How to Recover Money for Lost, Damaged, and Missing Inventory on Amazon
Amazon lost and damaged inventory reimbursement is the money Amazon pays you when it loses or damages your FBA units. To get it, find the loss in your Seller Central reports and file a claim before the deadline. For most fulfillment center losses, that deadline is 60 days from the date Amazon reported the loss.
Amazon now reimburses many warehouse losses on its own, but it does not catch everything. Missing inbound units, customer returns that never came back, and low payout values still need your attention. Ecommerce software providers often estimate that unreimbursed FBA errors cost sellers about 1% to 3% of annual revenue. On $1 million in sales, that is $10,000 to $30,000.
This guide is for US-based FBA sellers, including private label sellers, wholesale sellers, and brand owners. At Refunzo, we help sellers with Amazon FBA Inventory Reimbursement by auditing Seller Central data and filing claims on time. Below, you will learn what qualifies, which deadlines apply, how to file, and how to avoid denials. For the policy background, read our full Amazon reimbursements guide.
What Is Amazon Lost and Damaged Inventory Reimbursement?
It is a payment from Amazon to a seller for FBA units that Amazon lost, damaged, or mishandled while the units were in its care. Sellers often shorten the term to Amazon inventory reimbursement. Amazon takes responsibility once your stock is checked in at a fulfillment center. That responsibility continues through storage, picking, packing, customer returns, and removal orders.
Think of it like a warehouse insurance payout. You still own the stock. If the warehouse loses it or breaks it, the warehouse owner pays you back. The catch is that Amazon does not always pay on its own, and the window to ask is short.
What counts as lost inventory?
Lost inventory is any unit Amazon received but can no longer find. In Seller Central, Amazon lost inventory shows up as a negative adjustment in your Inventory Ledger, with no matching reimbursement and no "found" entry.
Amazon FBA lost inventory often hides in plain sight. A unit can disappear during a transfer between fulfillment centers, while it sits in storage, or during picking and packing. Amazon moves millions of units, so small errors add up quickly.
What counts as damaged inventory?
Damaged inventory is a unit that Amazon staff, equipment, or an Amazon-partnered carrier broke or ruined while it was in Amazon's care.
Damage caused by a buyer, by your own weak packaging, or by events before Amazon received the units usually does not qualify. Keep photos of how you packed each carton so you can show the units left you in good condition.
What counts as missing inbound inventory?
Missing inbound inventory is stock you shipped to Amazon that was never fully checked in. If you sent 500 units and Amazon received 480, the 20 missing units may be claimable once the shipment closes and Amazon finishes its review.
Which Situations Qualify for Reimbursement?
Five situations qualify most often: lost units, damaged units, inbound shortages, customer refunds with no return, and removal order problems. Each one has its own deadline and filing path.
| Situation | What happened | Who usually acts first |
|---|---|---|
| Lost in a fulfillment center | A unit disappears after check-in | Amazon (automatic) or you |
| Damaged in a fulfillment center | Amazon handling or equipment ruins a unit | Amazon (automatic) or you |
| Inbound shortage | Amazon receives fewer units than you sent | You |
| Customer return not received | Buyer is refunded, but the item never returns to sellable stock | You |
| Removal order problem | Units are lost or damaged on the way back to you | You (always manual) |
Not every loss qualifies. Seller-fulfilled orders, fee disputes, and units you asked Amazon to dispose of follow different rules. Amazon FBA lost inventory reimbursement also depends on one basic fact: Amazon must have had custody of the units when they went missing.
How Long Do You Have to File an Amazon Inventory Reimbursement Claim?
You have 60 days for most lost or damaged units, 45 to 105 days for customer returns, and nine months for inbound shipment shortages.
These windows come from the FBA inventory reimbursement policy, which Amazon updated effective October 15, 2025. Before October 2024, sellers had 18 months. Many blog posts still repeat the old number, so check the policy page in Seller Central before you rely on any figure.
| Claim type | Filing window | When the clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Lost or damaged in a fulfillment center | Within 60 days | The date Amazon reported the loss or damage |
| Customer returns | 45 to 105 days | After the refund or replacement date |
| Removal orders (lost) | 15 to 135 days | From the shipment creation date |
| Removal orders (damaged) | Within 120 days | From the shipment delivery date |
| Removal orders (grading) | Within 120 days | From the date the item was removed from the network |
| Inbound shipment shortage | Within 9 months | Verified delivery date (confirm in Seller Central) |
| Re-evaluation of a denied claim | Within 90 days | Date of the initial claim |
How do you count the days?
Count from the date Amazon reported the problem, not the day you noticed it.
- Lost units: Amazon reports 12 units lost on September 10. Your last day to file is November 9.
- Customer return: A buyer is refunded on March 1 and the item never comes back. Your filing window opens April 15 and closes June 14.
Because the lost-unit clock starts when Amazon logs the loss, a monthly check can already be too slow. A review every two weeks keeps you safely inside the window.
How to Get Reimbursed for Lost FBA Inventory?
To get reimbursed for lost FBA inventory, find the unit in your Inventory Ledger, confirm Amazon has not already paid you, collect proof of ownership, and open a Seller Support case before the window closes.
Every strong Amazon lost and damaged inventory reimbursement claim proves three things: Amazon had your units, the units are still missing, and you own them. Follow these steps in order to prove all three. Most sellers who miss money skip step 3. The same steps work for any Amazon FBA lost inventory reimbursement case, from a few missing units to a whole carton.
- Pull your reports. Download the Inventory Ledger, the Reimbursements report, and the FBA Customer Returns report for the last 90 days.
- Find the gaps. Look for lost or damaged adjustments that have no matching reimbursement or "found" entry.
- Rule out a payment. Check the Reimbursements report and your payments data. Amazon may have already paid you, or the unit may have turned up and returned to sellable stock.
- Pick the right claim type. Decide if the loss is a fulfillment center loss, a customer return, an inbound shortage, or a removal issue. The wrong type slows the claim or gets it denied.
- Gather proof. Collect supplier invoices, shipment IDs, packing lists, carrier tracking, and photos.
- Open a case. Use the Get support page in Seller Central and choose the option that matches your claim type.
- Keep the message short and factual. Include the SKU, FNSKU, quantity, dates, and attached proof.
- Track the result. Log the case ID. If Amazon denies the claim, request a re-evaluation within 90 days of the initial claim.
What should your claim message say?
A good message is brief and specific. Here is a template you can adapt:
Hello Seller Support, I am requesting reimbursement for [quantity] units of SKU [SKU] (FNSKU [FNSKU]). The Inventory Ledger shows these units as lost on [date], and no reimbursement appears in my Reimbursements report. The units were not sold, returned, or removed. Attached are my supplier invoice, shipment details, and report screenshots. Please review and reimburse under the FBA inventory reimbursement policy.
How do you claim customer returns that never came back?
If a buyer was refunded but the item never returned to your sellable stock, you can claim it between 45 and 105 days after the refund date. Do not file earlier, because Amazon needs time to process the return.
Start with the FBA Customer Returns report. Then match each order ID against your Amazon return refund settlement lines in your payments reports. If the refund appears in the settlement but the return never shows as received, you may have a claim.
How do you claim a missing inbound shipment?
Wait until the shipment is closed and Amazon has finished checking it in. Then compare units shipped with units received on the shipment summary. File within nine months of the verified delivery date, and attach your supplier invoice, packing list, and carrier proof of delivery.
Want to see what happens on Amazon's side after you file? Our guide on how the reimbursement process works behind the scenes walks through it.
How Much Does Amazon Pay for Lost Inventory?
For units lost or damaged before a customer ordered them, Amazon pays based on your manufacturing (sourcing) cost, not your selling price. For units lost or damaged after a customer ordered them, Amazon pays the sale price of the original order minus applicable fees.
Amazon moved to cost-based payouts in March 2025. If you have not added product costs in Seller Central, Amazon may estimate them, and the estimate can be lower than what you paid. Amazon's policy focuses on what you paid to source the product, so freight and duties may not be included. Upload accurate cost data for your best sellers first.
Example: You lose 40 units that cost you $8.50 each to source, and they sell for $24.99. Amazon would pay about 40 × $8.50 = $340. Under the old selling-price approach, the same units could have been valued near $1,000 before fees. That gap is why Amazon inventory reimbursement amounts often feel smaller than sellers expect, and why accurate cost data and fast claims both matter.
What Should Be on an FBA Reimbursement Checklist?
A good FBA reimbursement checklist covers nine items: reports, dates, payment check, ownership proof, Amazon custody proof, claim type, case wording, tracking, and cost data.
Run through this table every two weeks. It takes far less time than hunting for missing money once a year, and it keeps Amazon lost inventory claims inside their deadlines.
| Checklist item | What to do |
|---|---|
| Export reports | Inventory Ledger, Reimbursements report, FBA Customer Returns report, and shipment summaries. |
| Check the dates | Note the date Amazon reported each loss and count 60 days. For returns, count 45 to 105 days from the refund. |
| Confirm no payment | Compare each loss against the Reimbursements report and any "found" entries. |
| Match returns | Compare each refund in your Amazon return refund settlement data with the FBA Customer Returns report. |
| Prove ownership | Attach supplier invoices that match the SKU and quantity. |
| Prove Amazon custody | Add the shipment ID, check-in records, packing list, and carrier delivery proof. |
| Choose the claim type | Lost, damaged, inbound shortage, customer return, or removal. |
| Write a short case | SKU, FNSKU, quantity, date, and attached proof. Nothing extra. |
| Track every case | Log the case ID, filing date, status, and the 90-day re-evaluation deadline. |
| Update cost data | Keep manufacturing cost current so payouts reflect what you paid. |
Tip: save every export in one folder named by month. Reports can change or refresh, and a saved copy proves what Amazon showed on the day you filed.
Why Do Amazon Claims Get Denied, and How Do You Fix Them?
Most claims are denied for four reasons: the claim was filed outside the window, proof of ownership was missing, the wrong claim type was chosen, or Amazon says it already reimbursed or found the units.
Almost all of these are fixable if you respond fast. Amazon allows a re-evaluation request within 90 days of the initial claim, so treat a denial as a request for better evidence, not a final answer. Many Amazon lost inventory claims fail for a simple reason: the seller attached reports but no invoice.
| Denial reason | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Outside the window | Check the event date. If Amazon counted wrong, send the exact date from your Inventory Ledger and ask for a review. |
| Missing ownership proof | Attach supplier invoices showing SKU, quantity, and cost. The invoice must match the units you claim. |
| Wrong claim type | Reopen the case under the correct category, such as inbound shortage instead of warehouse loss. |
| Already reimbursed or found | Show the Reimbursements report line and your ledger. If the payout was too low, dispute the amount and send your cost proof. |
| Quantity mismatch | Re-run reports for the right date range and claim only the units that remain unresolved. |
Keep follow-ups short. A three-sentence reply with the right attachment works better than a long complaint.
How to Find a Trustworthy FBA Reimbursement Service?
A trustworthy FBA reimbursement service charges only a percentage of what it recovers, shows you every claim it files, and asks for no more account access than it needs.
Some sellers file claims themselves. Others hire help because they have a large catalog, many shipments, or little time. A good Amazon FBA lost inventory reimbursement provider should pass these seven checks:
- Clear fees. Get the contingency percentage in writing. Be careful with large upfront fees.
- Claim-level reporting. You should see each claim's type, filing date, case ID, status, and recovered amount.
- Limited access. Ask exactly which permissions the service needs, and remove access when the contract ends.
- Deadline discipline. Ask how the team stays inside the 60-day and 45-to-105-day windows.
- Full coverage. Look for support across lost units, damaged units, inbound shortages, customer returns, and removals.
- No duplicate claims. Duplicate or weak cases can clutter your account history. Ask how the service prevents them.
- Proof and references. Ask for sample reports or references from sellers with a similar catalog size.
Red flags include guaranteed recovery amounts, pressure to sign quickly, vague fee terms, and refusal to explain the method in plain language. At Refunzo, we hold ourselves to the same checklist: fees stated up front, claims visible to you, and deadlines tracked.
Refunzo is built for US-based FBA sellers who want these standards. Refunzo reviews Seller Central data for lost, damaged, and missing inventory, prepares the evidence, and tracks each case so deadlines are not missed. If you want a second set of eyes on your Amazon inventory reimbursement history, that is where we start.
When should you file claims yourself?
If you sell a small catalog and see only a few discrepancies each month, filing yourself is realistic. If you spend several hours a month on reports, or you often find losses close to the deadline, outside help can pay for itself. Compare the amount recovered, minus fees, against the value of your own time. If you are unsure, Refunzo can review your Seller Central data first to size the opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a claim for lost inventory on Amazon?
For most units lost or damaged in a fulfillment center, you have 60 days from the date Amazon reported the loss. Customer returns have a 45 to 105 day window after the refund. Inbound shortages have nine months. Check Seller Central before filing, because Amazon can change these windows.
Does Amazon reimburse lost inventory automatically?
Amazon automatically reimburses many items lost in its fulfillment centers, a process that began on November 1, 2024. It does not cover everything. Removal order claims and many inbound shortages still need a manual claim, and some customer return cases do too. Amazon lost inventory should always be checked against your Reimbursements report.
What does Amazon lost and damaged inventory reimbursement cover?
It covers units lost or damaged by Amazon in its fulfillment network, inbound shortages, customer refunds where the item never came back, and removal orders that were lost or damaged. It does not cover damage caused by buyers or by your own packaging.
How do I claim a customer return that never came back?
Wait 45 days after the refund, then compare the FBA Customer Returns report with your Amazon return refund settlement data. If the refund was paid but the item was never received back into sellable stock, file a claim before day 105.
What if Amazon denies my claim?
Request a re-evaluation within 90 days of the initial claim. Read the denial reason, fix the specific gap, such as a missing invoice or wrong date range, and reply with the corrected proof.
Do I need invoices to file a claim?
In most cases, yes. Supplier invoices prove you own the units and support your cost. For inbound shortages, also add packing lists and carrier proof of delivery.
Is Amazon FBA Inventory Reimbursement worth the effort for small sellers?
Often yes. Even small catalogs lose units each month, and a short review every two weeks is usually enough to catch them. If the recovered amount stays small, filing yourself costs only time. If it grows, consider a service.
How often should I audit my inventory for losses?
Every two weeks is a safe rhythm, because Amazon lost inventory can pass its 60-day window quickly. It keeps you inside the 60-day window for lost and damaged units and the 105-day window for returns.