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Read onlyI am an Individual Seller with a professional account based in the UK. I have just been told by an Amazon selling partner support advisor that I can only sell unwanted personal items for non profit. I do see this stated anywhere on the seller pages. He said that I need to open up a registered business first.
It doesn't state anything in regards to selling items from China or dropshipping anything on the individual seller page when you register.
What is the point of me paying 39 pounds a month if I can't sell anything besides my unwanted goods? I haven't sold anything as of it and don't plan to do so until this is all cleared up.
I have seen many videos and guides where people are importing/dropshipping items from China to the Amazon warehouse to sell. They are all individual sellers and haven't mentioned that you need a business account or a registered business to do so. However, the advisor told me that this isn't allowed in Europe.
I have also sent an email to Amazon as suggested by the advisor, but I also wanted some feedback on here.
Can someone clarify this for me please?
if you are buying goods to sell you ARE a business and should be registered as such on Amazon.
There are two elements to an Amazon account with similar terminology.
The £30 fee a month refers to the selling plan. Taht is either Professional Selling Plan or Individual. Anyone can use these plans the only difference on individual is you are charged a fee per order instead of £30 a month.
You can then either be an individual seller which is only for selling off your second hand items you own or you can be a business seller.
My understanding is that the Individual Legal Entity is for when you do not intend to sell on Amazon Commercially or Professionally. This option allows you to only sell personal items that you no longer want or need, for example, old DVDs or books.
Not a side of our Business that I deal with. I would start by contacting Support and asking if they can reset/reopen the option to change your Account, maybe to Sole Proprietor.
Like many new sellers you are getting mixed up with Seller ACCOUNT type (the legal entity) and the selling PLAN.
There are 2 seller account types BUSINESS - for selling goods which you have purchased (or make) to sell on for profit. Individual seller account is ONLY for selling of one's own personal second-hand items.
There are two selling plans individual where you pay an additional fee per sale, but no monthly fee, and the Professional selling plan - pay the £30 a month fee. Professional is NOT the same as Business.
You not only need to have an Amazon Business seller account if you want to sell new goods, but MUST be registered with HMRC as self-employed (possibly sole-trader). You do not have to be a ltd company to be a business.
Quote: I have seen many videos and guides where people are importing/dropshipping items from China to the Amazon warehouse to sell. They are all individual sellers and haven't mentioned that you need a business account or a registered business to do so. - that is the problem with watching many non Amazon Youtube videos - misleading information. You need to use Amazon's own' Seller University' for all your info and guidance about selling on Amazon.