Why does the P&L report not match Amazon Seller/Vendor Central exactly?

MerchantSpring’s P&L reports are built using Amazon financial event data retrieved through Amazon’s APIs. While this data originates from Amazon, it may not always match the numbers displayed directly in Seller Central or Vendor Central at a specific moment.

This difference is usually due to how Amazon processes and displays financial data, rather than an error in MerchantSpring.

Common Reasons for Differences

1. Different Reporting Dates

Amazon interfaces often display data based on:

Order date
Shipment date

MerchantSpring financial reports typically use the posted financial event date.

Because of this, events may appear in different reporting periods.

2. Timing of Financial Adjustments

Amazon frequently posts financial adjustments after the original transaction.

Examples include:

Refund corrections
Fee adjustments
Reimbursements
Promotional rebates

These may appear days or weeks later.

3. Settlement Timing

Amazon settlements group financial events into payout cycles. MerchantSpring processes individual financial events instead of relying solely on settlement totals.

This provides more granular reporting but can create temporary differences when comparing views.

4. Data Processing Differences

Amazon’s UI often aggregates data differently from its APIs.

MerchantSpring relies on API-level financial event data to build detailed reporting.

Best Practices When Comparing Reports

When reconciling MerchantSpring with Amazon:

Compare data over longer periods (e.g., monthly) rather than daily
Allow time for Amazon to post adjustments
Review financial event breakdowns rather than summary totals

Notes:

Minor discrepancies during the month are normal.
Financial adjustments can change historical profit figures.
Reports will typically reconcile once Amazon posts all related financial events.

If you believe a discrepancy is unusually large or persistent, please contact support@merchantspring.com.au for further investigation.