Is amazon the worst ever system?
Hi there,
Gosh it has been a so frustrative experience handling all Amazon’s procedures registering, sending all necessary files, ticking all the boxes as if we are actually opening a physical store and eventually we managed to open a business account.
We thought that creating a FBA shipment would be a good idea.
After our registration we added off course that our company is based in Cyprus and that our VAT is from Cyprus.
Then we packaged / send / delivered 6 skates that we produce as a brand without never being asked through the FBA shipment form to include a UK VAT number.
I mean this should had been obligatory so that we and people can understand.
If we were asked do you have a UK VAT, we would had said NO and finish with it.
A total waste of time for both sides.
There can be a system that guides people through it’s procedures and a system that is lacking (Amazon’s) where someone needs to read for hours to understand how to sell anything.
After 2 months or so our account got deactivated starting from the US that they never approved our company papers, id, driving license, utility bills etc.
Then our UK account where we had send our stock go deactivated.
After countless emails from us saying we do not have a UK VAT number and we never stated to have one, still the reply was robotic (even from human beings?) asking us for a UK VAT.
Now it seems that our stock disappeared even when we tried for stock removal (with UK as country being fixed and not for us being able to easily get our stock back, the way we send it).
Amazon seller support in our case was zero and it needs to be refined…makes me wonder how on earth they are able to be so big with such a bureaucratic complicated system that reminds me of Expedia and not like Airbnb that created smart interface for people.
65 replies
Seller_esvgLzKXw2YAl
Whilst I appreciate your frustration, it’s not Amazon’s responsibility at the end of the day, as to whether or not you should be VAT registered. This is something that as a business you should find out first.
It’s called Due diligence.
So frankly, you cannot blame Amazon for enforcing the law.
Seller_TQCN46DDmpulT
Maybe if you weren’t trying to avoid taxes, you wouldn’t be in this mess?
Seller_wqciCXuQbNS4p
Although the onus is on the seller to undertake due diligence, I do have sympathy with the OP. If the system merely had a check box that appeared when creating the first shipment, to confirm the understanding of VAT liabilities, then life would be a whole lot simpler. Check the box, proceed at your peril, don’t check the box, and you cannot proceed.
Seller_TQCN46DDmpulT
Why is it up to Amazon to tell you how to run a business? They’re just a platform you can sell on? Of course you can say they should have told you X, Y or Z but that’s called due diligence and it’s meant to be undetaken by yourself so you understand any risks - before I sold anything overseas I spoke to my accountant which took 5mins and I understood I had to apply for VAT numbers in those countries. I feel bad for your situation, but unfortunately feelings don’t matter on Amazon.
Seller_bVMO2D5wfURBb
Just a point if you already had been accepted to sell you would have had a seller central page. On that sellar central page Amazon posts annoucments/notifications. Did you scroll through these and read some of them? It has been emblazoned in these announcements that how the law for VAT in each European country was changing and Amazon also done webinar’s on regular intervals to announce the changes to all sellers which I am sure you can still find in there webinair page.
Amazon told everybody the new rules etc it is not there fault if you have not read through the rules of each country but hurriedly made a shipment to the UK. Surely as a business owner you have done your research before you set up in business so why not now?
Even if you didn’t read any of Amazon’s announcements surely you asked your accountant the law on selling in different European countries and storing your products in these countries which can also be found via Google.
Seller_taDBgt7LctucW
Just in case the OP decides to continue selling in the UK.
Useful info from HMRC here:
And even from Amazon:
Both sites clearly state your responsibilities as an overseas seller storing stock in the UK.
Seller_n33KwLeg9XOvi
@SMILEBLEND “Is amazon the worst ever system?” (your OP Title)
There are plenty of other platforms (systems) you can sell on where relevant checks are not carried out and probably never will be as they haven’t got the market force that Amazon does. But I can assure you they have no way near the customer base that Amazon does - and you will probably never get any sales from those other platforms (systems)…
So the answer to your title is NO
Seller_n33KwLeg9XOvi
I’ve not more time to spend on this post, I think everything has been covered. Whether the OP choses to take advise or not, their prerogative.
I’m well prepared 
(a good boy scout)
Seller_MKi6wqe68YZuu
You could have stopped right there.
FBA is designed primarily for Amazon’s benefit.
Seller_MBEOIWeZE9bb4
SOOOOOOOOOOO
AFTER SO MUCH PAIN WITH COUNTLESS EMAILS WITH AMAZON MONKEYS & ROBOTS.
I found a UK forwarding company and managed to somehow figure out where our stock was hidden on Amazon.
We paid premium to get our 6 premium skates back in Cyprus.
In the box there are only 4!
Amazon you are thieves and the worst ever that i have ever seen…a company that does not have seller telephone support, asks for information and details after they receive products and eventually sending back less products makes you unfortunately a BAD company.
Carry on Amazon ripping off companies with your fees since you own a “tribe” platform…
