Are your FBA Reimbursements Slipping Away this Holiday Season?

TL;DR

• Holiday sales spikes bring more FBA reimbursement opportunities but also greater risks.

• Stay organized during Q4 to avoid lost inventory and missed reimbursement claims.

• Don’t wait until January to file claims; missed deadlines mean lost money.

• Track inventory issues in real-time and file claims as soon as problems arise.

• Amazon’s new FBA update helps automate claims but doesn’t eliminate manual claims entirely.

• Refunzo tracks your inventory and ensures you don’t miss reimbursement opportunities.

The holidays are here.

It’s the season of festive lights, hot cocoa, and… inventory chaos.

As an Amazon seller, you know the surge in holiday sales can be a double-edged sword.

Sure, the orders are flying in. But with it comes the risk of inventory mishaps, misplaced stock, and missed Amazon FBA reimbursements.

And if you don’t keep a close eye on it now, you could be losing thousands come January. That’s right. Missed reimbursements can stack up fast during seasonal spikes.

So, how do you keep track during the busiest time of the year?

We’ll find out now.

Quick guide

• Why seasonal spikes mean more FBA reimbursements—but also more risks

• The importance of staying organized amid holiday sales spikes

• Why shouldn’t you wait until January?

• How to prepare now to avoid post-holiday reimbursement nightmares

• How does Amazon’s new FBA reimbursement update affect you?

• How can Refunzo help?

Why seasonal spikes mean more FBA reimbursements—but also more risks

Seasonal spikes can feel like a gold rush for Amazon sellers. The orders are pouring in.

Your products are flying off the shelves.

But here’s the catch—when sales spike, so do the risks.

More orders mean more inventory flowing through Amazon’s fulfillment centers. And with that comes more chances for things to go wrong.

Lost items. Misplaced stock. Damaged goods.

These are all real problems.

And they don’t just happen once in a while—they happen a lot more during the busy season.

So why does this mean more FBA reimbursements? It’s simple.

When Amazon mishandles your inventory, you’re owed money. But if you don’t track these errors, those reimbursements slip right through your fingers.

More sales = more chances for things to go wrong. And that means more opportunities to get reimbursed.

But only if you stay on top of it.

Now, here’s where the risks come in.

Many sellers get swept up in the holiday sales frenzy and forget to check their inventory records. They don’t notice the missing items or damaged goods until months later.

By then, it’s too late.

Amazon has strict deadlines for filing reimbursement claims. Miss those deadlines, and you’re out of luck.

The bottom line? Seasonal spikes can put more money in your pocket—but only if you’re paying attention. Don’t let the chaos of Q4 cost you.

The importance of staying organized amid holiday sales spikes

During the holiday season, the sales surge is great, but it can quickly turn into chaos if you’re not organized.

Orders are flying in, inventory is moving fast, and mistakes happen. If you don’t stay on top of it all or hire Amazon seller reimbursement services, you risk losing both money and time.

And come January, it’s too late to fix what’s already gone wrong.

Staying organized is the only way to keep up with the holiday rush and protect your bottom line. It’s not just about managing stock—it’s about staying in control of every part of your business.

Here’s how to stay organized when things get hectic:

1. Keep real-time inventory tracking: Make sure you’re tracking every item as it enters and leaves the warehouse. Don’t wait until things pile up to check stock.

2. Monitor order accuracy daily: With sales spiking, errors in orders can multiply. Review your orders every day to catch any mistakes early.

3. Set automatic reminders for FBA reimbursements: Don’t let reimbursement opportunities slip through the cracks. Set reminders so you can file claims on time.

4. Update your sales forecast regularly: Sales forecasts change fast during the holidays. Adjust them weekly to stay on track with stock levels and avoid overselling or running out.

5. Organize your documentation: Keep all your invoices, shipment records, and returns in one place. This will save you time and stress if you need to file for reimbursements later.

6. Use automation where possible: Automate what you can—whether it’s reordering stock or tracking shipments. Let technology take care of the busywork so you can focus on big-picture tasks.

7. Communicate with your team daily: Keep your Amazon reimbursement specialist updated on inventory, orders, and any issues that pop up. Daily check-ins will help everyone stay on the same page and catch problems early.

Why shouldn’t you wait until January?

Why shouldn’t you wait until January? Because by then, it could be too late.

The holiday season is a whirlwind. Orders are piling up. Inventory is moving fast. And mistakes are happening—right now.

If you wait until January to check your inventory, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Lost items.
Misplaced stock.
Damaged goods.

These things don’t wait for the new year to hit.

Amazon has strict deadlines for filing reimbursement claims. If you miss them, you’re leaving money on the table. And during the chaos of Q4, missing those deadlines becomes all too easy.

Every day you wait to file a claim could mean hundreds of dollars slipping through your fingers. By January, the damage is already done.

Plus, your January is going to be busy enough.
Post-holiday returns.
Customer issues.
Backorders.

Are you really going to have time to dig through a mountain of missed reimbursements?

Stay ahead of the game. Track your inventory now. File your claims as issues arise, not weeks later.

Waiting until January doesn’t just cost you time—it costs you money. You worked hard to get through Q4.

Don’t let those efforts go to waste because you waited too long to act. Get on top of it now. Your future self will thank you.

How to prepare now to avoid post-holiday reimbursement nightmares

Post-holiday reimbursement nightmares are real. And the only way to avoid them is by preparing now.

The holiday rush can leave a mess behind. But here’s the thing: If you don’t stay on top of it as it happens, you’re setting yourself up for a headache in January.

By the time the holidays are over, your focus will shift.

You’ll be handling returns, customer inquiries, and restocking for the new year.

The last thing you need is to scramble for reimbursements that could’ve been handled earlier.

So how do you stay prepared?

1. Track inventory issues in real time: Don’t wait until January to notice missing or damaged stock. Make tracking part of your daily routine so nothing slips by.

2. File claims as soon as you spot an issue: When you catch a mistake, file for reimbursement immediately. Delaying means you risk missing Amazon’s deadlines, which will cost you money.

3. Keep detailed records of everything: Every order, every return, every shipment. Have all your documentation in one place so you can file claims without stress.

4. Use automated tools to monitor your stock: Technology can save you time. Set up automated systems to flag inventory discrepancies before they snowball into bigger problems.

5. Don’t wait—get help from Refunzo: Refunzo, created by the experts at eStore Factory, makes reimbursement tracking easy. Refunzo monitors your inventory and flags potential reimbursements in real time. It’s like having an extra set of eyes on your business, so you don’t miss out on what Amazon owes you. And the best part? Refunzo does all the hard work for you, letting you focus on growing your sales while we take care of the reimbursements.

How does Amazon’s new FBA reimbursement update affect you?

As you know, Amazon’s new FBA reimbursement update is here.

And it’s a big deal.

Starting November 1, 2024, Amazon will proactively reimburse you for lost items in their fulfillment centers.

That means less work for you.

No more digging through reports or filing endless claims for lost inventory.

Sounds like a dream? Well, almost.

While most reimbursement claims will now be handled automatically, some things still need your attention.

What’s changing?

• If Amazon loses your inventory in their warehouse, they’ll issue a reimbursement without you lifting a finger.

• As soon as the fulfillment center reports a loss, your account will be credited.

• You can easily track these reimbursements in the Reimbursements report on Seller Central.

It’s smoother.
It’s faster.
And it saves you time.

But what about damaged goods or customer returns?

Amazon says nearly all warehouse and customer returns-related claims will now also be reimbursed proactively.

However, if something slips through the cracks and you don’t get that automatic reimbursement—you’ll need to file a manual claim.

Manual claims are still a thing This update doesn’t mean you can kick back entirely. Manual claims will still be necessary in some cases.

If you think your inventory has been lost or damaged but don’t see a reimbursement, don’t wait around.

You’ll need to file a claim manually.

And when it comes to removal claims (for items being shipped back to you), those will always need a manual claim.

New deadlines you can’t miss.

Amazon is also tightening up the timeline for filing claims. Starting October 23, 2024, you’ll need to follow these new deadlines:

• For items lost or damaged in the fulfillment center, you have 60 days to file a claim after the issue is reported.

• For FBA customer returns, you can file a claim between 60 and 120 days after the refund or replacement date. But don’t file before 60 days—this gives customers time to return the item.

• For removal claims on items lost in transit, you can file between 15 and 75 days from the shipment creation date. No early claims! You need to wait 15 days for the shipment to arrive.

• For other removal claims, file within 60 days of when the shipment gets delivered back to you.

Missing these deadlines? That’s money down the drain.

How does this affect you?

In a lot of ways, this update is a win.
Automatic reimbursements mean less time wasted on manual claims and more time focusing on growing your business.

But there’s still room for error.

If Amazon doesn’t issue a reimbursement, you need to catch it. Miss the deadlines, and you’re out of luck.

So while this change makes things easier, staying on top of your inventory issues is more important than ever.

In short?
Stay sharp.
Track everything.
And file your manual claims on time.

How can Refunzo help?

Refunzo was built to make sure no dollar slips through the cracks, especially during busy seasons like Q4.

During holiday spikes, errors like lost inventory, damaged goods, and unprocessed returns are much more common.

And those mistakes? They can cost you thousands.

With Refunzo, you don’t have to wait until things get out of hand.

Our platform tracks every item in real-time. So when something goes wrong—whether it’s a misplaced item or a return that didn’t make it back to the warehouse—Refunzo catches it instantly.

How does Refunzo help with Amazon’s recent policy updates?

Amazon’s new updates mean a more proactive reimbursement system.

But that doesn’t mean everything is automatic. You still need to keep an eye on things.

Refunzo does the heavy lifting for you.

If an item gets lost or damaged and Amazon doesn’t automatically reimburse you, Refunzo flags it. Our system alerts you before those missed reimbursements turn into missed profits.

No more scrambling through reports or worrying about deadlines. Refunzo stays on top of the new timelines, ensuring you don’t miss a window for filing claims.

Real-time tracking.
Automatic alerts.

Refunzo scans your FBA account continuously.

We track reimbursements, missing items, and customer returns, even with Amazon’s updated policies in place. If a reimbursement is missed, we alert you. No need to dig through endless reports.

Even with Amazon’s new proactive system, some things still fall through the cracks. Manual claims are still a reality for many sellers.

Refunzo simplifies that too.

We guide you step-by-step through the claim filing process, making sure nothing gets left out. You won’t miss those tight Amazon deadlines.

The bottom line?

The holiday season is busy enough.

Refunzo saves you time, keeps track of your Amazon FBA reimbursement, and ensures you’re reimbursed for everything you’re owed—even with Amazon’s policy updates.

That means you can focus on your sales, while we handle the refunds.