FBA POD request guidelines for vendor return packages

This page provides the reimbursement policies governing unavailability of a proof of delivery (POD) for tracking IDs in a removal order ID.

When is the change to the policy effective?

This updated policy is effective from May 18, 2022.

What is a removal order ID and a tracking ID or shipment ID?

A new removal order generates a removal order ID. To optimally process your removal orders, it is sometimes divided and processed in multiple shipments. The division is governed by multiple factors such as the quantity, volume and weight of the inventory requested to be removed. Each of these shipments have a common removal order ID, unique shipment IDs and corresponding tracking IDs using which you can track the estimated delivery date for the respective shipment. The processing of your removal order can be considered complete if all shipments associated with your removal order have been delivered successfully.

Example: If you want to remove hundred units of ASIN B00XXXXXX for removal order xi2j96XXXX, it can be processed in two shipments, 12345XXXX and 5678XXXX respectively with each shipment containing fifty units of the product each. In this example, there is a common removal ID (xi2j96XXXX), two shipment IDs (12345XXXX and 5678XXXX) and there will be two tracking IDs corresponding to each shipment ID.

When can I request for a POD?

It is best practice to check for a tracking ID on the respective carrier website to determine the status of the shipment. You must use the information available on carrier website and tally the receipt of the respective shipment. In the event a shipment has not reached your facility, despite the tracking status reflecting as delivered on the carrier website, you can ask us to furnish a POD. The window in which you can raise such POD request is seven days from the date the shipment is delivered to you by the carrier, as mentioned on the carrier website (carrier delivery date). The carrier delivery date will be displayed on the relevant carrier’s website and it is your obligation to continuously track your shipment.

When am I entitled for a reimbursement?

If we are not able to furnish a valid POD with either a signature or seal, you are entitled to a reimbursement for the shipments.

What is the three strike rule?

You raise a claim for missing shipment and request us to share a POD despite a delivered status on the carrier website. If we are able to share a valid POD with seller sign or seal, it would imply that the shipment with all units therein was delivered.

If we find three such requests where you requested POD due to missing shipments but a valid POD was provided, we will make a note of such requests. We will not entertain any future POD requests from you for the next three months, starting from the date of the third request.

Example scenarios:

A given removal order ID xi2j96XXXX is divided across five tracking IDs 12345XXXX, 5678XXXX, 7890XXXX, 3210XXXX, and 6543XXXX respectively. If a seller claims to not have received all tracking IDs although they show as delivered on carrier website, we will consider this request from seller as an exception and try procuring the POD.

• In the event that the tracking IDs in concern does not have a valid POD, seller is entitled for a reimbursement for the above mentioned tracking IDs.
• In the event that three out of the five tracking IDs have a valid POD, we will not entertain any more POD requests from seller for the next three months from the date the POD for the third tracking ID was shared. In this instance, where applicable, the seller will also not be entitled for reimbursement for the remaining two tracking IDs.
• In the event that two out of the five tracking IDs have a valid POD, the seller has reached the limit of two strikes. A future POD request will still be entertained in this case.