Amazon Reimbursement Guide: How to Recover Lost Money as a Seller
Selling on Amazon comes with various fees and risks, including potential losses due to incorrect fees, damaged inventory, or customer refunds. Fortunately, Amazon has a reimbursement policy that allows sellers to recover funds in specific cases. amazon reimbursement
This guide will walk you through Amazon’s reimbursement process, common reasons for lost money, and how to file claims to get refunded.
1. What is an Amazon Reimbursement?
An Amazon reimbursement is when Amazon refunds a seller for financial losses caused by FBA errors, lost or damaged inventory, overcharged fees, or incorrect refunds.
💰 Common scenarios where Amazon owes you money:
✔ Lost or damaged inventory in Amazon fulfillment centers
✔ FBA fee overcharges due to incorrect product dimensions
✔ Customer refund errors (Amazon refunds a customer but doesn’t debit the seller)
✔ Returns not received (customers get refunds but never send back the item)
✔ Inbound shipment issues (inventory sent to Amazon but never checked in)
Amazon doesn’t automatically reimburse all errors, so sellers must monitor reports and request refunds manually.
2. Common Types of Amazon Reimbursements
A. Lost or Damaged FBA Inventory
If Amazon loses or damages your inventory inside their warehouse, you are eligible for full reimbursement.
Check: Inventory Adjustments Report in Seller Central.
B. FBA Fee Overcharges
If Amazon incorrectly measures your product’s weight or dimensions, you might be overpaying in FBA fees.
Check: Fee Preview Report and compare against your actual product size.
C. Customer Return Errors
If a customer receives a refund but never returns the item, you can request reimbursement.
Check: Returns Report in Seller Central.
D. Inbound Shipment Discrepancies
If you send inventory to an Amazon warehouse and some units go missing, Amazon must reimburse you.
Check: Shipping Queue → Review received inventory.
E. Customer Refund Issues
If Amazon refunds a customer without charging your account, they may later charge you incorrectly.
Check: Payments Report and Refunds Report.
3. How to Request an Amazon Reimbursement
Step 1: Gather Evidence
Download reports from Seller Central (Inventory Reports, Fee Preview Reports, Refund Reports).
Compare Amazon’s data with your actual product details.
Take photos/videos if necessary (e.g., proof of product dimensions).
Step 2: Open a Case in Seller Central
Log in to Seller Central
Click Help → Get Support
Select Selling on Amazon → Fulfillment by Amazon
Choose the issue type:
FBA Inventory Reimbursement
FBA Fee Overcharge
Customer Refund Issue
Provide:
ASIN or shipment ID
Screenshots or reports as proof
Short explanation of the issue
Step 3: Follow Up on Your Claim
Amazon usually responds within 7-14 days.
If denied, reopen the case and provide additional proof.
Track all cases in Seller Central → Case Log.
4. Tools to Automate Amazon Reimbursements
Instead of manually checking reports, sellers can use reimbursement tools to track Amazon errors:
✅ Helium 10 Refund Genie – Automates FBA fee and inventory error claims
✅ Seller Locker – Helps detect lost/damaged inventory and overcharged fees
✅ AMZ Refund – Monitors return issues and missing refunds
These tools can save time and recover more money from Amazon.
5. How Long Does Amazon Take to Process Reimbursements?
📌 Amazon’s reimbursement processing time:
Lost/damaged inventory: 7-14 days
FBA fee overcharges: 5-10 days
Return issues: 10-15 days
Inbound shipment discrepancies: 10-30 days
💡 Tip: Amazon only allows reimbursement claims for errors within 18 months, so check reports regularly!
6. Final Thoughts
Amazon reimbursement claims can recover thousands of dollars in lost profits. Since Amazon doesn’t always automatically refund you, it’s important to monitor reports, check FBA fees, and request reimbursements proactively.