If you sell on Amazon long enough, you’ll eventually run into a situation where Amazon owes you money. Maybe inventory gets lost in a fulfillment center, a customer returns an item that never makes it back to your shelf, or a warehouse damages your product beyond resale. That’s where amazon reimbursements come in — and while the process sounds simple, it’s surprisingly easy to make mistakes that cost you real money.
In this conversational guide, we’ll walk through the most common errors sellers make when filing reimbursement claims and how you can avoid them. Whether you’re new to FBA or a seasoned seller, these tips will help you recover what you’re owed and keep your business running smoothly.
1. Waiting Too Long to File a Claim
One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is assuming Amazon will always automatically reimburse them. While Amazon does handle some cases on its own, plenty of issues slip through the cracks.
Amazon has time limits for filing claims, and once that window closes, your chance to get reimbursed disappears. Many sellers don’t realize this until it’s too late.
How to avoid it:
Make it a habit to review your inventory and transaction reports at least once a month. Set calendar reminders to check for missing, damaged, or returned-but-not-restocked items. If this sounds overwhelming, this is often where an amazon consulting expert can help by setting up systems that flag issues before deadlines pass.
2. Not Understanding What Qualifies for Amazon Reimbursements
Another common pitfall is filing claims for situations that aren’t actually eligible. This leads to frustration, wasted time, and sometimes even account health issues if you submit too many incorrect requests.
Some common reimbursable scenarios include:
- Lost inventory in Amazon’s fulfillment centers
- Damaged items caused by warehouse handling
- Customer returns that are never put back into sellable inventory
- Overcharged FBA fees
However, things like normal wear and tear, customer abuse in some cases, or seller-side shipping errors may not qualify.
How to avoid it:
Take the time to read Amazon’s reimbursement policies and keep them bookmarked. Knowing the rules upfront helps you focus only on valid claims — and increases your approval rate.
3. Submitting Claims Without Proper Documentation
Amazon runs on data, and if you don’t back up your claim with the right information, you’re likely to get a generic denial.
Sellers often submit messages like, “My item is missing, please reimburse me,” without attaching reports, order IDs, or screenshots.
How to avoid it:
Always include:
- The ASIN or SKU
- The fulfillment center or order ID
- Relevant report screenshots
- A short, clear explanation of the issue
Think of it like building a mini case file. The more organized you are, the easier it is for Amazon support to approve your claim.
4. Using a Vague or Emotional Tone
It’s understandable to feel frustrated when money is tied up in lost inventory, but sending emotional or unclear messages to Seller Support can work against you.
Amazon support agents handle thousands of tickets. If your message is long, unfocused, or filled with complaints, the key details may get missed.
How to avoid it:
Stick to a calm, professional, and structured approach. Use bullet points or short paragraphs to highlight the facts. Clear communication can make a surprising difference in how quickly your claim gets resolved.
5. Overlooking Fee Reimbursements
When people think of amazon reimbursements, they usually focus on lost or damaged inventory. But one of the most overlooked areas is FBA fee errors.
Amazon sometimes miscalculates dimensions, weights, or storage fees, which can lead to you being overcharged month after month.
How to avoid it:
Regularly audit your fee reports and compare them to your product dimensions and weight data. Even small errors can add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars over time.
6. Failing to Follow Up
Submitting a claim doesn’t always mean it’s resolved. Some tickets get closed automatically, misunderstood, or partially addressed.
Many sellers assume no news is good news, only to realize later that nothing was reimbursed.
How to avoid it:
Track every claim you submit in a simple spreadsheet or project management tool. Note the date, case ID, and outcome. If you don’t hear back within a few days, follow up politely and reference your original case number.
7. Trying to Do Everything Manually
As your store grows, so does the complexity of tracking inventory, returns, and fees. Doing everything manually can become a full-time job — and it’s easy to miss opportunities for reimbursement.
This is where many sellers turn to automation tools or an amazon consulting expert who understands the system inside and out.
How to avoid it:
If you’re spending hours every week digging through reports, consider investing in professional support or specialized software. The cost is often far less than the money you’ll recover through more accurate and consistent claims.
8. Ignoring Patterns and Root Causes
Filing claims is important, but it’s even more powerful to understand why issues keep happening.
If one fulfillment center keeps losing your products, or a certain SKU always gets damaged, there may be a bigger operational problem at play.
How to avoid it:
Review your reimbursement history every few months. Look for trends by product, warehouse, or shipping method. Fixing the root cause can save you far more money than filing claims alone.
Final Thoughts
Amazon reimbursements aren’t just a “nice bonus” — they’re a critical part of protecting your profit margins. The biggest mistakes usually come down to waiting too long, missing documentation, or trying to manage everything without a clear system.
By staying organized, understanding the rules, and communicating clearly with Seller Support, you can dramatically improve your success rate. And if the process feels overwhelming, working with an amazon consulting expert can help you build a smarter, more efficient approach that keeps money from slipping through the cracks.
At the end of the day, every dollar you recover is a dollar you can reinvest into growing your Amazon business. So don’t leave those reimbursements on the table — your bottom line will thank you.
