Amazon FBA is a convenient fulfillment service, but errors happen. Inventory gets lost, damaged, or miscounted, and Amazon may owe you money without automatically reimbursing you. As a seller, it’s your responsibility to monitor your account and claim missing reimbursements before Amazon’s deadlines expire.
But how often should you check for Amazon FBA reimbursements? If you wait too long, you risk losing money. If you check too often without a system, you might waste time on unnecessary audits.
This guide will explain how frequently you should review your FBA reimbursement opportunities, what reports to track, and how working with an FBA reimbursement agency can help automate the process.
How often should you check for FBA reimbursements?
The frequency of your FBA reimbursement checks depends on your sales volume and inventory size.
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Weekly checks for high-volume sellers
If you sell hundreds or thousands of units per month, you should check for reimbursement opportunities weekly. This ensures you:
- Catch damaged or lost inventory as soon as possible.
- Submit claims before deadlines expire.
- Prevent large financial losses from unnoticed errors.
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Biweekly checks for medium-sized sellers
For sellers moving moderate inventory, checking every two weeks is usually enough. This balances efficiency and accuracy without spending too much time on reimbursements.
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Monthly checks for low-volume sellers
If you have a smaller business with low inventory turnover, a monthly audit is generally sufficient. However, you still need to ensure no claims are missed before Amazon’s deadlines.
Regardless of your sales volume, Amazon FBA reimbursements should be reviewed regularly to avoid financial losses.
What reimbursement opportunities should you check?
When auditing your account, focus on these common Amazon FBA reimbursement categories:
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Lost or damaged inventory
Amazon occasionally loses or damages inventory in fulfillment centers. Some losses are automatically reimbursed, but others require manual claims.
- Check: “Inventory Adjustments” and “Manage FBA Shipments” reports.
- Claim deadline: 18 months.
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Inbound shipment discrepancies
If products sent to Amazon go missing or are miscounted, you may be eligible for a reimbursement.
- Check: “Received Inventory” vs. “Shipped Inventory” in the “Inbound Performance Summary.”
- Claim deadline: 9 months.
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Customer return errors
Amazon sometimes fails to reimburse sellers for returned items, even when the customer gets a refund.
- Check: “Returns Reports” vs. “Refund Reports” in Seller Central.
- Claim deadline: 60 days.
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Overcharged FBA fees
Amazon may miscalculate fulfillment or storage fees, leading to overcharges.
- Check: “Fee Preview” and “Payments Reports” for discrepancies.
- Claim deadline: 90 days.
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Destroyed inventory without authorization
Amazon occasionally removes or destroys inventory due to defects or expiration, sometimes without the seller’s approval.
- Check: “Disposal Order Details” under “FBA Reports.”
- Claim deadline: 18 months.
How to track Amazon FBA reimbursements efficiently
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Use Amazon Seller Central reports
Amazon provides several reports in Seller Central > Reports > Fulfillment that help track potential reimbursement opportunities.
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Set reminders to review reimbursements
Create a schedule to review your FBA reimbursements based on your sales volume:
- High-volume sellers: Every week
- Medium-volume sellers: Every two weeks
- Low-volume sellers: Every month
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Work with an FBA reimbursement agency
Manually tracking Amazon FBA reimbursements is time-consuming. Partnering with an FBA reimbursement agency can:
- Identify missed reimbursements automatically.
- File claims on your behalf.
- Follow up with Amazon to ensure faster payouts.
Final thoughts
Checking for Amazon FBA reimbursements regularly is essential to prevent financial losses. The best review frequency depends on your sales volume:
- Weekly for high-volume sellers
- Biweekly for medium-volume sellers
- Monthly for low-volume sellers
For sellers who don’t have time to manually track claims, hiring an FBA reimbursement agency can help recover lost money effortlessly. Whether you manage it yourself or outsource it, ensuring you claim what Amazon owes you is key to maximizing profits.
