Amazon Vendor Chargebacks: The Complete List

Amazon chargebacks appear in the Operational Performance Dashboard as penalty amounts tied to charge codes. They average 1.5% of invoice value in Q1 through Q3 but jump to approximately 4% in Q4. Each chargeback type requires specific documentation, and most must be disputed within 30 days.

What Are Amazon Vendor Chargebacks?

Amazon chargebacks are financial penalties assessed when a shipment or invoice fails to meet Amazon's operational requirements. They appear in the Operational Performance Dashboard as amounts tied to specific charge codes. Unless your team knows what each code means and what caused it, the deduction gets processed and forgotten.

How Chargebacks Impact Q4 Margins

Industry data suggests that chargebacks average 1.5% of invoice value across Q1 through Q3, but jump to approximately 4% in Q4 alone. The reason is volume, which creates a compliance gap that generates charges at scale. Preparing your compliance processes before Q4 is the only way to protect your margins.

PO-Related Chargebacks

PO on-time accuracy

Amazon issues this chargeback when confirmed products arrive outside the PO delivery window or when confirmed units are reduced after the allowable timeframe.

To dispute it, submit a signed POD from the carrier or receiver verifying the arrival date for prepaid LTL shipments. For prepaid small parcel, provide carrier tracking details showing the tracking number, PO, and delivery scan date. Collect shipments require a BOL and routing request sent to the buyer.

Unconfirmed PO units

This chargeback applies when product arrives at the FC that was not confirmed on the purchase order.

To dispute it, submit a screenshot of Vendor Central or an EDI 855 transmission confirming the ASIN was confirmed on the PO.

Overage PO units

This chargeback applies when more units were delivered than what was confirmed on the PO.

To dispute it, submit the PO, BOL, POD, and supplier invoice.

ASN-Related Chargebacks

Missing ASN

Amazon issues this chargeback when no ASN was transmitted before the shipment arrived at the Fulfillment Center.

To dispute it, submit an EDI transmission log with a timestamp showing the ASN was sent before arrival. If the EDI system failed to transmit despite submission, confirm the transmission failure.

Late ASN

This chargeback applies when the ASN was transmitted after the shipment arrived at the Fulfillment Center.

To dispute it, submit an EDI log confirming the transmission timestamp relative to the Fulfillment Center delivery scan timestamp.

Inaccurate ASN

This chargeback applies when the ASN was submitted on time but contained incorrect data such as unit count, wrong measure, duplicate submission, or missing expiration dates.

To dispute it, submit a copy of the EDI 856 or Vendor Central ASN submission showing the data was transmitted correctly.

Preparation and Packaging Chargebacks

Bagging, bubble wrap, and cap seal

Amazon issues this chargeback when products that require prep arrive without proper packaging measures per Amazon's prep requirements.

To dispute it, submit photos showing the product was correctly prepped before shipment.

Set creation non-compliance

This chargeback applies when products that should be packaged as a set arrived unpackaged or as individual loose units.

To dispute it, submit images showing that the product was correctly packaged as a set before shipment.

Ships in Own Container / Ships in Product Packaging (SIOC/SIPP)

Amazon issues this chargeback when a product certified for Ships In Product Packaging (SIPP) was shipped in an extra outer box.

To dispute it, submit Vendor Central screenshots confirming the ASIN's SIPP certification status was not active for this shipment, or images confirming the product was shipped as certified.

Overweight and oversized cartons

This chargeback applies when a carton weighs over 23 kg (when it contains multiple units, not a single item that itself exceeds 23 kg), or when any side exceeds 63.5 cm (unless the individual unit itself is larger).

To dispute it, submit weight and dimension records from the outbound shipment confirming the carton was within the agreed limits. If the chargeback is for a single-unit item that legitimately exceeds the threshold, provide item setup documentation confirming the unit's dimensions.

Transportation Chargebacks

Pickup accuracy and no-show

Amazon issues this chargeback when the carrier fails to appear for a scheduled pickup appointment for collect shipments, or when the vendor's carrier fails to appear for a scheduled delivery appointment at the FC for prepaid shipments.

To dispute it, submit a signed POD or BOL. Carrier tracking records might also help.

Import shipment late booking

This chargeback applies when booking was not submitted at least 14 days before the Ship Window Open Date for ocean freight, or 3 days before shipping by air. This applies only to imported shipments.

To dispute it, submit booking confirmation records showing submission timestamps relative to the ship window.

Import PO on-time non-compliance

This chargeback applies when the estimated cargo delivery date provided falls outside the shipping window Amazon specified for the import PO.

To dispute it, submit origin port booking records and carrier schedule confirmations showing the shipment was within the specified window at the time of confirmation.

Receiving Process Chargebacks

Carton content accuracy

Amazon issues this chargeback when cartons arrive without a recognizable carton content label, or when the ASN contains incomplete carton-level data. Valid labels must carry a GS1-128 SSCC (for EDI shipments) or an AMZNCC number (for Vendor Central ASN submissions). As of July 2024, GTIN-14 is no longer accepted for non-palletized shipments.

To dispute it, submit images of open-faced cartons with inner packs and individual units visible, label evidence showing the SSCC or AMZNCC number, and ASN carton-level data confirming LP barcode information was provided.

Label accuracy

This chargeback applies when product labels on the items or cartons do not match the specifications agreed in the vendor setup.

To dispute it, submit images of label placement and format from the shipment, plus item setup documentation confirming the label specifications in effect at time of shipment.

Paper invoice chargeback

This chargeback applies when the invoice was submitted in paper or PDF form rather than through Vendor Central's Create Invoice function or the EDI interface.

This is a process change, not a dispute. Switch to EDI invoice submission or the Vendor Central Create Invoice function to avoid any penalties.

Automate Amazon Chargebacks With iNymbus

iNymbus automates Amazon chargeback disputes across the majority of categories. Our agents identify charges as they appear, assemble the required documentation, and file within Vendor Central's windows, so your team recovers more with less manual work.

Schedule a call to see how it works for your Amazon Vendor Central account.