Amazon Logistics Calculator

Amazon FBA logistics cost calculator and shipping optimizer. Compare sea freight, air freight, and express courier costs. Calculate total landed cost includi...

Security Scan

The skill is an instruction-only Amazon FBA logistics calculator whose declared requirements and instructions generally match its stated purpose, with only minor ambiguities about persistence and the granted Bash tool.

Purpose & Capability

The name/description (FBA logistics cost calculator and shipping optimizer) align with the SKILL.md content: formulas, timelines, shipping method guidance, and interactive commands. No unrelated credentials, binaries, or config paths are requested. Minor mismatch: commands like 'logistics save [shipment]' imply persistence/storage but the skill declares no storage or config path, so it's unclear where saved profiles go.

Instruction Scope

SKILL.md stays inside the logistics domain: it asks for product/origin/destination details and provides formulas and decision guidance. It does not instruct reading unrelated files or exfiltrating data. One operational ambiguity: allowed-tools: Bash is permitted, which could enable arbitrary shell execution if the agent uses it; the instructions themselves do not require reading system files or external secrets.

Install Mechanism

No install spec and no code files (instruction-only). This minimizes on-disk installation risk.

Credentials

The skill requires no environment variables, credentials, or config paths — proportionate for a calculator/guide. It does reference external resources (USITC.gov) for verification, which is appropriate and not demanding of any secrets.

Persistence & Privilege

always:false and default invocation settings are appropriate. The only concern is the conceptual 'save' command without a declared storage location — in practice an agent might write files or attempt to persist data using the Bash tool; consider where such data would be stored and who can access it.

Assessment

This skill appears to be what it says: an instruction-only FBA logistics calculator. Before installing, consider: 1) The skill permits use of Bash — if you allow autonomous invocation, the agent could run shell commands (benign for calculations but potentially sensitive if misused). Limit agent privileges or run it in an isolated environment if you’re cautious. 2) The 'save' command is ambiguous — ask or inspect where shipment profiles are stored and whether they contain any sensitive data. 3) The skill does not request any credentials, so don’t provide cloud or account secrets to it. If you need persistent storage or integrations (e.g., saving to S3, Google Drive), prefer explicitly declared, audited integrations rather than implicit file writes.

Amazon FBA Logistics Cost Calculator

Calculate the true landed cost for your FBA shipments. Compare sea, air, and express — pick the right method based on your margin, volume, and urgency.

Commands

logistics calc                  # interactive shipping cost calculator
logistics compare [details]     # compare sea vs air vs express
logistics landed [product]      # full landed cost breakdown
logistics duty [product] [country]  # import duty & VAT calculator
logistics route [origin] [dest] # common shipping route details
logistics timeline              # shipping timeline comparison
logistics forwarder             # freight forwarder selection guide
logistics carton [dimensions]   # carton CBM and chargeable weight
logistics save [shipment]       # save shipment profile

What Data to Provide

• Product details — dimensions (cm), weight (kg) per unit and per carton
• Quantity — total units to ship
• Origin — factory location (city/country)
• Destination — Amazon FBA warehouse country/region
• Timeline — how urgently do you need stock?
• Product value — for duty calculation

Shipping Method Comparison

Sea Freight (FCL / LCL)

Type	When to Use	Transit Time	Cost Estimate
FCL 20ft	>15 CBM, frequent shipper	25–35 days	$1,500–$3,000/container
FCL 40ft	>28 CBM	25–35 days	$2,500–$5,000/container
LCL	<15 CBM, small shipments	35–45 days	$80–$150/CBM

Best for: Large shipments, low-margin products, planned inventory restocks Avoid when: Urgent, small shipment, or product is high value/low volume

Air Freight

Service	Transit Time	Cost Estimate
Standard Air	7–14 days	$4–$8/kg
Economy Air	14–21 days	$2.5–$5/kg

Chargeable weight = max(actual weight, volumetric weight) Volumetric weight = L × W × H (cm) / 6,000

Best for: New product launches, seasonal restocks, high-value low-weight products Avoid when: Heavy/bulky products, cost is main concern

Express Courier (DHL/FedEx/UPS)

Service	Transit Time	Cost Estimate
DHL Express	3–5 days	$8–$15/kg
FedEx International	3–5 days	$8–$15/kg
UPS Worldwide	3–5 days	$8–$15/kg

Best for: Urgent stock-outs, samples, <50kg shipments Avoid when: >100kg (air freight becomes cheaper)

Landed Cost Formula

Product Cost (COGS)             = Unit cost × Quantity
+ Inbound Freight               = Shipping method cost
+ Customs Duty                  = Product value × Duty rate %
+ VAT / Import Tax              = (Product + Freight + Duty) × VAT rate %
+ Customs Broker Fee            = $150–$300 flat
+ Port/Handling Charges         = $50–$200
+ Inland Delivery (to FBA)      = $0.50–$2.00/carton
+ Amazon FBA Inbound Placement  = $0.27–$1.58/unit (2024 fee)
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Landed Cost               = Sum of all above
Landed Cost Per Unit            = Total ÷ Quantity

Import Duty Rates (US HTS Common Categories)

Product Category	HS Code Range	US Duty Rate
Electronics	8471–8529	0–3.7%
Clothing/Apparel	6101–6217	12–32%
Footwear	6401–6403	20–37.5%
Kitchen tools	7323–7326	0–3.9%
Toys/Games	9501–9508	0%
Sports equipment	9506	4–5.1%
Furniture	9401–9403	0–7%
Yoga mats/Fitness	3926/9506	4–5.3%

Note: Section 301 China tariffs add 7.5–25% on many Chinese-origin products. Always verify current rates at USITC.gov.

Shipping Timeline Planner

Work backwards from your target in-stock date:

Target in-stock date:           [Date]
- FBA receiving buffer:         -7 days
- Port to FBA transit:          -3 days
- Customs clearance:            -5 days (sea) / -2 days (air)
- Transit time:                 -30 days (sea) / -10 days (air)
- Export customs/loading:       -5 days
- Production lead time:         -[X] days
────────────────────────────────────────
Order placement date:           [Calculated]

Decision Framework: Which Method to Choose?

Scenario	Recommended Method
First shipment, <200kg	Air freight or Express
Regular restock, >500kg, >30 days lead time	Sea LCL
Large seller, >15 CBM per shipment	Sea FCL
Running out of stock, <2 weeks	Express (DHL/FedEx)
High-value, low-weight product	Air freight
Low-margin, heavy product	Sea freight only
Seasonal launch (e.g., Christmas stock)	Sea: ship by Oct 1

Carton Optimization Tips

• Keep carton weight under 23kg (FBA requirement, safety)
• Standard carton size for FBA: 60×40×40cm (1 CBM = 25 cartons)
• Maximize carton fill to minimize LCL costs
• Match master carton quantity to FBA box limits (no more than 150 units/box for standard)

Freight Forwarder Selection Criteria

Factor	What to Look For
Amazon FBA experience	Must know FBA label requirements
US customs broker	In-house or established partner
Tracking system	Real-time shipment visibility
Communication	English-speaking, responsive
Price	Get 3+ quotes, compare apples-to-apples
Insurance	Cargo insurance included or available

Recommended: Always get quotes from at least 3 forwarders

Output Format

1. Cost Comparison Table — sea vs. air vs. express for your shipment
2. Recommended Method — best option with reasoning
3. Full Landed Cost Breakdown — every line item to final unit cost
4. Timeline — ship-by date based on your target in-stock date
5. Red Flags — duty risks, seasonal surcharges, FBA restrictions