon listings, depending on the chosen fulfillment strategy.