If youโre selling on Amazon, you know the pain of seeing profits slip away due to lost or damaged inventory, incorrect fees, or customer return errors. These issues can quietly erode your margins, especially as Amazon tightens its reimbursement policies.
With the updated Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) inventory reimbursement policy taking effect soon, sellers face a new urgency to audit their accounts and claim every dollar owed.
The stakes are higher than ever. Amazonโs shift to cost-based reimbursements means you could receive significantly less for lost or damaged inventory than before, directly impacting your bottom line.
If youโre not proactively managing claims, youโre leaving money on the tableโmoney that could be reinvested in growth, advertising, or new product launches. Explore how our team simplifies this for brands and helps you recover whatโs rightfully yours.
Key Changes to Amazonโs FBA Reimbursement Policy (2024/2025 Updates)
Amazonโs FBA reimbursement policy is undergoing a major overhaul in 2025. The most significant change? Reimbursements for lost and damaged inventory will now be calculated based on manufacturing cost, not retail value.
This means sellers could receive much smaller payouts for the same inventory issues, as shipping, handling, and other costs are no longer included in the reimbursement calculation.
For example, under the new policy, a seller who previously received a $339 reimbursement for a lost item might now get just $11.89, resulting in a loss of nearly $200 per unit (policy update details).
Understanding Amazon Reimbursements: The Basics for FBA Sellers
What Qualifies for Amazon Reimbursements? Common Errors and Claim Types Explained
Other claim types include:
- Damaged inventory at fulfillment centers
- Lost inventory during inbound shipments
- Customer return errors
- Overcharged FBA fees
Knowing these categories is the first step to maximizing your Amazon seller claims and ensuring you donโt miss out on eligible reimbursements.
Refunds vs. Reimbursements: Crucial Differences for Sellers
Proactive Reimbursement Strategies: Maximize Your Claims
Step-by-Step: How to Identify Eligible Reimbursements in Amazon Seller Central
Hereโs how to get started:
- Access the Inventory Defect and Reimbursement portal.
- Download the โsourcing costโ file for your ASINs.
- Review Amazonโs cost estimates and update with your actual costs.
- Submit supporting documents for each FNSKU as required.
- Track open and closed claims to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Staying organized and proactive is the best way to ensure youโre not missing out on eligible Amazon FBA reimbursement services.
Calculating and Filing Your Claims: Manual vs. Automated Methods
Filing Amazon FBA reimbursement claims can be done manually or with the help of automation tools. Manual claims require you to dig through reports, identify discrepancies, and submit each claim individuallyโa process that can eat up hours every week. Automated solutions like Helium 10โs Refund Genie streamline the process, automatically identifying eligible claims and helping you recover funds with less effort (automating the FBA reimbursement process ensures you don't miss any eligible claims).
- Manual: Full control, but time-consuming and prone to errors.
- Automated: Saves time, increases accuracy, and often recovers more money.
For most sellers, leveraging automation is the smarter, more scalable approach to Amazon claim filing and FBA reimbursements.
Handling Denied or Disputed Claims: What To Do Next
Denied Amazon FBA reimbursement claims are frustrating, but not the end of the road. Common reasons for denial include missing documentation, discrepancies in shipment records, or Amazon not receiving all expected units (denial due to missing units is a common reason).
If your claim is denied:
- Review the denial reason in Seller Central.
- Gather additional evidence (invoices, shipment records).
- Refile the claim with more documentation.
- Escalate to Amazon support if needed.
Persistence and thorough documentation are key to overturning denied claims and recovering your funds.
Choosing the Right Amazon Reimbursement Service Provider
Top Amazon Reimbursement Tools & Services Compared (2025 Edition)
For a full-stack approach, consider pairing these tools with expert account management from Amazon Full Account Management or FBA Reimbursement Claim specialists.
Manual Claims vs. Professional Services: Pros, Cons, and Costs
- Manual: No extra fees, but high time investment and risk of errors.
- Professional Services: Pay only on successful claims, benefit from automation, and stay compliant with Amazon policy changes 2025.
For sellers aiming to scale, outsourcing to experts like Amazon Full Account Management or leveraging Amazon SEO Services can free up resources and drive better results.
Best Practices: Staying Ahead of Amazonโs Policy Changes
Optimizing Your Sourcing Costs and Inventory Data for Maximum Reimbursements
To maximize your Amazon reimbursement eligibility:
- Regularly update your sourcing costs for all FNSKUs.
- Submit supporting documents for each product.
- Audit your inventory data to catch discrepancies early.
This proactive approach ensures youโre not shortchanged and helps you recover the full value of your lost or damaged inventory.
Automating Claims: Tools, Benefits, and Real Seller Results
Automation is transforming Amazon FBA reimbursement services. Tools like Helium 10โs Refund Genie help sellers recover thousandsโand sometimes tens of thousandsโof dollars by automating the identification and filing of eligible claims (sellers have recovered thousands using Refund Genie).
Benefits of automation:
- Saves hours of manual work each month
- Reduces the risk of missed claims or errors
- Ensures you recover every dollar owed for lost or damaged inventory
For brands looking to scale, automation is a game-changer. Want to scale faster? Book a 1:1 growth call with our account managers today!
Integrating Reimbursements Into Financial Reporting and Profit Analysis
- Update your sourcing costs to avoid reduced reimbursements.
- Use automation to maximize claim recovery and minimize manual errors.
- Integrate reimbursements into your financial reporting for accurate profit analysis.
- Partner with experts like SalesDuo for full-stack support and peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
Meet Nandita Nair, an Associate Content Writer at SalesDuo, passionate about creating impactful content that helps Amazon businesses grow and thrive. When sheโs not writing, she finds joy in listening to music, exploring art, and getting lost in the world of novels.
