How to Approach Fee Reimbursements on Vendor and Seller Central - Episode 61
EXPERT ADVICE FROM BOBSLED PROJECT MANAGER ARMIN ALISPAHIC
DESCRIPTION
You might be able to make money listening to this episode! We're talking about fee reimbursements on Vendor Central and Seller Central today. And this is something that we, at Bobsled, have been focusing on a lot lately. It’s a great chance for you to get some insights and learn how to get the money that is rightfully yours back from Amazon.
Today you can also get to know our guest, Bobsled Project Manager, Armin Alispahic, who is a wealth of knowledge. He has a very smart and methodical approach to dealing with Amazon in delicate situations. Armin recently worked on an analysis that uncovered some really interesting facts about the kinds of fees that sellers and vendors were entitled to claim back from Amazon. On today's show, he gives a comprehensive overview of fee reimbursements, and what vendors and sellers can do to get their money back.
Armin joined Bobsled Marketing in July of 2016. About a month ago, he was promoted to a Project Manager position on the team. He started out as an Accounts Specialist, supporting the Project Managers in handling client accounts and everything related to operations and marketing on Amazon.
This means that in the two-and-a-half years that Armin has been with Bobsled, he has gained a whole lot of knowledge and insights about Amazon. Tune tune in today to find out what Armin has to share with you about claiming fee reimbursements from Amazon.
“Every fifth Seller Central or Vendor Central account has issues with incorrect fees and chargebacks. We’ve seen reimbursements ranging from $80 in Seller Central to $4000 in Vendor Central.”
— ARMIN ALISPAHIC
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The way that things have changed around reviews and incentivized reviews over the last two-and-a-half years.
The really interesting analysis that Armin did recently around the fees that sellers and vendors could claim back from Amazon.
Checking for inconsistencies with fees charged for products that generally have only slight variations. (e.g. color)
Amazon does refund the difference for incorrectly charged fees.
Using a systematic approach to find products, returned to Amazon by customers, which have not been reimbursed.
There have been issues with the software solutions that automate the process for tracking Amazon's returns and discovering any reimbursements that may be owed to you.
Bearing in mind that it takes 45 days for returns or reimbursements to show.
How often Armin recommends that sellers on Amazon check to see if the FBA fees have been charged correctly.
The kind of fees (or charge-backs) vendors could expect to get back from Vendor Central.
The two cases where sellers could dispute charge-backs.
Ways of keeping track of everything, because many of Amazon's systems don't work perfectly.
You have only thirty days to dispute a charge-back, so you need to check your account for incorrect charge-backs on a weekly basis.
Why charge-backs are sometimes charged automatically.
What to do if you have been automatically and incorrectly charged for a charge-back.
Some things that Armin recommends around the process of a dispute with Amazon.
How long it takes to get your money back from Amazon.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Amazon's Reviewer Programs:
The Early Reviewer Program - on Seller Central