Seller 365 Pro subscribers with sales under $1M receive free access to our Reimbursements service. If you have over $1M in sales or would like additional reimbursement reports and features, you can request a quote from our specialists and have access to the sign-up for the paid version of our Reimbursements service.
Below, you'll find a breakdown of the different reimbursement types and the difference between Seller 365 Reimbursements Free and Paid versions.
Amazon FBA Case Types: Definitions
From Warehouse / Factory to FBA Receiving Stations
Within Amazon FBA Fulfillment Centers
From Amazon FBA Warehouses to the Customer
From Warehouse / Factory to FBA Receiving Stations
These case types relate to inventory movements and issues occurring before goods are fully received and processed into Amazon's active fulfillment center inventory.
Lost Inbound:
Definition: This covers inventory that was shipped to Amazon but went missing before being fully received and accounted for at the designated FBA receiving station or fulfillment center. This includes situations where an entire shipment disappears, or a shipment arrives with fewer units than declared on the shipping plan, indicating a loss in transit to Amazon.
Key Consideration: The loss occurs during the inbound shipping process from the seller's or supplier's location (warehouse/factory) to Amazon's facility.
Damaged Inbound:
Definition: This refers to inventory that arrives at Amazon's receiving station in a damaged condition, rendering it unsellable or requiring repackaging. The damage occurred during the inbound shipping process from the seller's or supplier's location to Amazon.
Key Consideration: The damage is noted upon receipt at the Amazon facility, affecting units that were expected to be in new, sellable condition.
AWD Shipment Loss or Damage:
Definition: This specifically addresses inventory loss or damage that occurs during the inbound shipping process from an Amazon Warehousing & Distribution (AWD) facility to an FBA fulfillment center. It's a sub-category of inbound issues, but distinct because it involves transfers within Amazon's broader logistics network.
Key Consideration: This applies when inventory is first stored at an AWD facility and then moved to FBA.
Unused Shipping Label (Inbound):
Definition: This occurs when a seller is charged for an Amazon-partnered shipping label, but the label is never used, or the associated shipment is canceled before pickup/drop-off.
Key Consideration: The fee was incurred for a service that ultimately wasn't utilized.
Erroneous Inbound Placement Fees:
Definition: This pertains to situations where a seller is incorrectly charged an inbound placement fee (a fee for sending inventory to specific fulfillment centers rather than allowing Amazon to distribute it) or is overcharged for such a fee.
Key Consideration: The issue is a billing error related to the placement of inbound inventory
Within Amazon FBA Fulfillment Centers
These case types relate to inventory issues occurring after goods have been received and are being stored, handled, or transferred within Amazon's fulfillment network.
Lost Warehouse:
Definition: This refers to inventory that goes missing or cannot be located after it has been formally received into Amazon's inventory system within a fulfillment center. This includes items that are misplaced, lost during internal processing, or cannot be found during picking.
Key Consideration: The inventory was confirmed as received but is now unaccounted for within Amazon's internal operations.
Damaged Warehouse:
Definition: This specifically addresses inventory that sustains damage while being stored, moved, or handled within an Amazon fulfillment center. The item was initially received in good condition but was subsequently damaged by Amazon's operations.
Key Consideration: The damage occurs internally at an Amazon facility, rendering the item unsellable.
Warehouse Transfers (Loss/Damage during):
Definition: This category covers instances where inventory is lost or damaged, specifically during the process of being transferred between different Amazon fulfillment centers. While technically an internal movement, the transfer process itself can lead to discrepancies.
Key Consideration: The issue arises during the relocation of inventory from one Amazon facility to another.
Wrongful Disposals:
Definition: This occurs when Amazon disposes of a seller's inventory without proper authorization, or when an item is disposed of incorrectly (e.g., an item is marked for disposal when it should have been returned to the seller or made available for sale).
Key Consideration: The seller loses salable inventory due to an erroneous or unauthorized action by Amazon.
Wrongful Donations:
Definition: Similar to wrongful disposals, this refers to situations where Amazon donates a seller's inventory without explicit authorization or when an item is donated incorrectly (e.g., an item is marked for donation when it should have been returned to the seller or made available for sale).
Key Consideration: The seller loses salable inventory due to an erroneous or unauthorized donation.
From Amazon FBA Warehouses to the Customer (or back to the seller)
These case types relate to issues occurring during the outbound process, whether shipping to a customer or returning inventory to the seller.
Lost Outbound:
Definition: This covers situations where a shipment, after leaving an Amazon fulfillment center, goes missing and is never delivered to its intended recipient. This applies to direct customer orders, as well as lost removal orders where inventory is supposed to be shipped back to the seller.
Key Consideration: The loss occurs during the final delivery leg from Amazon's facility to the customer or seller.
Wrongful Returns:
Definition: This is a broad category encompassing various issues with customer returns where the seller incurs a loss due to a discrepancy or policy violation by the customer or Amazon's handling of the return. This includes but is not limited to:
Refunded but Never Returned: A customer receives a refund for an item, but the item is never physically returned to Amazon.
Returned Different FNSKU than Ordered: A customer returns an item, but the item's FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit) does not match the FNSKU of the product they originally ordered, indicating a wrong or swapped item.
Refunded and Replaced (with no replacement sent/received): A customer is refunded for an item, and a replacement is supposedly sent, but the original item is not returned, or the replacement is not properly accounted for, leading to a loss for the seller.
Returned Outside of the Return Window: A customer returns an item significantly after the allowable return period, but Amazon processes the return and issues a refund, leading to a loss for the seller.
Key Consideration: The core issue is a financial or inventory loss to the seller due to a flawed or non-compliant customer return process.
Lost Removal Orders:
Definition: A specific type of "Lost Outbound" where inventory requested by the seller to be removed from FBA (either returned to them or disposed of) goes missing during the shipping process and is never delivered to the seller.
Key Consideration: This applies exclusively to inventory that Amazon is supposed to ship back to the seller via a removal order.
Damaged Removal Orders:
Definition: Inventory shipped back to the seller as part of a removal order arrives in a damaged condition, rendering it unsellable, even though it was in good condition when it left the Amazon fulfillment center.
Key Consideration: The damage occurs during the outbound shipping of a removal order back to the seller.
Note: To sign up for the Seller 365 Paid Reimbursement service, please contact [email protected], and our team will get in touch with you.