Overview

Amazon is introducing a comprehensive redesign of its Fulfilled‑by‑Amazon (FBA) reimbursement workflow that will automatically credit sellers for inventory lost or damaged inside fulfillment centers. The upgrade also tightens the time limits for any claims that must still be filed manually, making prompt action essential for every FBA merchant.

Key Points

• Automatic credit for lost stock — Items marked as “lost” in a fulfillment center will trigger a reimbursement without any seller‑initiated claim.
• Expanded coverage — The system now includes warehouse‑damaged units and problems arising from customer returns, not just outright loss.
• Compressed manual windows — When automation does not apply, sellers must submit a claim within 60 days for warehouse issues, 45–105 days for return‑related cases, and 15–75 days for removal shipments.
• Removal claims stay manual — Any reimbursement tied to inventory removed from Amazon’s network continues to require a seller‑filed claim.
• Reporting via Seller Central — All proactive payments appear in the Reimbursement Report, allowing sellers to verify amounts and reconcile accounts.

How Automatic Reimbursements Work

1. Loss detection — Amazon’s internal monitoring flags an SKU as lost when inventory disappears from a fulfillment center’s audit. Example: A seller’s “Blue Cotton T‑Shirt, size M” shows a negative balance on the inventory dashboard; the system tags it as lost.
2. Damage identification — If a unit is recorded as damaged during inbound processing or while being stored, the platform records the incident automatically. Example: A batch of “Ceramic Coffee Mugs” receives a “damaged” status after a handling error is logged.
3. Return‑issue assessment — When a customer return cannot be resold because it is defective or missing components, Amazon classifies the item under the return‑issue category. Example: A returned “Wireless Earbud” arrives with a broken charging case, prompting an automatic claim.