What does “posted_at” mean in Amazon financial data?

The posted_at field is a timestamp used within Amazon’s financial data to indicate when a financial event was officially recorded in Amazon’s accounting system.

MerchantSpring uses this timestamp to determine when financial events should appear in financial reports and profit calculations.

Why the Posted Date Matters

Amazon transactions go through several stages before they become finalized financial records.

For example:

1. A customer places an order
2. The order is shipped
3. Amazon applies marketplace fees
4. Amazon posts the financial event

The posted_at timestamp represents step 4, when the financial transaction becomes official in Amazon’s financial ledger.

How MerchantSpring Uses posted_at

MerchantSpring assigns financial events to reporting periods based on the posted date, not the order date.

This ensures that:

• Financial reports match Amazon’s accounting records
• Settlement reconciliation remains accurate
• Adjustments appear when they are officially recorded

Example Scenario

In this case:

MerchantSpring records the financial event under May 4, because that is the posted_at date.

Notes: 

• The posted date may differ from order or shipment dates.
• Refunds and adjustments may have much later posted dates.
• This behavior is normal and reflects Amazon’s financial accounting process.

Understanding the posted_at field helps explain why financial events sometimes appear later than expected in reports.