FBA Inbound Shipment Problems on Amazon UK: Stuck, Short or Flagged
Most inbound problems trace back to what went in the box, how it was labelled, or simply how long Amazon takes to receive it. This guide covers the common ones, what Seller Central shows you, and when to wait versus when to open a case.
Give a shipment time to finish receiving before you chase it. Once it closes, compare shipped against received by SKU. If units are missing and Amazon's own investigation does not resolve it, open a case from the shipment with your packing list, proof of delivery and invoices. Most inbound flags can be prevented at the packing stage.
Shipment statuses, roughly
| Status | What it means | Your move |
|---|---|---|
| Working / Ready to ship | Created but not yet handed to the carrier | Check quantities and labels before it leaves |
| Shipped / In transit | With the carrier | Keep the tracking and proof of collection |
| Delivered / Checked in | At the fulfilment centre, not yet scanned into stock | Wait; this can take a while in busy periods |
| Receiving | Units are being scanned in | Wait; partial quantities are normal here |
| Closed | Amazon has finished receiving | Reconcile shipped against received |
Labels vary a little between the Send to Amazon workflow and older shipment pages. Amazon publishes expected receiving times on its help pages and they stretch in the run-up to Christmas, so plan peak shipments early.
Stuck in checked in or receiving
A shipment that shows delivered but barely moves is the most common worry and usually the least serious. Fulfilment centres receive in batches and pallets can wait. Before you contact Seller Support, check that the carrier's proof of delivery matches the fulfilment centre on the shipment, and that Amazon has not asked you for anything in the shipment's notifications. Contact support once the shipment is outside Amazon's published receiving window, with the shipment ID and proof of delivery ready.
Closed short
- Open the shipment and look at the contents tab: units shipped and units received for each SKU.
- Amazon often reconciles discrepancies itself after closing. Check whether a reconciliation is in progress or already reimbursed before you file anything.
- If a shortfall stays open, use the option on the shipment to request an investigation, inside Amazon's time limit.
- Attach what proves the units existed and were sent: supplier invoice, your packing list by box, carrier proof of delivery with box or pallet count and weights.
A shortfall can also be a labelling mix-up, where units were received against a different SKU in the same shipment. If one SKU is short and another is over by a similar amount, say so in the case.
Prep and labelling flags
Amazon records problems it finds on arrival, such as missing or unreadable labels, units that needed prep and did not have it, wrong box contents information, or cartons over size and weight limits. Depending on the issue Amazon may do the work and charge you, delay receiving, or refuse the units, and repeat problems can lead to limits on future shipments. Check the inbound performance section in Seller Central after each shipment closes.
- One FNSKU label per unit, covering any manufacturer barcode, scannable and flat.
- Box contents information entered accurately, box by box.
- Prep (polybags, suffocation warnings, bubble wrap, sets marked as sets) done to Amazon's current requirements for the category.
- Carton weights and dimensions inside the current limits, with heavy-box labels where needed.
- A photo of each open box before sealing, filed against the shipment ID.
Using a prep centre
If a prep centre packs for you, the same rules apply and Amazon will hold you, not them, responsible. Ask for their box photos and packing list per shipment and keep them with your own records. Our guide on when to use a prep centre covers the trade-offs.
Shortfalls that do not resolve feed straight into reimbursement checks: see FBA reimbursement claims: how to check. Capacity can also stop a shipment being created at all; see FBA capacity limits.
If you are just setting up, the free UK FBA Starter Framework is a 47-step checklist that covers the account, tools and first shipments. The £29 Amazon FBA Playbook goes further on the admin side: the weekly report routine, cash flow and how to keep stock moving.
Sources
- Amazon Seller Central UK Help: “Send to Amazon”, “Shipment status”, “FBA packaging and prep requirements” and “FBA product labelling requirements” (login required).
- Amazon Seller Central UK Help: “Inbound performance” and “FBA inbound shipment reconciliation and investigation” (login required).
- Amazon Seller Central UK Help: “FBA inventory reimbursement policy” (login required).
Amazon Seller Central help pages need a seller login, so we cite them by page title. Reviewed 27 October 2026. This article is general guidance, not a statement of Amazon's policy; Amazon's current wording always takes precedence.