## Renting an Audience
Amazon is not a retailer; it is a toll-bridge. They provide the warehouse and the customers, but the cost of entry is designed to strip-mine the small business owner.
### FAQ
**Q: Why do so many Amazon FBA sellers go bankrupt?**
A: Fee Stacking. Amazon charges a 15% referral fee for every sale. Then they charge for FBA storage. Then they charge for 'picking' and 'packing'. But the most lethal fee is Advertising (PPC). To even show up on page 1, a seller must bid for their own product name. This tool models the tragic equilibrium: If you make a good product, Amazon eventually launches a 'Basics' version and clones it, or simply increases fees until your net profit is zero.