When You Need a Removal Order
Removal orders bring your inventory back from Amazon's fulfilment centres to an address you specify. You might need one because stock is approaching long-term storage fee thresholds, products have been returned as unfulfillable, you want to inspect customer-returned items, a listing has been deactivated, or you are closing a product line.
Creating a Removal Order in Seller Central
Navigate to Inventory, then Manage FBA Inventory. Select the items you want removed and choose Create Removal Order from the Actions dropdown. Specify whether you want the items returned to you or disposed of by Amazon. Enter the delivery address — this can be your home, your prep centre, or any address. Review the removal fee per unit and confirm the order.
Removal Fees and Costs
Amazon charges a per-unit removal fee that varies by product size tier. Standard size items typically cost around 50p to one pound per unit for removal. Oversize items cost more. Disposal fees are generally lower than return fees since Amazon does not need to ship the items. Calculate whether the removal cost plus potential resale value exceeds just writing off the stock.
Processing Times
Removal orders typically take 10 to 14 business days to process, though during peak periods it can take up to 30 days. If you are removing stock to avoid long-term storage fees, submit your removal order well before the fee assessment date to ensure processing completes in time.
Receiving Your Returned Stock
When removal stock arrives, inspect every item carefully. Check condition — is it genuinely unsellable or did Amazon's quick assessment get it wrong? For customer-returned items, determine whether repackaging makes them sellable again. Sort items into categories: resend to FBA, sell elsewhere, salvage for parts, or dispose.
Sending Removal Orders to Your Prep Centre
Many sellers have removal orders shipped directly to their prep centre rather than their home. At Precision, we handle removal order receiving as part of our standard service — inspecting returned items and advising you on the most cost-effective next step for each one.
Automated Removal Settings
Amazon offers automated removal settings that automatically create removal orders for inventory approaching fee thresholds. Navigate to FBA Settings to configure this. While convenient, automatic removals can remove stock you intended to keep. Many sellers prefer manual control, setting calendar reminders to review inventory age monthly and making deliberate removal decisions.