As Amazon sellers, we rely heavily on accurate data from Amazon’s Selling Partner API (SP-API) to manage our inventory, fulfillment, and removal processes. However, we’ve recently encountered inconsistencies with the GET_FBA_FULFILLMENT_REMOVAL_SHIPMENT_DETAIL_DATA reports that we believe many other sellers might be experiencing as well.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the issue, share our findings, and discuss possible steps to address the problem.
The Issue at Hand
When generating removal shipment detail reports for a specific date range, we’ve noticed that the number of records returned can vary significantly depending on when the report is requested. This inconsistency persists even after following Amazon’s recommendation to wait at least 72 hours after the end date before generating the report.
What Does This Mean?
• Inaccurate Reporting: The data you receive today might differ from the data you receive next week for the same date range.
• Operational Challenges: Inconsistent data affects inventory management, financial reporting, and overall operational planning.
Impact on Sellers
These inconsistencies can have significant repercussions:
• Inventory Management: Inaccurate data can lead to overstocking or stockouts.
• Financial Reporting: Discrepancies affect calculations related to inventory costs and removal fees.
• Operational Planning: Inconsistent data hampers decision-making regarding fulfillment strategies.
Possible Causes
While there’s no official statement from Amazon addressing this specific issue, several factors might contribute:
1. Data Processing Delays
Amazon’s systems might experience delays in processing removal transactions, causing reports generated earlier to miss some data.
2. System Updates
Periodic updates or maintenance might affect data availability temporarily.
3. API Limitations
There could be limitations or bugs within the SP-API that result in incomplete data retrieval.
What Can Sellers Do?
If you’re facing similar issues, consider the following steps:
1. Wait Longer Before Generating Reports
While Amazon recommends a 72-hour wait, consider extending this period to a week or more to ensure all data is captured.
2. Cross-Verify with Internal Records
Maintain your own records of removal orders and shipments to compare against Amazon’s reports.
3. Generate Reports Multiple Times
Request the same report at different intervals to check for discrepancies and gather the most complete data set.
4. Share Your Experiences
Engage with seller communities or forums to see if others are experiencing the same issue and share potential solutions.
Our Approach
We’ve taken the following steps in response to this issue:
• Documentation: Carefully recorded instances of inconsistencies to identify patterns.
• Verification: Ensured that our API requests and parameters remain consistent.
• Communication: Reached out to other sellers to gather more information.
Conclusion
Data inconsistencies in Amazon’s SP-API reports pose a challenge for sellers who depend on accurate information for their operations. While we await a resolution, staying vigilant and proactive can help mitigate some of the impact.
Join the Conversation
Have you experienced similar issues with Amazon’s reports? We’d love to hear from you. Share your experiences in the comments below or reach out to us directly.