I Lost Everything to a Buyer Who Played the System — and Amazon Let It Happen
I don’t even know where to start. I’ve been selling on Amazon for a while, doing everything by the book. I offer real products, ship with FBA, maintain a clean account, and I treat every buyer with respect. But none of that mattered in the end.
A buyer named {personal data removed, moderator edit} has been repeatedly purchasing the same item from my listing. Each time, she claims "performance or quality not adequate" — but never once returns the product, never files an A-to-Z, never goes through any official complaint route.
Instead, Amazon quietly refunds her. Every. Single. Time.
Here are just a few of her orders:
202-9518971-4398749
202-4264305-1225105
202-2093544-8173138
I submitted multiple cases to Seller Support, included full documentation, confirmed shipment, and BEGGED for help. Nothing. {personal data removed, moderator edit} got to keep the product and the money. Again.
Funny thing is, this janet doesnt even try to hide it, its the same profile, u can see 5 orders all refunded and they are ordering more and more. i cant cancel the order cz of fba. with fbm i dont get the buy box so i removed the listing completely....
Then it got worse.
Another buyer — {personal data removed, moderator edit} — began doing the exact same thing. Same product. Same excuse. Same refund.
We called her number to try to sort things out… and who picked up the phone? The same voice as {personal data removed, moderator edit}. She told us directly to stop selling this ASIN. This wasn’t just refund abuse anymore — it felt like harassment. Sabotage.
So what did I do? I refunded {personal data removed, moderator edit} myself. Out of my own pocket. Because I didn’t know what else to do. I felt trapped.
And then... Amazon refunded {personal data removed, moderator edit} again. After everything. After all the evidence.
I asked for a refund reversal, for my ODR to be fixed, for help.
They said no.
They let her win.
They let me bleed.
And they don’t care.
I don’t know how a platform that preaches fairness and customer obsession can let abusive buyers run wild while hardworking sellers get trampled.
I’m writing this because I don’t want to be silent anymore. If this has happened to you — speak up.
If you know someone at Amazon who cares — show them this.
Because sellers like me are drowning in silence, and nobody is listening.
I Lost Everything to a Buyer Who Played the System — and Amazon Let It Happen
I don’t even know where to start. I’ve been selling on Amazon for a while, doing everything by the book. I offer real products, ship with FBA, maintain a clean account, and I treat every buyer with respect. But none of that mattered in the end.
A buyer named {personal data removed, moderator edit} has been repeatedly purchasing the same item from my listing. Each time, she claims "performance or quality not adequate" — but never once returns the product, never files an A-to-Z, never goes through any official complaint route.
Instead, Amazon quietly refunds her. Every. Single. Time.
Here are just a few of her orders:
202-9518971-4398749
202-4264305-1225105
202-2093544-8173138
I submitted multiple cases to Seller Support, included full documentation, confirmed shipment, and BEGGED for help. Nothing. {personal data removed, moderator edit} got to keep the product and the money. Again.
Funny thing is, this janet doesnt even try to hide it, its the same profile, u can see 5 orders all refunded and they are ordering more and more. i cant cancel the order cz of fba. with fbm i dont get the buy box so i removed the listing completely....
Then it got worse.
Another buyer — {personal data removed, moderator edit} — began doing the exact same thing. Same product. Same excuse. Same refund.
We called her number to try to sort things out… and who picked up the phone? The same voice as {personal data removed, moderator edit}. She told us directly to stop selling this ASIN. This wasn’t just refund abuse anymore — it felt like harassment. Sabotage.
So what did I do? I refunded {personal data removed, moderator edit} myself. Out of my own pocket. Because I didn’t know what else to do. I felt trapped.
And then... Amazon refunded {personal data removed, moderator edit} again. After everything. After all the evidence.
I asked for a refund reversal, for my ODR to be fixed, for help.
They said no.
They let her win.
They let me bleed.
And they don’t care.
I don’t know how a platform that preaches fairness and customer obsession can let abusive buyers run wild while hardworking sellers get trampled.
I’m writing this because I don’t want to be silent anymore. If this has happened to you — speak up.
If you know someone at Amazon who cares — show them this.
Because sellers like me are drowning in silence, and nobody is listening.
0 replies
Seller_k2X0L9mVRT0pW
@Winston_Amazon - this is awful. Is it possible that a mod could at least look into this and help this poor seller?
Seller_ZVAz3d5lZuGid
This is downright abuse by this customer, who obviously knows how to play Amazon's system and get freebies - truly disgraceful. I would advise you to delete the person's name due to GDPR. Why would she tell you to stop selling the ASIN ? - is she a seller of the same product ? - that is the only reason she might say that, and it sounds like she is trying to break you and get you off the listing, by making repeated orders.
Seller_IQo80d99W2DzP
Did you add to a listing that someone else added, likely that Seller is buying from you, to stop you selling on what they think is their listing.
Amazon is not any of the things you think, they are virtually always on the Buyers side, They conside Sellers as waste, another will come along if they shut you down, so Amazon have no care at all about you as a Seller, once you learn that, it will make you less annoyed as they hate all Sellers, and hate some more so than others
Seller_d8YGbIjNqwFxn
First thing never refund a FBA order yourself. Always allow Amazon to refund the order, they are the ones who should control refunds for FBA products.
Second thing even if the customer didn't return the item you should still get a reimbursement for the item. This happens for most categories, however there are a few product ranges (for example Shampoo) where Amazon do not reimburse.
Finally if they are telling you to stop selling the ASIN then provided you are on the correct listing then report this through the Abuse options in Account Health.
Seller_mS10UjVYuuGor
Huge red flag, why would a genuine customer (or even drop shipper) say this.
Seller_vNGUliyBfm8re
what is the ASIN you're having issues with?
Seller_ZQyopdiwkUHOZ
You're going to need to remove the buyers' personal details, or mods will delete.
Seller_IQo80d99W2DzP
@Seller_aakRkXehmHKf0
If you ask for help, it is a good idea to then respond to the other Sellers that have tried to assist.
What are the ASIN's, so anyone can check the listings for you, as I think most likely it is a competitor that is buying and then getting refunds
As 2 others have said as well, you need to remove Buyers Names, eg call them Buyer A, Buyer B, etc. Even if they are a Pain and Sad? (made up names???)
Seller_HB2MC8FR8Gmz5
I do not have a complete reply, but offer some ideas
Download all your sales reports for the ASINs. Do not refund any yourself they are FBA. Report all the orders to Action Fraud. Write to every customer via seller messaging outlining the issue and advising that you will being legal action and set a timescale for them to respond. If they fail raise this with Seller Support for every case, and open a SAFE-T (or similar) case each time. If Seller support do nothing then write to Amazon headquarters with a Letter before action.
Seller_fLViBrSW573Aj
I find it astonishing that Amazon don't have any kind of automated process to pick this up and stop it in its tracks. Amazon have plenty of automated processes in place if you make the slightest mistake when selling, why cant they extend this to customers who are very clearly abusing the system? If a customer orders an item and returns that item for a refund more than twice, this should set off alarm bells on that customers account. The fact Amazon do nothing to stop this shows you how much they value their sellers.
