Imagine diligently preparing and shipping inventory, eagerly awaiting a surge in sales, only to discover that stock has mysteriously disappeared, been damaged, or incurred excessive fees—silently eroding your profits. For Amazon sellers, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a powerful sales tool, but it can also harbor hidden costs. The solution? Amazon reimbursements.
While many sellers are aware of Amazon’s reimbursement policy, the specifics—what qualifies, how to file a claim—often remain unclear. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of FBA reimbursements, covering eligibility, procedures, and actionable strategies to recover losses and protect your bottom line.
1. Amazon Reimbursements: Protecting Your Rights
An Amazon reimbursement is a formal request for compensation when your inventory is lost, damaged, or incorrectly charged due to errors by Amazon or its partners during storage, shipping, or returns. Amazon permits such claims for incidents occurring within the past 18 months.
While Amazon may proactively refund some losses, many eligible cases go unaddressed unless sellers initiate claims. Key points to remember:
- Reimbursements are a right: If your claim meets Amazon’s criteria, you are entitled to compensation.
- Common issues: Inventory discrepancies, damage, and fee miscalculations are widespread among FBA sellers.
- Timeliness matters: Amazon won’t notify you of overlooked claims; you must identify and file them before deadlines expire.
Compensation typically takes two forms: replacement with identical FNSKU products or monetary reimbursement. The refund amount is calculated as the item’s sale price minus Amazon’s commission and fulfillment fees, capped at $5,000 per unit. Note that sale prices fluctuate, so final amounts are determined by Amazon.
2. Eligible Reimbursement Cases: Five Key Scenarios
Understanding which situations qualify for reimbursement is critical. Below are the five most common claim types:
1. Lost or Damaged Shipments
If the quantity received by Amazon’s fulfillment center differs from what you shipped, you may file a "shipping discrepancy" claim. Amazon will investigate and approve reimbursement if the loss was their responsibility.
Deadline: Within 9 months of the shipment’s delivery date.
2. Warehouse Loss or Damage
Goods lost or damaged within Amazon’s facilities due to operational errors are eligible for reimbursement.
Deadline: Within 18 months of the date reported in the Inventory Ledger.
3. Unreturned Customer Refunds
When Amazon issues a refund or replacement but the returned item never reaches the warehouse, sellers can claim compensation.
Deadline: Between 60 days after the refund and 18 months.
4. Removal Order Issues
Inventory lost or damaged during removal from Amazon’s warehouse—provided the seller complied with Amazon’s policies—qualifies for reimbursement.
Deadline: For lost items, 14 days after the last tracking update (within 18 months). For damage, immediately upon receipt (within 18 months).
5. Incorrect FBA Fees
Overcharges due to errors in product categorization, weight, or dimensions may be disputed for a refund.
Deadline: File upon discovery.
3. Filing a Claim: Documentation, Process, and Templates
Once you confirm eligibility, gather evidence and submit a claim via Seller Central.
Required Documentation
- Order details (order ID, FNSKU, product name, purchase date)
- Shipping records (tracking number, carrier, dates)
- Inventory reports (adjustments, audits)
- Proof of damage (photos, videos)
- Fee statements (showing discrepancies)
Step-by-Step Process
- Log into Seller Central and navigate to Help > Contact Us .
- Select Selling on Amazon > Fulfillment by Amazon .
- Choose the relevant issue (e.g., "Lost/Damaged Inventory" or "FBA Fee Error").
- Detail the problem and upload supporting documents.
- Submit the case and await Amazon’s response.
Sample Claim Template
Subject: FBA Inventory Reimbursement Request – [Order/Shipment ID] – [FNSKU] – [Product Name]
Body:
Dear Amazon Seller Support,
I am requesting reimbursement for the following FBA inventory:
- FNSKU: [FNSKU]
- Product Name: [Product Name]
- Order/Shipment ID: [ID]
- Quantity: [Number]
- Reason: [e.g., "Lost in warehouse"]
[Provide specifics, e.g., "On [date], I shipped [quantity] units to Amazon, but only [received quantity] were recorded. Please investigate and refund the missing [number] units."]
Attached are supporting documents for your review.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Store]
Key Tips
- Act promptly: Adhere to deadlines.
- Be thorough: Submit complete, accurate evidence.
- Clarity is key: Concisely explain the issue.
- Follow up: Track your case’s progress.
- Stay professional: Polite communication yields better results.
4. Conclusion: Reimbursements as an Operational Tool
FBA reimbursements are more than damage control—they’re an opportunity to refine operations. Proactively addressing claims not only recoups losses but also highlights inefficiencies, enabling better inventory management and cost optimization. Every successful claim is a step toward a more profitable, resilient business.