fbpx
Sellers claim Amazon is underpaying for lost inventory
  • By SellerBites
  • September 16, 2025
In this issue:

Become a better FBA seller in 5 minutes

SellerBites Branding
  • Archive
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?

SELLERBITES INBOX

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.

BITES OF THE WEEK

Author : SellerBites
Faith began working on SellerBites in 2021, a weekly newsletter that provides sellers with the latest news and updates in FBA. With first-hand experience in managing various seller and vendor accounts, she understands what sellers face on this platform. Her background led to the conception of SellerBites, which main goal is to help people become better, more informed entrepreneurs in the Amazon marketplace.
Email: [email protected] | Post Categories and Tags :

Related Articles

  • Archive
How to avoid losing your life savings to Amazon FBA
Have you ever thought about the future of ecommerce? If yes, it means you’re already future-proofing your business. If not, don’t worry ‘coz we'll help you do that with today’s news menu: BLACK MARKET Losing your life savings in a[...]
  • Archive
Retail predictions in 2024—do you have what it takes to face them?
59% of online sales from U.S. shoppers are from mobile purchases last BFCM 2023. From this, it’s a strong indicator that shopping activities done through mobile will surpass desktop. 🔮 Based on this, Practical Ecommerce predicts[...]
1 2 3 288
Become a better FBA seller in 5 minutes
Stay ahead of the competition with exclusive insights, tips, and updates delivered straight to your inbox, every week.
Subscription Form