Veteran-Owned Small Business Trapped in Amazon Seller Catch-22 Over Fraudulent FBA Partner
illi News/10304404

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - illiNews -- Cheyenne, WY – Clare Martinez, a U.S. Army veteran and owner of Ma Che Bello LLC, is speaking out after a six month-long battle with Amazon's Seller Central system, alleging that the company's opaque and automated appeals process has left her locked out of her account, separated from her inventory, and financially devastated following fraud by a third-party automation service.

In 2023, Martinez enrolled in a service offered by SmartFBA, a company promising to automate product sourcing and selling via Amazon's Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) platform. The service, now defunct, failed to deliver contracted services and inventory—costing Martinez over $120,000 in merchandise and business capital. The inventory that was delivered remains held in Amazon's warehouses, with Martinez unable to retrieve it due to account deactivation.

Despite repeated appeals and correspondence with Amazon's support teams, Martinez remains caught in what she describes as a "bureaucratic Catch-22":

• Amazon instructed her to submit an appeal for account reinstatement.
• Appeals are rejected due to lack of supplier documentation.
• The supplier documentation Amazon demands must come from the supplier's supplier—something impossible to obtain in modern distribution chains.
• Without reinstatement, Amazon blocks her from removing or reclaiming inventory.
• Meanwhile, storage fees continue to accumulate monthly on inventory she cannot access.

"This isn't just my story. Amazon is enabling fraud by creating a system that allows third-party automation services to exploit their platform, while punishing victims like me with red tape," Martinez said. "I've done everything right—served my country, built a legitimate business, followed Amazon's instructions. Now I'm losing money every month while being told to submit appeals that Amazon won't read."

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Martinez has attempted to raise awareness by launching a Change.org petition, which she promoted through paid ads, reaching thousands. However, the petition has received limited support—highlighting what she calls the chilling effect of fear among Amazon sellers.

"I've been in touch with Amazon executive support, submitted multiple cases, and asked for assistance in good faith. Each time, I'm either ignored or sent in circles," said Martinez. "This process doesn't just lack compassion—it lacks logic."

Martinez is now calling for federal oversight of Amazon's seller management systems and a formal mechanism for sellers to reclaim inventory lost due to deactivation. She has also filed complaints with state attorney generals, the Federal Trade Commission, and other regulatory bodies.

Media Contact:
Clare Martinez
admin@mcbnicelook.com
www.mcbnicelook.com

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Owner, Ma Che Bello LLC