For Amazon FBA sellers, dealing with lost, damaged, or mishandled inventory is a constant battle. While Amazon offers reimbursements for discrepancies, the process of actually getting the money back can feel like jumping through hoops.
With ever-changing policies, tight deadlines, and complicated paperwork, manually tracking and submitting claims can quickly drain a seller’s time and energy that could be better spent on scaling their business.
But don't worry—you're not alone in this fight. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common challenges sellers face with FBA claims, along with smart, practical strategies to help you reclaim what's rightfully yours.
Challenge 1: Complex and Ever-Changing Policies
The internet is full of online communities where Amazon sellers discuss strategies and policy updates. In addition to Amazon’s Seller Forums, you can join Facebook groups and other online communities on sites like Reddit, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay engaged in seller discussions and keep up with changes.
Solution: Get involved in the community
Amazon is constantly adjusting its FBA reimbursement policies, making it feel like a never-ending game of catch-up for sellers trying to stay informed and compliant. Missing key changes can lead to denied claims or lost money.
Consider following accounts on social media that specialize in Amazon services as they tend to be the first to know about Amazon’s new rules and post regular updates when they occur.
Challenge 2: Limited Timeframe for Claims
Amazon moves on quickly when it comes to FBA reimbursements—sellers have a strict deadline to file claims for discrepancies depending on the type. Miss that deadline, and your hard-earned money is gone for good.
Solution: Automate your workflow
Get your workspace to work for you. Set up automated calendar reminders (like on Google Calendar, Trello, etc.) to review your reimbursement eligibility regularly—we recommend weekly or biweekly audits to catch and file claims before the deadline expires.
Challenge 3: Difficult Documentation Requirements
Amazon doesn’t just take your word for it when you submit a claim. They demand meticulous documentation, from invoices and shipping records to solid proof of discrepancies. One missing detail or an incorrectly formatted file, and your claim could be dead on arrival.
Solution: Get organized
Keep all invoices, receipts, and tracking details organized in a Google Drive or Dropbox folder.
Alternatively, use inventory management software to maintain records and easily retrieve documentation when needed. Even if you don’t need to submit a reimbursement claim every time, you’ll be glad to have the correct documentation easy to find when you do.
Challenge 4: Time-Consuming Process
Identifying discrepancies, gathering data, and submitting claims manually can be incredibly time-consuming, especially for high-volume sellers—so much so that it can feel like another full-time job.
Solution: Batch your claims
Schedule dedicated time every week or month to handle multiple reimbursements at once within the same claim. This way, you aren’t spending all the extra time required to make separate claims.
Bonus tip: you can automate data extraction when checking for discrepancies by using formulas on Excel or Google Sheets to compare Amazon reports with your own inventory records.
Challenge 5: Limited Automation and Support Tools
Amazon's built-in automation for detecting discrepancies can often miss claims, leaving sellers to manually comb through countless reports to identify inventory discrepancies—a tedious and time-consuming task.
Solution: Outsource
If the reimbursement claims process seems like a headache to you, consider hiring an experienced virtual assistant (VA) trained in reimbursement processes to manage claims for you. Websites like Upwork and Fiverr have tons of freelance assistants that you can hire for a cost.
For a more budget-friendly solution, investing in FBA reimbursement tools like Refully that audit your account, detect errors, and file claims on your behalf are a great option. These services don’t cost you a cent until you get your money back from Amazon, which makes them a no-brainer in terms of scaling your business.
The Smart Solution: Simplify the Process with Refully
Consider Refully your new virtual assistant for FBA reimbursements—minus the lengthy search for the right candidate that you can trust.
Refully takes the entire FBA claims process off your hands, saving you hours of manually chasing every lost or damaged unit every day. With AI-powered tracking, efficient claim filing, and a deep understanding of Amazon’s ever-changing policies backed by real seller experience, Refully ensures you never miss out on lost profits.
Refully's service audits your account, detects discrepancies, submits claims in Amazon’s preferred format, and follows up to maximize your returns. By using Refully, sellers can save hours each week to focus on growing their business while letting experts handle the complexities of the FBA claims process.
Final Thoughts
Navigating Amazon’s reimbursement process doesn’t have to be a time-consuming, frustrating ordeal. By staying proactive, leveraging automation, and using expert services like Refully, you can recover lost funds with minimal effort. Start optimizing your FBA reimbursements today and put more money back into your business where it belongs.
