For Amazon venders, few things feel more baffling than realizing you’ve misplaced cash on stock that vanished or was harmed within the fulfillment handle. Until as of late, the method of getting repaid decently was frequently dark. Numerous dealers essentially acknowledged Amazon’s repayment values without knowing precisely how those figures were determined—or whether they precisely reflected the genuine fetched of sourcing items.
That’s beginning to alter.
Amazon has presented a unused highlight called “Manage Your Sourcing Cost” inside the FBA Dashboard. This overhaul is more than fair a little change to Vender Central—it’s a noteworthy step toward straightforwardness and control over your productivity.
On the off chance that you haven’t investigated this include however, presently is the time to induce recognizable. It seem have a coordinate affect on how much you recover when something goes off-base.
Why Sourcing Cost Accuracy Matters
Every FBA seller understands that inventory losses happen. Items get damaged in transit, misplaced in the warehouse, or returned in unsellable condition. When this occurs, Amazon issues reimbursements. In any case, the sum you get depends on Amazon’s possess assess of what it costs you to source each item.
In various cases, those gages can be off—sometimes by a little, presently and after that by a portion. Over time, these mistakes can incorporate up to thousands of dollars in lost reimbursements, particularly for high-value or forte things with complex supply chains.
Until now, sellers had limited ability to see or influence these numbers. If Amazon’s estimate was lower than your actual cost, you often had no practical recourse. The new sourcing cost management feature is designed to address this gap.
How the New Feature Works
Amazon has made the “Manage Your Sourcing Cost” option accessible directly from the FBA Dashboard. You can find it by navigating to:
FBA Dashboard > Inventory > Inventory Defect and Reimbursement > Manage Sourcing Cost
Once inside, you’ll see a clear breakdown of each ASIN along with the sourcing cost Amazon has on record. This is where things get interesting. If you notice that the cost Amazon is using doesn’t reflect reality, you have the opportunity to correct it by uploading documentation.
Accepted documentation includes:
- Manufacturer or wholesaler invoices
- Commercial invoices
- Valid Chinese fapiao
This is Amazon’s way of ensuring that the sourcing cost figure is based on legitimate records. Not all paperwork will be accepted, though. Proforma invoices, quotes, purchase orders, website listings, and screenshots won’t be considered valid proof.
After you submit the correct documentation, Amazon reviews it and updates your sourcing cost accordingly. That revised figure will then be used to calculate future reimbursements, giving you a fairer outcome if your inventory is lost or damaged.
What This Means for Sellers
This modern highlight enables venders to advocate for the genuine esteem of their items. For those who work with specialized providers or moment products with fluctuating costs, this level of control is basic. Instead of depending on Amazon’s algorithmic gauges, you’ll report precisely what you paid.
The affect of this alter shouldn’t be thought little of. It offers:
Greater transparency into reimbursement calculations
An opportunity to protect profit margins
A formal process to dispute sourcing cost inaccuracies
In the past, sellers often assumed that the reimbursement process was final or too cumbersome to challenge. Now, Amazon has provided a clear path to improve accuracy—if you’re willing to put in the work of gathering and submitting documentation.
A Personal Perspective
As someone who has helped brands and private label sellers navigate the complexities of FBA reimbursement, I see this update as a positive shift. It acknowledges that no automated estimate can fully capture the nuances of real-world sourcing costs. Giving sellers a seat at the table to define these numbers is long overdue.
That said, it also introduces a new layer of responsibility. In the event that you don’t proactively survey and upgrade your sourcing costs, you’ll still be taking off cash unclaimed. For numerous businesses, particularly those working on lean edges, that oversight may be expensive.
My advice? Schedule time this quarter to audit your sourcing cost records. Compare Amazon’s estimates to your actual invoices and prioritize updating any significant discrepancies. The effort will pay for itself many times over if it prevents under-reimbursement on expensive items.
Moving Forward
The “Manage Your Sourcing Cost” feature is a reminder that profitability on Amazon isn’t just about driving sales—it’s also about keeping control over costs and protecting your assets when things don’t go as planned.
Take this opportunity to get proactive:
Familiarize yourself with the new dashboard tools
Gather and organize your valid invoices
Confirm that your sourcing costs are accurately reflected
Train your team to maintain up-to-date records
In a commercial center as energetic and competitive as Amazon, points of interest like these can make the distinction between a solid edge and a continuous disintegration of benefits.
In the event that you haven’t checked out the modern include however, log into Vender Central and see what sourcing costs Amazon has on record for your catalog.
