How to create removal orders for unsellable FBA inventory

Understanding Unsellable Inventory

Before we dive into the process of creating removal orders, it’s essential to understand what constitutes unsellable inventory. Unsellable inventory refers to products that are:

1. Defective: Products with manufacturing defects, cosmetic damage, or functional issues that cannot be sold.
2. Outdated: Products that are no longer relevant or have been discontinued.
3. Perishable: Products with a short shelf life, such as food or beverages.
4. Not compliant: Products that fail to meet Amazon’s policies, guidelines, or regulations.
5. Overstocked: Products that are beyond the optimal storage capacity of your warehouse or storage facility.

Identifying Unsellable Inventory

To identify unsellable inventory, you can use various methods:

1. Regular Inventory Audits: Conduct regular inventory audits to identify slow-moving or dead stock.
2. FBA Inventory Performance Reports: Use Amazon’s FBA Inventory Performance Reports to track sales and inventory levels.
3. Customer Feedback: Monitor customer feedback and reviews to identify products with low demand or poor quality.
4. Product Research Tools: Utilize product research tools like Jungle Scout, Helium 10, or AMZScout to analyze product trends and demand.

Creating Removal Orders

Once you’ve identified unsellable inventory, it’s time to create removal orders. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Prepare Your Inventory

Before creating removal orders, ensure you have the necessary information:

1. Inventory List: Create a list of the unsellable inventory items, including the product name, quantity, and ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number).
2. Reason for Removal: Specify the reason for removal (e.g., defective, outdated, not compliant).

2. Create a Removal Order

Log in to your Amazon Seller Central account and navigate to the “Inventory” tab.

1. Select the Inventory Type: Choose “FBA” as the inventory type.
2. Select the Warehouse Location: Choose the correct warehouse location where the unsellable inventory is stored.
3. Add Items: Select the unsellable inventory items from your list and add them to the removal order.

3. Specify the Removal Order Details

Provide additional details for the removal order:

1. Reason for Removal: Specify the reason for removal (e.g., defective, outdated, not compliant).
2. Quantity: Enter the quantity of each item being removed.
3. Handling Instructions: Specify any special handling instructions for the removal (e.g., dispose of defective products).

4. Review and Confirm

Review your removal order carefully to ensure accuracy:

1. Verify Item List: Verify that all items are correct and accurate.
2. Check Quantity: Confirm the quantity of each item being removed.
3. Confirm Handling Instructions: Review any special handling instructions.

5. Submit the Removal Order

Submit your removal order for processing:

1. Click “Submit”: Click the “Submit” button to submit your removal order.
2. Receive Confirmation Email: Receive a confirmation email from Amazon once your removal order is processed.

After submitting a removal order:

1. Amazon Processing: Amazon will process your removal order and remove the unsellable inventory from your storage.
2. Inventory Adjustment: Amazon will update your inventory levels accordingly.
3. Disposal or Destruction: Amazon will dispose or destroy the unsellable inventory according to their policies and guidelines.

Best Practices for Managing Unsellable Inventory

To minimize losses and optimize your inventory management:

1. Regularly Monitor Inventory Levels: Regularly monitor your inventory levels to identify potential issues early on.
2. Conduct Regular Inventory Audits: Conduct regular inventory audits to identify slow-moving or dead stock.
3. Keep Accurate Records: Keep accurate records of your inventory levels, sales, and customer feedback to inform your decision-making.
4. Implement Inventory Management Tools: Utilize inventory management tools like InventoryLab or ZIK Analytics to streamline your inventory management process.