Why I Decided to Stop Doing Amazon FBA

Oct 15, 2023 | Amazon FBA | 29 comments

Why I Decided to Stop Doing Amazon FBA




Title: Why I Quit Amazon FBA: My Journey and Lessons Learned

Introduction

Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) has undoubtedly revolutionized the e-commerce industry, providing countless individuals with a platform to build a successful online business. However, after a transformative experience as an FBA seller, I made the difficult decision to quit. In this article, I will share my personal journey, the reasons behind my decision, and the valuable lessons I learned along the way.

The Beginning of My Amazon FBA Journey

Like many entrepreneurs, I was enticed by the tremendous opportunities promised by selling products through Amazon FBA. The prospect of a flexible, scalable business model and the potential for financial success motivated me to dive in headfirst. I conducted extensive research, sought advice from successful FBA sellers, and meticulously selected products that I believed would turn my venture into a flourishing enterprise.

Initial Success and Challenges

My first few months as an FBA seller were both exhilarating and rewarding. The wheels of e-commerce were in motion, and I watched as my sales steadily increased. Positive customer reviews provided confirmation that I was on the right track. However, it wasn’t long before I encountered significant challenges that began to undermine my enthusiasm.

Increased Competition and Margins Squeeze

As more and more individuals recognized the potential of Amazon FBA, competition grew fiercer by the day. New sellers flooded the marketplace, leading to an oversaturation of similar products. With limited differentiation, it became increasingly challenging to grab the attention of customers and secure sales. Moreover, this influx of sellers sparked a price war, pushing down profit margins and hampering the sustainable growth of my business.

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Dependency on Amazon’s Ecosystem

While utilizing Amazon’s vast infrastructure and logistics network was initially advantageous, it created an unintended reliance on the platform. As I witnessed the constant policy changes, increased fees, and unpredictable algorithm updates, I grew concerned about the long-term stability of my business. This dependence on Amazon left me vulnerable to their decisions, potentially jeopardizing years of hard work and investment.

Operational Complexity and Stress

Running an FBA business entails a multitude of time-consuming tasks, including inventory management, customer service, and advertising campaigns. Juggling these responsibilities while seeking new opportunities for growth left me feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. The strain on my personal life and overall well-being ultimately led me to question whether the sacrifices were worth it.

Lessons Learned

While quitting Amazon FBA was a difficult decision, it was not without its valuable lessons:

1. Diversify Your Sales Channels: Relying solely on one platform exposes you to significant risks. By diversifying your sales channels, such as creating your e-commerce website or exploring other online marketplaces, you can mitigate potential disruptions and expand your customer base.

2. Niche Selection and Differentiation: Prioritize unique, niche products that cater to specific customer needs. By focusing on differentiation, you improve your chances of standing out amidst intense competition.

3. Build a Brand, Not Just a Product: Investing in building a strong brand identity and establishing customer loyalty is crucial. By creating an emotional connection with your target audience, you can foster long-term brand trust and customer loyalty.

Conclusion

Amazon FBA undeniably offers immense potential for online sellers, providing a gateway to success for numerous entrepreneurs. However, my personal journey led me to reassess my priorities and seek alternative paths to achieve my goals. While I cherish the experiences and lessons gained during my time with Amazon FBA, I am now focused on exploring new business opportunities that offer more control, flexibility, and long-term stability.

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29 Comments

  1. Travis Marziani

    Go to http://effectiveecommerce.com/amazon-xamazonm to join my FREE Amazon FBA Course.

    When you join you will get:

    ✓5 Hours Of Free Content

    ✓A Step By Step Checklist

    ✓Access to My Email List with The Best Amazon FBA Tips

    This course is the easiest way to get started selling on Amazon FBA & I’ll send it to you completely free now, but it won’t last forever. Click this link http://effectiveecommerce.com/amazon-xamazonm and start selling on Amazon now!

    Reply
  2. Xessy Trooshie

    how long did it take to make 4,200.000 million?

    Reply
  3. Viktor Navorski

    Question how do you pay for these 15% fee, pick and pack fee? do you need this upfront or is it taken from what you earn in revenue?

    Reply
  4. Bé Em

    If I have an idea for a product, how do I get it created?

    Reply
  5. Fitty No Face

    It's a f**king joke now.

    The majority of people doing it well now are the stores that are 2.5 + years into their Amazon journey, so I'm not saying money can't be made. It's just alot of bullshit pitfalls, everchanging made up bullshit rules, exorbitant fees and just general illogical fuckery.

    There's also a new method being taught (rife in the UK, not sure how prevalent it is in other market places), where you can register trademarks and effectively monopolise big brands and kick off any competition by filing an IP complaint and changing the actual brand name to your company name despite the packaging not having your brand name on it.

    Like Cadbury chocolate…big brand, everyone known the logo in the UK. IP complaint filed from a listing owner who put their name as the brand when its blatantly not. Amazon remove the other seller from the listing and expect them to have an invoice from the person that reported them! WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK? You then have to basically admit to something you didnt do against a person who actually DID what they've accused you of, and have your account blacklisted for 6 months and if you have any other minor infraction during that time, that's your account gone!

    A high school friend has £56k in his account Amazon will not allow him to collect for spurious reasons they have been unable to defend. After this happened to him, it made me see how easily it can happen so I've not restocked any ASIN's on their site but stepped up my marketing on my standalone site and plunged lots into marketing elsewhere….I'm in a position to be able to pack orders myself from 6pm until 2am, sleep until 7am, take packed orders to the post office before my 9-5 starts and pay my little sister to update tracking numbers.

    I'm in the process of finding a 3rd party fulfilment centre, and still on track to quit my day job by summer but effectively, FUCK AMAZON. They treat sellers like fucking idiots and I'm tired of it.

    So, you can effectively do what the fuck you like under the watchful eye of Seller Central, even if it defies logic.

    Amazon is a fucking joke and seller (lack of) support are useless brain dead zombies.

    Reply
  6. Cat van der Merwe - Young MOM

    So I did use your Helium 10 link can I get a 1 on 1 call? I want to join your course but i have questions

    Reply
  7. Jon Said

    Hi best bro,
    Do I can sell on Wallmart even if I live in SWEDEN?

    THX/ JON

    Reply
  8. Ryan Rigney

    Walmart sales volume isn’t that good.

    Reply
  9. Athena

    These two are trying to scare you from not starting a business just to get rid of the competition.

    Reply
  10. the kings

    This is a paid promotion for sureeeeeee

    Reply
  11. Money talk

    This is Thru, Amazon is not easy, I got my account deactivated for no reason, a customer complain product the competitor tried to kick me out.

    Reply
  12. ryad draou

    Hi Travis, hope you're doing well. thank you for all your videos, I have three questions if you don't mind:
    1- I am a beginner and I want to start soon so what do you recommend starting with your program or trying Walmart market?
    2- I am from France is your course suitable for me?
    3- there is only 6 place left so if you can give an answer to purchase the course and start quickly
    thank you

    Reply
  13. Steven

    Hey Travis, does my business address on Amazon need to be the same address that my LLC is registered to? Can I use my home address as my Amazon business address while having my LLC registered to a different location?

    Reply
  14. Lizzie Borden Audio

    I made my own logos last night on Canva Pro and just finished checking with the USPTO to see if anyone else has registered the names I chose but I will wait until I talk with the mentor u assigned me on Wednesday to do it. I think it's Ryan.

    Reply
  15. Michael Curcio

    we like to see your videos on how to list on Amazon

    Reply
  16. T Manuel

    Thank you for this information. This has convinced me to focus more on my Walmart Marketplace account instead of Amazon.

    Reply
  17. swbry1

    Let's go blessing always

    Reply
  18. The Fact Channel

    Hi Travis I'm from pakistan i created new amazon account but i listing my first product amazon delete my listing why

    Reply
  19. Manmeet Singh

    Bro where is cost of goods sold in your calculations?

    Reply
  20. DaysGoneByRecords

    I don't care about how much you made for Azon. I wanna know how much you were left with to feed your family and live abundantly!

    Reply
  21. Ghiath Hamsho

    Great info thank you…
    Can someone sell in Walmart while he is living in Canada?…. if yes please show us how like you did in Amazon case,
    Thank you guys

    Reply
  22. Jessa Roberts

    Interested in the Walmart course I am in the Beauty Product market and would love to get in early on Walmart.

    Reply
  23. Daniele B

    Why is there no product costs in the cost breakdown?

    Reply
  24. Ariana Chedraui

    This is great info for beginners! Well done guys!

    Reply
  25. Asim Rashid Khan

    So you have been promoting Amazon all this time and now you are say something else? What exactly are trying to achieve by confusing and wasting peoples time on courses and other expenses. Joker

    Reply
  26. temisan lori

    Here I am just about to start Amazon

    Reply

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