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Amazon loses, damages, and overcharges sellers millions annually. Here's exactly how to recover the money you're owed — step by step.
| Claim Type | Description | Typical Recovery |
|---|---|---|
| Lost Inventory | Items shipped to Amazon but never appeared in inventory | Full product value |
| Damaged by Amazon | Items damaged during handling, packing, or storage | Full product value |
| Unauthorized Destruction | Amazon destroyed inventory without your request | Full product value |
| Customer Returns Not Received | Customer returned item but it wasn't restocked | Full product value |
| Overcharged FBA Fees | Amazon charged wrong fulfillment or storage fees | Difference in fees |
| Dimension/Weight Errors | Amazon mismeasured product, charged higher tier | Fee difference × units |
| Referral Fee Errors | Wrong category applied, overcharged commission | Difference in fees |
Go to Seller Central > Reports > Fulfillment > Inventory Adjustments. Filter by "Adjustment Type" to find negative adjustments (lost, damaged, destroyed). Cross-reference with your shipping records and supplier invoices.
Collect: shipping receipts with tracking numbers, supplier invoices (proof of purchase cost), photos of damaged items (if available), Amazon's Receiving Report showing what was received, and your own inventory count records.
Navigate to: Help > Get Support > Selling on Amazon > Inventory > FBA Inventory Inquiry. Select the affected SKU, date range, and quantity. Be specific — vague claims get denied.
Upload all evidence. Reference Amazon's FBA Reimbursement Policy (FBAR). Clearly state: the SKU, the quantity affected, the date of the incident, and the dollar amount you're claiming.
Amazon typically responds within 3-5 business days. If the initial response is a denial, appeal with additional evidence. Most valid claims are approved within 1-2 weeks. Don't accept the first "no" — escalate if needed.
Monitor the Reimbursements report (Reports > Payments > Transaction View > Filter by "Reimbursements"). Reimbursements appear as account credits or direct payments. Track monthly to ensure all approved claims are processed.
A seller shipped 200 units of a $15 product to Amazon's fulfillment center. The carrier delivered, but Amazon's receiving team only logged 150 units. 50 units were "lost."
| Tool | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Helium 10 Refund Protector | 25% of recovered amount | High-volume sellers (10K+ units/month) |
| Sellerapp Refund | 20% of recovered amount | Mid-size sellers (1K-10K units/month) |
| Refund Genie | 15% of recovered amount | Budget-conscious sellers |
| Manual Claims (DIY) | Your time only | Small sellers (<1K units/month) |
Recommendation: Start by filing claims manually. Once you understand the process and your volume justifies it, consider a third-party tool to automate the scanning.
Amazon FBA reimbursement covers: lost inventory, damaged items (by Amazon), destroyed inventory without authorization, customer returns not received in inventory, overcharged FBA fees, dimension/weight errors, and referral fee errors.
Amazon's policy gives you 18 months from the incident date. However, file within 30-60 days for faster resolution. Older claims are harder to prove and more likely to be denied.
The average seller recovers $1,000-$5,000/year. High-volume sellers (10K+ units/month) can recover $10,000-$50,000+ annually. Common claim amounts range from $50-$500 per incident.
Yes. Tools like Helium 10 Refund Protector, Sellerapp, and Refund Genie automate the claim process. They charge 15-25% of recovered amounts. Worth it for high-volume sellers who don't have time for manual audits.
Lost inventory — items shipped to Amazon but never counted. Second: customer returns not restocked. Third: overcharged fees from mismeasured dimensions.
Use correct FBA labels, photograph inventory before shipping, track units with unique IDs, reconcile inventory monthly, audit fee charges quarterly, and set up low inventory alerts.
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