And, after over 20 years, it's time to go.
When I started on here, you could pretty much list anything you wanted (within reason). The biggest problem back then was the lazy seller who did the minimum amount of work to put up the listings.
Then Scamazon started asking for information about where we were getting the products, and you could not get a listing done without giving them a supplier. They were just stealing information from sellers for their own ends (something Amazon are brilliant at).
Christmases were incredibly busy (and profitable). Until they weren't. The year they introduced PPC was a disaster. I spent everything on stock for the busy period, only it didn't come. I was left with thousands of pounds of stock, rent, business rates... bla bla bla.
Next was the cut-out the middle man stage where the suppliers stopped supplying us because they were selling directly on Amazon. All these companies who we had bought from and made successful just screwed us over.
Anyway, the changes keep coming, none of them good for sellers, always good for Amazon.
I'm utterly sick of it. Sick of all the Amazon supported scammers, sick of waiting 3 weeks to get paid, sick of all the stress.
I wish all you good, honest, hardworking seller all the best, but I'm not giving this dishonest, morally bankrupt company another penny, or a second of my time.
Goodbye!
:-)
And, after over 20 years, it's time to go.
When I started on here, you could pretty much list anything you wanted (within reason). The biggest problem back then was the lazy seller who did the minimum amount of work to put up the listings.
Then Scamazon started asking for information about where we were getting the products, and you could not get a listing done without giving them a supplier. They were just stealing information from sellers for their own ends (something Amazon are brilliant at).
Christmases were incredibly busy (and profitable). Until they weren't. The year they introduced PPC was a disaster. I spent everything on stock for the busy period, only it didn't come. I was left with thousands of pounds of stock, rent, business rates... bla bla bla.
Next was the cut-out the middle man stage where the suppliers stopped supplying us because they were selling directly on Amazon. All these companies who we had bought from and made successful just screwed us over.
Anyway, the changes keep coming, none of them good for sellers, always good for Amazon.
I'm utterly sick of it. Sick of all the Amazon supported scammers, sick of waiting 3 weeks to get paid, sick of all the stress.
I wish all you good, honest, hardworking seller all the best, but I'm not giving this dishonest, morally bankrupt company another penny, or a second of my time.
Goodbye!
:-)
67 replies
Seller_k2X0L9mVRT0pW
I’m leaving too - after 20yrs on Amazon. Not jumping through their hoops any longer. My 90 days wait finishes end of this month- account on holiday settings and no monies owed either way.
Seller_hnJy2He6uzeGX
Ach thats a shame. You have put so much work in, to walk away.
It looks like you have been selling someone else's branded product rather than your own, so with the greatest of respect, I think this day was always going to come.
If you are a reseller, then I agree, Amazon is probably not the best fit. There are a few other platforms that fit that model more appropriately.
Wishing you every success in whatever you decide to do.
Seller_J2H5GprhaORbt
i too am fed up with jumping through hoops , and had enough of building brands on Amazon for suppliers, who then decide to sell on Amazon themselves .
it should be said some of them then give up because they do not realise how complicated Amazon can be.
the trick we have is to adapt and take on new suppliers new ranges all the time, we are a completely different enterprise compared to what we started out as
Seller_94SKZetB1dacs
I completely agree with many of the points raised here. Amazon has become increasingly difficult and expensive for honest sellers.
PPC costs continue to rise, while sellers are also dealing with numerous additional fees. After paying for stock, storage, PPC, selling fees, and other costs, there is often very little profit left.
Returns have become another major source of stress. Sellers can end up paying return-related costs even when the customer simply ordered the wrong item, changed their mind, or misunderstood the product. In many cases, the listing clearly states the correct size, dimensions, and description, yet the seller still carries the cost and inconvenience of the return.
Another issue is delivery charges. When a customer orders multiple items going to the same address, it can be frustrating to see individual delivery charges applied to each item rather than having the orders reasonably combined where possible.
Over time, it feels as though more and more of the costs, risks, and responsibilities have been pushed onto sellers, while Amazon continues to increase its own fees and revenue.
We understand that Amazon is a large marketplace with many operating costs, but there needs to be a fairer balance between Amazon and the sellers who provide the products and build the marketplace.
We work hard to provide accurate listings, good products, and good customer service. But when PPC, fees, returns, and delivery costs continue to increase, selling on Amazon becomes less and less sustainable.
I sincerely wish all genuine, honest, and hardworking sellers the best. Hopefully, things will become fairer for sellers in the future.
Seller_eX5PU1b0GGPXn
I agree with everything you have stated
I am fed up with BRAND obsession especially where Books are concerned
and the saga of First Sale Doctrine not recognised
Good luck for your future enterprises and beyond
On a silly note for anyone who is aware I still sell a number of VHS
So far I have sold 10 This Year !
Seller_RguKGMHvWFmo3
I truly believe that Amazons days of being No 1 are limited. They already have lost an awful lot of sales to Tik Tok, Temu and Joy Buy plus others probably.
I wonder if anyone in the CEO team have sat and wondered why, or even bothered to look at the forums for problems. Probably not and yet it could be IMO an easier way to make gains back. We didn't need a new dashboard that is worse to use than what we had, what we need it decent Seller Support, decent human Selling Applications instead of everything run by robots.
AI over reliance will be another of their downfalls, again all IMO.
Seller_tjfNrkjGXVN1a
Best wishes. They are are profoundly stupid company
Seller_fLJ3Hdgrt17Ze
Wishing you all the very best for the future.
Sadly, many long-term sellers can relate to your experience. Over the years, Amazon has become increasingly difficult for independent businesses. Rising fees, constant policy changes, PPC costs, account health issues, review problems, listing hijacking, and endless case submissions seem to take more and more time while margins continue to shrink.
It often feels as though Amazon expects sellers to carry all the risk while having very little influence over decisions that affect their businesses. Many genuine sellers have spent years building listings, brands, and customer trust, only to see the rules changed repeatedly.
Amazon can be a fantastic marketplace for buyers, but the reality for many sellers today is very different from what it was 10 or 20 years ago.
I wish you every success in whatever comes next, and I completely understand why many experienced sellers are deciding to move on like you & Me.
Best of luck for the future.
Seller_lnQKaZJGTX769
On the way myself 14 years,
It was actually simple at the start selling.
All the improvements hit the sellers. overnight we could not sell marvel books (all used v good). again no thought of the seller.
Seller Central useless. asked 8 times for more info on listing issues no call back or contact
Now want me to Validate that i live in UK for VAT. FFS
Its Bye bye baby to much hassle
all the best everyone
