Amazon Owes You More Than You Think
Amazon handles millions of products daily across enormous warehouse networks. Inevitably, items get lost, damaged during handling, miscounted during receiving, or disappear without explanation. Amazon's policy is to reimburse sellers for inventory they lose or damage, but they do not always do so automatically. Proactive claim filing recovers money that is rightfully yours.
What Amazon Reimburses For
You can claim for: inventory lost in transit to the fulfilment centre, items damaged by Amazon warehouse staff, units lost within the fulfilment centre, incorrect disposal of your inventory, customer refunds where the item was not actually returned, overcharged fees for incorrect weight or dimensions, and items Amazon removed from your inventory without explanation.
Checking for Discrepancies
Compare your shipment records with Amazon's received inventory reports. If you sent 100 units but Amazon only logged 95, you have a valid claim for five units. Use the Inventory Adjustments report to track items Amazon has removed, found, or adjusted. Cross-reference your Reimbursements report to check whether Amazon has already compensated you for known issues.
Filing a Claim Through Seller Central
Open a case in Seller Central under the relevant category — typically 'FBA issues' or 'Inventory adjustments.' Provide your shipment ID, the affected ASINs, the quantity discrepancy, and any supporting documentation such as your packing slip or shipping receipts. Be specific, factual, and concise. Vague claims get rejected; well-documented ones get processed.
Time Limits for Claims
Amazon has specific windows for filing different types of claims. For shipment discrepancies, you typically have 9 months from the delivery date. For lost inventory, claims should be filed after 30 days of the item showing as lost. For customer returns not received back after 45 days, file then. Missing these windows means forfeiting your right to reimbursement, so set calendar reminders.
What Reimbursement Amounts to Expect
Amazon reimburses based on their estimate of your product's value, not necessarily your selling price. They use a formula considering your recent sales price, marketplace average, and cost. Sometimes their valuation is fair; sometimes it is significantly below your actual selling price. You can dispute valuations with evidence of your typical selling price if the reimbursement seems too low.
Regular Reconciliation Habits
Make inventory reconciliation a monthly task. Check received quantities against sent quantities for all shipments. Review inventory adjustments for unexplained removals. Monitor customer returns to ensure items are actually coming back. Many sellers recover hundreds or even thousands of pounds annually simply by checking regularly and filing legitimate claims promptly.