Amazon recommended a battery ASIN for FBA, we sent a pallet, they declared it DG a month later & now it's missing. HELP!
After receiving a recommendation from Amazon to move one of our non-spillable sealed lead acid batteries from FBM to FBA, we did the math and determined FBA was a winner. This was our first FBA item, and we are participating in the New to FBA Program. We shipped via a third-party carrier on a Thursday, and the item arrived on Monday. We have copies of the signed BOL from IDG1. By Wednesday the status had changed to Receiving. Then it stayed there for over a month, with the "You will be eligible to open an investigation on _____" date moving out seven to ten days each time that date arrived. After five weeks we finally got the case escalated to the Inbound FBA Team. Then we fell into another black hole. The only communication we have received from Amazon since we escalated the case was a notice that the item was now classified as Dangerous Goods (DG) and could not be sold via FBA. Now you tell us. We immediately disputed the DG classification and submitted an Exemption Sheet because the item IS a battery and is NON-SPILLABLE. For weeks since we've been trying to find out where our inventory is, to get reimbursed for the lost stock, and to get the DG classification removed, and nothing. All I get is copypasta from Seller Support - the same three form letters. One on how to file an Exemption Sheet; one stating that because it's DG we can't sell through FBA and that any inventory will be "disposed of"; and another saying they are still not in receipt of the correct documents for the Inbound FBA Team but not saying what, exactly, we are missing after we carefully supplied everything that was requested. I keep reopening the cases, asking for a status, and I keep getting nowhere. At what point does Amazon reimburse us for the value of the product? All we want is to get the product in a DC and start offering Prime. Why is it so difficult to speak with a human who can help?
32 replies
Seller_CW0P5hgbsiqWX
Sorry to say, you did not recognize a good thing (FBM) when you used it. Most likely this is just the start of your problems and unknown fees Amazon will assess when using FBA.
"Why is it so difficult to speak with a human who can help?"
The answer is quite simple. there is no way to know who will handle your specific problem, at what time of the day or night, and at what center is involved, and where in that canter our merchandise sits.
The reality is the issue surrounding your product has been decided and I doubt there will be any changing it. Jeff Bezos's policies come into play here. If the decision was made to change the status, that would mean that an employee made a mistake. Making a mistake like this could cost the employee their job, so mistakes are not made.
If you were ever to talk with an employee, you would be telling that person a mistake is made, and they would tell you, it was not. So, it is best to have them shipped back to you and use FBM again.
Seller_UkzxxlGZuBBFh
I could have dissed Amazon in my post, too, but that's not helpful to getting my issue resolved. And of course I asked them to liquidate my inventory after a month passed. Anyone here with actual advice?
Seller_UkzxxlGZuBBFh
For any Amazonians out there, the case ID is 14932308401
Seller_UkzxxlGZuBBFh
In the meantime, other Sellers are having a fieldday selling this product FBM:
Seller_UkzxxlGZuBBFh
If it's classified as NON-FILLABLE DG why can others sell it?
Seller_UkzxxlGZuBBFh
@Stevie_Amazon @Glenn_Amazon @Jameson_Amazon @Bryce_Amazon
Seller_ZRl2jImJfnYfJ
Amazon isn't saying it can not be sold on the platform. Amazon is saying is can not be FBA. The only battery I would FBA is AGM.
Seller_ZRl2jImJfnYfJ
The FT825-34 is AGM not sealed lead acid. Two different batteries. Which battery are you trying to send in?
Seller_R2dP7Hunjcdj0
And yet ANOTHER FBA Horror Story!
I am SO glad I never used FBA!
FBA is the BEST (for us at least).
I HOPE you will be able to get your batteries back from Amazon and switch-back to FBM. Amazon has been known to NOT release items back to the Seller for a variety of reasons. I HOPE "Dangerous" isn't one of them!
Good Luck!
Seller_ZRl2jImJfnYfJ
You need to supply the products SDS, like this. As you can see in the transport section of the SDS it states, "Excepted from the hazardous materials regulations ( HMR) because the batteries meet the requirements of 49 CFR 173.159(f) and 49 CFR 173.159a of the U.S. Department of Transportation's HMR. Battery and outer package must be marked " NONSPILLABLE" or "NONSPILLABLE BATTERY" Battery terminals must be protected against short circuits."
Seller_UkzxxlGZuBBFh
@Topher_AmazonOnce again this case was closed by Seller Support. I got the same form email today that I received on 3/14 saying that I needed to upload proof of delivery documents, which I did on 3/13 and 3/15. Seriously? I provided a signed BOL three times now, and the SS keeps closing the case. Do we need to SUE?
