What is Amazon FBA Stranded Inventory & How to Handle It
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Do you have products stuck in Amazon's storage? The reason for that can be that your inventory is stranded. Amazon is a huge online marketplace with lots of customers, so it's a great place to sell your products. But sometimes your items can get stuck in their storage, and people can't buy them.
In this post, we'll talk about why this happens and give you tips on how to fix the stranded inventory. Whether you're a new or experienced seller on Amazon, we'll help you learn how to deal with stranded inventory and sell more.
What Is Amazon Stranded Inventory?
Amazon stranded inventory refers to FBA products that are currently stored in fulfillment centers but cannot be offered for sale to customers because they have been separated or disconnected from their original listing. That can occur when the product listing has been removed; the product has been discontinued by the seller; or due to issues with product information, such as incorrect SKUs or barcodes.
When inventory becomes stranded, it cannot be sold to customers until the issue is resolved and the products are relisted or removed from the fulfillment center. Stranded inventory ties up storage space, which can lead to additional fees from Amazon. In addition, even if your inventory remains inactive and unsellable, Amazon will charge you monthly storage fees. Neglecting to monitor stranded inventory can result in a number of costly fees, including monthly inventory storage fees, FBA long-term storage fees, and FBA inventory storage overage fees. Therefore, it is crucial for sellers to regularly monitor their inventory and take action to address any stranded inventory as quickly as possible.
Related: Amazon Inventory Management
Why Is Your Inventory Stranded?
There are several reasons why Amazon stranded inventory may occur. In order to prevent stranded inventory, it is vital for sellers to regularly review their inventory and listings and to promptly address any issues that arise. That can help minimize the risk of inventory becoming stranded, which can save sellers both time and money.
The most common reasons for stranded inventory
Listing error
When your inventory isn't connected to any active ASIN or the listing was deleted by mistake, you can face stranded inventory. That can be fixed by relisting or contacting seller support. Errors in a product's listing, such as incorrect SKUs, barcodes, or product information, can also cause inventory to become stranded.
Pricing errors
Stranded inventory happens when Amazon suppresses your listing if the price is considered too high or too low. That can be resolved by setting a minimum and maximum price in your manage inventory section.
Restricted ASIN
When Amazon limits the sale of an ASIN due to intellectual property violations, product quality, or safety issues, it is classified as restricted and can be a reason for the stranded inventory. In such a case, Amazon will send you a notification with the exact reason.
Note: Seller Assistant App helps you make sure that the item you want to sell is not in a restricted category or brand. The extension has a unique IP Alert system that warns you if there are any products that could hurt your account health. If a product has triggered account health previously, the extension shows a Red Triangle icon in the notification bar. Seller Assistant App’s compliance database is updated daily to give you the latest information.
Related: Seller Assistant App Extension Review
Seller Assistant App — the Ultimate Tool for Amazon Online Arbitrage
Suspended listing
If Amazon suspends your listing due to missing information or a high number of returns, among other factors, that can lead to stranded inventory.
Brand qualification requirements
The inventory may become stranded when a product needs prior approval from the brand or an authorized distributor.
Expired product
If your item has a passed expiration date, it will be removed from your inventory by Amazon, and it will be marked as stranded. If that happens, you must take the item away from the fulfillment center.
Deleted listing
If you delete a listing right after you’re sold out, the customer returned or lost inventory will be stranded.
Packaging issues
If there are issues with the packaging, such as incorrect or missing labels, it can cause inventory to become stranded.
Account suspension
If a seller's account is suspended, their inventory may become stranded until the suspension is resolved.
Technical glitches
Technical glitches on Amazon's platform can also cause inventory to become stranded, although this is relatively rare.
Difference Between Stranded and Unfulfillable Inventory
Stranded inventory and unfulfillable inventory are two distinct types of inventory issues that can arise in an Amazon seller account.
Stranded inventory refers to inventory that is temporarily unable to be sold due to a specific issue, such as a pricing error, listing error, or a product requiring prior approval. Stranded inventory remains in Amazon's warehouse but cannot be listed for sale until the issue is resolved. In most cases, stranded inventory can be easily fixed by taking appropriate actions, such as relisting or contacting seller support.
However, unfulfillable inventory refers to permanently unsellable inventory, either due to damage or expiration. This inventory cannot be listed for sale, and Amazon will not return it to the seller. Unfulfillable inventory is either disposed of by Amazon or sent to a liquidator.
Related: Amazon Unfulfillable Inventory: Complete Guide
How to Identify Stranded Inventory?
If you have any stranded inventory, you will see it in your Seller Central. To find stranded inventory in Seller Central, follow the steps below.
Finding stranded inventory step by step
- Step 1. Log in to your Seller Central account.
- Step 2. Click on "Inventory" from the main menu.
- Step 3. Click on "Manage Inventory" from the drop-down menu.
- Step 4. In the "Stranded Inventory" tab, you will see a list of all your stranded inventory, along with the reason why the inventory is stranded.
Note: If you don't have any stranded inventory, the tab will not be visible. If you do have stranded inventory, you can take action to resolve the issues causing the inventory to be stranded, such as relisting or contacting seller support.
How to Fix Stranded Inventory?
It's essential to address stranded inventory as soon as possible, as it can result in lost sales and additional fees. By following the steps below, you can quickly resolve any issues causing your inventory to become stranded on Amazon.
To fix stranded inventory on Amazon, there are several options depending on the specific reason why the inventory is stranded. In some cases, you may need to remove the inventory and list your product with new stock, while in others, you may need to file a case and reach out to Seller Support.
To initiate the process of fixing stranded inventory, you can follow these steps on your Seller Central dashboard.
Steps to fixing Amazon stranded inventory
- Step 1. Go to the Manage FBA Inventory section. If you have any stranded inventory, a new tab appears on the horizontal menu bar titled "Fix stranded inventory (number of stranded ASINs)."
- Step 2. Click on the "Fix stranded inventory" tab to see the ASIN/SKU for which the corresponding stock is stranded. You can see the stranded inventory entry along with SKU, ASIN, FNSKU, and other details.
- Step 3. For further guidance on your next course of action, hover over the cause of the inventory being stranded to access additional details and instructions from Amazon.
Note. If the suggested action is to create a removal order, be aware that this may not be the best option. It will remove the inventory from the fulfillment center and dispatch it back to you or dispose of it. If you don't get any other option to fix the stranded inventory, get in touch with the Seller Support team for further assistance.
Final Thoughts
Managing your Amazon FBA inventory is crucial to the success of your online business. Stranded inventory can happen for various reasons, but it can be resolved quickly and efficiently with the right steps and knowledge.
By monitoring your inventory regularly and promptly taking action on any issues, you can minimize the chances of stranded inventory in the future. With this guide on how to fix Amazon FBA stranded inventory, you can rest assured that your business will continue to thrive in Amazon's marketplace.
Alongside effective inventory management, sellers must not forget about researching high-profit products to sell. Seller Assistant Аpp will effectively and reliably help you with this task. This all-in-one extension incorporates all features vital for product research. Seller Assistant App shows you the product’s profit, margin, and ROI. It also helps you immediately see if a product has any sales restrictions or has previously triggered problems with account health. It combines an FBM&FBA profit calculator, Quick View, Stock Checker, and Restrictions Checker in one tool.
