I’ve held back from posting something like this, but after years of frustration and now facing outright absurd restrictions, I’ve had enough.
I’ve been selling on Amazon for over five years. I’m Brand Registered, I know how to work with flat files, feed templates, and everything else that comes with managing a large catalogue of listings. I sell raw materials, and all my listings use dimensional variations like 100mm x 50mm, 200mm x 100mm, and so on.
For years, these products have been listed using Amazon’s “Size Name” variation theme. But suddenly, that no longer is an option to me due to being greyed out on the variation spread sheets (back end feed files). I can’t add new variations, I can’t update existing ones, not because I’m doing anything wrong, but because the attribute box that should allow me to enter the variation value is now greyed out. It’s there, but unusable. I’ve tried downloading fresh category templates, reformatting files, even attempting manual uploads through the backend it’s the same every time.
Amazon has disabled functionality that used to be standard. I’ve got listings that have been live for years and now I can’t even add another size because Amazon won’t allow me to use a variation theme they previously approved. That said its still there just Greyed out to me.
I contacted support. Waste of time. You get the usual copy-paste tutorials from someone who clearly hasn’t read your case. If you’re lucky, you’re redirected to Brand Registry support… who then sends you back to Seller Support. And around we go.
This is just the latest in a long line of nonsense. Let me paint the full picture:
Over the past 2 years, I’ve dealt with:
Shipments mysteriously “counted and confirmed” as complete — even though Amazon later asks for invoices for the exact same units they said were received.
Reimbursement claims repeatedly rejected, even with flawless documentation. I had one case go through five rejections before finally being approved with no changes in evidence. It was the exact same documents — just a different agent who apparently decided to actually look.
Weight discrepancy excuses - Amazon has denied claims because the delivery weight scanned by UPS didn’t match the weight in the shipping plan, as if that somehow proves inventory wasn’t sent. I use Amazon’s partnered carrier. I pack everything myself. I have a 0.00% inbound defect rate. But somehow, a 16kg discrepancy gives them grounds to ignore the entire shipment.
Let’s not forget when they claimed my missing products were substituted with different ASINs completely unrelated to my brand. They told me I could just list those instead, despite the fact I’m brand registered and can’t sell someone else’s protected product. That suggestion alone shows how little care or knowledge exists behind the support desk.
And when Amazon did finally update their reimbursement policy, moving from paying based on average sale price to cost price only they began rejecting even that. I upload invoices matching my exact sourcing cost, and I’m told they’re not acceptable. Why? Because they apparently now prefer to compare my pricing to other sellers’ unrelated listings, even though I manufacture my own branded products that nobody else sells.
It’s so painfully obvious they’re making up the rules as they go.
In one shipment, 129 units were marked as having a "case pack error" and therefore “couldn’t be recovered.” Then, in the same case, I was told the tracking number didn’t even show delivery. How is that possible? Either the stock arrived and was mishandled, or it never got there. It can’t be both.
And when I respond to these contradictions, they close the case saying “no response received.” Even when I reply on time. Even when the case thread shows my reply.
I have tried to be professional. I’ve complied with everything. I’ve provided invoices, delivery records, product evidence even explanations for how my raw materials are processed in-house, which Amazon has accepted before. Yet I’m repeatedly asked to submit the same documents again and again, only to be met with silence, rejections, or worse: cases auto-closed.
What’s really happening here? Amazon is slowly tightening the noose on small businesses.
They block you from listing your own products,
deny reimbursements through technicalities,
rewrite their own rules and policies,
then gaslight you into thinking it’s your fault.
I’d appreciate it if you could advise further on my latest issue with the Variation black out attributes
Thanks
Another frustrated seller
