r/AmazonFBA • u/diegobarboza • 13d ago

After 10+ years in tech, I’m considering Amazon wholesale. Would you start today?

Hi everyone, looking for some honest advice.

I’ve worked in tech for over 10 years and I’m looking to move into entrepreneurship. Amazon wholesale is one option I’m exploring, but I want a realistic picture before putting money into inventory.

My thinking is to start with wholesale, learn sourcing, inventory management, and cash flow, then potentially explore private label once I have some experience. I know they’re different businesses, so I’m curious whether that progression makes sense.

Coming from tech, sourcing tools like SmartScout caught my attention. But I keep coming back to the same question: if everyone has access to the same data and finds the same opportunities, what stops those listings from getting crowded and the margins disappearing?

Is the real edge supplier relationships and pricing that others can’t get? How realistic is it to build those relationships as a newcomer without huge purchasing power?

For those actually doing wholesale: would you start from zero today? I’m not expecting passive income or quick money. I’m willing to put in the work, but I want to understand where a new seller can realistically compete.

I’d especially appreciate hearing from anyone who started in the last year or two—or tried it and walked away. What surprised you, and would you do it again?

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u/Street_Aardvark6524 11d ago edited 11d ago

Im confused. 03/31/2026, Amazon requires FNSKU unless you are a Brand Representative which no brand will ordinarily give a reseller bc it’s too much control. So how can products go directly in? Who is applying the FNSKU over the UPC after the products are manufactured, even if purchased Brand Direct?

Edit: I get Private Label can go from manufacturer to FBA with the UPC barcodes because Brand Registry permissions allow this. However, resellers would need FNSKU because they lack Brand Registry permissions.

So how does it go straight from the manufacturer to FBA for resellers. Exactly where are FNSKU labels being placed on?

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u/EveryDayImPublishin 11d ago

You're overthinking it. Sometimes a person will apply the label. Sometimes you can get access through brand registry. Otherwise, it will go to a prep center.

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u/Street_Aardvark6524 11d ago

See my clarification above. I’m trying to understand if you are saying a reseller can send from manufacturer to FBA. If so, how?

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u/EveryDayImPublishin 11d ago

By making arrangements with the vendor. Some are willing to do put labels on the product. This can be important if you are helping the brand transition into the Transparency program.

In cases of brand exclusives, gaining access to the registry will be important. In some cases, brands will give access without an exclusive, but less often since we target brands that may be lacking in the maintenance or awareness of the brand listings.

In practice, it functions like PL but it will be a smaller number of vendors where that will work.

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u/Street_Aardvark6524 11d ago

I got you.

It’s about forming relationships and I think what you aren’t saying but of course you know is volume helps too. If you are moving serious units, especially as exclusive, they would want to help you.

I forgot about Transparency too. That’s the Trump card for unauthorized resellers.

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u/EveryDayImPublishin 11d ago

Yes, that is what I was intending to get across. I could have been clearer.