You might be wondering why we would discuss things to hate about Amazon FBA. After all, one of the main articles of this website is about selling on Amazon FBA. While it is a potentially lucrative business model, some things can drive you nuts along the way.
Seller Support can Make you Hate Amazon FBA
Unfortunately, the people you will likely need to reach out to for help can make your life difficult. And when they make your life difficult, they are anything but helpful. Here are a few examples.
1. Documentation for Professional Seller’s Account
When first signing up for a Professional Seller’s Account, you’ll be asked to submit documentation. This documentation includes identification and financial statements. Hopefully, you provide those documents, and it satisfies their requirements. But if you don’t, don’t expect any help with letting you know why.
They will send you a useless email. It will state Amazon was unable to verify the information provided. And it will request you resubmit the information. But it won’t give you any indication of what is wrong.
So then you open a case with Seller Support. Seller Support’s response isn’t helpful either. “We cannot give you more information about this matter, and we may not reply to further emails about this decision.”
And after three submissions of your documents, even better news.
So now you’ve been rejected. And you can’t use the store name you decided on. Even though they told you that you wouldn’t be allowed to sell on Amazon, they create a store with that name so you can’t use it again.
The only way to move forward is to use another email address and verify the documents you are submitting. A good reason to hate Amazon FBA. But there are others.
2. Approval to Sell for Subcategory
Your account is open. You found a great product. Additionally, you checked your competitor’s products for any listing limitations. And you selected the correct category. Finally, your product is at Amazon, and the listing is live.
After about a week, you check your account, and your inventory is “stranded.” You check to see why and it says you need the approval to sell in a subcategory you didn’t select.
None of your competitor’s products require this approval. And your product doesn’t even fit the category you need approval. So you contact Seller Support.
You explain you did everything to ensure you could sell the product. You also tell Seller Support that none of your competitors have this requirement. Their response is a canned email stating you need the approval to sell in the subcategory. Your product isn’t stranded, you are stranded!
Regardless of how many times you try to explain the issue, which any reasonable human should understand, all you get is a canned response. I haven’t heard of a proper resolution for this one. You can apply for approval. But if your product doesn’t fit the category they say it does, you may not be able to provide the documents they want anyway.
If anyone has success getting Amazon to fix this situation, please let us know how int he comments below.
3. Constantly changing rules
Amazon is a fast-moving business. So it is somewhat understandable that things are going to change. But for several third-party sellers on Amazon, it is just one segment of their small business.
These small business owners may find it challenging to keep up with the ever-changing world of Amazon. They have the best of intentions, but they can only do so much.
Summary of Things to Hate about Amazon FBA
The situations above are only a few of the negatives associated with selling on Amazon. While it can be a lucrative business to be a part of, it can be very frustrating at times.
Do you have other negative experiences selling on Amazon? Please share them in the comments below.