Amazon Shortens Removal Period for Unfulfillable FBA Inventory to 23 Days in UK and EU
Amazon's New Unfulfillable FBA Inventory Policy for UK and EU Explained
There is a significant policy change for sellers utilizing the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service in the UK and EU regions. Effective September 16, 2024, the company will reduce the notice period for removing unfulfillable inventory from 30 to 23 days. In a recent Seller Central update, Amazon says that the change is part of its ongoing efforts to optimize storage space and help sellers minimize unnecessary storage fees.
What is Unfulfillable Inventory?
Unfulfillable inventory refers to items that cannot be sold for various reasons, such as damage, expiration, or missing components. When items are deemed unfulfillable, they are set aside in Amazon's fulfillment centers, which can incur additional storage fees for sellers.
Causes of Unfulfillable Inventory
Common reasons for items becoming unfulfillable include:
i) Damage during shipping or handling.
ii) Expiration of perishable goods.
iii) Missing required components or labels.
iv) Items that do not meet Amazon's condition standards upon arrival at fulfillment centers.
Key Update on Seller Central:
The latest announcement on Amazon Seller Central outlines a critical shift in handling unfulfillable inventory within its FBA warehouses. Starting September 16, 2024, Amazon will automatically dispose of or donate any unfulfillable inventory that the seller still needs to remove within 23 days. This marks a departure from the previous 30-day notice period, giving sellers less time to manage their unfulfillable stock.
Also Read: Amazon UK adds new benefits for Sellers with FBA New Selection
Options for Sellers:
Amazon sellers are encouraged to take proactive steps to avoid the automatic disposal or donation of their unfulfillable inventory. They can either:
Liquidate: Sellers can opt to liquidate the inventory, allowing them to recover some value from unsellable items.
Return: Sellers can request the return of their inventory to a designated return-to address or a third-party freight forwarder.
Sellers who wish to automate this process can configure their settings accordingly on Seller Central to prevent unintentional disposal of their goods.
Commitment to Circular Economy:
Amazon has also emphasized its commitment to a circular economy in the EU. The company ensures that when a disposal order is created, efforts are made to donate or recycle as much inventory as possible, which aligns with its sustainability goals.
Amazon's decision to shorten the notice period for disposing of unfulfillable inventory in the UK highlights the need for sellers to monitor their inventory status closely and act promptly to avoid disposal of unsellable items. Amazon sellers in the UK and EU are advised to review and adjust their inventory management strategies promptly to align with the new 23-day removal period, ensuring their business operations continue to run smoothly under the revised guidelines.
For removal instructions, sellers can visit Remove inventory from a fulfilment centre.
Also Read: All about Amazon's Competitive Pricing and Winning the Buy Box
Follow us on Facebook, X and LinkedIn to get the latest news and updates related to online selling.
By ChannelMAX Staff Writer
Sep-2024#02
There is a significant policy change for sellers utilizing the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service in the UK and EU regions. Effective September 16, 2024, the company will reduce the notice period for removing unfulfillable inventory from 30 to 23 days. In a recent Seller Central update, Amazon says that the change is part of its ongoing efforts to optimize storage space and help sellers minimize unnecessary storage fees.
What is Unfulfillable Inventory?
Unfulfillable inventory refers to items that cannot be sold for various reasons, such as damage, expiration, or missing components. When items are deemed unfulfillable, they are set aside in Amazon's fulfillment centers, which can incur additional storage fees for sellers.
Causes of Unfulfillable Inventory
Common reasons for items becoming unfulfillable include:
i) Damage during shipping or handling.
ii) Expiration of perishable goods.
iii) Missing required components or labels.
iv) Items that do not meet Amazon's condition standards upon arrival at fulfillment centers.
Key Update on Seller Central:
The latest announcement on Amazon Seller Central outlines a critical shift in handling unfulfillable inventory within its FBA warehouses. Starting September 16, 2024, Amazon will automatically dispose of or donate any unfulfillable inventory that the seller still needs to remove within 23 days. This marks a departure from the previous 30-day notice period, giving sellers less time to manage their unfulfillable stock.
Also Read: Amazon UK adds new benefits for Sellers with FBA New Selection
Options for Sellers:
Amazon sellers are encouraged to take proactive steps to avoid the automatic disposal or donation of their unfulfillable inventory. They can either:
Liquidate: Sellers can opt to liquidate the inventory, allowing them to recover some value from unsellable items.
Return: Sellers can request the return of their inventory to a designated return-to address or a third-party freight forwarder.
Sellers who wish to automate this process can configure their settings accordingly on Seller Central to prevent unintentional disposal of their goods.
Commitment to Circular Economy:
Amazon has also emphasized its commitment to a circular economy in the EU. The company ensures that when a disposal order is created, efforts are made to donate or recycle as much inventory as possible, which aligns with its sustainability goals.
Amazon's decision to shorten the notice period for disposing of unfulfillable inventory in the UK highlights the need for sellers to monitor their inventory status closely and act promptly to avoid disposal of unsellable items. Amazon sellers in the UK and EU are advised to review and adjust their inventory management strategies promptly to align with the new 23-day removal period, ensuring their business operations continue to run smoothly under the revised guidelines.
For removal instructions, sellers can visit Remove inventory from a fulfilment centre.
Also Read: All about Amazon's Competitive Pricing and Winning the Buy Box
Follow us on Facebook, X and LinkedIn to get the latest news and updates related to online selling.
Disclaimer:
Amazon is the registered trademark of the e-commerce brand.
About ChannelMAX.NET:
ChannelMAX offers Amazon Repricer that runs on the latest AI Repricing algorithm to do Amazon Pricing Management or Amazon Repricing. Based on Amazon SP API, the repricing engine or repricer runs 24/7 and efficiently manages Amazon prices to maximize your BuyBox with profit optimization. Established in 2005, ChannelMAX has been integrated with Amazon technology since 2007, helping thousands of third-party sellers on various eCommerce platforms. Some of the eCommerce platforms, aka marketplaces, supported by ChannelMAX.NET, are Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Shopify. Some of ChannelMAX key offerings include ChannelMAX Amazon Repricer, 2ndly, ChannelMAX Amazon FBA Audits and FBA Refunds management, an offering for managing Amazon FBA Refunds Reimbursement management for lost or damaged or misplaced inventory for which Amazon is responsible and for which sellers deserve appropriate credit reimbursement from Amazon. ChannelMAX Services offer Remote (aka Virtual) Full-Time eCommerce Assistant to help 3P sellers run their daytoday business.
Check ChannelMAX at Amazon Selling Partner Appstore, an application with a 5 star rating.
Amazon is the registered trademark of the e-commerce brand.
About ChannelMAX.NET:
ChannelMAX offers Amazon Repricer that runs on the latest AI Repricing algorithm to do Amazon Pricing Management or Amazon Repricing. Based on Amazon SP API, the repricing engine or repricer runs 24/7 and efficiently manages Amazon prices to maximize your BuyBox with profit optimization. Established in 2005, ChannelMAX has been integrated with Amazon technology since 2007, helping thousands of third-party sellers on various eCommerce platforms. Some of the eCommerce platforms, aka marketplaces, supported by ChannelMAX.NET, are Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Shopify. Some of ChannelMAX key offerings include ChannelMAX Amazon Repricer, 2ndly, ChannelMAX Amazon FBA Audits and FBA Refunds management, an offering for managing Amazon FBA Refunds Reimbursement management for lost or damaged or misplaced inventory for which Amazon is responsible and for which sellers deserve appropriate credit reimbursement from Amazon. ChannelMAX Services offer Remote (aka Virtual) Full-Time eCommerce Assistant to help 3P sellers run their daytoday business.
Check ChannelMAX at Amazon Selling Partner Appstore, an application with a 5 star rating.