Guide

How to find lost FBA inventory in 10 minutes a month

Amazon does not always pay you back for lost or damaged units on its own. A short monthly check shows what is still owed. You need two reports.

What you need

• The Inventory Ledger report from Seller Central.
• The Reimbursements report from Seller Central.

The check

1. Download both reports for the same date range. Use the last 60 days to start.
2. In the Inventory Ledger, filter for lost (event type M) and damaged (E).
3. Subtract found units (event type F) for the same SKU.
4. In the Reimbursements report, add up what Amazon already paid for that SKU.
5. Compare. Net lost or damaged units, minus units already reimbursed, is what may still be owed.

A worked example

For one SKU in the last 60 days, the ledger shows 10 units lost and 3 found. That is 7 net lost. The Reimbursements report shows 4 units paid. That leaves 3 units that may be unpaid. Those 3 are worth a case.

Also look at

• Inbound shipments: units you sent compared to units received. See the missing units guide.
• Returns: refunds where the item never came back. See the returns guide.

Do it before the window closes

Most reimbursement claims now have about a 60-day window, so run this every month. If a claim gets denied, here is how to appeal.

Prefer not to build the spreadsheet? Upload both reports to the free Report Checker. It runs in your browser and flags units that may be owed. These are possible gaps, not guaranteed claims.

Common questions

Which event types matter most?
Lost (M) and damaged (E) are the usual starting points. Subtract found (F) for the same SKU before you compare to reimbursements.

How far back should I check?
Start with the last 60 days, because most reimbursement claims now have about a 60-day window. Confirm the current rule in Seller Central.

Does Amazon reimburse some units automatically?
It can. That is why you compare your lost and damaged units to the Reimbursements report before you file anything.

Amazon changes its rules and claim windows. Confirm current policy in Seller Central before you act.