Hi all,

We’ve been using Amazon Shipping for years without problems, regularly sending over 1,000 parcels a week — including water-based paint.

Suddenly, we’ve been told by the onboarding team that Amazon Shipping won’t allow us to ship paint anymore, even though:

• It’s water-based (not flammable or dangerous).

• We use approved, compliant packaging.

• We see other sellers still shipping these products via Amazon.

We’ve tried explaining this, but the responses feel inconsistent and dismissive.

First they said our volume was too low (which it’s not), then they shifted the reason to the paint itself — which contradicts our history and Amazon’s own listings.

Amazon also ship dangerous goods now since Jan 25

We’re now being told our onboarding is paused, with no clear resolution, and it’s impacting our business. We’ve raised this with support, but so far no luck.

Is anyone else facing similar issues? Or has successfully onboarded recently with similar products? Would love to hear your experience or advice.

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

I have a customer who opened an A-Z claim but then received there order a few hours later. They customer contacted me and asked to close the claim saying that they did not know how to do it. I said I would contact Amazon selling partner (what a joke!) to fix the problem. I contacted Seller Support (who were actually really helpful) and the representative said that they could clearly see that the customer wanted to close the claim and that it was very obvious that the buyer felt that the matter was resolved and that they wanted to close the claim, they said it will be no problem and fully explained to the relevant department that they wanted claim should be closed. Moments later I received a message from the A-Z department saying they are upholding their decision EVEN THOUGH THE CUSTOMER HAS REQUESTED THAT THE CLAIM SHOULD BE CLOSED!!!!!!! As usual this will mean more back and forth between myself and Seller Support, I feel that the only party in this transaction that doesn’t want a fair outcome is my supposed selling partner who are here to help (another joke!) the customer even offered to purchase the product again and for me not to send it but why should they have to do that when it’s crystal clear that they want to close the claim! Here are the messages, I don’t know what is so hard to understand???!!!!

I’ll be totally honest, selling on Amazon is starting to effect my mental health, I feel so depressed and anxious all the time, I find myself waking up at ridiculous times in the night to check that there’s not another ridiculous decision or some stupid new policy (like DD+7, the bane of my existence) I dread contacting Amazon for anything, I can literally feel the stress as soon as I have to do it. I really wish I never started selling on this blasted website! If someone is literally saying that they want to close the claim why does Amazon need to be so awkward. I used to recommend others to sell on here, now I warn them not to ruin their lives on here!!!!

Case ID: 11214428972 and 11215107532

@Seller_mIRnuhdx7l5sN @Seller_DNQGSsdC7DccM @Seller_gAhPNiLrkfTcr @Seller_Huz6FT08OxHAR @Seller_hnDMgUKxMh1V4 @Seller_XUNeUuvrQDpgP @Seller_TSXM2A5nxWSuH @Seller_iTgjdgiRqiPsn @Seller_fgtTzyHQfOM1x @Seller_VJ4XoAkjDpjPH @Seller_ZyGdB49sb7An4 @Seller_j9Bd91CW3ZVpr

Amazon deactivated my account about a year ago because of concerns around whether I comply with the Dropshipping Policy. I still have some money stuck in the account, but because I was busy with other things, I didn’t really try to appeal properly until recently.

For the past 3 months, I’ve been preparing detailed messages explaining how our company operates and asking them to reactivate my account. Every single time, Amazon sends the exact same reply.

Seriously, when is Amazon going to start valuing its sellers?

If you're just eyeing the couple hundred bucks sitting in the account, that’s honestly ridiculous. I’m a decent, honest seller, and I’ve been doing things the right way. I’m just tired of this nonsense on the platform.

None of my T48 parcels from Monday and Tuesday are tracking. None of the usual receiving and delivery depot scans.

The T24s sent at the same time are all being scanned as expected.

The issue started Friday and Saturday with no scans at my regional depot, but began to scan once received at delivery depots. At the time put it down the major electrical storm Friday night affecting RMs systems here.

My regional depot is Rochester, Kent.

A little concerning as a low volume seller this could put a serious dent in my VTR.