Hi sellers,
Throughout April, we're launching a comprehensive educational series focused on the FBA topics that matter most to you. Learn more about this series here. For Week 1 (6-10 April), we're focusing on Shipping, Delivery & Reconciliation.
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Understanding the FBA reimbursement process is essential for protecting your inventory and ensuring you're fairly compensated when issues occur. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything UK sellers need to know about claiming reimbursements for lost or damaged inventory.
What is FBA Reimbursement?
When Amazon is responsible for lost, damaged, or disposed inventory in our fulfilment centres, we reimburse you based on the estimated proceeds - your item's value minus applicable fees. Amazon acts as custodian of your inventory, and when defects occur in our value chain, we compensate you accordingly.
Types of Reimbursable Events
Warehouse Damage
- Inventory damaged whilst in Amazon's fulfilment centres
- Automatically reimbursed within 21 days for sellable inventory
- Eligible for manual claims if source disposition is customer damaged, inbound carrier damaged, expired, or distributor damaged
Warehouse Lost Inventory
- Items that go missing within our fulfilment centres
- Must be claimed within 18 months of the event
- Currently requires manual claim submission (automatic reimbursement disabled since August 2022)
Customer Returns
- Items returned damaged by the carrier or warehouse
- Items not returned within 45 days (UK/WW) when returnable
- Items flipped to Amazon ownership regardless of condition
How to File a Reimbursement Claim
For Damaged Items:
- Locate the Transaction Item ID in your Inventory Ledger Report
- Use the Check Warehouse Damaged Reimbursement Status tool
- Verify the item disposition shows "Sellable" and reason is "Damaged at Warehouse"
- Confirm you haven't been previously reimbursed
- Submit your claim through the Contact Us page if needed
For Lost Items:
- Check your Inventory Ledger Report for the transaction
- Verify the loss occurred within the past 18 months
- Provide either the Transaction Item ID or FNSKU
- Submit through Contact Us with relevant details
Help Resources:
Important Eligibility Requirements
- Claims must be filed within 18 months of the event
- Your account must be in normal or pending status (not blocked, terminated, or fraud)
- The ASIN must be active (not suppressed, prohibited, or restricted)
- You must have a standard FBA contract
- Only one claim per shipment is permitted
Key Timeframes for UK Sellers
- Warehouse damage claims: Available immediately after the damage event is visible
- Customer return claims: No sooner than 45 days after refund Lost inventory claims: Within 18 months of the event
- Automatic warehouse damage reimbursement: Within 21 days
What You'll Need
- When submitting claims, be prepared to provide:
- Transaction Item ID or FNSKU
- Date and location of the loss or damage
- Amazon shipment ID (for inbound issues)
- Proof of inventory ownership (invoice, receipt, or packing slip)
- Proof of delivery for inbound shipments
Need Additional Support?
If your claim is denied, review the specific reason provided, check the Inventory Ledger Report for additional transaction details, and contact Seller Support with your Transaction Item ID for further investigation.
Share your Experience
Have you successfully navigated the reimbursement process? What tips would you share with fellow sellers? Drop your experiences below - your insights help build a stronger seller community!
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