Overview

Amazon's FBA program offers repackaging and refurbishment services designed to help sellers recover value from customer returns. When a returned item has damaged packaging but the product itself remains in sellable condition, these services can get it back on the shelf. Understanding how these services work — and which ones you can control — is essential for managing your FBA inventory efficiently.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Repackaging is automatic — Amazon automatically repackages eligible customer returns so they can be resold as new. This service cannot be disabled in your seller settings.
• Refurbishment is optional — Unlike repackaging, refurbishment services are opt-in. Sellers can enable or disable refurbishment through their account settings at any time.
• Both retail and FBA returns qualify — The repackaging service applies to items returned through both retail and FBA channels, broadening the pool of inventory that can be recovered.
• Category expansion is ongoing — As Amazon adds new categories to its repackaging program, eligible units are automatically enrolled without any action required from sellers.
• Returns policy still applies — Repackaged products remain subject to the standard FBA customer returns policy, so sellers should be familiar with those terms.

How Repackaging Works

When a customer returns an item through FBA, Amazon evaluates the returned unit to determine whether it qualifies for repackaging. If the product inside is undamaged and only the packaging needs attention, Amazon will handle the repackaging process. This can involve replacing poly bags or bubble wrap, re-boxing the item, or repackaging it in both branded and unbranded boxes and poly bags. The goal is to restore the item to a condition where it can be listed and sold as new, saving sellers from having to process the return themselves or take a loss on otherwise sellable inventory.

Refurbishment Services

For items that need more than just new packaging, Amazon offers optional refurbishment services that go a step further. Depending on the product type, FBA can re-tape, re-glue, or re-staple damaged boxes, remove excessive tape, peel off non-product labels and stickers, and re-box items in corrugated boxes. For apparel and textile products, refurbishment can include steaming garments and removing stains or odors to restore them to a sellable state. Since refurbishment is an opt-in service, sellers maintain full control over whether their products go through this process and can update their refurbishment settings at any time through Seller Central.