Running a business on Amazon can be a rewarding experience, but even seasoned sellers run into challenges now and then. One of the more frustrating issues that pop up is Amazon stranded inventory. It happens when your products are physically sitting in Amazon’s fulfillment centers but aren’t available for customers to buy.
The good news? Once you understand the reasons why inventory gets stranded, you can usually fix the problem quickly. In this article, we’ll explore the most common causes of stranded inventory, how to spot it in your account, and the steps you can take to resolve it so you don’t lose potential sales.
What Does Stranded Inventory Mean?
Simply put, stranded inventory refers to stock that is stuck in an Amazon warehouse without being listed for sale. You’re paying storage fees for those items, but they’re invisible to shoppers. This creates a lose-lose situation: customers can’t buy, and you can’t make sales.
For intermediate sellers, stranded inventory is usually less about not knowing what it is, and more about knowing the exact reasons why it happens and how to prevent it in the future.
How to Identify Stranded Inventory
Amazon makes it fairly straightforward to see if you have stranded units. Here’s how you do it:
- Go to Seller Central.
- Navigate to Inventory → Manage FBA Inventory.
- Select the Stranded Inventory filter.
Here you’ll see any SKUs that are marked as stranded along with a brief reason code. Understanding those codes and their implications is the first step to clearing things up.
Common Reasons for Stranded Inventory
Stranded inventory can show up for a variety of reasons, and not all of them are obvious at first glance. Sometimes the problem is as simple as a missing image, while other times it may be tied to compliance rules or policy changes that feel completely out of your control.
The key is to understand the most frequent culprits so you can quickly diagnose what’s happening when inventory gets stranded. Once you know why your items are stuck, the fix is usually straightforward. Let’s break down the most common scenarios sellers run into.
1. Listing Errors or Suppressed Listings
Amazon has strict requirements for product listings. If your listing is missing critical information like images, titles, or key attributes, Amazon may suppress it. Suppression doesn’t delete your listing, but it does make your product unavailable for sale.
Let’s say, for example, that you uploaded a new product but forgot to add a main image. Amazon automatically suppresses the listing, leaving your units stranded. The fix in this case would be to update the listing with the missing information and request reinstatement.
2. ASIN or Listing Deactivation
Sometimes Amazon deactivates an ASIN due to policy violations, safety concerns, or restricted category rules. When this happens, all inventory tied to that ASIN becomes stranded.
If you have products that get flagged because they’re missing required compliance documentation, the listing will stay inactive until you provide the necessary paperwork. Note that this can vary depending on factors such as what category your product is listed under.
3. Incomplete or Incorrect SKU Mapping
Every unit in Amazon’s warehouse must be tied to an active SKU. If your SKU doesn’t match the ASIN correctly or you accidentally delete the listing, the items lose their “connection” and become stranded.
So if you archived an old SKU thinking you’d never use it again, but still had inventory associated with it, the connection between that archived listing and the items disappears. In this case, you have to relist the SKU or create a new listing and contact Seller Support to reconnect inventory.
4. Price Errors
Amazon enforces fair pricing policies. If your price is significantly higher than recent sales history or market average, Amazon may suppress your listing to protect buyers. So if you raise your price by 50% to account for rising costs, but Amazon flagged it as unreasonable, you’ll need to adjust it to fit within Amazon’s fair pricing rules, then request reinstatement.
5. Expired or Recalled Inventory
For categories like groceries, beauty, or health products, expired inventory cannot be sold. Amazon also occasionally halts listings due to recalls. If you have items in your inventory that passed their expiration date while in storage, you’ll need to create a removal order to have the expired units returned or destroyed.
Note that if it’s a product recall, the protocol will be a bit different. If you’ve been affected by a recall, keep an eye out for and follow Amazon’s instructions for compliance.
6. Brand Registry or Intellectual Property Issues
If you sell branded products without proper authorization, the brand owner may file an IP complaint. Amazon will deactivate the listing, leaving your stock stranded. For example, if you listed a product under a trademarked brand name without brand approval, you either need to get approval from the brand, resolve the complaint, or create a generic listing if permitted.
7. Restricted Product Categories
Some categories on Amazon require approval before you can sell in them. If you list products in restricted categories without approval, your inventory becomes stranded. Apply for category approval ASAP and submit any requested documentation to complete the process.
8. FBA Policy Changes
Amazon frequently updates its policies. Occasionally, a policy update may affect a product you sell, leaving your listing inactive until you take action. So if, for example, Amazon updated compliance requirements for electronic items, and you didn’t upload the new safety certification, your listing won’t be up and your inventory will be stranded.
Stay on top of policy updates by checking out official announcements or Amazon forums and communities, and submit any new required documents promptly.
The Impact of Stranded Inventory
Having stranded inventory isn’t just a minor inconvenience. Think of it as a leak in your system: it might seem small at first, but left unchecked, it can quietly drain your profits, efficiency, and reputation. Here’s how:
Lost Sales
When your products aren’t buyable, every potential sale disappears. Even if the stranded issue lasts only a few days, the lost sales can add up quickly, especially if the product is a top seller or in high demand during a seasonal rush like Prime Day. Shoppers don’t wait around; if your listing is unavailable, they’ll simply buy from your competitors.
Higher Storage Fees
Amazon charges you to store inventory whether it’s sellable or not. So, if your items are stranded, you’re essentially paying rent for stock that’s collecting dust. Over time, this erodes your profit margin. Worse yet, if inventory remains stranded for too long, it could trigger long-term storage fees, which are significantly higher than standard monthly charges.
Lower IPI Score
Amazon uses the IPI score to measure how well you manage your inventory. Stranded inventory directly drags that score down, signaling to Amazon that you’re not optimizing your stock. A lower IPI score can have consequences such as reduced storage limits, higher fees, or restrictions on sending in more units.
For sellers looking to scale, this is especially painful. Having limited storage during peak seasons means you can’t replenish fast enough, and growth stalls.
Customer Frustration
While customers don’t know the term “stranded inventory,” they feel its effects. If someone sees your product listed one day but unavailable the next, they may lose trust in your brand. Inconsistent availability can push buyers toward competitors who appear more reliable.
Even worse, if your listing shows “currently unavailable” for weeks, repeat customers may assume you’ve stopped selling that product altogether. This can chip away at customer loyalty and brand credibility over time.
Cash Flow Problems
Stranded inventory ties up capital. You’ve already paid for the product, shipping, and FBA fees, but you’re not earning revenue from those units. For sellers who rely on steady cash flow to reorder products, this creates a bottleneck. Stranded inventory effectively freezes your money, making it harder to reinvest in new stock or scale your operations.
How to Fix Stranded Inventory
Now that we’ve covered the reasons, let’s dive into practical steps for resolution.
- Check the Reason Code: Each stranded listing in Seller Central has a reason code. This tells you why the item is stranded and gives you a starting point.
- Take the Suggested Action: Amazon often provides a one-click solution like “Relist,” “Edit Listing,” or “Request Approval.” Follow the recommendation and see if it resolves the issue.
- Relist or Reconnect Inventory: If your SKU was accidentally deleted, you can often relist it from the Manage Inventory page. In some cases, you may need to contact Seller Support to re-associate your stranded units.
- Adjust Prices: If the issue is pricing, simply modify your price to align with Amazon’s fair pricing guidelines. Once corrected, your listing usually goes live again quickly.
- Provide Documentation: For compliance-related issues, upload the required documents, whether it’s safety certifications, brand authorization letters, or category approval paperwork.
- Create Removal Orders: If the stranded items are expired, damaged, or otherwise unsellable, it’s best to remove them to save on storage fees. You can request Amazon to return or dispose of them.
Preventing Stranded Inventory
Prevention saves you time, money, and stress. Here are strategies to avoid stranded stock in the first place:
- Keep Listings Complete and Accurate: Double-check that your product listings include all required information, such as titles, bullet points, descriptions, images, and attributes.
- Monitor Pricing Regularly: Use automated repricing tools or manual checks to ensure your prices stay within Amazon’s acceptable range.
- Stay Compliant with Policies: Subscribe to Amazon’s seller newsletters and check for updates in Seller Central. Policies can change quickly, and missing an update can lead to stranded stock.
- Maintain Active SKUs: Avoid deleting or archiving SKUs until you’re 100% sure there’s no inventory tied to them.
- Manage Expiration Dates: For perishable items, monitor expiration dates closely and plan promotions or removal orders before they expire.
Tools and Resources
Amazon provides several built-in tools to help you manage stranded inventory more effectively.
- Fix Stranded Inventory Amazon Seller Central: A dashboard feature that highlights stranded SKUs and suggested fixes.
- Inventory Health Reports: Offers insights into your IPI score, stranded units, and slow-moving stock.
- Automated Removal Settings: Lets you automatically remove unsellable inventory to avoid extra fees.
There are also third-party tools that notify you when inventory gets stranded and even automate certain fixes, but Amazon’s built-in tools usually suffice for intermediate sellers.
Quick FAQs about Amazon Stranded Inventory
What’s the fastest way to fix stranded inventory?
Often, the fastest way to fix stranded inventory is simply clicking the “Relist” button in Amazon Seller Central. This could resolve the issue in minutes.
Can stranded inventory hurt my Amazon account health?
Yes, stranded inventory can hurt your Amazon account health. It affects your IPI score and can increase storage costs, both of which impact long-term account health.
How often should I check for stranded inventory on Amazon?
You should check for stranded inventory at least once a week on Amazon, though daily checks are ideal during peak seasons.
Conclusion
Stranded inventory is a common headache for Amazon sellers, but it doesn’t have to derail your business. Monitor your listings regularly, keep up with Amazon’s policies, and act quickly when issues arise. Doing so not only protects your sales but also strengthens your overall account health.
With practice, you’ll spot and resolve these issues faster, keeping your business running smoothly and your products available to customers at all times. Still, even the most diligent sellers face risks beyond stranded stock, like fake or non-compliant reviews that threaten performance metrics. That’s where TraceFuse comes in.
Contact us for a demo of our 100% white-hat review removal service. We can help you protect the hard work you put into maintaining healthy listings, so you can focus on selling, not fighting fires.
