After taking it all in (including other posts), Matt (above) seems to summarize the consensus – FBA *WILL* screw up your inventory, your feedback, and possibly your income.

FYI – here’s a price comparison/fee chart I found:
http://fba-problems.blogspot.com/2008/08/fba-fee-comparison-more-than-you-might.html

And here’s a link to Amazon’s own discussion board on the subject (lots of problems documented here, too):
http://www.amazonsellercommunity.com/forums/forum.jspa?forumID=29

Thanks again for helping me make up my mind. I’m glad you have the time/energy to stick it out, and I hope it eventually pays off for you. Please keep us updated, let us know if the “nut-house” ever gets their act together. Cheers!

Here are a list of major problems they can’t seem to get right, and the main reasons I am no longer a seller on Amazon.

15% commission for toys – highly excessive in my opinion

Watch out for damages! If you have a significant amount of inventory there they damage and loose things often. Even if you have a $300 item there, they only pay a max of $20 per unit no matter what if it is lost or damaged. That can cost you some serious money like it did me.

Once your inventory is there, they allow amazon retail and other sellers to screw up the listing descriptions and make them inaccurate. Then the mad customer leaves you negative feedback because the description wasn’t right.

Amazon retail will compete with any item that sells well and undercut you to the point where you can’t sell you inventory and then it sits and racks up storage fees.

When you have finally had enough and want your inventory back, they stall and take MONTHS to return it to you. We still don’t have all of our inventory back and we have been trying since the first of August.

Beware of Amazon, they will let you make them money no problem, but they make it nearly impossible to have a cost effective way to warehouse your stuff based on my experience.

They let

I think a lot of my early problems were due to a combination of a learning curve and some obvious customer support flaws. As irritating as it was at times I do recall myself laughing once in awhile and saying to support, “Don’t worry, I know this is new for you guys too.”

I mentioned elsewhere today I think most of my problems with Amazon could have been cut-off if they simply streamlined the customer support for FBA sellers. Cut-out the middlemen and send FBA sellers directly to FBA trained support.

Thanks again,
Cliff

What about you? Why don’t you send us your real life story of starting the ConsignmentPal directory?

Always best when the words come from the creator of innovative businesses like yours….

My posts often paint a rosier picture, but that has been my experience.

In the end, it is good to know Cliff thinks FBA was/is worthwhile. Here’s to a great 4th Quarter.

Good job Cliff.

Scott – Thanks for sharing this!

Linda