I began selling on Amazon in 2013 and have processed over 300,000 orders with a 100% feedback rating. I have always been meticulous, ensuring that every aspect of my business was executed flawlessly. Over the course of five years, I averaged $3 million in sales annually. However, a few years ago, my mother received a diagnosis of Metastatic Breast Cancer. I made the decision to put everything aside to be by her side every day for an entire year until her passing. Losing my mother was incredibly difficult, and it made returning to the relentless grind of Amazon very challenging.

In the following months, I resumed selling, and things were going well until one day, my payment was not disbursed. A few days later, my account was deactivated without any explanation. I later learned that one of my ASINs had received an authenticity complaint for a product I have sold for 12 years without one complaint. Despite providing numerous invoices, I received a standard reply saying they could not verify them. For three months, my funds were held in reserve, and the credit cards I used to finance my business were shut down due to lack of payment. I had relied on Amazon for my livelihood, and after not working for for a few years to care for my mother, my savings were quickly depleted. I started borrowing money just to pay bills, assuring everyone I'd pay them back as I expected to receive $40,000 from Amazon.

Last week, I was devastated to receive an email stating they were permanently withholding my funds. The impact of this news was unbearable. During the past three months, I discovered that one of my five dogs had bone cancer, and I was urgently trying to secure funds for his treatment. When informed that Amazon was keeping my money, I faced the heartbreaking reality that I have no other option than to put him down. Just two days ago, my electricity was cut off, and I’ve gone without food for nearly three full days because my dogs needs will always come first.

Words cannot express my deep depression. I have sold nearly all my belongings to get by, yet I now have nothing left to sell and feel utterly depleted. I will be evicted the first week of next month.Not only have I lost my income, but my entire investment is gone, with $40,000 withheld and approximately another $50,000 lost in inventory. The enormity of how this has devastated my life is indescribable. I am overwhelmed with bills, I owe money to others, and I find myself unemployed once again while facing losing my home. I’ve never experienced such profound depression in my life. The complete upheaval of my world over a single frivolous authenticity complaint—despite my history of hundreds of thousands of orders with perfect feedback has completely shattered me. My dogs keep me going, but they can sense my despair. The unanticipated deactivation of my account has had a life-altering effect, and the loss of my $40,000 and another 50,000 in inventory has left me feeling irreparably broken. Amazon cost me my livelihood, and might just cost me my life.