How it happens
For many categories Amazon refunds the customer as soon as the return is picked up — or even when the return is only requested. If the parcel is then lost in transit, never picked up, or the customer keeps the product, you have lost both the product and the sale amount. Amazon does not tell you which orders these are.
How to find them
- Take every order with a refund in the payment report.
- Remove orders that came back — status Returned to Seller or Returned to Seller (POD Completed) in the Returns Reconciliation report, or recorded in your own returns list.
- Remove orders Amazon already paid for — SAFE-T credits, "lost or damaged" reimbursements and FBA customer-return reimbursements.
- What is left is your claim list.
Charly's Recon does these steps automatically every time you upload reports, and keeps the list up to date as new returns and credits arrive.
Statuses that count as "received"
| Return status in Amazon's report | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Returned to Seller | Delivered back to you — no claim |
| Returned to Seller (POD Completed) | Delivered back with proof of delivery — no claim |
| Return initiated / In-transit / Out for delivery | Not back yet — becomes a claim if refunded and the window opens |
| Customer cancelled pick-up | Not coming back — check the refund |
When to file
File only when the claim window is open — about 50 days after the refund for a normal order. Filing early gets the claim rejected; filing late loses it. The tool shows the open and close date for each order.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I wait before filing?
Until the claim window opens — roughly 50 days after the refund for a normal order. The tool shows the exact date for each order.
What if Amazon marks the return "Returned to Seller" but I never got it?
Amazon allows a short period to dispute the return status. Raise it quickly with your warehouse receiving records.
Do FBA orders need a claim?
No. Orders shipped from Amazon fulfilment centres go back to the FC; select your FCs under FBA / FC registration and the tool skips them.
Reconcile your own Amazon orders in minutes
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