Amazon FBA vs Seller Flex vs Easy Ship: Who Handles Returns and Claims?
Returns work differently for each fulfilment model. Here is who receives the return and how a lost return gets paid.
Many sellers use more than one fulfilment model at the same time — some stock in Amazon fulfilment centres (FC), some in a Seller Flex warehouse, some shipped with Easy Ship. Returns and claims work differently for each.
| Model | Where returns go | Lost return is paid by |
|---|---|---|
| FBA (Amazon FC) | Back to the Amazon FC | FBA reimbursement ("FBA Inventory Reimbursement – Customer Return") |
| Seller Flex | Your own warehouse (your node code, e.g. VMWS) | SAFE-T claim |
| Easy Ship / Self Ship | Your warehouse | SAFE-T claim |
How to tell which model shipped an order
The Amazon Fulfilled Shipments report (FC Fulfillment report) has an FC column with the fulfilment centre code — for example BLR7, BLR8 or AMD2 for Amazon FCs, and your own node code for Seller Flex.
Reconciling a mixed account
In the Amazon return reconciliation tool, tick your Amazon FCs under Settings → FBA / FC registration and upload the FC Fulfillment report. Refunded FBA orders are counted as returned to the FC and never become claims, while your Seller Flex and Easy Ship orders are still checked.