At Precision, we work with Amazon sellers at every level — from first-timers sending in five units to established businesses processing thousands per week. The mistakes we see from newer sellers follow predictable patterns. Here are the most common ones and how to avoid them.
Buying Before Checking the Numbers
The most expensive mistake is purchasing products without verifying profitability. We regularly receive stock from sellers who, when asked about their expected margins, admit they did not check the fees. Some products arrive that will sell at a loss after Amazon's fees are deducted. Always calculate your profit before buying — not after.
Sending Products in Wrong Condition
Listing a product as "New" when the packaging is damaged, opened, or shows significant wear leads to customer complaints and negative feedback. If a product is not in genuinely new condition, list it appropriately or do not send it to FBA.
Ignoring Category Restrictions
We see sellers buy hundreds of pounds worth of stock in restricted categories they do not have approval for. They cannot list the products, so the stock sits doing nothing. Always check category restrictions before purchasing.
Over-Ordering Untested Products
Buying 100 units of a product you have never sold before is risky. If it does not sell as expected, you are stuck with dead stock and storage fees. Start with 5–10 units, prove it sells, then scale up.
Neglecting Prep Quality
Sellers who prep at home often underestimate Amazon's requirements. Labels placed incorrectly, missing suffocation warnings, insufficient protection for fragile items — these cause shipment rejections and delays. Whether you prep yourself or use a service, getting it right matters.
Not Monitoring Account Health
New sellers often get so focused on sourcing and selling that they forget to check their Account Health Dashboard. A complaint or metric issue can escalate from a warning to a suspension if ignored. Check it weekly.
Expecting Overnight Success
Amazon FBA is a business that compounds over time. The sellers who quit after three months because they are not making £5,000/month were never going to succeed — not because the model does not work, but because their expectations were unrealistic.
The Common Thread
Every mistake on this list comes from the same root cause: impatience. The sellers who succeed are the ones who take time to check the numbers, learn the requirements, start small, and build steadily. There is no shortcut — but the destination is well worth the journey.