Staying informed about the latest changes is crucial for maximizing your business’s success. Recently, Amazon announced a new proactive reimbursement program, which will automatically reimburse sellers for lost items in fulfillment centers.
While this is a positive development, it’s essential to understand the nuances of this program and how it impacts your business.
Amazon’s New Reimbursement Policy
Amazon states that they will proactively reimburse sellers for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) items that are lost in their fulfillment centers. This reimbursement will occur as soon as an item is reported lost, and sellers can track these reimbursements in the Reimbursements report on Seller Central.
However, if an automatic reimbursement is not received, and you believe your inventory has been lost or damaged, you will still need to file a manual claim. Additionally, all removal claims must continue to be filed manually.
This trend is consistent with earlier reductions in the timeframes for filing claims. Previously, pick and pack fees were eligible for 18 months, but in 2019, this period was shortened to 3 months.
Additionally, these changes will make it harder to navigate the stricter deadlines and manage claims efficiently. This is why an auditing partner like RefundPros will still be critical in your daily operations.
New Eligibility Window Policy
In addition to the proactive reimbursement policy, Amazon is updating its eligibility window policy for manual claims. Starting October 23, 2024, the following timelines will apply:
- Fulfillment center operations claims: Must be submitted within 60 days after the item is reported lost or damaged.
- FBA customer returns claims: Can be submitted between 60-120 days after the customer refund or replacement date. Claims must not be submitted before 60 days to ensure the customer has time to return the item for processing.
- Removal claims for items lost in transit: Can be submitted 15-75 days from the shipment-creation date. Claims must not be submitted before 15 days to ensure the shipment can be delivered back to you.
- All other removal claims: Must be filed within 60 days of the shipment being delivered back to you.
These new timelines will require sellers to adjust their current processes to ensure all claims are submitted within the new eligibility windows. The updated FBA inventory reimbursement policy will go into effect on October 23, 2024.
Why RefundPros’ Services Remain Crucial
While Amazon’s new initiative is a step in the right direction, automated audits often miss reimbursements that sellers are entitled to. This is where RefundPros comes in.
Our comprehensive auditing services are designed to ensure you receive every possible reimbursement, even those that might be overlooked by Amazon’s system.
As our sophisticated systems are all developed in-house, any changes and adjustments needed will be done promptly, to ensure our auditing complies with the new policies, and our customers are not missing out on any potential reimbursement opportunities.
Moreover, this update is not contemplating every reimbursement type, which is why we will continue to audit for a variety of other cases, including:
- Removal Orders
- Returned Wrong FNKUs
- Unused Shipping Labels
- Pick and Pack Fees
- Lost Inbound (Receiving Discrepancies)
The latter, in particular, is a critical area where Amazon’s automated audits fall short, as it involves discrepancies that are never covered by their processes. Our team’s expertise ensures that all potential reimbursements are identified and claimed, safeguarding your revenue.
How We Can Support You During This Transition
While Amazon’s new initiative is a positive step, our experience shows that their automated audits often miss reimbursements. Our services remain valuable to ensure you receive every reimbursement you’re entitled to.
Our service is 100% commission-based, meaning if Amazon’s audits are thorough and no reimbursements are missed, there will be no billing from us. Our ultimate goal is to hold Amazon accountable and ensure that every hard-earned dollar is returned to you whether it happens automatically, or with our assistance.
Amazon’s new proactive reimbursement program is a promising development, but it doesn’t cover every potential reimbursement scenario. RefundPros is here to fill in the gaps, offering a comprehensive solution to ensure you receive all due funds.
Our expertise in navigating the complexities of Amazon’s policies and processes means you can trust us to handle the details while you focus on growing your business.
And if you haven’t submitted any cases for Lost and Damaged items in the past, this is the moment to partner with us and claim up to 18 months of retrospective refunds before the new policy goes into effect. Register with us now and start recovering money today!
