Overview

Amazon rolled out a set of policy revisions slated for 2026 that reshape core fulfillment and reimbursement rules. The changes tighten the window for filing inventory loss claims, eliminate Amazon‑run preparation services, and end the practice of inventory commingling. Sellers who rely on Amazon’s logistics must adapt quickly to safeguard profit margins and avoid operational hiccups.

Key Points

• 60‑Day Claim Limit — Reimbursement requests for lost or damaged FBA units must now be submitted within 60 days of the incident, down from the previous 18‑month allowance.
• Manufacturing‑Cost Basis — Amazon will base compensation on the unit’s production cost rather than its retail price, often cutting reimbursement amounts by more than half.
• Prep Services Discontinued — Effective 1 January 2026, Amazon no longer offers labeling, poly‑bagging, or bundling for inbound shipments to U.S. fulfillment centers.
• No More Commingling — As of 31 March 2026, every product must carry a unique FNSKU; shared inventory pools are no longer permitted.
• Four‑Day FBM Return Rule — Merchant‑fulfilled sellers have a maximum of four calendar days to process a return before Amazon issues an automatic refund to the buyer.

What's Changing

1. Reimbursement Window Shrinks — Sellers must monitor inventory daily and file a claim within 60 days of a loss. For example, if a pallet of 200 units goes missing on 5 May, the claim must be entered by 4 July, not the previous 5 November deadline.
2. Cost Calculation Switches — Amazon now uses the manufacturing cost entered in Seller Central to determine payout. A toy sold for $30 but costing $7 to produce will only yield a $7 reimbursement if the unit is lost, compared with the earlier $30‑minus‑fees figure.
3. Prep Services Removal — All inbound shipments must arrive fully prepared. A seller who previously sent unlabeled boxes for Amazon to label now needs to affix FNSKU stickers, place items in poly‑bags, and bundle sets before the carrier picks up the pallet. Failure to meet these standards results in shipment rejection and additional freight charges.