You ship 100 units. Amazon receives only 95. Whether you can claim the difference depends on whether you have evidence.
What this rule covers
A shipment discrepancy means the quantity Amazon actually received does not match the quantity you declared in the backend.
It may be short-received, over-received, or a quantity mismatch after inbound.
Amazon has a shipment discrepancy investigation mechanism. Sellers can submit an investigation request in the backend and upload supporting documents.
Whether you get compensated depends on whether the evidence is complete and whether it was submitted within the required time limit.
For the specific process, time limits and standards, per Amazon's official rules.
Real impact on sellers
Short-received goods cannot be sold or recovered — that is a direct loss.
The discrepancy can also affect inventory data, leading to wrong restocking decisions.
Without evidence, most discrepancies can only be absorbed by the seller.
So the key to handling discrepancies is not post-event appeals — it is documenting evidence in advance.
How the logistics side supports this
The evidence chain must run from First Leg to Last Mile.
First, at First Leg outbound, take photos, weigh and record the packing list, noting the unit count per carton.
Second, when handing over to the carrier, keep signed receipt documents proving to whom the entire shipment was delivered.
Third, keep the delivery / warehouse receipt as proof of arrival at the warehouse.
Fourth, the packing list, invoice and packing photos must correspond to each other and cross-verify.
Huaqiutong's First Leg can provide outbound records and delivery receipts to help sellers complete the evidence chain.
Discrepancy investigations have a submission deadline. Past that, the platform may no longer accept them.
If the same shipment repeatedly shows discrepancies, go back and find out whether the problem is at the packing stage or the inbound stage.
| Evidence type | Provided by | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Packing list | Seller | Basis for declared quantity |
| Outbound photos / weighing | Logistics provider | Proves actual quantity shipped |
| Handover signed receipt | Logistics provider | Proves full shipment handover |
| Warehouse receipt | Carrier / warehouse | Proves arrival at warehouse |
Action checklist and common misjudgments
Checklist: count and photograph carton by carton before outbound; packing list must match the actual goods.
Keep full-chain documents: outbound, handover, inbound.
Submit an investigation within the time limit once a discrepancy is found — don't delay.
Insure high-value shipments so there is a fallback when the discrepancy is large.
Misjudgment one: deal with it later. Without outbound evidence, an appeal is basically hopeless.
Misjudgment two: all discrepancies can be compensated. If evidence is incomplete or the deadline is missed, the platform will not accept it.
