Saying goodbye and goodluck
This is a cautionary tale to anyone selling even one item through retail arbitrage.
Hello all. My store here on Amazon was called therandomhouse and it started in May of 2023. I had only recently got into selling (and reselling) and had been greatly influenced by Youtube videos and the prospect of a better life with more family time etc. It was very exciting to be called a selling partner of Amazon and could not wait to start. I provided all the items Amazon insisted on to start the account and after my virtual ID verification I was on my way.
I was buying through a couple of wholesale sites however sometimes the lure of finding treasure and putting it online was hard to ignore and although I was aware you needed invoices in the event Amazon contacted you I was also well aware that there were thousands of Amazon sellers who were doing retail arbitrage and was sure Amazon had to be aware of it. So from time to time i would join all the people scanning items in the department stores with their Amazon seller app that has a scanner on it seemingly for that purpose. I would list some items and send them to the Amazon warehouse and Amazon would gladly scan my items in even when it was quite obvious, they were not being sourced from a wholesaler (like if I sent in one item of a particular product). Before I continue, I would like to say that although I do not see anything wrong with retail arbitrage as long as it is done properly, and you at least have a receipt to prove you didn't steal it. It is not officially accepted by Amazon and you will be taking a chance by doing it. Just wanted to say that before the lectures of how I "Didn't review seller University" start rolling in. Iv'e already acknowledged my mistake and I am putting this out there for anyone who might be thinking they are ok if some of their sourcing is wholesaler/distributor related but not all.
One day I picked up a rather simple little cheese Knife set at a church sale. It was made by a brand I had never heard of called Kikkerland ( Asin B00MS4D1W1) .I bought it for $4.00 listed it on Amazon and it sold for $13.99. Amazon quickly took their fees and i was left with like $2.00 but I was happy and it seemed the customer was as well. A month and a half later I found my account was under review and Amazon was claiming this sale apparently was maybe illegal and certainly harmed all Amazon customers. I was unable to list anything or get paid during this process although Amazon continued selling my "harmful products" and collecting their fees the whole time demanding the invoice and claiming I had to verify who I was. I explained and acknowledged my mistake but to no avail. Our partnership had abruptly ended. My inventory is being sent back to me basically 1 item at a time at a shipping cost per each package sent back. It will be at least 3 months before I am allowed to request any of my money that I watch dwindle daily as Amazon slowly ships back each item.
We are doing ok on other platforms and I know ultimately it was my decision to put some retail arbitrage up so I knew the risk and am paying. But if you have any retail arbitrage items up you should strongly consider delisting them now.
Amazon will dissolve your "partnership" with them and send you packing with no chance to continue even if you let them know you messed up but are willing to fix the mistake. One strike and you are out as there are many more accounts being approved for every one that is kicked to the curb.
You have been warned. Goodluck to all
Saying goodbye and goodluck
This is a cautionary tale to anyone selling even one item through retail arbitrage.
Hello all. My store here on Amazon was called therandomhouse and it started in May of 2023. I had only recently got into selling (and reselling) and had been greatly influenced by Youtube videos and the prospect of a better life with more family time etc. It was very exciting to be called a selling partner of Amazon and could not wait to start. I provided all the items Amazon insisted on to start the account and after my virtual ID verification I was on my way.
I was buying through a couple of wholesale sites however sometimes the lure of finding treasure and putting it online was hard to ignore and although I was aware you needed invoices in the event Amazon contacted you I was also well aware that there were thousands of Amazon sellers who were doing retail arbitrage and was sure Amazon had to be aware of it. So from time to time i would join all the people scanning items in the department stores with their Amazon seller app that has a scanner on it seemingly for that purpose. I would list some items and send them to the Amazon warehouse and Amazon would gladly scan my items in even when it was quite obvious, they were not being sourced from a wholesaler (like if I sent in one item of a particular product). Before I continue, I would like to say that although I do not see anything wrong with retail arbitrage as long as it is done properly, and you at least have a receipt to prove you didn't steal it. It is not officially accepted by Amazon and you will be taking a chance by doing it. Just wanted to say that before the lectures of how I "Didn't review seller University" start rolling in. Iv'e already acknowledged my mistake and I am putting this out there for anyone who might be thinking they are ok if some of their sourcing is wholesaler/distributor related but not all.
One day I picked up a rather simple little cheese Knife set at a church sale. It was made by a brand I had never heard of called Kikkerland ( Asin B00MS4D1W1) .I bought it for $4.00 listed it on Amazon and it sold for $13.99. Amazon quickly took their fees and i was left with like $2.00 but I was happy and it seemed the customer was as well. A month and a half later I found my account was under review and Amazon was claiming this sale apparently was maybe illegal and certainly harmed all Amazon customers. I was unable to list anything or get paid during this process although Amazon continued selling my "harmful products" and collecting their fees the whole time demanding the invoice and claiming I had to verify who I was. I explained and acknowledged my mistake but to no avail. Our partnership had abruptly ended. My inventory is being sent back to me basically 1 item at a time at a shipping cost per each package sent back. It will be at least 3 months before I am allowed to request any of my money that I watch dwindle daily as Amazon slowly ships back each item.
We are doing ok on other platforms and I know ultimately it was my decision to put some retail arbitrage up so I knew the risk and am paying. But if you have any retail arbitrage items up you should strongly consider delisting them now.
Amazon will dissolve your "partnership" with them and send you packing with no chance to continue even if you let them know you messed up but are willing to fix the mistake. One strike and you are out as there are many more accounts being approved for every one that is kicked to the curb.
You have been warned. Goodluck to all
50 respuestas
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
It's unfortunate for you but hopefully some other rookies will pay attention and save their accounts.
What I CAN guarantee 100% is that NONE of the dwindling number of RA apologists will step in here with any advice or help for you.
Pay attention to the rules on the other sites. Even eBay is chopping RA sellers.
Seller_Hi7wbO2Kbo6bl
Thank you for posting this warning.
Hopefully at least one person will believe you.
Seller_4zBzdtgCyS9EI
Problem with RA is that yous should NEVER send any of it to FBA
Seller_08TZq9sOIaGvv
I've been trying to get hold of you! Hey one of my "new" little cheese knives broke and the warranty said free replacement if that happens. Anyway, I submitted my Amazon receipt and boy was I surprised when they said that they can't help me! so anyway, send me the new knife please, cuz the warranty is a promise.
Seller_R2dP7Hunjcdj0
And yet ANOTHER tale of an account suspension due to RA.
And STILL there are those who claim that Amazon allows RA on their platform.
CLEARLY they do NOT, at least not anymore.
I sympathize with your situation, and I agree that the "Crime" you committed does not seem so egregious that it should result in a permanent suspension.
But I don't make the rules here.
Good Luck on the other platforms.
Seller_E1NN7cIj1BUui
if your going to RA stick too well known good brands, nike has been my best so far keep all receipts in case you get an authenticity complaint.
Seller_xwldkZaevmfxK
It's funny when I see these messages to try and scare people from doing RA/OA. It is clearly allowed. Without RA/OA sellers, Amazon would not be making the money it is making today. There simply is not enough "wholesalers/distributors" to supply the demand of Amazon's customers. With that said, Doing RA/OA you have to do it legit. Receipts and purchase invoices do work. I don't understand the people on these forums that say that it clearly doesn't work. I've used receipts and online purchase invoices time and time again and gotten approved. Don't listen to the naysayers. It can be done. There are hundreds of thousands of Arbitrage sellers that do well on Amazon and do it legally.
Seller_XDZciDfoDI1st
I don't get it. You purchased an item from a church sale. That technically isn't RA.
Seller_l2FtXoutu62Uw
As your store name also happens be the same as one of the world's largest book publishers it was probably only a matter of time before it got booted anyway.
