Amazon Reimbursements: Best Tips For FBA Sellers In 2023
What are Amazon FBA Reimbursements?
Amazon FBA reimbursements are funds that Amazon pays back to sellers for damaged, lost, or stolen items in their fulfillment centers. These reimbursements help cover the item’s cost and any associated shipping fees.
To receive a reimbursement, sellers must submit a claim to Amazon within 45 days to 18 months of the fulfillment center receiving the item. Claims can be submitted through Amazon’s Seller Central portal.
Once a claim is submitted, Amazon will review the claim and decide whether or not to approve the reimbursement. If you are a seller on Amazon, it’s essential to be aware of the Amazon reimbursement process and what you can do to increase your chances of having a claim approved.
In this article we’ll give you tips on getting started with Amazon reimbursements.
What You Need to Know About Amazon FBA Reimbursements
Before we get into the tips for getting reimbursed by Amazon, there are a few things you need to know about the process.
- First, it’s essential to understand that as an FBA (Fulfilled By Amazon) Seller, Amazon will only reimburse you for lost, stolen, or damaged items in their fulfillment centers.
- This means that if an item is lost or damaged after it has been delivered to the customer, you will not be eligible for reimbursement.
- Additionally, Amazon will only reimburse you for the cost of the item itself – they will not reimburse you for shipping costs. This is why it’s essential to factor in the cost of shipping when setting your prices on Amazon.
- Finally, it’s important to note that Amazon does not guarantee that every claim will be approved. Follow the tips below to increase your chances of getting a claim approved.
Tips for Getting Amazon FBA Reimbursements
Now that you understand a little bit more about Amazon FBA reimbursements, let’s take a look at some tips that will help you get reimbursed by Amazon:
1. Keep Good Records
Keeping good records is one of the most important things you can do to increase your chances of getting FBA reimbursements. This means keeping track of your inventory and knowing where each item is located.
If an item is lost or stolen, Amazon will require you to provide proof that you purchased the item and that it was in stock. The best way to do this is to keep track of your inventory using software like Helium10. This software can help you keep track of your inventory, as well as your costs and sales.
2. Use Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program
If you want to increase your chances of being reimbursed by Amazon, using their fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program is a good idea. When you use this program, Amazon will store your products in their warehouses and fulfill orders for you.
Since Amazon is responsible for storing and shipping your products, they are also liable for any items that are lost or stolen while in their possession. This means that you are more likely to be reimbursed if you use the FBA program.
3. Ship Your Products Properly
Another essential tip for getting a reimbursement is to ship your products correctly. This means using the correct type of packaging and shipping labels.
If you use the wrong type of packaging, your products could be damaged in transit. This could result in you not being reimbursed by Amazon. Be sure to use proper packaging materials and labels to avoid this issue.
4. Keep An Eye On Your Inventory
It’s also important to keep an eye on your inventory levels. If you run out of stock, it could take longer for you to fulfill orders, and customers could cancel their orders. This could lead to negative feedback and a decrease in sales.
To avoid this, track your inventory levels (Helium10) and reorder products before you run out of stock. This will help keep your customers happy and increase your chances of receiving FBA inventory reimbursements.
5. Respond To Customer Complaints Quickly
If a customer contacts you with a complaint, it’s vital to respond quickly. The sooner you resolve the issue, the happier the customer will be.
Additionally, customers could return the item if they are unhappy with their purchase. If this happens, Amazon will refund the customer, and you will not be reimbursed for the cost of the product.
By responding quickly to customer complaints, you can avoid returns and increase your chances of getting an Amazon FBA reimbursement.
Following these tips can help you increase your chances of being reimbursed by Amazon. However, it’s important to remember that Amazon does not guarantee that every claim will be approved. You may need to contact Amazon directly if you have trouble getting FBA reimbursements.
Reimbursements from Amazon can be a great way to recoup some of the costs associated with selling on their platform. Following the tips above can increase your chances of getting reimbursed for lost or damaged items.
Tell Me The Amazon FBA Seller Refund Policy
The Amazon FBA Seller Refund Policy is designed to reimburse sellers for lost or damaged products while in possession of Amazon. This includes items lost or stolen while in Amazon’s fulfillment centers and items damaged during shipping.
To be eligible for a refund, sellers must have proof of purchase and file a claim for the lost or damaged product. Additionally, sellers must have a valid tracking number for the product in question.
It’s important to note that Amazon does not guarantee that every claim will be approved. You may need to contact Amazon directly if you are having trouble getting reimbursed.
The Most Common Type of Amazon FBA Reimbursement
Damaged Goods
The most common type of FBA reimbursement is for damaged goods. This includes damaged items during shipping or while in Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
Lost Goods
Another common type of FBA reimbursement is for lost goods. This includes lost or stolen items in Amazon’s fulfillment centers which may qualify you for FBA inventory reimbursements.
Overcharges Of FBA Fees
Occasionally, Amazon may overcharge sellers for FBA fees. If this happens, sellers are eligible for a refund of the overcharged amount or reimbursement.
Order Quantity Issues
There are also times when the number of items in an order needs to be corrected. In these cases, you may submit Amazon reimbursement claims to be reimbursed for the difference.
Fulfillment Center Errors
Errors in the fulfillment center, or Amazon warehouse, can also be reimbursed by Amazon.
These are just a few examples of when you might be eligible for reimbursement from Amazon.
Filing A Claim for Amazon Seller Reimbursements
If you believe you are eligible for reimbursement, you must file a claim with Amazon. To do this, log in to your seller account and go to the “manage orders” page. Select the order in question from here and click on the “file/view claim” button.
You will then be asked to provide information about the issue and any supporting documentation. Once you submit the claim, Amazon will review it and decide.
Appealing a Denied Claim
If your claim is denied, you can appeal the decision. To do this, log in to your seller account and go to the “manage orders” page. Select the order in question from here and click on the “appeal decision” button.
You will then be asked to provide additional information about the issue. Amazon will review your appeal and make a final decision.
Amazon Reimbursement Strategies For Sellers
Amazon Account Audit
One way to ensure you get the reimbursements you are entitled to is to audit your Amazon account regularly. This means checking for errors in Amazon’s favor and keeping an eye out for overcharged fees.
An Amazon account audit can be time-consuming, but it is worth ensuring you get all the money owed to you.
Keep Good Records
Another way to ensure you are getting the reimbursements you are owed is to keep good records. This means keeping track of your sales, as well as any damage or loss that occurs during shipping.
If you have good records, filing a claim and getting the reimbursement you are owed will be much easier.
Hire A Professional
If you don’t have the time or energy to do a full audit of your Amazon account, you can always hire a professional to do it for you. Many companies specialize in this type of thing and can usually get you the money you are owed quickly and easily.
While hiring a professional, like our recommendation below, can be costly, it is mostly worth it in the long run.
About GETIDA
GETIDA is an Amazon account management service that offers full Amazon seller reimbursements support to FBA sellers. They have a team of experts that can help you get the money you are owed, as well as help you keep track of your sales and inventory.
With the eCommerce industry estimated to grow by 30% annually, it becomes more difficult for companies to audit revenues accurately. This is especially true for businesses that bring in 1-3% of their total revenue from online sales.
With their unique Amazon FBA reimbursement method, GETIDA actively works with Amazon’s FBA sellers to improve their business performance. Our Amazon FBA reimbursement tools or software allows you to track Amazon FBA Inventory transactions easily and returns directly from your Amazon Seller Central account.
Our specialized case managers use this relationship as their primary support in completing your FBA reimbursement claims for your business.
How Do GETIDA’s Reconciliation Services Benefit You?
- We provide a dedicated Amazon specialist who will manage and complete Amazon Sellers’ reimbursement claims from start to finish.
- Our software automates tracking your inventory transactions and returns, making it easy to keep track of your sales and inventory levels.
- We have a team of experts that can help you with anything from appeals to denials.
- We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee – if you are unhappy with our services, we will refund your money.
Please contact us today if you are interested in learning more about GETIDA or their reimbursement services. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Final Thoughts
Getting reimbursed by Amazon can be a tricky process, but it is possible. By following the tips above, you can increase your chances of getting the money you are owed.
We hope you found this information helpful. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
FAQ's
A selling partner has up to 18 months from the event date to file a reimbursement claim.
The following types of events are typically reimbursable:
-Damages that occur during shipping
-Lost inventory
-Incorrectly shipped products
-Products that arrive late
To file a claim, a selling partner will need to provide the following documentation:
-Proof of purchase
-Proof of damage or loss (e.g., pictures, videos, etc.)
-Any other relevant documentation (e.g., tracking information, invoices, etc.)
An Amazon refund can take up to 10 business days to process.
Amazon offers a reimbursement program for selling partners who have experienced damages or losses.
A chargeback is when a customer disputes a charge on their credit card. A reimbursement is when a company refunds a customer for damages or losses.
The Amazon Reimbursement Policy can be found here: https://services.amazon.com/reimbursement-policy.html
To get Amazon reimbursement, selling partners must file a claim and provide supporting documentation. Once the claim is approved, Amazon will issue a refund.
Norm Farrar
Entrepreneur and businessman Norman “The Beard Guy” Farrar stands at the forefront of the economic mega-machine known as Amazon Marketplace. As a leading expert with over 25 years of product sourcing, development, and branding expertise, Norm is an advisor to many and an inspiration to all.