If you ship to Amazon FBA long enough, a shipping mistake is inevitable.
Maybe:
- the wrong box labels were applied
- box contents were entered incorrectly
- quantities don’t match
- cartons went to the wrong fulfillment center
- a pallet shipment got split
- cartons were delivered but Amazon says they’re missing
The scary part is not the mistake itself.
It’s the fear that Amazon will:
- mischeck the shipment
- strand the inventory
- lock the shipment status
- or “lose” cartons in receiving
And once an inbound shipment goes sideways, sellers often make it worse by trying to fix it too quickly—canceling shipments, deleting plans, or opening the wrong cases.
This guide will show you the safest way to correct Amazon inbound shipping errors without losing inventory, including a clear decision tree, the evidence Amazon needs, and a repeatable SOP your team can follow.
Why Shipping Errors Turn Into “Lost Inventory” on Amazon
Amazon inbound receiving is not a simple “scan everything instantly” system.
It’s a high-volume process with:
- multiple handoffs
- scanning lag
- carton-level vs unit-level reconciliation
- occasional warehouse re-routing
- and different handling depending on SPD (Small Parcel) vs LTL/FTL
When something doesn’t match what Amazon expects, inventory can land in “limbo.”
That limbo often looks like:
- Delivered to FC but not checked in
- Checked in partially
- “Receiving” status for weeks
- Inventory appears as stranded or reserved incorrectly
- Units show up but not tied to the correct shipment
The good news: Most inventory isn’t truly lost.
It’s mismatched, delayed, or misattributed.
Your job is to correct the mismatch without breaking the audit trail.
Step 1: Identify the Type of Shipping Error (Most Common Scenarios)
Start by naming the problem—because the correct fix depends on the scenario.
Scenario A: Wrong FBA box labels were used
Examples:
- labels printed for Shipment A were applied to Shipment B
- labels got mixed during prep
- labels were duplicated or damaged
Scenario B: Box contents / quantities don’t match what’s in the cartons
Examples:
- carton has 24 units but shipment says 12
- box contains wrong SKU
- mixed SKUs were placed into a carton planned as single-SKU
Scenario C: Shipment was sent to the wrong FC
Examples:
- UPS labels were correct but cartons were handed to a different carrier
- LTL BOL has wrong destination
- your warehouse shipped to the old FC after Amazon rerouted
Scenario D: Cartons/pallets are missing after delivery
Examples:
- carrier shows “delivered” but Amazon shows short
- 10 cartons shipped, only 6 received
- pallet shipment delivered but only partial scanned
Scenario E: Prep or labeling noncompliance
Examples:
- missing suffocation labels
- incorrect polybagging
- expiration dates not applied
- missing FNSKU / commingled mix-up
Step 2: Check the Shipment Status Before You Touch Anything
Your next action depends on one thing:
Is the shipment delivered to Amazon yet?
If NOT delivered: you often have more control.
If delivered: your #1 priority is preserving evidence and the shipment trail.
Check:
- Carrier tracking (UPS, FedEx, Amazon Partnered Carrier, LTL PRO)
- Proof of Delivery (POD) for LTL/FTL
- Shipment status in Seller Central (Working / Shipped / Delivered / Receiving / Closed)
Step 3: The Safe Decision Tree (Do This, Not That)
If the shipment is NOT delivered yet:
You have three safe options depending on the error:
Option 1: Void and re-create labels (SPD)
If labels are wrong and the cartons haven’t moved:
- void the shipping labels (if possible)
- correct the shipment plan
- reprint labels and relabel cartons
Option 2: Update carton content (if Amazon allows edits)
If box contents are wrong, sometimes you can still edit box-level data before delivery.
Rule:
- If it’s in “Working” or not finalized/shipped, fix within the plan.
- If it’s already “Shipped,” edits may be limited.
Option 3: Hold and re-route (LTL/FTL)
If an LTL pickup hasn’t occurred or the freight is still at your dock:
- update BOL
- confirm FC address
- confirm pallet count and carton count
- re-stage correctly
What NOT to do before delivery:
- Don’t ship “anyway” hoping Amazon sorts it out.
- Don’t mix cartons with mismatched labels.
- Don’t assume Amazon will receive correct quantities if box content data is wrong.
If the shipment IS delivered (or in receiving):
Now it becomes a documentation game.
Your rule is:
Never break the audit trail.
Step 1: Gather evidence immediately (create a “shipment evidence packet”)
For SPD shipments:
- carrier tracking numbers
- delivery confirmation
- carton count shipped
- carton weights/dimensions (from your shipping system)
- photos of labeled cartons (if you have them)
For LTL/FTL:
- BOL (Bill of Lading)
- POD (Proof of Delivery)
- pallet count and carton count
- freight class and weight
- photos of pallets before pickup (highly recommended)
This packet is what Amazon will request to investigate shortages.
Step 2: Wait for the correct investigation timing window
Amazon often won’t open a full missing inventory investigation until:
- receiving is complete, or
- a certain amount of time has passed since delivery
This can be frustrating, but it’s normal.
Your job is to start the case early and then follow up on a schedule.
Step 3: Open the correct case path
The best results come from using the correct support path:
- “Shipment problem” for receiving discrepancies
- “Missing inventory” when cartons are confirmed delivered but not received
- “Label issue” if cartons were mislabeled and scanned into the wrong shipment
Tip:
Be direct in the case:
- what happened
- what you shipped
- what shows delivered
- what Amazon shows received
- what outcome you want (reconcile, move units, reimburse, etc.)
Step 4: How to Correct Specific Errors Without Losing Inventory
A) Wrong box labels (Shipment A labels on Shipment B cartons)
This is one of the worst mistakes—but recoverable.
What happens:
- Amazon receives cartons into the wrong shipment ID
- units may appear under a different SKU shipment
- your “real” shipment shows missing
What to do:
- Identify BOTH shipment IDs involved
- Provide tracking numbers that match each set of cartons
- Open a case explaining the label swap clearly
- Ask Amazon to reconcile units to the correct shipment or confirm where they were received
- Do not close the shipments until reconciliation is complete
Pro tip:
If you can provide photos of carton labels, it speeds resolution.
B) Wrong quantities / wrong box content
Amazon receiving expects carton content data for many workflows.
If your cartons contain more units than planned:
- Amazon may receive only the planned quantity initially
- additional units can appear later as “researching” or “unreconciled”
What to do:
- Document actual packout by SKU (warehouse packing list)
- Open a case and provide packout summary
- Request reconciliation to actual quantities
- Keep monitoring “stranded” and “researching” inventory
Key rule:
Don’t “create a new shipment” to cover the difference unless Amazon support instructs you—this can create double counting issues.
C) Misrouted cartons (wrong FC)
Misroutes happen even when you do everything right—carriers reroute or Amazon changes FC assignments.
What to do:
- Confirm the FC it was supposed to go to and where it landed
- Provide tracking showing delivery location
- Open a case and request the shipment be linked/reconciled
- Expect longer timelines—cross-FC transfers add delay
D) Delivered but missing cartons
This is where your evidence packet matters most.
What to do:
- Confirm delivered status and date
- Verify carton count and weight on your shipping records
- For LTL, ensure POD shows pallet count signed
- Open a receiving discrepancy case
- Follow up regularly until Amazon completes investigation
If the claim is approved:
- Amazon may locate and receive units
- or reimburse per their policy if inventory is confirmed missing
E) Prep noncompliance issues
If Amazon flags prep issues:
- the best move is to correct quickly and avoid repeated violations
What to do:
- Identify the exact prep requirement that was missed
- Update your prep SOP + training
- Provide corrective action in your case if required
- Consider using FBA Prep services strategically (if your warehouse has recurring errors)
Step 5: The Inbound SOP That Prevents This Forever
If your goal is “never lose inventory again,” you need one thing:
A pre-ship inbound checklist + evidence routine.
Here’s a strong SOP:
1) Shipment creation rules
- one shipment plan per SKU group (avoid messy mixing)
- confirm FNSKU/barcode strategy
- confirm prep requirements and carton labeling
2) Two-person label verification
Before cartons leave:
- one person labels
- a second person spot-checks:
- correct shipment ID
- correct FC destination
- correct SKU on carton label
3) Photo evidence habit
Take:
- photos of pallets before wrap
- photos of carton labels (at least a sample)
- screenshot of shipment plan carton count
This evidence pays for itself the first time you need it.
4) Packing list and carton reconciliation
Maintain a simple doc:
- cartons shipped (count)
- units per carton
- total units shipped
- tracking numbers
5) Follow-up cadence after delivery
- Day 3: confirm delivered and check receiving
- Day 7: check again and open case if mismatch
- Day 14: escalate with evidence packet
- Day 21+: continue follow-up until resolved
Receiving can lag—your job is to stay systematic.
Final Takeaway
Shipping errors don’t have to mean lost inventory.
The sellers who recover cleanly do three things:
- they diagnose the error type
- they preserve the audit trail and submit the right evidence
- they follow a repeatable case + follow-up process
