This entrepreneur says Amazon nearly destroyed his business. He still shops on it every week. 'It's crazy.'
An entrepreneur whose business collapsed after Amazon deactivated his seller account continues to shop on the platform regularly. He describes the habit as a forced dependency, highlighting how deeply Amazon is integrated into daily consumer life.
Why it matters
This illustrates the 'Amazon paradox,' where the platform's market dominance makes it nearly impossible for consumers and small businesses to avoid, even when they have been harmed by it.
Business Insider Jack Nekhala's Bed Scrunchie sales faced a major hit after Amazon deactivated his seller account. Nekhala says the loss left the founders in debt, yet he still shops on Amazon several times a week. The habit bothers him more than he can explain. Jack Nekhala has every reason to stop shopping on Amazon . His company, Bed Scrunchie, generated about $4.5 million in 2024 and was on track for more, Nekhala said. However, Amazon deactivated its seller account just before the holidays that year, cutting off its biggest sales channel. "Once the collapse happened through Amazon, it basically collapsed the entire business," Nekhala told Business Insider for our So Expensive video series. That makes his next admission harder to say. "I still shop on Amazon ," Nekhala said. "I have a daughter. She needs bikes. She needs a scooter, she needs all sorts, she needs different things.
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