No matter how experienced you are with selling on Amazon, mistakes can happen to anyone. I recently made a rookie error that almost cost me $3,000. Fortunately, I was able to recover most of that money with the help of Helium 10’s Refund Genie. In this blog, I’ll share my experience, how I rectified the mistake, and how you can avoid similar issues. I’ll also discuss the importance of having tools like Refund Genie to safeguard your Amazon account.
My $3,000 Mistake: What Went Wrong?
To set the stage, I’ve been redoing all of the Helium 10 Pro Training Videos, which show up when you hit “Learn” in any of the tools. These videos are recorded live, so what you see is exactly what happened as I was working through the tools. During one recording, I noticed something odd. At the 1:17 mark of the Profitability Calculator video, I saw that Amazon was charging the Helium 10 Project X account for an 8-pound package.
Right away, I felt something was off. I mentioned in the video that I needed to check my alerts because I suspected Amazon might have changed my product’s dimensions. After recording, I went straight to Helium 10 Alerts. Sure enough, Amazon had changed the dimensions way back when I first launched the product in November.
How Amazon’s Error Cost Me Money
Amazon had increased my product’s height from 4 inches to 7.59 inches and the width from 7.5 inches to 9.89 inches. This small change had a significant impact on the fees I was being charged. When I used Helium 10’s Profitability Calculator to check the FBA fees, I realized I was being overcharged. Instead of the correct fee of $5.80 per unit, Amazon was charging me $7.32 per unit. Multiply that by the 2,000 units I had sold, and it added up to a whopping $3,000 overcharge.
How I Got My Money Back
The moment I realized the mistake, I measured the actual dimensions of the product box and took pictures as proof. I then contacted Amazon Seller Support with all the details, including the time Amazon had changed the dimensions, which I got from Helium 10 Alerts. Within a week, Amazon responded, agreeing to reimburse me $2,500.
You might wonder why I didn’t get the full $3,000 back. Unfortunately, Amazon only accepts claims within 90 days, so I lost out on $700. This highlights the importance of staying vigilant and regularly checking your account using tools like Refund Genie.
Lessons Learned: The Value of Helium 10 Alerts
This entire ordeal could have been avoided if I had paid attention to the alert Helium 10 sent me the day Amazon changed the dimensions. Helium 10’s Alerts notified me right away, but I failed to act. This mistake cost me $700, but it could have been worse. It’s a lesson I won’t forget, and it underscores the importance of using Amazon refund management tools to monitor your account.
Protecting Your Amazon Account
To avoid similar mistakes, I recommend that you audit your product dimensions on Amazon right now. Ensure that they match the actual dimensions, and if you find discrepancies, report them immediately. Turn on Alerts for all your products, so you’ll be notified if Amazon changes any details.
Helium 10’s Refund Genie can also help you recover money from Amazon if errors occur. Whether it’s overcharged fees, lost inventory, or other issues, having a refund manager in your corner can make a big difference.
Conclusion: Don’t Let Amazon Keep Your Money
Mistakes happen, but with the right tools and vigilance, you can minimize the impact. By regularly checking your account and using services like Helium 10’s Refund Genie, you can protect your business and recover money that Amazon might owe you. Don’t wait until it’s too late—start auditing your account today.
