Four evidence types decay before the dispute window closes: carrier POD images (30–120 day carrier retention), product listings (edited continuously — the order-date version is what matters), session data (log rotation), and policy versions. The fix is capture-forward: snapshot everything defensible at order/fulfillment time, retain 150+ days, and let disputes draw from the archive instead of racing the purge clocks.
The decay clocks
- Carrier POD images: carriers retain delivery photos/signatures 30–120 days depending on carrier and service. A February dispute on a November order can find the image already purged — the single most valuable 13.1 exhibit, gone.
- Listings: the quality-dispute standard is what the listing said *on the order date*. Continuous catalog edits mean dispute-time screenshots prove the wrong version.
- Session data: IP/device records rotate out of many analytics stacks in 30–90 days — there goes the fraud-code identity linkage.
- Policies: return windows change seasonally (holiday extensions); the version binding a dispute is the one displayed at purchase.
Capture-forward architecture
At order: session snapshot (IP, device, AVS/CVV results), listing state for ordered SKUs, active policy version. At fulfillment: tracking registration for delivery-event capture. At delivery: pull and store the POD image *immediately* — don't leave it on the carrier's purge schedule. Retain everything 150+ days.
Building this yourself is a real data project — which is why it's the core of what Aurai automates: connected stores get order-time capture and delivery-time POD retrieval as standing infrastructure, so every dispute draws from a complete archive regardless of when it files. The win rate difference between complete and decayed evidence is the product.
Frequently asked questions
How long do carriers keep proof-of-delivery images?
30–120 days by carrier and service level — often shorter than the 120-day dispute window. Pull and store POD at delivery time, not dispute time.
What single capture has the highest dispute value?
The delivery-time POD image for physical goods; the order-date listing snapshot for quality-dispute-prone catalogs. Both decay on clocks you don't control.
Post reflects public documentation and industry surveys as of the publish date. Win rates and other figures are indicative ranges, not guarantees and not Aurai results; outcomes vary by merchant, evidence, and issuer. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Stripe, PayPal, and Shopify are trademarks of their respective owners; Aurai is independent and not endorsed by any of them. Network rules change — always verify current official rules before acting on any specific tactic.