"when I try to buy products from stores like TJ Maxx, Ross, and Walmart to resell, I can't list any products. "

As noted by @Seller_rI7BZIczK8iACand @Seller_4zBzdtgCyS9EIyou have dodged several bullets by being STOPPED from listing items.

"How am I supposed to start my Amazon business if I can't even sell used books?"

There have been DOZENS of posts about the issues faced by book sellers on Amazon in the past year or so -- gating of publishers brands, whitelisting for BOTH new and used, IP complaints, HIGH PRICE errors, and more.

Amazon is no longer a good (it's barely viable) location for selling books and it is downright toxic for textbooks!

Sell elsewhere. You can scan the posts for all the suggestions, but eBay seems to be getting a lot of sellers from here!

So that you don't get IMMEDIATELY suspended for doing something that you don't understand, here are the NEW RULES --

THE AMAZON TWO STEP -- A NEW DANCE FOR SELLERS

More and more frequently Amazon is taking a TWO STEP approach and you are probably caught with not doing one of the steps (or either one!)

You are confusing AMAZON allowing you to list (or at least "ungate") an item or category and actually being APPROVED to sell a product. Amazon might ungate you for a CATEGORY, but there can be 100's of brands in the category and they ALL have their own restrictions.

AMAZON is only interested in FEES. They will allow a chimpanzee to list if it means they collect $$$$$.

Additionally, brands that you COULD sell yesterday may be restricted today or next week. Amazon is a moving target to deal with.

DO YOU have an LOA from the brand allowing you to sell on here?

If you have an LOA that specifically says you can sell on Amazon you MIGHT survive listing items.

More and more brands are providing a "whitelist" of their approved sellers and if YOU are NOT on the list you will be stopped in your tracks and probably hit with an IP violation.

DID YOU source from AUTHORIZED wholesale sources that your rep at the brand says are OK? You DO have a sales rep at the brand, don't you?

NOTE the verification is required from the brand that the source is legitimate and authorized, NOT from one of those touted on TikTok and YouTube as having "thousands of brands and products" that assures you that they are authorized.

If you have watched any YouTube or TikTok videos FORGET everything you saw there.

Spend hours/days on Seller U and read the Forum to see all the really creative ways rookies and experienced sellers find to get suspended by ignoring the advice above!

https://sell.amazon.com/learn

If you don't already have the above requirements in place you are probably going to have stranded inventory and a suspended account.

For any rookies out there reading this, please take the following steps while you study so you don't end up suspended!

HINT #1 -- VACATION MODE -- NOW!

HINT #2 -- SELLER U -- NOW!

https://sell.amazon.com/learn

If you don’t want to follow the advice above, go directly to this step and save some time --

HINT #3 -- Start writing your "please help with my Section 3 suspension' letter NOW. It will save you time when you get it.

Pay attention to this recent story in the Amazon 'news' from September 25, 2024.

Sellers were given a 5 day warning that this was being put in place. Sellers have posted that LOAs are required in Europe, so you can see the handwriting on the walls -- this is coming for EVERYTHING on Amazon eventually!

"Updates to listing products with compliance requirements, effective September 30, 2024"

https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/headlines.html?id=GTF566XNEPCPXKDM&ref=nslp_at_6_GTF566XNEPCPXKDM_en-US_ttl_rf_recent_news_7