Amazon Tightens FBA Reimbursement Deadlines: New Claim Windows Sellers Must Know
Amazon now enforces strict claim windows: lost/damaged inventory must be reported within 60 days of notification; return reimbursements can be filed only after 45 days and no later than 105 days; removal loss claims have a 15‑day minimum and a 135‑day hard cut‑off; removal damage claims expire after 120 days; grading disputes must be raised within 120 days; denied claims can be appealed up to 90 days.
Overview
Amazon has introduced stricter timeframes for filing Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) reimbursement claims, replacing the previously flexible windows with defined minimum and maximum deadlines for each claim category. The revisions take effect immediately and require sellers to adjust their audit cycles, otherwise legitimate reimbursements for lost, damaged, or mishandled inventory may be forfeited.
Key Points
- Lost or damaged inventory — Claims must be submitted within 60 days of Amazon’s loss or damage notification.
- Customer return reimbursements — Sellers can file only after a 45‑day waiting period and must do so no later than 105 days after the refund or replacement is issued.
- Removal order loss claims — A minimum of 15 days must pass from shipment creation, with a hard deadline of 135 days.
- Removal order damage claims — The filing window is capped at 120 days from the date the shipment reaches the fulfillment center.
- Grading dispute claims — Sellers have 120 days from the moment the item leaves Amazon’s network to raise a dispute.
- Re‑evaluation of denied claims — A denied claim can be appealed up to 90 days after the original decision.
What's Changing
- Introduce minimum waiting periods — Sellers must now wait a set number of days (e.g., 45 days for return claims) before a claim becomes eligible, preventing premature submissions that Amazon will automatically reject.
- Define absolute cut‑off dates — Each claim type now has a maximum deadline (e.g., 60 days for lost inventory) after which the claim is ineligible, forcing more frequent inventory checks.
- Synchronize automated tools — Third‑party reimbursement services must be reprogrammed to respect both the new minimum and maximum windows, or risk filing invalid claims.
- Require proactive monitoring — Sellers need to implement regular reporting (bi‑weekly or weekly) to spot discrepancies before the windows close.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
If sellers miss these new deadlines, legitimate reimbursements for lost, damaged, or mishandled inventory will be automatically rejected, potentially costing thousands of dollars. The defined cut‑offs force more frequent inventory audits and require re‑programming of third‑party tools to avoid invalid filings.
Key Takeaways
- Lost or damaged inventory claims must be submitted within 60 days of Amazon's loss notification.
- Return reimbursements can only be filed after a 45‑day wait and must be submitted by day 105 after the refund or replacement.
- Removal loss claims require at least 15 days after shipment creation and must be filed by day 135; removal damage claims expire after 120 days.
- Denied claims can be appealed within a 90‑day re‑evaluation window.
Recommended Actions
- →In Seller Central, go to Reports > Fulfillment > Inventory Adjustments and set calendar reminders for 45, 60, 120, and 135 days after each event.
- →Update any third‑party reimbursement software settings to enforce the new minimum and maximum windows for each claim type.
- →Run the Inventory Ledger report twice a month and immediately open any loss or damage claim that falls within the 60‑day window.
Comments
Join the discussion
Log in or create an account to share your thoughts on this update.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!