FBA = Not Eligible for Buy Box?URGENT! Is This a Bug or a Hidden Rule?
Hi everyone,
I'm posting this here because I'm honestly at my limit with the standard Amazon support channels.
Situation:
Amazon officially states:
"Listings that are Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) are automatically eligible to become the Featured Offer (Buy Box)."
Great. That makes sense.
So here’s what I did:
I’m using FBA.
My account is in good standing.
I have active stock.
I’m listing on ASINs that already have a Buy Box.
Competing sellers on those same listings are winning the Buy Box.
But in my case:
My offer shows as “Not Eligible” for the Buy Box.
I’m not even showing up as eligible — not winning, just not eligible.
Let me repeat: I fully understand that being eligible doesn’t mean I should win the Buy Box.
But if I’m FBA — and Amazon says FBA = eligible — then why am I not even eligible?
I’ve raised this with support multiple times. All I get are generic replies like:
"Eligibility depends on many factors."
"FBA increases your chances, but doesn’t guarantee it."
"Seller performance, price, inventory, etc."
Fine — I get that.
But again: I’m not complaining about not winning the Buy Box.
I’m raising the fact that FBA = Eligible, yet I’m FBA and still Not Eligible.
I’ve shared screenshots (including the one Amazon itself uses where it says this exact rule), and even the support agents admit I’m correct in principle — yet no one has explained why this is happening in my case.
Questions to the community:
Has anyone experienced something similar?
Is this a technical bug that Amazon won’t acknowledge?
Could this be some invisible account flag or limitation?
Would love to hear from anyone who’s been through this — or anyone with insights into how Amazon's system actually determines “eligibility.”
Thanks,
P.S. This is not about a specific ASIN. Literally every ASIN I list on has the same issue:
I’m FBA
Other sellers (FBA or FBM) on the same ASIN have the Buy Box
The listing itself has a Buy Box
And yet, on none of these listings am I eligible for the Buy Box — despite being FBA, having active stock (not inbound), being a professional seller, Prime shipping, and even more inventory than some competitors on certain listings.
The issue is not that I’m not winning the Buy Box —
The issue is that, as FBA, I’m marked as Not Eligible.
And let me repeat:
I’m not complaining about not winning the Buy Box —
I literally don’t even have the right to compete for it.
I’m marked as Not Eligible, and I understand perfectly well that eligibility ≠ winning.
For convenience, here’s the case where I tried to explain all of this to support: Case ID 11245510222.
ASINS
B0C41F28S7
B007F0WNVW
B09XF52XW8
B007341OCO
B081TRBYW7
B0CJKT3FVQ
I’m simply asking for an explanation.
I fully understand that I’m currently Not Eligible,
but please explain — as a new seller —
why does Amazon state that any FBA offer = Eligible,
yet I’m FBA and still Not Eligible?
@Spencer_Amazon
@Ezra_Amazon
FBA = Not Eligible for Buy Box?URGENT! Is This a Bug or a Hidden Rule?
Hi everyone,
I'm posting this here because I'm honestly at my limit with the standard Amazon support channels.
Situation:
Amazon officially states:
"Listings that are Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) are automatically eligible to become the Featured Offer (Buy Box)."
Great. That makes sense.
So here’s what I did:
I’m using FBA.
My account is in good standing.
I have active stock.
I’m listing on ASINs that already have a Buy Box.
Competing sellers on those same listings are winning the Buy Box.
But in my case:
My offer shows as “Not Eligible” for the Buy Box.
I’m not even showing up as eligible — not winning, just not eligible.
Let me repeat: I fully understand that being eligible doesn’t mean I should win the Buy Box.
But if I’m FBA — and Amazon says FBA = eligible — then why am I not even eligible?
I’ve raised this with support multiple times. All I get are generic replies like:
"Eligibility depends on many factors."
"FBA increases your chances, but doesn’t guarantee it."
"Seller performance, price, inventory, etc."
Fine — I get that.
But again: I’m not complaining about not winning the Buy Box.
I’m raising the fact that FBA = Eligible, yet I’m FBA and still Not Eligible.
I’ve shared screenshots (including the one Amazon itself uses where it says this exact rule), and even the support agents admit I’m correct in principle — yet no one has explained why this is happening in my case.
Questions to the community:
Has anyone experienced something similar?
Is this a technical bug that Amazon won’t acknowledge?
Could this be some invisible account flag or limitation?
Would love to hear from anyone who’s been through this — or anyone with insights into how Amazon's system actually determines “eligibility.”
Thanks,
P.S. This is not about a specific ASIN. Literally every ASIN I list on has the same issue:
I’m FBA
Other sellers (FBA or FBM) on the same ASIN have the Buy Box
The listing itself has a Buy Box
And yet, on none of these listings am I eligible for the Buy Box — despite being FBA, having active stock (not inbound), being a professional seller, Prime shipping, and even more inventory than some competitors on certain listings.
The issue is not that I’m not winning the Buy Box —
The issue is that, as FBA, I’m marked as Not Eligible.
And let me repeat:
I’m not complaining about not winning the Buy Box —
I literally don’t even have the right to compete for it.
I’m marked as Not Eligible, and I understand perfectly well that eligibility ≠ winning.
For convenience, here’s the case where I tried to explain all of this to support: Case ID 11245510222.
ASINS
B0C41F28S7
B007F0WNVW
B09XF52XW8
B007341OCO
B081TRBYW7
B0CJKT3FVQ
I’m simply asking for an explanation.
I fully understand that I’m currently Not Eligible,
but please explain — as a new seller —
why does Amazon state that any FBA offer = Eligible,
yet I’m FBA and still Not Eligible?
@Spencer_Amazon
@Ezra_Amazon
23 Antworten
Seller_CJjIUGWJZIDbW
You could have saved yourself the long text. There's no right to the BuyBox, and therefore no instructions on how to get it. There's nothing more than the official Amazon information pages; everything else is just speculation. Offer a good product at a good price and have a good seller profile. There's nothing more to say...
Seller_nC2Rw67XBUT1O
I believe this issue occurred due to an external error. I am an FBA seller, and according to Amazon’s own policy, FBA offers are automatically eligible for the Buy Box.
I understand that eligibility does not guarantee winning the Buy Box, but in my case, I am not even eligible to participate, which contradicts Amazon's stated rules.
Seller_CJjIUGWJZIDbW
FBA offers are automatically eligible for the Buy Box - No my Dear, I am here for about 10 years and I learned: thats not true. Read my first answer, nothing more to say - I‘m out.
Seller_nC2Rw67XBUT1O
I don’t know where you’ve been for the past 10 years — Amazon clearly states this themselves. I’m just repeating their own rules, not making things up. It’s easy to find. I’m waiting for a moderator.
@Spencer_Amazon
Seller_FJChsitX8Vq0L
There is a mistake in your mindset. You write
and that´s wrong. You can´t be marke as eligible!! Only your product can! That´s what the support correctly wrote:
And they meyn eligibility of PRODUCTS, not of persons. FBA is only one factor for the eligibility of your product - but there are some more.
And some of your product are eligible, which means they DO have the buy box. And some are not eligibe, which means they DO NOT have the buybox. But even these product can get the buybox one day if you change the price or get some feedbacks or any other factor.
If there are two or more offers for the same product, and both do FBA, it is obvious, that only one of them can get the buybox. And eligible means = Buybox.
Seller_nC2Rw67XBUT1O
Thanks for the input, but I think there’s a misunderstanding here.
Buy Box eligibility is shown per offer, not just per product. That’s why Amazon Seller Central literally says “Your offer is not eligible for the Buy Box” — even when the product itself has a Buy Box.
Also, eligibility ≠ winning. Even Amazon's own documentation says that FBA offers are automatically eligible — which doesn't mean they win, just that they can compete.
My concern is not about winning the Buy Box, it’s about my offers being FBA but still showing as “Not Eligible” — meaning they don’t even have the chance to win.
So no, eligibility does not mean "has the Buy Box" — it means “can compete for it.”
That’s what I’m trying to understand.
@Spencer_Amazon
Listings that are Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) are automatically eligible to become the Featured Offer (Buy Box)
Seller_FJChsitX8Vq0L
Thanks for your response. I still believe you´re wrong with your mindset and @Seller_GhPPYbCGxg4l5 has put me on the decisive track.
If you talk about "Eligibility" you mean "Eligibility for the buybox". But that´s probably not the problem in your case. It looks like the product in question is not eligible for LISTING. If I´m wrong please send a screenshot of the message
Seller_nC2Rw67XBUT1O
Thanks again for replying — I see what you’re trying to say, but just to clarify:
I’m definitely not talking about listing eligibility — my listings are active, FBA stock is live, and other sellers are winning the Buy Box on the exact same ASINs.
The issue is Buy Box eligibility per offer. In “Manage Inventory,” my offer shows as “Not Eligible” — even though it’s FBA, has active stock, and meets all criteria.
I understand eligibility does not mean winning — but here, my offer isn’t even considered.
Amazon’s own documentation clearly states:
“Listings that are Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) are automatically eligible to become the Featured Offer (Buy Box).”
If you’re still unsure what I mean, I can gladly share a screenshot of the Seller Central page where it says:
“Your offer is not eligible to be the Featured Offer.”
This is the root of my concern — not whether I win the Buy Box, but why I’m excluded from competing at all.
Seller_FJChsitX8Vq0L
I checked it again. If it is about ASIN B007F0WNVW, @Seller_GhPPYbCGxg4l5 looked for the wrong seller. You´re right - it is listed under your shopname "VDB international". Maybe @Seller_GhPPYbCGxg4l5looked for "USA heaven".
So I have to correct myself. I still believe that in this case "not eligible to be featured offer" means the same as "you did not win the buybox"
I am sure that you are competing for the buybox. You just don´t get it right now, because "VDB international" seems to be a new seller. At least in the offer "new seller" is displayed. And new sellers never get the buybox from the beginning.
And as @Seller_GhPPYbCGxg4l5wrote:
Please send a screenshot of the displayed message
If you’re still unsure what I mean, I can gladly share a screenshot of the Seller Central page where it says:
“Your offer is not eligible to be the Featured Offer.”
When I see where exactly this message is displayed, I can compare it whit my own listings.
Seller_GhPPYbCGxg4l5
What exactly makes you think that you can't compete for the BuyBox?
PS: You're right, just checked out B007F0WNVW, and actually you don't seem to be listed as one of the "further" sellers at all...
Did you comply with all the packaging requirements etc (it's a perfume...)?
Just to be sure: What's your seller name published on the product page?
Seller_i5OTPPF4e7ehP
May I know how old is your account? I remember that happened to me during the first 3 months while Amazon was trusting me as a seller.
Seller_G1PKKllhFr07V
So do I understand (aka "assume") this correctly: You are an US seller, trying to sell US goods on the european marketplace?
Or do you offer EU goods, purchased from official EU distributors of these parfumes?
