Reimbursement claims guide

How to File Amazon FBA Removal Order Reimbursement Claims

Amazon loses, damages, and mishandles removal order items more often than most sellers realise. If you don’t file a claim within the deadline, you absorb the loss. This guide covers exactly what evidence you need, how to file, and what to do when Amazon says no.

What counts as a valid reimbursement claim?

Amazon is liable when they fail to deliver your removal order items in the expected quantity and condition. But the pattern most sellers miss is that the burden of proof is on you. Amazon won’t proactively check whether your removals arrived correctly. If you don’t file, you don’t get paid.

Valid claims fall into four categories: shipments that were never delivered (lost in transit), items missing from a delivered box (quantity shortfall), items that arrived damaged, and items that Amazon graded incorrectly (marking sellable stock as unsellable). Each has a different evidence requirement and a different claim window.

Lost in transit

Shipment dispatched but never delivered. Carrier shows no delivery confirmation.

Quantity shortfall

Box arrived but with fewer items than the removal order stated.

Damaged in transit

Items arrived but are damaged, broken, or in worse condition than expected.

Grading dispute

Amazon classified sellable items as unsellable or damaged before shipping.

The 4-piece evidence checklist

Before filing any claim, gather these four pieces of evidence. Claims with incomplete evidence are the most common reason for denials.

Removal Order Detail report

Shows the order ID, shipment IDs, ASINs, quantities shipped, and order status. This is your baseline document proving what Amazon said they sent.

Carrier tracking and proof of delivery

Tracking evidence showing whether the shipment was delivered, when it arrived, and who signed for it. If there’s no proof of delivery, that strengthens your claim.

3PL or goods-in records

Your own intake records showing what you actually received. This is your evidence of the discrepancy between what Amazon shipped and what arrived. Timestamped counts are strongest.

Photos and product condition documentation

Photographs of boxes on arrival, damaged items, labels, and any condition issues. Take photos before opening boxes if possible. Visual evidence is difficult for Amazon to dismiss.

ReclaimHQ generates evidence packs automatically from your imported data, photos, and tracking information.

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How to file a reimbursement claim (step by step)

01

Confirm the discrepancy

Before filing anything, confirm there is a genuine discrepancy. Cross-reference the Removal Order Detail report against your goods-in records. A mismatch between "shipped quantity" and "received quantity" is your starting point.

02

Pull the IDs you need

Gather the removal order ID, the specific shipment ID, carrier tracking number, and ASINs/FNSKUs of the affected items. Amazon will ask for these. Having them ready prevents back-and-forth that wastes time inside your claim window.

03

Choose your claim route

For most removal order claims, open a case in Seller Central under FBA issues. For inventory discrepancy claims (items removed from your inventory without a matching removal order), use the IDR (Inventory Discrepancy Reconciliation) portal if available in your marketplace.

04

File the claim with evidence

Open the case, describe the issue concisely, and attach your evidence. A strong claim includes: the removal order ID, shipment ID, tracking screenshot, your goods-in count, and a clean summary paragraph connecting the evidence to the request. Do not write an essay.

Strong claim summary format

“Removal order [ORDER_ID], shipment [SHIPMENT_ID], was dispatched on [DATE] via [CARRIER] with tracking [TRACKING_NUMBER]. The shipment contained [X] units of [ASIN]. Our goods-in records confirm [Y] units received, leaving [Z] units unaccounted for. We are requesting reimbursement for the [Z] missing units.”

Keep it factual, specific, and under 100 words. Attach evidence separately.

Should you batch claims or file individually?

File per shipment, not per item. If a shipment had 9 items and 3 are missing, file one claim for that shipment covering all 3 items. Don’t open 3 separate cases.

Don’t batch across removal orders. Each removal order has its own tracking, shipment IDs, and timeline. Mixing them in one case creates confusion and gives Amazon an easy reason to reject.

Group by claim type. Lost-in-transit and damage claims use different evidence. Keep them separate even if they’re from the same removal order.

When Amazon denies your claim

Denials are common. Many are overturned on second attempt with better evidence or more specific language. Here are the top three denial reasons and how to respond.

Already reimbursed

Check the Reimbursements report. If only partially reimbursed, re-open and specify which items are still outstanding. Cross-reference the reimbursement ID against your claim.

Within policy / Not eligible

Ask for the specific policy citation. Amazon agents sometimes give generic denials. Request the exact policy clause and challenge vague responses. Reference the Business Solutions Agreement if needed.

Insufficient evidence

Ask Amazon to specify exactly what additional evidence they need. Don’t guess. Re-submit with the requested documentation explicitly highlighted. If they stall, escalate.

Tarquin, the ReclaimHQ AI claims coach, generates denial rebuttals and escalation strategies for every claim scenario.

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Frequently asked questions

What evidence do I need for a reimbursement claim?+
Four things: the Removal Order Detail report, carrier tracking with delivery status, your goods-in records proving the discrepancy, and photos of any damage. A clear summary paragraph connecting the evidence to your request completes the package.
How do I file an FBA removal order reimbursement claim?+
Open a case in Seller Central under FBA issues. Provide the removal order ID, shipment ID, tracking number, and a concise description of the discrepancy. Attach your evidence and request reimbursement for the specific items affected.
What if Amazon denies my claim?+
Many denials are overturned on second attempt. Ask for the specific reason, provide the exact additional evidence they request, and re-open the case. If the denial is generic, escalate to a supervisor or open a new case referencing the original case ID.
How much will Amazon reimburse?+
Amazon calculates reimbursement based on their own valuation, not your cost of goods. The amount may differ from what you paid. Track your COG separately so you can verify whether the reimbursement covers your actual loss.
Can I claim for items Amazon disposed of?+
If Amazon disposed of sellable inventory that you requested be returned, this may be claimable. Check the removal order disposition. Sellable items destroyed instead of returned represent a potential claim.

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