Amazon makes it very easy for customers to return products — often for almost any reason. As a seller, it’s important to know how this works and how to protect yourself.
🔄 Customer Returns
When a customer requests a return, you’ll receive an email notification. They have 45 days to send the item back. If the item isn’t returned within that time, Amazon will recharge the customer and you’ll keep the funds.
Once returned, items go back to an Amazon warehouse where staff grade them:
Sellable → returned to your active inventory.
Unsellable → added to your Stranded Inventory.
🛠 Dealing With Unsellable Returns
If a product is marked unsellable, you can:
Dispose — Amazon destroys the unit.
Removal Order — sent back to your address for inspection.
We generally advise Seller Circle members to go with removal orders. It gives you full control to decide if the item can be sent back into FBA, and many sellers recover profit this way.
💸 Reimbursements for Damaged Stock
If a product was damaged by Amazon (not the customer), you can often claim a reimbursement. This involves raising a case with Seller Support and providing invoices, packaging slips, and photos.
📥 Missing or Delayed Stock
Sometimes stock doesn’t appear in your inventory straight away. Don’t panic — Amazon may still be processing it. If stock is still missing after the shipment has closed, you’ll need to open an investigation:
Go to your Shipment Plan.
Select the shipment with missing units.
Click Investigate Missing Stock.
Upload invoices as proof of purchase.
These investigations can be confusing if it’s your first time, but we often help Seller Circle members prepare the right documents and wording so Amazon approves the claim faster.