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Pinned by community manager🌱 Grow & Tell: What Motivated You to Start Your Business?
Hi sellers! Welcome back to Grow & Tell 🌱 - our conversation starter series here in the Grow Your Business category. No pressure, no right or wrong answers, just a chance to connect and share perspectives. 🙌
Here's your next question...
❓ What motivated you to start your business?
Looking forward to your answers!
My selling journey on Amazon- From Jumping on Listings to a record breaking year: What the Forums Taught Me
Our Amazon journey started in January 2021. Our business owner was looking for another way to diversify the business. That fell, for the most part in my lap, a lap that never even knew what we were doing was called ecommerce when we started.
Not knowing what we were doing, we took one of the manufacturers that we already worked with in the brick-and-mortar world and started jumping on existing listings, creating some of our own under the brand and seeing what worked. I spent endless hours combing through listings, pricing, adjusting, trying to follow the rules set forth by Amazon. Did we always get it right-no, we did not but rose above it almost every time.
My saving grace was what is known as Seller Forums. So many experienced sellers willing to give advice, help you through a tough patch and generally a community that had been or were going through the trenches, the same as us. Most were very blunt and honest in their interactions, which was welcoming because Amazon can be a tough nut to crack.
That is how I started learning the ins and outs. What is allowed and what is not-from the help of other sellers. The education I got from the forum alone got us to where we are today. We were given the opportunity to become an “authorized reseller” of the brand on Amazon and other market places and haven’t looked back.
Fast forward to September 2025 at Amazon Accelerate-what a whirlwind! We found out that we were in the top percentile of sellers to reach a million dollars-what a trip! Every success story starts out in a lot of failure, trial and error and understanding of the subject matter. Believe me when I say there were a lot of sleepless nights, fixing listings, understanding the giant known as Amazon.
It takes a village, right? To be successful on Amazon, it truly does. We would not be having the best year in the world of ecommerce if it wasn’t for all the “experts” willing to give that tough advice, lend an ear to vent and just be good people then and now.
If you’re early on in your journey and reading this — drop a question below or post a discussion on Forums.
Total disillusionment
Well, I remember 11 years ago .... reading messages like mine now, when I first started my journey on Amazon in 2015. I kept thinking: "What could have happened to this seller, to make a post like this?" Let me share: Being slowly beaten down by Amazon year after year after year.
And the percentage they take!!! A whopping 70%. With our production costs fixed between 18-20%, our profit is a meager 10%.
We've been working hard building up our DTC sales and wholesale with nearly 70 stores nationwide that carry our brand. So, we will be fine.... without the pittance from Amazon.
As products sell out, we will not restock. Our FBM items are also slowly disappearing. It feels like breaking up from an abusive marriage. It's personal for every seller who comes to this juncture. One that cannot be resolved with a helpful post from a fellow seller. We are sadly.... done.
🌱 Grow & Tell: What Does the Start & End of Your Workday Look Like?
Hi sellers! Welcome back to Grow & Tell 🌱 - our conversation starter series here in the Grow Your Business category. No pressure, no right or wrong answers, just a chance to connect and share perspectives. 🙌
Here's your next question...
❓What's the first thing you do when you start your workday, and the last thing you do before logging off?
Share your answers as a reply to this thread!
Why Is Amazon Comparing My Product to TEMU-Level Pricing?
My Buy Box started getting suppressed by Amazon's external price matching system back in March, right before the Spring Sale. At first, appeals were getting approved relatively quickly, but the "solution" never lasted. A few days later the system would find another ridiculously cheap off-Amazon listing, decide it was somehow comparable to my product, and remove the Buy Box all over again. Same ASIN. Same product. Same evidence. Same endless cycle.
Fast forward to today, and now appeals aren't even getting resolved anymore. Since last month, we've been submitting cases with pricing history, MSRP documentation, product comparisons, and proof that the so-called "competitive offers" are not even the same product quality level. The result? Silence.
What exactly is the goal here?
Am I supposed to match the price of every random website, TEMU seller, copycat listing, or low-quality imitation that appears online? If someone steals my images, uses cheaper materials, cuts every corner possible, and sells a lookalike product for half the price, Amazon's response is to punish MY listing?
I already missed the Spring Sale because of this. Sales tanked. Inventory piled up. Storage fees kept accumulating. Now Prime Day is around the corner, and I'm still stuck in the same nightmare.
The most frustrating part is that Amazon never tells us what we're being compared against. We get told our price isn't competitive, but we're not shown the exact listing, not told why it's considered equivalent, and not given any meaningful way to challenge the comparison. We're expected to investigate Amazon's own pricing decisions ourselves.
How is this helping legitimate brands?
How is this helping sellers who invest in inventory, compliance, quality control, photography, advertising, and customer service?
It feels like Amazon's system is rewarding whoever can post the lowest number on the internet, regardless of whether the products are actually comparable.
I've lost months of sales. I've missed one major event already. Is Prime Day next?
How many sellers need to lose revenue before Amazon acknowledges that this system is fundamentally broken?
Is anyone else dealing with the exact same issue?
📦 How to Sell on Amazon 100: Find Your Perfect Fulfillment Fit! 102
Welcome back to our How to Sell on Amazon 100 – A Learning Journey series! This is Week 2 of 4, and today we're diving into one of the most important decisions you'll make as a seller: how to get your products to customers.
If you missed Week 1, catch up here: How to Sell on Amazon 100 – A Learning Journey!
For this event, we invited our experienced sellers to provide you with real, actionable insights. Please join me in welcoming and thanking @Seller_OvL8C4BJWiuS9 and @Seller_l2tuBNz47Kj5c! Thank you for your support.
FBA vs. FBM — Understanding Your Options
Every seller's business is unique, and Amazon gives you flexibility in how you fulfill orders:
- Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): You send inventory to Amazon's fulfillment centers. Amazon picks, packs, ships, and handles customer service and returns. Your products become Prime-eligible.
- Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM): You store inventory and ship directly to customers yourself. You control the entire fulfillment process and maintain your own shipping standards.
Not sure which path is right for you? These Seller University modules break it down:
- Choose your fulfillment method — Overview of FBA, AWD, FBM, and MCF options
- Is FBA right for you? — Eligibility, Revenue Calculator walkthrough, and decision checklist
- Intro to Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM) — Performance standards, Seller Fulfilled Prime, and setup
How FBA Works and When It Makes Sense
FBA can be a game-changer if you want to scale without managing logistics. Amazon handles the heavy lifting — literally. Here's where to learn more:
- Intro to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) — How FBA works and tools to manage your business
- FBA benefits and costs — Key benefits and where to find fee details
- FBA product eligibility — Check if your products qualify
Shipping Settings & Getting Products to Customers
Once you've chosen FBA, you'll use the Send to Amazon workflow to ship inventory to fulfillment centers. Here's how to get started:
- Send your first FBA shipment — Step-by-step guidance to get started
- Intro to Send to Amazon — The 5-step shipment creation process
- FBA capacity limits — IPI score, Capacity Monitor, and reservation fees
Choosing the Right Fulfillment Strategy
The best strategy depends on your product type, volume, and business goals. Use these tools to make informed decisions:
- Estimate core selling and FBA fees — Revenue Calculator, Fee Preview Report, and more
- FBA services overview — Amazon Partnered Carriers, MCF, FBA Prep, and more
💡 Pro Tip: Many successful sellers use a hybrid approach — FBA for fast-moving products and FBM for oversized or slow-moving items. Run the numbers with the Revenue Calculator before committing!
📚 Seller Central Resource Links
- Choose your fulfillment method
- Is FBA right for you?
- Intro to Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM)
- Send your first FBA shipment
- Estimate core selling and FBA fees
💬 LET'S TALK — YOUR TURN!
We want to hear from YOU! Drop a comment below and share:
- 🤔 Are you currently using FBA, FBM, or a mix of both? What made you choose your approach?
- 💡 What's one tip you'd give a new seller about fulfillment?
- ❓ What fulfillment questions do you want answered at our Ask Amazon LIVE event at the end of the month?
- 👉 Submit your questions now so our team can address them during the live session!
📅 Coming Up Next: Week 3 continues our learning journey — stay tuned! And don't forget to join us for the Ask Amazon LIVE Q&A at the end of the month where you can get your fulfillment questions answered directly by the Amazon team.
See you in the comments! 🚀
What I Learned During My First Years Selling on Amazon
When I first started selling on Amazon, I believed that finding profitable products was the most important part of the business. Over time, I learned that sourcing is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.
One of the biggest lessons I learned is that an Amazon business requires constant attention. In my experience, Amazon is not a business that can simply be put on autopilot. Success requires ongoing monitoring of inventory levels, pricing, account health, customer satisfaction, and financial performance.
Looking back, one of my earliest mistakes was purchasing too much inventory too quickly. When you discover a profitable product, it is tempting to invest heavily. However, demand can change, competition can increase, and restrictions can appear unexpectedly. Today, I prefer to scale gradually and allow data to guide my purchasing decisions.
I also learned the importance of understanding brand restrictions and intellectual property risks before purchasing inventory. Spending extra time researching brands and compliance requirements has helped me avoid costly mistakes.
Another major lesson was the importance of cash flow management. Early on, I focused heavily on sales revenue. Over time, I realized that strong sales do not automatically mean strong profits. Managing inventory purchases, Amazon fees, and operating expenses is just as important as generating revenue.
One area that surprised me most was the impact of what I now think of as "hidden costs." It's easy to look at sales numbers and assume the business is performing well, but many expenses quietly reduce profitability, including:
• Customer returns
• Removal orders
• Promotional rebates and discounts
• Long-term storage fees
• Damaged inventory
• Missed reimbursement opportunities
These expenses can significantly affect profitability even during periods of strong sales.
Another habit that became critical for my business is monitoring expiration dates and inventory quality. Small oversights can create stranded inventory, customer complaints, or unnecessary losses.
If I could give one piece of advice to new sellers, it would be this:
Know your numbers. Monitor your metrics closely and understand not only where your profits are coming from, but also where they may be quietly disappearing.
I'm curious to hear from other sellers:
• What was the most important lesson you learned during your first years on Amazon?
• Were there any mistakes that ultimately helped you become a better seller?
• What advice would you give to someone just starting their Amazon journey today?
I look forward to hearing your experiences and learning from the community.
BEYOND E&M LLC
AMAZON OWN BRAND COMPETING WITH THIRD PARTY SELLERS
I am increasingly concerned about the treatment of third-party sellers when competing against Amazon-owned brands such as Amazon Basics.
As sellers, we already pay referral fees, FBA fees, storage fees, inbound placement fees, low inventory fees, advertising fees, fuel and transportation surcharges, and numerous other charges. Despite these significant costs, many of us observe Amazon Basics products appearing prominently in search results even when they are priced substantially higher than competing third-party offers.
If search rankings are intended to reflect customer value, relevance, pricing, and performance, why do Amazon-owned products often receive such visibility advantages despite offering less competitive pricing?
The issue is not competition. Sellers are accustomed to competing in the marketplace. The concern is whether a platform operator that controls search rankings, advertising systems, and marketplace data can truly compete on equal terms with the independent businesses that fund the ecosystem.
Many sellers invest years building successful products, only to find themselves competing against Amazon's own brands while continuing to pay ever-increasing fees. This creates the perception that third-party sellers are not only customers of Amazon but also competitors operating at a structural disadvantage.
I would appreciate transparency from Amazon regarding how search rankings are determined and what safeguards exist to ensure that Amazon-owned brands do not receive preferential treatment over independent sellers.
A fair marketplace should provide equal opportunities for all sellers, regardless of whether the product is sold by Amazon or by a third-party business.
