A new automated reimbursement for FBA is coming.

Fulfillment by Amazon Deciphering Amazon’s inventory management
, ,
1

I just received this email:

image
image1366×1052 103 KB

I wonder if this new update would be “good enough” that we don’t have to use tools like Helium10 Refund Genie to regularly claim reimbursement for lost and damaged items. Frankly I forgot to do that from time to time :face_exhaling:. Do you guys use Refund Genie or use 3rd party services and pay a percentage of reimbursement?

3 Likes
2

A couple questions: 1) when will it recognize product is lost? 2) When will it recognize when product is found (and will it really be “found”?

I don’t think so. This is my opinion only but based on past experience, you might want to keep that Helium 10.

image

3 Likes
3

The other shoe dropped with the News Headline “New updates to our on-time delivery policy and shipping settings” (link, ‘id’ version), as far as I can presently tell, but this “follow-up” email missive (received for one of our Soa Accounts 09:53PM EDT 072524) leaves me even colder:

Subject Line:
Updated FBA automatic reimbursements and eligibility claim windows (for FBA sellers only)

Message Body:

I find myself constrained to reiterate what I singled out, in the third ¶ of this SAS post from the 25th of July, 2024, as the front-runner in the ‘Best-reply Sweepstakes’ for this ongoing disaster, because the seasoned and savvy forum veterans upon whose sage advice all the rest of us depend long-ago taught me how to read between the lines, anticipate where the next hammer-blow is likely to fall, and thereby gird the loins to mitigate Amazon-imposed damage:

https://sellersasksellers.com/t/amazons-newest-farce-otdr/4418/19

3 Likes
4

Explain it to this non-FBAer like I’m 5. Or 45 but trying to interpret Amazon. If this was such a great thing, why wasn’t Amazon already doing it? And why shift now? Plus @Uncle_Leroy ‘s questions, followed up by…can we trust Amazon to be diligent on Sellers’ behalf with this new process?

3 Likes
5

I myself am increasingly led to suspect that our friend @spoonyfork’s speculation is correct, and that this new policy for reimbursements is and part and parcel of the same unpalatable mess of potage:

https://sellersasksellers.com/t/amazons-newest-farce-otdr/4418/49

4 Likes
6

Hell the *#$!@ no!

3 Likes
7

Here is the change:

Upcoming policy update: Changes in eligibility window to file for reimbursement claims

Starting October 23, 2024, we are updating our eligibility window policy. All manual claims must now be submitted within the following timelines:

  • A fulfillment center operations claim for an item that is lost or damaged in the fulfillment center must be submitted no later than 60 days after the item was reported lost or damaged. (highlighted by me)
  • An FBA customer returns claim 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 to us for processing.
  • A removal claim 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.

Currently, when we request for FC lost reimbursement through “Help”, the system search past 18 month to determine if there is any reimbursement due to us, then reimburse us accordingly.

So the coming change to the claim window is goin to be significantly shorter, and we’ll need to pay much more attention to make sure our reimbursements are indeed automatically generated and if not, we’ll need to request for them quickly, not more waiting until I feel like kind of thing.

Also, if anybody do have FC lost inventory (especially the ones more than 60 day) hat haven’t been reimbursed better request for them ASAP, just in case the coming change somehow mass things up and we lose what is due to us.

3 Likes
8

Hmmm. That sounds like Phase One roll out.

Phase Two: no more manual claims. Bots rule.

5 Likes
9

Also got this. This would be great in theory, since the process of shipment reconciliation is arduous, but I’ll continue to do it myself because I don’t trust them (although I would really like to - it’d save me a lot of time).

Now - wouldn’t it be great if, along with this, they created an easily viewable report of all the shipment discrepancies and the amount reimbursed per unit?

Keep dreaming, my friends :grimacing:

4 Likes
10

How can a lost item be removed?? Are they going to find it in order to send it back.

2 Likes
11

I think that means when you remove something, Amazon record show that it was removed and shipped back to you, but you never receive it, as lost in transit from Amazon FC to you, then you can request to be reimbursed for lost removal.

3 Likes
12

Frankly I don’t have answers to your questions. Amazon has been trying to credit the lost and damaged units to our account for many years. However it tends to be too little. That’s why a tool like Helium Refund Genie was created. It used to be free but now they charge extra if users want to use it :frowning:

2 Likes
13

Agree. Why would Amazon want to improve the process of discovering that they lost or damaged our inventory in their FBA warehouse and pay for them? Strange.

2 Likes
14

I don’t think this automatic reimbursement including discrepancy in FBA shipment, like when they short counted inventory in a shipment.

According to them: "We’ll issue the reimbursement as soon as an item is reported as lost by the fulfillment center. Well, I’ve not seen FC report any shortage in an shipment as “lost/misplaced” at the FC, they seems to just minus them from “Receipt” of the shipment, and blame the seller for the shortage.

So, FBA shipment reconciliation will continue to be a pain.

2 Likes