12 Sorts of Amazon FBA Inventory
1. Fulfillable Inventory
Fulfillable inventory, also called available inventory or FBA inventory on-hand, refers to "stock stored at Amazon's fulfillment centers that can be picked, packed, and shipped to customers."
The in-stock rate calculation depends on the percentage of time replenishable FBA products maintain stock during the last 30 days, weighted by sales volume over 60 days.
Formula: (% in stock of ASIN #1 for 30 days × 60-day sales velocity) + (% in stock of ASIN #2 × sales velocity) / total 60-day sales velocity = In-Stock Rate
Example: Product 1 at 80% stock with 3.0 velocity, Product 2 at 70% with 2.0 velocity = 76% stock rate, considered fair by Amazon.
Tools like Seller Central's Inventory Performance Dashboard help optimize fulfillable inventory management.
2. Unfulfillable Inventory
Unfulfillable inventory refers to ineligible inventory that Amazon rejects during quality inspection. "Each item in the shipment will undergo quality inspection (and quantitative inspection)."
Damaged or unsuitable items receive removal notifications. Sellers have 30 calendar days to submit removal orders with options to repackage, liquidate, or return items.
Removal fees vary by product size and weight. Standard items under 500g cost €0.25-€0.55, with additional charges for heavier items. Amazon covers shipping damage during their care, per the FBA Shipping Reimbursement policy.
3. Backorder Inventory
Backorder inventory (inbound inventory) includes products currently in transit or being processed at fulfillment centers, showing estimated arrival quantities.
Status changes from inbound to receiving upon arrival, then to active/in-stock. Managing inbound stock directly impacts utilization rates and maximum inventory limits.
TIP: Using automated just-in-time mechanisms prevents excess inbound stock by analyzing historical sales data or comparable product performance.
4. Reserved Inventory
Reserved inventory consists of units awaiting delivery, undergoing FC transfers, or being processed for verification. Despite Amazon's claims, reserves can negatively affect utilization rates.
Formula for maximum shipping quantity: Restock limit – FBA Inventory – Open Shipments – Reserved inventory = Maximum Ship Quantity
Recent policy updates include tighter capacity limits, especially during peak periods like Prime Day. Monitoring reserved levels prevents reaching restock limits and protects IPI scores, sales, and rankings.
5. Extra Inventory
Extra inventory refers to unutilized or unsold goods that lose value over time. Amazon considers inventory excessive when:
- Minimum one unit exceeds 90 days old
- Inventory holds more than 90 days' supply
- Storage costs exceed potential selling value
TIP: Check your Inventory Health Report regularly for aging products. Taking action prevents warehouse storage beyond three months, when long-term storage costs activate, maintaining high IPI scores.
Dangers of excess inventory:
- Lower Amazon IPI scores
- Increased slow-seller products
- Cash flow issues
Movement strategies include Amazon Outlet Deals, Lightning Deals, liquidation orders, or removal orders.
6. Amazon Stranded Inventory
Stranded inventory cannot be sold due to unavailability. Common causes include:
- Listing, pricing, or information errors
- Inactive or suspended listings
- Products marked out of stock despite FBA availability
- New product additions needing 24-hour catalog updates
- Stock quantity matching recent customer orders
- Limited product restrictions
- Expired product designations
- Missing brand approval requirements
Resolution: Check the stranded inventory report, correct errors, relist the item. For unsellable goods, create a removal order for disposal or return.
7. Buffer Stock
Buffer stock (safety stock) represents extra inventory kept at FBA or warehouses to handle unexpected shipping delays. Sellers frequently restocking at low levels should maintain buffer stock for preparedness.
TIP: Calculate ideal buffer levels using sales data and weighted averages of remaining stock days, accounting for seasonal effects when possible.
8. Anticipation Inventory
Anticipation inventory addresses seasonally-driven demand spikes. "Sellers need to purchase sufficient swim trunks to be able to sell more summer clothing, such as swimwear."
Plan inventory around major selling dates: Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, Prime Day, Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and holiday seasons. Leveraging analytics to prioritize top SKUs and accurate demand forecasting proves crucial for effective management.
9. Amazon Commingled Inventory
Commingled inventory pools products sharing manufacturer barcodes. "This option is typical for resellers and retail and less common for private label sellers."
Why commingled works: Once activated in seller central, products don't require individual labels. FBA stores items together, and Amazon ships from commingled stock. Sellers receive credit for orders, shortening delivery times.
Trade-offs: No control over product authenticity or quality; counterfeit complaints are difficult to defend.
Amazon requires commingled items to be new, non-perishable, non-expiring, non-hazardous, with matching UPC/EAN/ISBN codes and proper packaging labels.
Alternative: Use FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit) barcodes for item tracking. Amazon generates FNSKU automatically upon FBA shipment creation, or sellers can use the FBA Label Service for per-item charges.
10. Amazon Meltable Inventory
Meltable inventory includes heat-sensitive products like chocolate, gummies, and wax-based items. "FBA doesn't accept meltable inventory until October 16 or April 14."
Items from October 16 through April 14 are prohibited. Perishable goods requiring refrigeration or air conditioning are banned. Fulfillment centers maintain temperatures around 75-150 degrees Fahrenheit during summer. Amazon may charge premium storage fees for heat-sensitive products, particularly summers.
11. Restock Inventory
Restock inventory describes "the recommended replenishment amount that you should send Amazon FCs," specifying timing to maintain stock.
Amazon's FBA Restock Inventory tool considers sales history, demand forecasts, and seasonality, allowing adjustments for lead time, case pack quantity, and frequency. However, limitations exist:
- Amazon only considers total sales, not adjusted velocity
- Algorithm ignores separate supplier/3PL lead times
- Doesn't account for warehouse or supplier inventory
Relying solely on Amazon risks over or under-ordering. With recent ASIN-level restock limits and capacity controls, robust inventory management tools integrating predictive analytics and real-time data prove essential.
12. Amazon Inventory Missing or Lost
Lost inventory occurs through shipping errors like misrouted trailers. "A 3PL owner was involved in an incident in which a trailer was supposed to be taken to Nevada, but instead went to California."
Location mistakes affect delivery times. Finding lost packages may take weeks or months. Amazon typically requires waiting 3-7 days before declaring inventory lost.
Amazon reimburses lost inventory costs based on recent selling prices. Lost inventory may not receive full reimbursement if product prices dropped. If items resurface, Amazon returns them to the seller's account for resale.
Tip 1: Document trailer numbers and Bills of Lading for tracking lost shipments.
Tip 2: Work with service providers offering automatic missing stock ticket support or manual documentation assistance. SPACEGOATS checks automatically monthly.
FAQ
What are the 12 main Amazon FBA inventory types?
The 12 inventory statuses Amazon tracks are: Fulfillable (ready to sell), Inbound (being shipped to Amazon), Reserved (in transit between centers or being processed), Researching (Amazon investigating discrepancy), Unfulfillable (defective/expired), Stranded (listing inactive), Working (orders being picked), Customer-Returned, Lost, Damaged, Reimbursed (Amazon paid out), and Sellable but Not Active.
What is stranded inventory on Amazon FBA?
Stranded inventory is physical stock at Amazon warehouses that cannot be sold because the listing is inactive — common reasons include listing suspension, missing compliance docs, price errors, or pricing rules that paused the listing. Stranded inventory still accrues storage fees but generates no revenue. Resolve via the Stranded Inventory report in Seller Central.
Why is my inventory marked as Reserved?
Reserved status means inventory is in Amazon's custody but temporarily unavailable for orders. The three sub-statuses are: Customer Order Processing (in cart or recently sold), FC Transfer (moving between fulfillment centers), and FC Processing (receiving, inspection, restocking). Reserved inventory typically resolves within 1-14 days; longer durations indicate problems.
How does Amazon handle lost or damaged FBA inventory?
Amazon reimburses for lost or damaged inventory based on recent average selling price minus FBA fees. Lost inventory must be reported within 30 days of Amazon's discovery (auto-investigation kicks in after 30 days warehouse delay). Damaged inventory falls into "unfulfillable" status; sellers can request removal, disposal, or liquidation.
What is unfulfillable inventory and how do I handle it?
Unfulfillable inventory is stock Amazon won't sell to customers — usually defective, expired, customer-damaged returns, or warehouse-damaged. Options: request removal back to your address (per-unit fee), liquidation (Amazon sells at discount), disposal (Amazon discards for a fee), or automated long-term liquidation rules. Long-term storage fees apply if left in warehouse.
How can I avoid Amazon FBA storage fees on stuck inventory?
Several strategies: (1) Set automated removal rules for inventory aged 180+ days, (2) Run targeted PPC campaigns to clear slow movers, (3) Use Amazon's Outlet Deals or Coupons to liquidate, (4) Enroll in FBA Liquidations program (Amazon sells at deep discount, you collect 5-10 percent), (5) Stop sending new units until existing stock sells. Storage fees compound monthly and spike October-December.
What's the difference between Fulfillable and Sellable?
Fulfillable means inventory is physically present, undamaged, and listed at an active price that Amazon will accept. Sellable but not active means inventory is present and undamaged but the listing itself is paused (suspended, gated, deactivated by Amazon). All Fulfillable inventory is Sellable; not all Sellable inventory is currently Fulfillable.
How often should I audit my Amazon FBA inventory?
At minimum: weekly review of the Stranded Inventory report and Customer Returns. Monthly: full inventory health check using the Inventory Performance Index (IPI), aged inventory report, and reimbursement claims. Quarterly: review storage fees by ASIN to identify candidates for removal. High-volume sellers benefit from automated alerts via Amazon's Inventory Planning tools or third-party services.
Tired of stranded inventory? SPACEGOATS manages your full Amazon FBA operations across 12+ marketplaces — inventory health, reimbursements, and growth all handled. Explore Amazon Broker Service or book a free consultation.