Lost or Damaged Products in Amazon Warehouses? Here’s How to Claim Your Money

Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement is the money Amazon pays you when it loses or damages your stock inside a fulfillment center. Amazon now pays most cases on its own, but you must file the missed ones yourself, usually within 60 days of the loss or damage.

That 60-day clock is the part that costs sellers money. Amazon moves millions of units a day, so some Amazon warehouse lost inventory never gets paid, and some Amazon FBA damaged inventory never gets reviewed. This guide shows you how to run Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement from start to finish: find unpaid cases, build the proof, and file Amazon lost inventory claims and Amazon FBA reimbursement claims before the window closes. Refunzo wrote it for US sellers.

What Is Amazon FBA Inventory Reimbursement?

Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement is a payment from Amazon to a seller for units that Amazon lost or damaged while the units were in its care.

Amazon stores, picks, packs, and ships your products, so it takes responsibility when something goes wrong in that process. The rules sit on the FBA inventory reimbursement policy page in Seller Central. The policy behind Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement covers four main cases: units lost in a fulfillment center, units damaged in a fulfillment center, customer returns that never came back, and units lost or damaged in a removal order or inbound shipment.

This guide focuses on the first two. Amazon warehouse lost inventory and Amazon FBA damaged inventory are the most common reasons sellers lose money without noticing. Amazon lost inventory claims and Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement are the two main Amazon FBA reimbursement claims sellers file to get that money back.

Which Lost or Damaged Items Qualify for Amazon FBA Inventory Reimbursement?

A unit qualifies for Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement when it was in Amazon’s care, it was registered in FBA at the time, and the loss or damage was Amazon’s fault.

These cases usually qualify:

• Units Amazon cannot find after its search period, which is Amazon warehouse lost inventory.
• Units damaged by Amazon staff, equipment, or storage conditions, which is Amazon FBA damaged inventory.
• Units lost or damaged after a customer order, while Amazon was picking, packing, or shipping.
• Customer returns that Amazon refunded but never received back.
• Units lost or damaged during an FBA removal order.

Each of these can become an Amazon FBA inventory damage claim, a request for Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement, or one of many Amazon lost inventory claims, as long as you file in time. These cases usually do not qualify: damage caused by your own packaging or prep, units Amazon later found and returned to stock, and units Amazon already reimbursed.

How Does Amazon Warehouse Damage Reimbursement Work?

Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement is mostly automatic, and you file by hand only for the cases Amazon missed.

Amazon announced that, starting November 1, 2024, it reimburses most lost and damaged inventory in fulfillment centers without a claim from you. You can track those payments in the Reimbursements report in Seller Central. Think of Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement as a safety net with a few holes. Amazon’s system catches many losses, but not every one. Amazon warehouse lost inventory follows the same path, so Amazon lost inventory claims are only needed when a payment is missing. Removal order problems are never paid automatically.

Compare what Amazon paid against what your reports say was lost or damaged. Every gap is an Amazon FBA inventory damage claim or loss claim you can file, and every missed gap makes your Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement less complete. Amazon FBA damaged inventory that Amazon misses will not pay you back unless you ask.

How Much Does Amazon FBA Inventory Reimbursement Pay Per Unit?

For units lost or damaged before a customer orders them, Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement equals your manufacturing cost, not your selling price.

This rule took effect in March 2025. Amazon uses the cost to make or buy the unit, and it leaves out shipping, customs duty, and handling. The same rule applies to Amazon FBA damaged inventory and Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement. If the loss happens after a customer places an order, Amazon still pays the sale price minus applicable fees.

Example: You sell a water bottle for $25 and you paid your supplier $10. If Amazon loses it on a shelf, your Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement or loss payment is about $10, not $25.

In Seller Central, open the Manage Your Manufacturing Cost page under Inventory Defect and Reimbursement, and enter your real cost for each product. If you skip this step, Amazon estimates the cost for you, and the estimate may not match your real cost. If you disagree with a valuation, you can dispute it through Contact Us within 60 days after the payment. Attach your supplier invoice. Your Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement amount depends on this cost, so know it before you file any Amazon FBA reimbursement claims.

For a deeper look at the rule change, eStore Factory published a breakdown of Amazon’s FBA inventory reimbursement policy update.

What Are the Claim Deadlines for Amazon FBA Inventory Reimbursement?

You must file a lost or damaged inventory claim within 60 days of the date Amazon reported the loss or damage.

Every Amazon FBA inventory damage claim, every one of your Amazon lost inventory claims, and every Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement request shares that same 60-day clock, as does any request for Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement. Other claim types have their own windows. These are the windows Amazon announced for Amazon FBA reimbursement claims, effective October 15, 2025:

Amazon changes these rules often. It cut the old 18-month window to 60 days on October 23, 2024, and it updated the windows again in October 2025. Confirm the current numbers on the FBA inventory reimbursement policy page before you file.

Notice that the customer return window for Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement opens at day 45. Filing earlier is too soon, because the customer may still send the item back.

Which Seller Central Reports Support Amazon FBA Inventory Reimbursement?

Four Seller Central reports show Amazon lost inventory claims and Amazon FBA damaged inventory, and together they build your Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement case: Inventory Adjustments, FBA Inventory Ledger, Reimbursements, and FBA Customer Returns.

• Inventory Adjustments report: lists units Amazon marked as lost, damaged, or found. Find it under Reports, then Fulfillment.
• FBA Inventory Ledger: shows every unit movement, so you can trace Amazon warehouse lost inventory from receiving to today.
• Reimbursements report: shows what Amazon already paid, including reversals. Check it first.
• FBA Customer Returns report: shows which refunded units came back to Amazon.

Use them together to confirm Amazon warehouse lost inventory gaps, Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement gaps, and any Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement owed to you before you file an Amazon FBA inventory damage claim.

How to Get Reimbursed for Lost FBA Inventory?

To get reimbursed for lost FBA inventory, match your lost units against Amazon’s payments, then file Amazon lost inventory claims for every unpaid unit inside the 60-day window.

Follow these steps for Amazon FBA reimbursement claims, Amazon lost inventory claims, and Amazon warehouse lost inventory cases:

1. Pull the last 60 days. Download the Inventory Adjustments report and the FBA Inventory Ledger for the last 60 days, because that is your claim window.
2. List every lost unit. Note the date, FNSKU, MSKU, ASIN, quantity, and shipment ID.
3. Check the Reimbursements report. Match each lost unit to a payment. No payment means a possible claim.
4. Check for found units. If Amazon found the unit later, you cannot claim it, and Amazon may reverse a payment.
5. Gather proof of cost. Pull your supplier invoice and the inbound shipment details.
6. File the case. Open Contact Us in Seller Central and choose the FBA category for inventory lost in the warehouse.
7. Track the result. Save the case ID and check the Reimbursements report each week until the payment posts.

If a case is within 10 days of its deadline, file that one first. Strong Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement depends on timing more than anything else.

How Do You File an Amazon FBA Inventory Damage Claim?

File an Amazon FBA inventory damage claim by listing every unit marked damaged in the warehouse, confirming Amazon did not pay for it, and opening a case with your proof inside 60 days. This is how you secure Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement for Amazon FBA damaged inventory.

The process mirrors lost inventory, with two differences. First, check the reason on the adjustment line. Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement only applies when the damage happened in Amazon’s care. Second, show Amazon the adjustment lines that prove the damage.

Include these items in every Amazon FBA inventory damage claim:

• Dates, quantities, FNSKU, MSKU, and ASIN for each damaged unit.
• A screenshot of the Inventory Adjustments lines that show the damage.
• Your supplier invoice showing what you paid per unit.
• A note confirming the Reimbursements report shows no payment.

Keep each Amazon FBA inventory damage claim to one claim type. Do not mix lost units, damaged units, and customer returns in one ticket. A clean file helps Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement and Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement move forward.

What Should Be on an FBA Reimbursement Checklist?

A strong FBA reimbursement checklist has six parts: the loss details, the payment check, the proof, the value, the deadline, and the follow-up.

• Loss details: date, FNSKU, MSKU, ASIN, quantity, and case type (lost, damaged, return, or removal).
• Payment check: no matching line in the Reimbursements report, no reversal, and no found unit.
• Proof: supplier invoice, shipment or removal order ID, carrier tracking, and, for Amazon FBA damaged inventory, the Inventory Adjustments lines that show the damage.
• Value: your real manufacturing cost saved on the Manage Your Manufacturing Cost page, which sets your Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement amount.
• Deadline: the claim window date on your calendar, plus day 45 for customer returns.
• Follow-up: case ID, date filed, expected amount, and payment date.

Run this checklist before every Amazon FBA inventory damage claim and every one of your Amazon FBA reimbursement claims. If it sounds like a weekly job you do not have time for, you are not alone. Many sellers hand off Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement. Our guide on how much an Amazon reimbursement service costs shows what fair pricing looks like.

What Does a Missed Amazon FBA Inventory Reimbursement Look Like in Real Numbers?

A missed Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement looks like a small gap in your reports that adds up over a year.

Example: You send 1,200 units to Amazon, and each unit costs you $12. In 60 days, your Inventory Adjustments report shows 60 units lost and 24 units of Amazon FBA damaged inventory. That is 84 units, or $1,008 at manufacturing cost. Your Reimbursements report shows payment for only 52 units. The other 32 units are unpaid, which is $384 you can claim through Amazon lost inventory claims, an Amazon FBA inventory damage claim, and Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement. Small Amazon FBA reimbursement claims add up fast. Repeat that gap every month for a year and the unpaid total is about $4,600.

Most sellers never see this gap, because nobody compares the reports line by line, and Amazon FBA damaged inventory slips through the same way. That is how Amazon warehouse lost inventory turns into a quiet profit leak.

Why Do Amazon FBA Reimbursement Claims Get Denied?

Amazon denies a claim mainly because the claim is late, the proof is weak, or Amazon already paid.

• Filed after the window: late Amazon lost inventory claims are usually refused, so put every deadline on a calendar.
• No supplier invoice: keep invoices for every inbound shipment.
• Already reimbursed or found: check the Reimbursements report, because Amazon warehouse lost inventory that Amazon finds is no longer claimable.
• Mixed case types: file one claim type per case.
• Damage outside Amazon’s care: Amazon FBA damaged inventory only counts when Amazon caused it.
• Low valuation: update your manufacturing cost before losses happen, so your Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement is not undervalued.

Most failed Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement cases trace back to one of these problems. If Amazon denies an Amazon FBA inventory damage claim or any other case you believe is valid, you can ask for a re-evaluation within 90 days of the initial claim. Add the missing proof and keep your request short. Strong Amazon FBA reimbursement claims are specific and backed by proof.

Should You File Amazon FBA Reimbursement Claims Yourself?

You can file Amazon FBA reimbursement claims yourself if your catalog is small, but larger catalogs usually need a tool or a service.

Doing Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement by hand costs time, not money. Filing Amazon FBA reimbursement claims weekly keeps you inside every window. Each weekly audit means pulling reports, matching lines, and writing cases. For hundreds of SKUs, it becomes a part-time job. Software can flag Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement gaps, but you still write and file the cases. A done-for-you service finds, files, and tracks Amazon lost inventory claims for you, usually for a percentage of what it recovers.

How Can Refunzo Help With Amazon FBA Inventory Reimbursement?

Refunzo helps US sellers recover money from Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement cases they did not know they had.

Refunzo audits your Seller Central data, finds unpaid Amazon warehouse lost inventory and Amazon FBA damaged inventory, builds the evidence, files the Amazon FBA reimbursement claims inside Amazon’s windows, and tracks every payment. The service is success-based, with no monthly or setup fee, so you pay only on money recovered. You can see how that works in our guide to Amazon FBA reimbursement commission rates.

The process is the same for private label, wholesale, and brand sellers: audit, file, track, and recover. Refunzo runs the weekly checks, including every Amazon FBA inventory damage claim, Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement request, and Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement follow-up, so you can focus on sourcing and growth.

What Should You Do Next?

Start your Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement audit today. Check your Reimbursements report, then compare it with the last 60 days of Amazon warehouse lost inventory and damaged units to find any Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement or Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement you are owed. File every unpaid case, including Amazon lost inventory claims, before its deadline, and keep your supplier invoices ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Amazon reimburse lost FBA inventory automatically?

Yes, Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement is mostly automatic, but not every case. Since November 1, 2024, Amazon pays most Amazon warehouse lost inventory on its own. Cases it misses, and all removal order claims, still need a manual claim from you.

How long do I have to file a lost or damaged inventory claim?

You have 60 days from the date Amazon reported the loss or damage to file Amazon lost inventory claims or an Amazon FBA inventory damage claim. Customer returns, removal orders, and re-evaluation requests follow different Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement windows, so check the table above.

How is Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement calculated?

For units lost or damaged before a customer order, Amazon pays your manufacturing cost. After a customer order, it pays the sale price minus applicable fees. Enter your real cost on the Manage Your Manufacturing Cost page to protect your Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement payout.

Can I get reimbursed for Amazon FBA damaged inventory?

Yes, Amazon FBA damaged inventory is reimbursable if Amazon caused the damage while the units were in its care. Amazon warehouse damage reimbursement applies in that case. Check the Inventory Adjustments report, confirm no payment appears in the Reimbursements report, and file your Amazon FBA inventory damage claim within 60 days.

What counts as Amazon warehouse lost inventory?

Amazon warehouse lost inventory means units Amazon received but cannot locate after its search period. These units show as lost in the Inventory Adjustments report and should appear in the Reimbursements report. If they do not, file Amazon lost inventory claims.

What happens if Amazon finds my lost inventory after paying me?

Amazon may reverse the payment. Watch the Reimbursements report for reversal lines.

What if Amazon denies my claim?

If Amazon denies your Amazon damaged inventory reimbursement or any other case, you can request a re-evaluation within 90 days of the initial claim. Add the missing evidence, such as the supplier invoice or shipment ID.

Is an Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement service worth it?

A service is worth it when your catalog is large or you do not have time for weekly audits. Services handle Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement and file Amazon FBA reimbursement claims for you, and most charge only a share of the money they recover.