Amazon Pushes FBA Reimbursement Policy Change to March 31, Giving Sellers More Time to Submit Sourcing Costs
Amazon postponed the FBA lost‑and‑damaged reimbursement policy rollout to March 31, 2025. Sellers must use the new “Your Sourcing Cost” page, which should be fully available by February 28, 2025, to enter per‑SKU manufacturing or acquisition costs that will determine future payouts.
Overview
Amazon has pushed back the start date for its updated FBA lost‑and‑damaged inventory reimbursement policy by three weeks, moving it from March 10 to March 31, 2025. The delay gives sellers extra time to enter product‑cost data into a new “Your Sourcing Cost” page in Seller Central, a step that will directly influence future reimbursement calculations. Sellers who miss the new window risk receiving lower payouts on claims.
Key Points
- New go‑live date — The revised reimbursement rules become active on March 31, 2025, instead of the originally announced March 10.
- Cost‑based payouts — Amazon will base reimbursements on the manufacturing or acquisition cost that sellers report, replacing the current method that relies on comparable listings and recent sales data.
- Dedicated cost entry tool – A “Your Sourcing Cost” page is being rolled out in phases, with full access expected for every seller by February 28, 2025.
- One‑month prep period — Sellers will have roughly a month between gaining access to the tool and the policy’s enforcement to audit and upload accurate cost figures.
How the New Reimbursement Model Works
- Access the sourcing‑cost page — Once the “Your Sourcing Cost” section appears in Seller Central (by Feb 28), sellers log in and locate the input fields for each active FBA SKU. Example: A seller of premium kitchen knives opens the page and sees a row for SKU KNI‑001 ready for cost entry.
- Enter verified cost data — Sellers input the exact amount they paid to manufacture or purchase each unit, supported by invoices, purchase orders, or contracts. Example: The knife seller records $22.50 per unit, matching the invoice from the overseas manufacturer.
- Amazon applies the reported cost to claims — When Amazon loses or damages inventory, the reimbursement amount equals the seller‑submitted cost rather than an estimate derived from marketplace pricing. Example: If ten knives are damaged, Amazon will credit the seller $225 (10 × $22.50) instead of a potentially lower figure based on average marketplace price.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
Reimbursements will now equal the seller‑reported cost per unit instead of marketplace‑derived estimates, potentially increasing payouts for high‑cost items. Missing the Feb 28 tool access or the March 31 deadline could lock sellers into lower, estimate‑based payouts, reducing recovery of inventory investment.
Key Takeaways
- Go‑live date moved to March 31, 2025 (originally March 10).
- “Your Sourcing Cost” page must be fully accessible by Feb 28, 2025 for all sellers.
- Reimbursements will be based on the exact cost sellers upload per SKU, e.g., $22.50 per knife instead of market price.
- Sellers have roughly one month between tool access and policy enforcement to audit and upload cost data.
Recommended Actions
- →Log into Seller Central after Feb 15, navigate to the ‘Your Sourcing Cost’ page (under Inventory > Manage FBA Inventory) and verify the tool is vis...
- →Gather all supplier invoices, purchase orders, and contracts for each active FBA SKU and store them in a shared folder before Feb 28.
- →Enter the exact per‑unit cost for each SKU on the ‘Your Sourcing Cost’ page by March 31, 2025, and double‑check entries for accuracy.
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