Amazon post-audit claims are financial recoveries raised after transactions are completed, often weeks, months or yesrs later. These claims are not arbitrary. They stem from discrepancies between commercial agreements, system data, and execution.
For vendors, post-audit claims can be confusing because they don’t follow the same visibility or timing as standard deductions. Understanding why these claims exist is critical before attempting any dispute or recovery.
This article explains the most common Amazon post-audit claim types, supported by real-world examples, so vendors know what they’re dealing with.
Table of Contents
What Are Amazon Post-Audit Claims?
Post-audit claims are adjustments Amazon raises after reviewing historical data against:
- Signed agreements
- Promotional funding terms
- Pricing and cost systems
- Logistics and fulfillment commitments
Unlike real-time charges, these claims are generated once Amazon reconciles actual execution versus contractual intent.
Why Amazon Conducts Post-Audits
Amazon’s audits exist to correct situations where:
- Agreements were set up incorrectly
- Turnover was underreported
- Promotions executed differently than planned
- Pricing or cost data conflicted across systems
At Amazon’s scale, even small setup gaps can lead to material funding differences — which later surface as post-audit claims.
Key Types of Amazon Post-Audit Claims (With Examples)
1. Rebate Claims (Allowance-Based Post-Audit Claims)
Rebate claims are tied to commercial allowance agreements calculated as a percentage of net receipts. These allowances may include:
- Damage allowance
- Freight allowance
- Co-op allowance
- Subscribe & Save allowance
Agreements are created, signed, and expected to capture total eligible turnover for the defined period.
How Rebate Post-Audit Claims Are Generated
Rebate claims commonly arise when agreements do not capture the full scope of vendor activity.
Example 1: Missing Vendor Code in Agreement
An allowance agreement is set up for Vendor Code A, but Vendor Code B (selling the same ASINs) is mistakenly excluded.
- Agreement bills rebate only on Vendor Code A turnover
- Vendor Code B generates sales during the same period
- Amazon later audits total activity and identifies the gap
Amazon raises a post-audit claim applying the same rebate percentage to Vendor Code B’s turnover.
Example 2: Turnover Mismatch
An agreement bills rebate on $1,000,000 in turnover.
Amazon’s system later identifies net receipts of $1,100,000 for the same period.
The additional $100,000 was never billed under the agreement.
Amazon raises a post-audit claim for the missing rebate funding on that amount.
2. Flex Agreement Claims (Promotional Funding Claims)
Flex agreements apply to temporary promotions where vendors fund per-unit discounts. Funding is calculated based on:
- Units sold during the promotion
- Customer orders (excluding cancellations)
How Flex Post-Audit Claims Are Generated
Flex claims often surface when promotion execution and agreement capture don’t align.
Example 1: ASIN Misclassified as “-1 Vendor”
During a promotion, certain ASINs lose their vendor-code linkage — often due to:
- Inventory transfers between warehouses
- System mapping issues
These ASINs get categorized as “-1 vendor”, meaning their sales are not captured by the flex agreement.
The promotion still ran, customers received discounts, but the agreement didn’t bill funding.
Amazon later identifies the missed promotional sales and raises a post-audit claim to recover the unfunded discount amount.
Example 2: Promotion Runs Longer Than Agreed
A promotion is scheduled for 10 days, but due to system or scheduling issues, it runs for 15 days.
- Items continue selling at a discounted price
- Customers receive the benefit for 5 extra days
Amazon audits the execution and raises a post-audit claim for all units sold at discount during the additional 5 days, since funding was never agreed for that extended period.
3. Bulk Buy Claims
Bulk buy claims relate to discounted purchase orders where vendors commit to supplying higher volumes at reduced cost.
How Bulk Buy Post-Audit Claims Are Generated
Bulk buy claims occur when vendors do not fulfill the agreed bulk quantities, but still ship regular orders at higher prices.
Example
- Vendor agrees to supply 1,000 units at $10 per unit (bulk pricing)
- Vendor ships only 500 units at $10
- Remaining 500 bulk units are unfulfilled or down-confirmed later
- Vendor then ships 1,500 regular units at $15 per unit
Amazon determines that the vendor failed to honor the bulk buy commitment.
A post-audit claim is raised for the 500 unshipped bulk units, representing the lost discount Amazon expected.
4. Pricing Claims
Pricing claims arise when Amazon identifies discrepancies between:
- Invoiced cost
- Agreed cost
- Amazon’s internal cost system
If the same ASIN is invoiced at different costs on the same day — or if Amazon’s system reflects a lower cost — Amazon raises a claim for the variance.
5. Price Protection Claims
When a vendor reduces cost, Amazon requires price protection on:
- On-hand inventory
- In-transit units
- Transferred units
If protection is not applied correctly, Amazon raises post-audit claims.
Example:
Cost reduced from $20 to $18
Inventory = 10 on-hand + 10 in-transit units
Claim = 20 × ($20 − $18) = $40
6. Freight on Returns / Customer Return Claims
If supplier contracts specify that return freight is vendor-funded, Amazon may raise post-audit claims for:
- Minimum freight charges
- Return logistics costs
These are often billed later if not invoiced at the time of return.
Why Vendors Often Miss Post-Audit Claims
Vendors frequently overlook these claims because:
- They surface long after execution
- They don’t resemble standard deductions
- They’re tied to historical agreements
- Multiple systems and vendor codes are involved
By the time claims are noticed, recovery windows may already be narrowing.
Can Amazon Post-Audit Claims Be Disputed?
Yes. Many post-audit claims can be disputed and partially recovered, depending on:
- Agreement setup accuracy
- Execution evidence
- Contract terms
- Timing
Recoveries are rarely 100%, but meaningful amounts are often recoverable when reviewed correctly.
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Below are commonly asked questions about Amazon post-audit claims, why they occur, and how vendors are affected.