Overview

Amazon provides several methods for sellers to remove inventory stored in its fulfillment centers. Whether you need to recall unsold stock, clear out aging inventory before long-term storage fees kick in, or dispose of items that are no longer sellable, understanding the removal process is essential for managing your FBA business efficiently.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Multiple removal methods available — You can create removal orders manually through the Manage Inventory page, the Fix Stranded Inventory page, or the Recommended Removals report, giving you flexibility based on your situation.
• Return or dispose — Inventory can either be shipped back to you (or a designated third party such as a manufacturer or re-shipper), or Amazon can recycle or dispose of it at the fulfillment center on your behalf.
• Automatic removals — Amazon offers an automatic removal setting that will remove inventory on your behalf based on rules you configure, helping you avoid accumulating long-term storage fees.
• Bulk removal option — For sellers managing large catalogs, removal orders can be submitted in bulk by uploading an inventory file rather than processing items one at a time.
• Not for customer shipments — Removal orders cannot be used to send inventory directly to customers or as gifts or promotional items. They are strictly for returning stock to you or disposing of it.

How Removal Orders Work

Sellers can initiate a removal order through several entry points within Seller Central. The most common method is navigating to the Manage Inventory page and selecting units to remove. Alternatively, if Amazon has flagged inventory as stranded — meaning it is stored in a fulfillment center but not linked to an active listing — you can create removal orders from the Fix Stranded Inventory page. Amazon also generates a Recommended Removals report that highlights inventory at risk of incurring long-term storage fees, allowing you to act before additional charges apply. The method you choose may depend on the type and condition of the inventory being removed, and these methods are not mutually exclusive, so you can use more than one approach simultaneously.