Amazon has changed claim windows and how certain inventory reimbursements are valued. Keep three questions separate: when can you file, has Amazon already reimbursed the event, and which cost basis applies?
Source check: September 12, 2026. This hub covers the public announcements below on US Seller Central. It is not an exhaustive change log or confirmation that no newer policy exists. Verify the current signed-in FBA reimbursement policy for your marketplace; its interactive contents were not independently accessible during this review.
Policy milestones and what to review
- September 5, 2024: Amazon announced revised inbound claim timing. Keep carrier delivery evidence alongside shipment records.
- October–November 2024: an automation and eligibility announcement introduced proactive FC-loss reimbursement from November 1. It also described broader automatic handling for warehouse loss/damage and customer returns, while retaining manual claims when payment is missing and for removals. Check the Reimbursements report before opening a case.
- March 31, 2025: Amazon moved the effective date of the manufacturing-cost policy from March 10. Review your sourcing-cost records in the Inventory Defect and Reimbursement portal.
- October 15, 2025: a later claim-window announcement changed returns, removals and re-evaluation timing. Use the claim-specific deadline table instead of a blanket 60-day rule.
What does manufacturing cost mean?
Amazon's cost-policy announcement applies to items lost or damaged before a customer order. It defines the basis as the cost to acquire the product from a supplier or produce it yourself, excluding shipping, handling, customs duties and other costs. It offers an Amazon estimate or your submitted sourcing cost. This is not a statement that every reimbursement category uses the same valuation.
Synthetic example: a unit sells for $25, costs $10 to source, and incurs $2 in shipping and duties. The $25 selling price, $10 sourcing cost and $12 landed cost answer different questions. Do not submit the landed figure as sourcing cost without checking the policy. This example does not predict an approved payment.
Keep cost inputs separate in your records. The true-profit tool helps explore margin using your inputs; its result is not an Amazon-approved reimbursement value. Verify the costs entered in Seller Central and retain the supporting documents requested there.
How to audit an automatic reimbursement
- Find the reimbursement ID, event date, SKU/FNSKU and quantity.
- Match the payment to the relevant inventory event, not just the SKU.
- Review the applied cost basis and any subsequent adjustment.
- Use the applicable review process if records do not agree; retain the case history.
For a missing inbound shipment, follow the reconciliation and claim-preparation guide. A supported CSV scan is a starting point for investigation. It does not establish a recoverable amount, file the claim or guarantee a deadline will be met.
Start with the quantities: scan your shipment export for differences.
The scan runs in your browser without signup. Saving claims is a separate account action.