The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Amazon FBA Removal Reports

For Amazon FBA sellers, managing inventory efficiently is critical to minimizing costs and maximizing profitability. One of the most powerful tools at your disposal is the Amazon FBA Removal Report, a suite of data-driven insights that helps you track, analyze, and optimize inventory removal processes. 

What Are Amazon FBA Removal Reports?

Amazon FBA Removal Reports are detailed summaries of inventory removal requests, shipments, and associated fees. They provide visibility into the status of items being removed from Amazon’s fulfillment centers (FCs), whether for disposal, liquidation, or return to the seller. These reports are essential for reconciling inventory, avoiding storage fees, and maintaining healthy cash flow.

Key Components of the Reports

The FBA Removal Reports consist of three interconnected documents:

1. Recommended Removal Report: Identifies inventory aged 365+ days that may incur long-term storage fees. Generated six weeks before Amazon’s biannual storage cleanups (February 15 and August 15), it highlights sellable/unsellable quantities and estimated fees to avoid.
2. Removal Order Detail Report: Tracks removal requests by order ID, status (pending, completed, canceled), item SKU/FNSKU, quantities, and total fees. This report aggregates data across all removal orders in a selected date range.
3. Removal Shipment Detail Report: Provides granular logistics data, including carrier details, tracking numbers, and shipment dates for completed removals. It helps verify execution and update inventory records.

Together, these reports offer a 360-degree view of your removal operations, from planning to execution.

How to Access Amazon FBA Removal Reports

Accessing these reports is straightforward:

1. Log into Seller Central > Navigate to Reports > Fulfillment.
2. Under the Removals section, select either Removal Order Detail or Removal Shipment Detail.
3. Set a custom date range (up to 30 days for on-demand reports) and request the data.
   For longer timeframes, schedule automated reports to ensure continuous insights.

Interpreting the Data: Best Practices

To leverage these reports effectively:

• Verify Execution: Cross-check removal requests against shipments using order IDs and SKUs. Identify discrepancies where items weren’t removed as planned.
• Monitor Fees: Compare billed fees to shipped quantities. Outliers may indicate overcharges or errors.
• Update Inventory: Use shipment data to reconcile physical inventory counts in your management system.
• Identify Trends: Analyze why removals were canceled or delayed (e.g., FC transfer bottlenecks, expired goods).

Pro tip: Automate report generation and set alerts for aged inventory to stay ahead of storage fees.

Strategies for Optimizing Inventory Removals

1. Proactive Removal Planning: Use the Recommended Removal Report to act before long-term storage fees apply. Remove slow-moving stock early to free up space.
2. Leverage Value Recovery: Opt for liquidation or donations for unsellable items to recoup partial costs instead of paying disposal fees.
3. Automate Processes: Enable Amazon’s Automated Unfulfillable Removal Settings to auto-remove damaged or expired inventory.
4. Cross-Reference Sales Data: Compare removal trends with sales performance. If certain SKUs are frequently removed, reassess their viability.
5. Bulk Removal for Cost Savings: Consolidate large removals into pallet shipments to reduce per-unit fees.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Ignoring Partial Removals: Amazon may only process part of a request. Track partial shipments to avoid inventory discrepancies.
• Overlooking Lead Times: Removal orders can take 90+ days. Plan seasonal inventory removals well in advance.
• Misunderstanding Fees: Removal fees vary by size tier and weight (e.g., $1.04–$14.32+ per unit). Confirm rates using Amazon’s latest fee card 1115.

FAQs About Amazon FBA Removal Reports

Q: How often should I review these reports?
A: Weekly reviews are ideal. During peak seasons, check more frequently to address issues promptly.

Q: Can I automate removal report analysis?
A: Yes! Schedule reports via Seller Central and integrate data into inventory management tools for real-time insights.

Q: What if I find discrepancies in the data?
A: File an inventory reconciliation case with Amazon Seller Support, including order IDs and tracking details.

Q: Do removal fees include shipping costs?
A: Yes. Fees cover picking, packing, and shipping to your designated address.

Mastering Amazon FBA Removal Reports is not just about cutting costs—it’s about transforming inventory management into a strategic advantage. By proactively analyzing data, automating processes, and avoiding common mistakes, sellers can optimize warehouse space, reduce fees, and focus on scaling their businesses.

For sellers struggling with discrepancies, third-party tools like Getida offer auditing services to recover lost revenue from Amazon errors. Stay ahead of the curve, and let these reports guide your path to profitability.