Sellers claim Amazon is underpaying for lost inventory

Amazon lost the inventory. Sellers lost the payout.

What happens when proof, invoices, and appeals don’t matter, and “fair market value” feels anything but fair?

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An Amazon seller (OP) asked: Has anyone had luck appealing FBA reimbursements under Amazon's new source cost calculation?

Here’s the setup: 

• OP shipped inventory worth $800 per unit. 
• Amazon lost five units, but only reimbursed $500 each. 
• OP provided manufacturer invoices dated before shipment, yet every appeal was denied without explanation.

⚠️ The reimbursement riddle

Other sellers jumped in with the same frustration. 

• Low payouts. One got just $3.84 back for a $24 unit, and spent two months spinning their wheels in support cases. 
• Case dead ends. Another noted that the Sourcing Cost Dashboard hasn’t updated since May, leaving appeals in limbo.

The running theory: Amazon wants proof of full landed cost, not just unit invoices. 

🚪 Finding a way through

So, is there a way around the system, or does OP just have to accept the lost $300 per unit?

Sellers shared tactics that actually moved the needle:

• Specialist calls. Requesting callbacks from FBA specialists instead of reopening endless cases.
• Higher escalation. Opening “Disputed Reimbursement” cases while citing Amazon’s Fair Market Value policy or escalating with a detailed summary and evidence to [email protected].

In the end, persistence paid off. After pushing Amazon for an explanation, OP finally got traction. A day later, Amazon reviewed the case again, and reimbursed the missing $300 per unit.

A hard-fought victory, but a victory nonetheless.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

A fair reimbursement is not a victory, it is the baseline of trust.

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