Amazon FBA Issues: Real Problems Sellers Face on Reddit

If you’ve spent any time in Amazon FBA seller communities on Reddit, you’ve probably noticed the same frustrations appearing again and again. From unexpected inventory limits to baffling account suspensions, Amazon FBA sellers face a unique set of challenges that can make or break their business overnight. These aren’t theoretical problems - they’re real issues affecting thousands of sellers right now, documented in countless Reddit threads where entrepreneurs share their struggles and seek solutions.

Understanding these common Amazon FBA issues isn’t just about avoiding pitfalls - it’s about being prepared for the realities of running an FBA business in 2025. Reddit has become the go-to platform where sellers openly discuss what’s really happening behind the scenes, away from the polished success stories you might see elsewhere. This article dives into the most frequently reported Amazon FBA problems based on real Reddit discussions, giving you insight into what you’re actually likely to face and how to handle it.

Inventory Management Nightmares

One of the most persistent Amazon FBA issues discussed on Reddit involves inventory management complications. Sellers frequently report problems with Amazon’s inventory limits, which can change without warning and dramatically impact their ability to restock profitable products.

The IPI (Inventory Performance Index) score has become a particular source of frustration. Reddit users regularly share stories of their scores dropping unexpectedly, resulting in storage limits that prevent them from sending in more inventory during peak selling seasons. The most challenging aspect? The score calculation seems opaque, leaving sellers uncertain about exactly what actions will improve their standing.

Stranded Inventory Issues

Stranded inventory represents another major headache. This occurs when your products are physically at Amazon’s warehouse but aren’t available for sale due to listing errors, suppressed listings, or policy violations. Reddit threads are filled with sellers who’ve had thousands of dollars worth of inventory sitting idle while they try to resolve these issues with Seller Support.

Common causes of stranded inventory include:

• Listing suppression due to missing or incorrect product information
• Category approval issues that arise after products are already shipped
• Intellectual property complaints that freeze entire ASINs
• Sudden policy changes affecting product classification
• Technical glitches in Amazon’s system that require multiple support tickets to resolve

Account Health and Suspension Fears

Perhaps no Amazon FBA issue generates more anxiety on Reddit than account health problems and the dreaded suspension. Sellers report living in constant fear of waking up to find their account deactivated, cutting off their income stream instantly.

The most commonly reported triggers for account health issues include order defect rates, late shipment rates (even for FBA orders where Amazon controls the shipping), and customer complaints about product authenticity or condition. What makes this particularly frustrating is that sellers often feel powerless - they’re relying on Amazon’s fulfillment process but are still held accountable for issues beyond their control.

The Appeals Process Challenge

Reddit is filled with detailed accounts of the appeals process when suspensions occur. Sellers describe submitting Plan of Action (POA) documents multiple times, often receiving generic rejection responses that don’t clearly explain what needs to change. The process can take weeks or even months, during which the seller’s entire inventory remains locked in Amazon’s warehouses, inaccessible and unsellable.

Seller Support Frustrations

A recurring theme across Amazon FBA Reddit communities is dissatisfaction with Seller Support. Unlike many customer service experiences where escalation leads to resolution, sellers report that Amazon’s support system often feels like a maze with no exit.

Common complaints include:

• Receiving contradictory information from different support representatives
• Generic, templated responses that don’t address the specific issue
• Cases being closed without resolution
• Inability to reach anyone with actual decision-making authority
• Language barriers that make complex technical issues harder to resolve

Reddit users often share their strategies for dealing with Seller Support, including opening multiple cases, requesting supervisor escalation, and documenting everything meticulously. Some sellers report success with calling rather than using email, while others find better results through specific support channels.

Reimbursement Issues and Lost Inventory

Amazon FBA sellers on Reddit frequently discuss problems getting reimbursed for lost or damaged inventory. While Amazon’s system is supposed to automatically track and compensate for warehouse losses, many sellers report having to fight for reimbursements they’re clearly owed.

The process typically involves reconciling your shipments against Amazon’s received quantities, identifying discrepancies, and then opening cases to request reimbursement. Reddit threads document how some sellers employ virtual assistants or specialized software specifically to track these discrepancies, suggesting the problem is widespread enough to warrant dedicated resources.

Customer Returns and Refunds

Another financial pain point involves how Amazon handles customer returns. Sellers report receiving back damaged products that Amazon still charged them for, items being returned well outside the return window, and customers keeping products while still receiving refunds. The lack of seller protection in these scenarios is a frequent source of Reddit venting.

Fee Changes and Profit Margin Erosion

Reddit discussions reveal growing frustration with Amazon’s constantly evolving fee structure. Sellers describe situations where a product that was profitable last quarter suddenly isn’t, due to increased FBA fees, storage charges, or new categories of fees being introduced.

The long-term storage fees and aged inventory surcharges particularly concern sellers who maintain larger inventories for seasonal products. Planning becomes difficult when fee structures can change with relatively short notice, making previously viable business models unprofitable overnight.

Understanding Pain Points Through Community Insights

While Reddit provides invaluable peer support for Amazon FBA sellers, manually sifting through thousands of threads to identify recurring problems is time-consuming. This is where PainOnSocial becomes particularly useful for entrepreneurs considering or currently running Amazon FBA businesses.

Instead of spending hours reading through r/FulfillmentByAmazon and similar communities, PainOnSocial automatically analyzes Reddit discussions to surface the most frequent and intense pain points sellers are experiencing right now. The tool scores these pain points from 0-100 based on frequency and intensity, and provides direct links to the actual Reddit discussions where people are talking about these problems.

For Amazon FBA specifically, this means you can quickly identify whether current sellers are most concerned about inventory management, account suspensions, or profit margin issues. You’ll see real quotes from sellers describing their challenges, along with upvote counts that indicate how many others resonate with each problem. This evidence-based approach helps you understand not just what problems exist, but which ones are most pressing for the community right now.

Competition and Market Saturation

Reddit sellers increasingly discuss the challenge of market saturation. Products that were profitable niches just a few years ago are now flooded with competitors, many selling at or below cost to gain market share or clear inventory.

The “race to the bottom” in pricing affects even successful sellers who find their margins squeezed by new competitors willing to operate at minimal or negative profit. Private label sellers particularly struggle as generic versions of their products appear from overseas sellers at significantly lower prices.

The Hijacker Problem

Another competition-related issue involves listing hijackers - sellers who attach their products to your listing, potentially damaging your brand reputation with inferior quality or counterfeit items. Reddit threads detail the exhausting process of fighting hijackers through Brand Registry and report infringement, with many sellers noting that hijackers simply create new accounts and return after being removed.

International Selling Complications

For sellers attempting to expand beyond their home marketplace, Reddit reveals a host of additional complications. VAT registration requirements in Europe, different compliance standards across marketplaces, and the complexity of managing inventory across multiple countries create barriers that many sellers underestimate.

Amazon’s European FBA network, while theoretically seamless, generates numerous complaints about inventory being stuck in the wrong country, inability to transfer stock between fulfillment centers, and confusing invoicing requirements that vary by nation.

Product Compliance and Restricted Categories

Reddit discussions highlight how product compliance requirements and category restrictions can catch sellers off guard. Products that were previously ungated suddenly require approval, hazmat classifications change without clear notification, and compliance requirements differ between marketplaces.

Sellers share stories of shipments being refused at Amazon warehouses due to compliance issues they weren’t aware of, resulting in stranded inventory and the costs of return shipping or disposal. The frustration is compounded by the difficulty of getting clear, consistent information about exactly what’s required for compliance.

Software and Tool Overhead

Interestingly, Reddit sellers also frequently discuss the burden of needing multiple software tools to successfully run an FBA business. Between repricing tools, inventory management systems, reimbursement trackers, keyword research platforms, and review management software, the monthly costs can significantly impact profitability.

The challenge isn’t just financial - it’s also the learning curve and time investment required to effectively use all these tools. Many sellers report feeling overwhelmed by the technological requirements of staying competitive.

Seasonal and Q4 Pressures

The fourth quarter brings its own set of challenges that dominate Reddit discussions every year. Increased storage fees, earlier inventory cutoff dates, longer processing times for shipments, and the stress of having your entire year’s profit dependent on Q4 performance create intense pressure.

Sellers describe the nightmare scenario of having inventory arrive too late for the holiday shopping season, or conversely, being stuck with excess inventory in January when long-term storage fees kick in. The planning required to navigate Q4 successfully is complex, and mistakes are costly.

Moving Forward Despite the Challenges

Despite these numerous Amazon FBA issues documented across Reddit, thousands of sellers continue to build successful businesses on the platform. The key is going in with realistic expectations, understanding that these problems exist, and having strategies to handle them.

Successful sellers on Reddit often emphasize the importance of diversification - not putting all your eggs in one product or even one marketplace. They stress the value of building systems to handle recurring issues efficiently, maintaining careful financial records, and staying informed about policy changes.

The most valuable insight from Reddit’s FBA communities might be this: every successful seller faces these issues. The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t isn’t avoiding problems - it’s developing the resilience and knowledge to solve them efficiently when they inevitably arise.

Whether you’re considering starting an Amazon FBA business or you’re already in the trenches dealing with these challenges, understanding what real sellers experience provides a crucial reality check. Use the collective wisdom of Reddit communities to prepare yourself, learn from others’ mistakes, and develop contingency plans for the most common issues. The path to FBA success isn’t obstacle-free, but it’s well-traveled enough that you don’t have to figure it out completely alone.