# FBA Return not expected **URL:** \ **Category:** FBA orders and Customer Services\ **Tags:** refunds, reimbursement, unwanted-item\ **Created:** [October 17, 2026, 10:04pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646 "2026-10-17T22:04:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![primetime](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/primetime/32/1419_2.png) [@primetime](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/primetime)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 10:04pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/1 "2026-10-17T22:04:36Z")
I have two of these on my FBA Returns page: ![image](https://sellersasksellers.com/uploads/default/original/3X/0/8/08ac75b2bda0552179dc3dd16a0bdc1333b3bbd6.png) No explanation besides “unwanted item” Why do they do this? It is not food or clothing, there is no reason not to have the buyers return the items. ---
**Author:** ![Dogtamer](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/dogtamer/32/4766_2.png) [@Dogtamer](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/Dogtamer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 11:19pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/2 "2026-10-17T23:19:23Z")
> [@primetime](#): > > … > Why do they do this? It is not food or clothing, there is no reason not to have the buyers return the items. “Return not expected” is an internal-use Refund Reason code designed to be used with Order IDs of Offer-Listings which are enrolled in either the Returnless Resolution or the FBA Returnless Resolution Programs. Because it is available amongst the choices from which Amazon’s out-sourced & off-shored Customer Support infrastructure personnel can select, and due to the fact that those people are trained & incentivized to make a complaining Buyer happy, it’s not particularly unusual for them to apply it incorrectly. On the rare occasions when this happens to us, our SOP is to open a case & point out that the Offer-Listing in question is NOT enrolled in Returnless Resolutions, and request the standard reimbursement. That almost invariably meets initial friction, but we’ve had a good deal of success in the end through sheer perseverance (& patience; required for professional business correspondence, that’s especially needed when the idgits on the other end make ya want to cuss up a blue streak…). ---
**Author:** ![HobbesIsMyTiger](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/hobbesismytiger/32/8000_2.png) [@HobbesIsMyTiger](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/HobbesIsMyTiger)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 12:29am UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/3 "2026-10-18T00:29:49Z")
> [@Dogtamer](#): > > our SOP is to The volume of business required to make checking every return to follow up on Amazon’s sophomoric decisions impractical isn’t that high. It’s infuriating how much time is required from sellers to doublecheck Amazon’s every action because there is a real chance they screwed us. ---
**Author:** ![primetime](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/primetime/32/1419_2.png) [@primetime](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/primetime)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/4 "2026-10-18T01:10:35Z")
> [@HobbesIsMyTiger](#): > > infuriating how much time is required Trying to follow up on FBA returns on it’s own is a PIA. Looking up LPN numbers to find the order number because the insanely small print on the return slips is nearly impossible to read, and sometimes there is no slip. I dread it and must admit I’ve let a lot of $ slip away due to procrastination. There’s a pile I’m going to get to when I have the time - which is never. I dug into the pile today and found a return missing it’s power adapter. Aha - switcheroo I thought, it happens, easy claim to win. Lose the adapter or it quits working, order the same product again, keep the adapter and return the rest for refund. When I looked into it I found the buyer who returned immediately ordered another. Why would he do that? Because most likely the first one he ordered was missing the adapter from a prior switcheroo return that got put back into my FBA inventory. Who knows which order when. ---
**Author:** ![primetime](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/primetime/32/1419_2.png) [@primetime](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/primetime)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 1:18am UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/5 "2026-10-18T01:18:05Z")
> [@Dogtamer](#): > > our SOP is to open a case & point out that the Offer-Listing in question is NOT enrolled in Returnless Resolutions, and request the standard reimbursement. Thank you for this. I am not enrolled in Returnless Resolutions and the two I found today were for the same ASIN. This item is virtually unbreakable and is as described and pictured on the detail page, usually purchased by a fan. Returns are rare. I will open 2 cases. It’s so annoying how their largesse with my money and products also costs my time. _blue streak initiated_ ---
**Author:** ![primetime](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/primetime/32/1419_2.png) [@primetime](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/primetime)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 1:30am UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/6 "2026-10-18T01:30:10Z")
The bot response: Please allow at least 60 days from the customer return refund request date for the items to be returned to your inventory or reimbursed if eligible based on the reimbursement policy. They already know they won’t be returned because they granted returnless refunds 🤦 but I have to wait 60 days for something that is not coming. I think they are counting on me forgetting, which is a real possibility given how busy the next 60 days will be. ---
**Author:** ![Dogtamer](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/dogtamer/32/4766_2.png) [@Dogtamer](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/Dogtamer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 2:50am UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/7 "2026-10-18T02:50:14Z")
> [@primetime](#): > > … > I think they are counting on me forgetting, Nail, meet hammer. A primary reason why we open cases for out-of-the-norm Refund Reasons like this (“Shipping Address Undeliverable” is a _particular_ ‘favorite’) is because doing it tends to trains Amazon that you’re no pushover. We never forget - but neither does Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![primetime](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/primetime/32/1419_2.png) [@primetime](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/primetime)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 4:02am UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/8 "2026-10-18T04:02:58Z")
> [@Dogtamer](#): > > “Shipping Address Undeliverable” I see a lot of these, I assumed the product returned and was put back in to inventory or were reimbursed if not. Keeping track of Amazon is a lot of work that should not be necessary. ---
**Author:** ![VTR](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/vtr/32/14279_2.png) [@VTR](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/VTR)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/9 "2026-10-18T19:49:57Z")
> [@primetime](#): > > Please allow at least 60 days from the customer return refund request date for the items to be returned to your inventory or reimbursed if eligible based on the reimbursement policy. Everything is 90 days and automated. Just like you think its a PIA to go through and check each LPN, Amazon thinks its a PIA to go through and pay each and every seller or even a bot to carve out exceptions every second of the day. The “Return not Expected” can be for various things unrelated to what was put in the reason, many times we have found it was damaged by carrier but a different reason to us was put when the customer reached out for a second one when out of stock. The reimbursement policy does not say if the return is not expected you do not get reimbursed. > [@primetime](#): > > I think they are counting on me forgetting, which is a real possibility given how busy the next 60 days will be. You honestly thinks Amazon cares or even acknowledges your existence or anyone here for that matter? I bet if we added up all the sellers on SOS we would not reach $25-50M in sales annually. Not a blip on their radar. IMO its just a cookie cutter boiler plate system to avoid wasting money and time on the masses, while also a decent money sink to make a little interest off of with other peoples capital. We have done well over 10,000 returns over the years and the only time we have found a significant discrepancy is when the R-■■■■ at Amazon does not put the LPN number on the item returned, or when they use their hazardous discretion to not return the item s It’s just Hanlon’s Razor for automated BS we all agreed to. ---
**Author:** ![TJB](https://sellersasksellers.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a8b319/32.png) [@TJB](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/TJB)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 12:34pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/10 "2026-10-19T12:34:23Z")
> [@HobbesIsMyTiger](#): > > The volume of business required to make checking every return to follow up on Amazon’s sophomoric decisions impractical isn’t that high. Which is why they do it. Returns cost Amazon $$$, giving your stuff away costs them nothing. Go to orders\> manage returns\> manage FBA returns where you will find a chart showing FBA customer returns. Filter them to show 180 days and go to the last page of those 180 days. Just look through them for anything that isn’t completed, return not expected and open cases for reimbursement. Some of them will be reimbursed, they apparently just can’t figure out how to make the chart update correctly. I do this every couple months and I do get reimbursed for some things that fell through the cracks. Remember though that your FBA returns are not eligible for reimbursement until 60 days after the return is initiated (which is why you start at the end of the FBA returns chart). ---
**Author:** ![VTR](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/vtr/32/14279_2.png) [@VTR](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/VTR)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/11 "2026-10-19T14:58:45Z")
> [@TJB](#): > > Returns cost Amazon $$$, giving your stuff away costs them nothing. The FBA policies actually do cost them something. The overwhelming majority of the time the automation gives the seller a reimbursement for not getting an item back. > [@TJB](#): > > Just look through them for anything that isn’t completed, return not expected and open cases for reimbursement Its automated and have only found one right at the 60-65 day mark in the last two years. I have checked for the last year and have over 80K in returns, and not one is over the 60 day window in 53 pages. ![image](https://sellersasksellers.com/uploads/default/original/3X/9/5/9571dcf601181ef1279b3544cf8a2711bd3414ec.png) Its always good to double check but only as long as the time is worth it. > [@TJB](#): > > Remember though that your FBA returns are not eligible for reimbursement until 60 days after the return is initiated (which is why you start at the end of the FBA returns chart). So many sellers do not understand this critical part. ---
**Author:** ![HobbesIsMyTiger](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/hobbesismytiger/32/8000_2.png) [@HobbesIsMyTiger](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/HobbesIsMyTiger)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/12 "2026-10-19T15:21:42Z")
> [@VTR](#): > > You honestly thinks Amazon cares or even acknowledges your existence or anyone here for that matter? I bet if we added up all the sellers on SOS we would not reach $25-50M in sales annually. Not a blip on their radar. IMO its just a cookie cutter boiler plate system to avoid wasting money and time on the masses, while also a decent money sink to make a little interest off of with other peoples capital. I don’t think it’s that personal, but just generally counting on some percentage of sellers to forget, lose track, lose interest, get too busy to file claims or demand reimbursement is built in to their general approach. The constant stream of claims we have to deal with, from defending bogus chargebacks and AtoZ’s that don’t require our input, to opening a bevy of SAFE-T claims, to FBA reconciliation claims… it never ends, and Amazon puts more of the onus on sellers than they need to. Some of that is so that they can keep funds when we let things slip through the cracks. This is not to say that there isn’t any legitimate reason for Amazon to require information from sellers. But some of what he have to deal with is extraneous and exists at least in part to give Amazon an excuse to keep our money. Even when we do handle everything in a timely manner, they still get to hold our money in the interim and bathe in our interest, as you mentioned. They win on both sides of this, and that’s the point. This is neither here nor there but SAS sellers absolutely combine to represent over $50M in sales annually. ---
**Author:** ![VTR](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/vtr/32/14279_2.png) [@VTR](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/VTR)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 3:57pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/13 "2026-10-19T15:57:14Z")
> [@HobbesIsMyTiger](#): > > Some of that is so that they can keep funds when we let things slip through the cracks. You mean like they were found guilty of for opening prime accounts and making it hard to cancel them?? You mean like almost every other insurance, cell phone, utility, retail, company in America? We as a society allowed this to happen because we gladly trade morality for profits/sales to screw each other over for a penny. We could pass laws saying it has to be just as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up for one, but we as a society were led into a way of thinking that if we betray each other for a dollar in the name of capitalism, so we can dream to be the next multi millionaire and live on easy street; so we welcome screwing each other. That’s why there will always be the guy who drives like an A hole, the woman who cuts in line at the grocery store, and the sociopathic CEO who knows people don’t matter, quarterly profits do. I got mine, so F-you is a large chunk of America now, as noted in our education, politics and business’. > [@HobbesIsMyTiger](#): > > This is neither here nor there but SAS sellers absolutely combine to represent over $50M in sales annually. Agree to disagree. If it is, the number is propped up by 1-3 sellers and not an aggregate or let alone average of sellers. I would still assert 50m is nothing, as I have competitors in the multi hundreds of millions, and like ASV points out with Nature Made and other supplement suppliers in the plural of hundreds of millions. Even vendors are bound to similar rules and policies. ---
**Author:** ![HobbesIsMyTiger](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/hobbesismytiger/32/8000_2.png) [@HobbesIsMyTiger](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/HobbesIsMyTiger)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/14 "2026-10-19T17:16:17Z")
> [@VTR](#): > > If it is, the number is propped up by 1-3 sellers and not an aggregate or let alone average of sellers. That’s probably true, but there are at least a handful of sellers here running over $1M in sales per year. Of course, even if SAS sellers account for $100M in sales, it’s nothing to Amazon’s $700B+ in sales they processed in 2025. ---
**Author:** ![TJB](https://sellersasksellers.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a8b319/32.png) [@TJB](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/TJB)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/15 "2026-10-19T17:39:01Z")
> [@VTR](#): > > The FBA policies actually do cost them something. The overwhelming majority of the time the automation gives the seller a reimbursement for not getting an item back. Sure, but if they don’t ask for the item to be returned, they don’t have any additional processing expense. > [@VTR](#): > > Its automated and have only found one right at the 60-65 day mark in the last two years. I have checked for the last year and have over 80K in returns, and not one is over the 60 day window in 53 pages. Then don’t do it, I really don’t care. I find enough of them that it’s worth my time. ---
**Author:** ![VTR](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/vtr/32/14279_2.png) [@VTR](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/VTR)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/16 "2026-10-19T17:45:01Z")
> [@TJB](#): > > Sure, but if they don’t ask for the item to be returned, Where is that in the policy unless specifically identified? Where is that in your FBA reimbursement policy where you do not have to expect a return and not get reimbursed for it? I challenge you to find this unicorn you claim exists. > [@TJB](#): > > Then don’t do it, I really don’t care. You care enough to reply apparently. Show us an example with a screenshot so people can learn from your experience then. Here we are 60 days out… ![image](https://sellersasksellers.com/uploads/default/original/3X/3/a/3a3bb0184a152e2116e07b8361340e898b2e1131.png) Teach other sellers what to look for instead of just saying it happens. I’m not saying it does not happen, but you merely claiming it happens and not showing others how to identify it, is the difference between commentor and teacher. > [@TJB](#): > > I find enough of them that it’s worth my time. Easy to do when some peoples returns are one page a year. LOL 😆 I wish ours was. ---
**Author:** ![TJB](https://sellersasksellers.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a8b319/32.png) [@TJB](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/TJB)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/17 "2026-10-19T18:52:13Z")
> [@VTR](#): > > Where is that in the policy unless specifically identified? Where is that in your FBA reimbursement policy where you do not have to expect a return and not get reimbursed for it? I challenge you to find this unicorn you claim exists. Where did I say this was a policy? Yet it happens. Again, this is why I check for it. I don’t know how much more clearly I can say this? Venn diagram? When I start working for you (no thanks), I’ll start caring what you ask me to provide. ---
**Author:** ![papy](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/papy/32/7639_2.png) [@papy](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/papy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/18 "2026-10-19T19:36:08Z")
@TJB thank you for the [reminder and tutorial](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/10) for double checking that Amazon has reimbursed everything correctly. And thank you to @Dogtamer for sharing [how you address errors with Amazon](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/2). Different businesses have different approaches to Amazon accountability, but it’s always nice to know that there is a process that has worked for another Seller before–with the standard caveat that nothing on Amazon is reliable and that what worked once is never guaranteed to work again. And yes, it sucks that these “little things” are issues at all, whether you track them for correction or write them off as one of the (hidden) costs of doing business with Amazon. > [@primetime](#): > > It’s so annoying how their largesse with my money and products also costs my time. Yep ---
**Author:** ![VTR](https://sellersasksellers.com/user_avatar/sellersasksellers.com/vtr/32/14279_2.png) [@VTR](https://sellersasksellers.com/u/VTR)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://sellersasksellers.com/t/fba-return-not-expected/7646/19 "2026-10-19T20:34:36Z")
> [@TJB](#): > > Yet it happens. Again, this is why I check for it. I don’t know how much more clearly I can say this? Venn diagram? Funny how I can show you a screenshot and you can’t. If what you say is true there would be one of these… ![image](https://sellersasksellers.com/uploads/default/original/3X/f/3/f3f7d7df06e770ee0e86acfba40a5bb68b2a4ff0.png) for each one you claim exists past the 60 day window… I mean it would be a slam dunk right?! Something simple you could do to show others what to look for… But NO…, can’t show any of those here. Can’t demonstrate more than “take my word for it”. > [@TJB](#): > > When I start working for you (no thanks), I’ll start caring what you ask me to provide. I openly welcome your venting and lack of ability to help others. For some its a social thing where they can talk about sports, weather, jokes, and stuff, but some people come for competent helpful information. You be you the best you can.