Quick tip #34 – Can’t Upgrade to Pro-Seller Accounts

Been a while since I’ve done one of these. But this is a biggy!
Currently Amazon is not allowing upgrades to pro seller accounts (FBA accounts) from Individual (FBM) accounts.

So if any of you downgraded temporarily to prevent monthly charges, you won’t be able to go back. This has happened to me on one of my JP accounts.

Now, why on earth Amazon will stop sellers paying the monthly fee and upgrading to FBA is a little strange!

I have confirmed with Amazon that you are able to close the individual plan and open a Pro account. So they aren’t actually saying you can’t start FBA.

All very weird. A few possible reasons I can think of:

1. They want to vet sellers more? Maybe, but unlikely reason.

2. Running out of storage at the FCs? Possibly, but Amazon wants more FBA sellers in Japan (still running ads on foreign marketplaces to encourage foreign sellers). Plus you can still get a FBA account if you want one.

3. Amazon wants fewer FBA sellers to decrease competition for their own products? Possible, but see above.

4. Cost of FBA support in Japan is too high. May be a valid reason. Amazon recently took away phone support for Individual seller accounts. The phone support in Japan is from native people, and I image the costs were too high for them to continue. And English language support is very limited.

I have no idea what Amazon is doing. But does anyone?