How to Get Amazon to Pay You Back For Lost Inventory

TL;DR

• Amazon frequently loses inventory in warehouses and during shipments, costing sellers money.

• Amazon sometimes auto-reimburses lost inventory, but many claims must be filed manually.

• Check reports for lost stock, missing refunds, or inventory stuck in transfers to find reimbursements.

• Amazon enforces strict claim deadlines, ranging from 60 days to 18 months.

• Common claim rejections happen due to missing documents, vague descriptions, or late filings.

• Using an FBA reimbursement service can automate claims and help recover more lost funds.

If you sell through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), you trust Amazon to store, track, and ship your products correctly. But here’s the truth—Amazon loses inventory all the time. Products go missing in warehouses, shipments arrive short, and returns never make it back to your stock.

The bigger issue? Amazon won’t always reimburse you automatically. If you don’t track these losses and file claims manually, you could be leaving hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the table.

The good news? Amazon has clear policies that require them to pay you back for lost inventory—but you need to know where to check, what qualifies, and how to submit claims correctly to get your money.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to identify missing inventory, file claims step by step, and ensure you recover every dollar Amazon owes you. If you’ve never checked for Amazon FBA inventory reimbursements before, you might be in for a big payday.

Quick guide:

• Why does Amazon lose inventory?

• Does Amazon automatically reimburse lost inventory?

• How to check if Amazon owes you money for lost inventory

• Amazon’s policies and time limits for lost inventory claims

• Common reasons Amazon may reject your claim

Why does Amazon lose inventory?

Amazon manages millions of products across its fulfillment centers, handling everything from receiving shipments to storing, picking, packing, and shipping orders. With such a massive operation, mistakes happen, and inventory sometimes goes missing.

Here are the most common reasons Amazon loses inventory:

1. Errors during inbound shipments: You send inventory to Amazon, but they miscount the received units. Items get lost in transit between your supplier and Amazon. Amazon fails to scan all units into their system properly.

2. Misplacement in Amazon’s fulfillment centers:  Products are placed in the wrong storage location and marked as lost. Inventory is accidentally assigned to another seller’s stock. Items are not tracked correctly when moved between warehouses.

3. Warehouse damage and disposal mistakes:  Amazon damages inventory but doesn’t record it properly for reimbursement. Products marked as unsellable are disposed of without reimbursement. Warehouse workers accidentally destroy or remove inventory due to system errors.

4. Errors with customer returns: A customer returns an item, but Amazon never adds it back to your inventory. The returned product is mislabeled and sent to the wrong seller. Amazon issues a refund but forgets to restock the item in your account.

5. Losses during warehouse transfers:  Amazon moves your inventory between fulfillment centers, but some units go missing. Items get delayed or lost in transit between warehouses. Products are marked as "in transfer" indefinitely but never arrive.

Does Amazon automatically reimburse lost inventory?

The short answer? Sometimes, but not always.

Amazon has a system that automatically reimburses lost inventory, but it’s far from perfect. While they do refund sellers for certain missing products, many losses go unnoticed or unprocessed unless you manually file a claim.

When does Amazon automatically reimburse lost inventory?

Amazon will usually issue an automatic reimbursement if:

• Your inventory is lost or damaged by Amazon’s fulfillment centers and they detect the issue.

• A customer return is lost in transit, meaning the customer was refunded but the product never made it back.

• A product is marked as damaged beyond repair by Amazon, and they acknowledge responsibility.

You can find automatic reimbursements in Seller Central → Reports → Payments → Reimbursements.

When do you need to file a reimbursement claim?

Amazon does not always catch every missing unit. You’ll need to manually file a claim if:

• Inventory goes missing during inbound shipments, and Amazon doesn’t credit you for missing units.

• Products disappear while being transferred between fulfillment centers.

• Amazon marks an item as lost or misplaced, but no reimbursement is issued.

• A customer gets a refund, but the returned product never shows up in your inventory.

• Amazon disposes of your inventory without issuing reimbursement.

• Your products get mixed up with another seller’s stock, leading to missing inventory.

Why you can’t rely on Amazon’s system alone

Amazon handles millions of transactions daily, and mistakes slip through the cracks. If you don’t check your reports and file claims, you could be losing hundreds or thousands of dollars without even realizing it.

How to check if Amazon owes you money for lost inventory

Step 1: Check the FBA inventory adjustments report

Amazon tracks inventory movements, losses, and adjustments, but they don’t always process reimbursements automatically.

How to access the report:

• Go to Seller Central → Reports → Fulfillment

• Under Inventory, click Inventory Adjustments

• Look for items marked as:

  • Lost – Amazon misplaced your inventory.

  • Damaged – Items were damaged in Amazon’s warehouse but not reimbursed.

  • Destroyed – Amazon disposed of inventory but didn’t credit you.

If you find missing units that were not reimbursed, you may be eligible for a claim.

Step 2: Review the inbound shipment report

If you shipped inventory to Amazon but some units never made it to your FBA stock, Amazon might owe you money.

How to check your inbound shipments:

• Go to Seller Central → Inventory → Manage FBA Shipments

• Open Closed or Receiving shipments.

• Compare the units sent vs. units received by Amazon.

• If units are missing, Amazon should reimburse you.

If Amazon fails to reconcile the missing inventory after 9 months, you can file a claim.

Step 3: Look at the FBA customer returns report

Sometimes customers return items, but Amazon never restocks them in your inventory.

How to check for missing returns:

• Go to Seller Central → Reports → Fulfillment

• Click Customer Returns

• Look for refunded orders where the item was never added back to your inventory.

If Amazon refunded the customer but never returned the product to your stock, you can request reimbursement.

Step 4: Verify inter-warehouse transfers

Amazon frequently moves inventory between fulfillment centers, and units can get lost in transit.

How to check for lost transfers:

• Go to Seller Central → Reports → Fulfillment

• Click Inventory Event Detail

• Look for units marked as “in transfer” for an unusually long time (several weeks or months).

If inventory remains stuck in transfer, you may be entitled to a reimbursement.

Step 5: Review the FBA reimbursement report

Amazon does process some reimbursements automatically, but not all of them.

How to check your past reimbursements:

• Go to Seller Central → Reports → Payments

• Click Reimbursements

• Look for missing payments on lost inventory.

If Amazon hasn’t reimbursed you for an eligible claim, it’s time to file a case.

Amazon’s policies and time limits for lost inventory claims

Amazon allows sellers to file reimbursement claims for lost inventory, but there are strict policies and deadlines. If you miss the claim window, Amazon will not process your request, even if they were at fault. That’s why it’s crucial to know the rules and act quickly.

Amazon’s reimbursement policies for lost inventory

• Amazon is responsible for inventory lost in their fulfillment centers or during warehouse transfers.

• If Amazon admits fault, they will either reimburse you financially or replace the lost units.

• Amazon determines the reimbursement value based on the average selling price, not necessarily your listing price.

• Reimbursements must be manually claimed if Amazon does not automatically refund the loss.

• Amazon does not reimburse inventory lost before it is checked into an FBA warehouse unless you have proof that Amazon received it.

Amazon’s time limits for filing lost inventory claims

Amazon enforces strict deadlines for different types of lost inventory claims. If you don’t file within these time limits, you lose the right to claim reimbursement.

Claim type time limits or misplaced inventory (within Amazon’s warehouse) 18 monthsInbound shipment discrepancies (missing inventory sent to Amazon) 9 months lost inventory during warehouse transfers 18 months customer refunds where the product was never returned 60 days destroyed or disposed-of inventory without your approval 18 months

How to ensure you never miss a claim deadline

• Set a reminder to check your reports for lost inventory every 30 days.

• File claims as soon as you find a discrepancy—don’t wait until the last minute.

• Keep detailed shipping records to back up inbound shipment claims.

• Regularly review inventory and reimbursement reports to catch missing units.

• If managing multiple ASINs, consider using FBA reimbursement tools or Amazon seller reimbursement services to automate tracking.

Pro tip: Even if you miss a claim deadline, some sellers have successfully appealed to Amazon by reopening cases and requesting a manual review. While this is not guaranteed, it’s worth trying—especially for high-value reimbursements.

Common reasons Amazon may reject your claim

1. The claim is past Amazon’s time limit

• Why it gets rejected: Each type of lost inventory has a specific claim deadline (e.g., 9 months for inbound shipment discrepancies, and 18 months for lost warehouse inventory). If you submit a claim after this period, Amazon will automatically reject it.

• How to avoid it: Track all inventory losses regularly and file claims before the deadline. Set reminders to check your reports every 30 days.

2. Insufficient or missing documentation

• Why it gets rejected: Amazon requires proof of shipment, transaction records, or inventory reports to process claims. If you don’t provide the right documents, your claim won’t be approved.

• How to avoid it: Always attach invoices, shipping receipts, and Seller Central reports when submitting a claim. Make sure the documents clearly show the missing or lost units.

3. The inventory was never received by Amazon

• Why it gets rejected: If inventory was lost before Amazon officially checked it in, they may deny responsibility. This often happens with inbound shipments.

• How to avoid it: Keep detailed tracking information, proof of delivery, and shipment records to show that Amazon received your inventory but failed to process it.

4. Amazon claims the issue was already reimbursed

• Why it gets rejected: If Amazon automatically processed a reimbursement but you didn’t notice, filing a duplicate claim will result in a rejection.

• How to avoid it: Check your Reimbursements Report in Seller Central before filing a claim to ensure the issue hasn’t already been resolved.

5. The claim description is unclear or vague

• Why it gets rejected: If your claim is poorly worded or lacks important details, Amazon support may reject it due to a lack of clarity.

• How to avoid it: Write clear and specific descriptions when submitting a claim. Example:

  • Bad claim message: “I sent inventory to Amazon, and some are missing. Please check.”

  • Good claim message: “Inbound shipment ID XXXXXX shows 100 units were sent, but Amazon received only 90. Attached is my invoice and carrier tracking proof. Please investigate and reimburse the missing units.”

6. The inventory is still "in transfer"

• Why it gets rejected: Sometimes, inventory appears lost but is still in transit between Amazon warehouses. Amazon won’t approve a reimbursement until they confirm the units are permanently lost.

• How to avoid it: If your inventory is marked as “in transfer,” wait at least 30 days before submitting a claim. If it remains in transfer for too long, escalate the issue with Amazon support.

7. The claim was submitted under the wrong category

• Why it gets rejected: Filing a claim in the wrong reimbursement category can lead to rejection or delays.

• How to avoid it: Make sure you select the correct claim type when opening a case:

  • FBA inventory reimbursements (for lost or damaged warehouse inventory)

  • Inbound shipment issues (for missing inventory in transit to Amazon)

  • FBA fee disputes (for incorrect weight/dimension charges)

8. Amazon denies responsibility for the lost inventory

• Why it gets rejected: Sometimes, Amazon claims they are not liable for the missing inventory, especially for damages caused by third-party carriers.

• How to avoid it: If your claim is denied unfairly, escalate the case and request a manual review. Politely provide additional documentation and ask Amazon to reconsider.

Should you hire Amazon FBA reimbursement services?

Many sellers don’t realize how much Amazon owes them—until they start checking their reports. Lost inventory, missing refunds, and overcharged fees add up fast, and manually tracking everything is nearly impossible at scale. An FBA reimbursement service automates the entire process, making sure you never leave money on the table. If you're serious about maximizing profits, it’s a smart investment.