Shine Armor Policy Case

📄 Case Entry: Shine Armor – Inventory Removal Following Transparency Activation (ASIN B07LHB3B2Q)

Summary:
Amazon removed my listing for Shine Armor Fortify Quick Coat after a “Not as Described” flag. This occurred shortly after the brand enrolled in Transparency, which inadvertently rendered my inventory unsellable — even though 100% of it had been received by FBA prior to the Transparency enforcement date.

🔍 Timeline of Events:

March 2024: Multiple inbound FBA shipments of Shine Armor Fortify Quick Coat were received in full before mid-March — prior to Transparency enforcement.
September 2024: ASIN B07LHB3B2Q was flagged as “Not as Described” and removed from the catalog.
→ No return, no buyer message, no ASIN-specific complaint was documented.
Sept–Dec 2024: I submitted over a dozen appeals, none of which were reviewed or acknowledged.
Dec 2024: A final executive escalation led to the ASIN being reinstated.
→ However, by that point, the entire FBA inventory had already been marked for removal.

📌 Submitted Documentation:

FBA shipment records showing product was received before Transparency cutoff
Support transcripts confirming inability to stop removal workflow
Appeals and evidence packet confirming the ASIN removal was in error

⚠️ Key Issues Identified:

The “Not as Described” flag was applied without a customer return or claim
Transparency enrollment was enforced retroactively — affecting inventory already received
No reimbursement was offered despite listing reinstatement and verified seller compliance

🎯 Final Status (as of May 31, 2025):

Inventory forcibly removed at seller’s expense
ASIN technically reinstated but unlistable due to missing Transparency barcodes
Formal notice submitted to Amazon regarding:
- Inventory removal without cause
- Denial of reimbursement following policy change
- Lack of seller protections during Transparency transitions

🧾 Supporting Evidence:

FBA Shipment Received — **Figure 1:** Inventory received and processed by FBA before March 31, 2024.

Transparency Warning — **Figure 2:** Amazon notification showing Transparency enforcement applied post-receipt.

Support Refusal — **Figure 3:** Support declines to intervene during active removal — despite open appeal.

Figure 4: Escalated reimbursement request (including documentation) went unanswered.

💬 Commentary:

This incident highlights a broader issue with how Amazon implements new brand protection tools. Inventory received before policy activation should not be subject to retroactive enforcement. Yet, that’s exactly what happened.

Sellers who follow the rules deserve basic protections — including the right to be heard, and the right to reimbursement when Amazon’s own policies change mid-stream.