When to Say Goodbye: Knowing When It’s Time to Remove Slow-Moving Inventory

As an Amazon seller, it’s tough to admit defeat—especially when you’ve poured your time, money, and advertising budget into a product. But let’s face it, if a product has been sitting in your FBA inventory for six months, collecting dust instead of glowing reviews, it’s time to have the talk. You know, the “it’s not selling, it’s me” conversation.

Here’s how to know it’s time to let go and what to do about it:

The Signs It’s Time for a Removal Order

1. Super Slow Sales: If your product sells slower than dial-up internet in the ’90s, it’s time to rethink keeping it around.
2. Ad Spend Burnout: If you’ve already thrown advertising dollars at it and all you’ve gotten in return is crickets, take the hint.
3. Storage Fees Looming: Amazon loves charging storage fees, especially those long-term ones. Don’t let your unsold inventory rack up unnecessary costs.

Your Options

1. Liquidation: Turn lemons into a few drops of lemonade. Amazon can sell your products at discounted rates to recover some costs.
2. Dispose: Sometimes, it’s best to just cut your losses. Let Amazon handle the disposal (we’ll spare you the gory details).
3. Return to Address: If you think your product might have another life (or another platform), have it shipped back to you. Who knows? Maybe Etsy or eBay will love it.

Moral of the Story

Holding onto slow-moving inventory is like clinging to an old relationship that clearly isn’t working—it’s draining, expensive, and emotionally exhausting. Recognize when it’s time to move on. Creating a removal order might not feel like a win, but it’s a smart move to clear up space (and peace of mind) for products that actually sell.

Got questions? Drop a comment or send me an email.