On May 2, 2025, I noticed that my Car Brands & Logos card game showed only 78 units in stock. This immediately raised a red flag because I remembered shipping 200 units in March. After investigating in Seller Central, I found the issue: one full box (100 units) was lost during Amazon's internal transfer process.

How I Found the Problem

Checked my inventory: The listing showed only 78 units.
Opened the shipment page: I saw that 200 units were shipped in shipment ID FBA18VCDK0H1.
Found the discrepancy: Only 99 units were received by Amazon.

Why This Happens

Amazon often transfers your stock between fulfillment centers to optimize delivery times. Unfortunately, it’s during these transfers that items can go missing. In my case, everything was properly shipped, received at TMB8, but during a transfer to VGT2, 100 units disappeared.

What I Did Next

To get reimbursed or have the inventory searched, Amazon requires specific documents:

📌 Amazon Resource: For full details, refer to Amazon’s official documentation on Researching Missing FBA Inventory

Step 1: Prepare a Packing Slip or Invoice

I used a professionally prepared Packing Slip that included:

ASIN and FNSKU
SKU and EAN
Quantity (200 units)
Ship date and destination (TMB8)
Tracking number
My business info and signature

Step 2: Go to Shipment Reconciliation Page

In Seller Central:

Go to Inventory > Manage FBA Shipments
Locate the shipment and click "Research missing units"
Upload your document
Provide any additional information in the text box

Step 3: Submit and Wait

Once submitted, Amazon typically investigates and responds within 2–7 business days. If the shipment was verified and Amazon is at fault, they will either reimburse or update your inventory.

Financial Impact and Why You Must Act Fast

Lost inventory isn’t just about units—it can affect your Buy Box, ranking, and ad campaigns. The sooner you act, the better your chances Amazon can locate the stock before it's permanently marked lost. Also, delays could mean:

Loss of potential revenue
Inability to restock on time
Poor ad performance if stock runs low

That's why I always track inbound shipments daily and keep all packing documentation ready.

Key Tips for Sellers

Always keep digital proof of your shipment: invoices, tracking, and packing slips.
Include tracking numbers and signatures.
Double-check quantity and box count.
Label boxes clearly to prevent confusion during transfers.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t the first time I’ve had units disappear during transfers, and unfortunately, it likely won’t be the last. But knowing what to do keeps the damage minimal. As long as you ship correctly and maintain documentation, you can get your money back or have inventory restored.

This blog post is part of my ongoing series sharing real behind-the-scenes Amazon selling experiences. If you're launching your own product, always plan for unexpected inventory issues like this—it's part of the game.

What To Do When Amazon Loses Your FBA Inventory During Transfer