Darren Campbell’s FBA Brand Builder program likes to present itself as a high-end mentorship for people hoping to hit it big on Amazon. It promises everything from multimillion-dollar brands to personalized guidance and a supportive community. Sounds great, right? But when you dig a little deeper, there are some big red flags. The whole thing starts to look a lot like a pyramid scheme, with hefty fees, recurring costs, and carefully crafted success stories that seem more like marketing than reality.
One of the ways the program keeps up appearances is through the FBA Brand Builder Awards. These awards seem designed more to promote the program than to actually celebrate genuine success. And with practices like silencing critics and creating financial dependence, it’s hard not to feel like something fishy is going on.
What Even Is a Pyramid Scheme?
At its core, a pyramid scheme ropes people into paying big upfront fees and often requires them to shell out more money down the line to “keep up” or “stay in the game.” Some key signs include:
- Ongoing costs with questionable returns
- Pressure tactics to keep people quiet
- Highlighting a few success stories while ignoring the many struggles
How FBA Brand Builder Stacks Up
1. Costs That Just Keep Piling Up
The program kicks off with a hefty £6,500 fee just to join, but that’s just the beginning. Once you're in, you’ll find yourself nudged—or outright pushed—into spending even more:
- Growth Program (£150/month): This is billed as the next step after you’ve launched a product, but many say the advice is generic at best.
- PPC Management (£175/month): Instead of teaching you how to run your ads, Darren’s team does it for you—for a fee. The catch? You’re left clueless about how to handle campaigns on your own.
- Credit Card Referrals: You’re encouraged to sign up for specific credit cards (like Amex Business Gold), with referral links conveniently benefiting Darren and his crew.
- FBA Studio Services: Need product photos or branding? Darren’s in-house service offers these for an additional cost, making him money on both the course and the extras.
Bottom line? The program doesn’t set you up for independence—it keeps you locked into a system that keeps draining your wallet.
2. NDAs to Shut Down Complaints
Participants are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), which blocks them from publicly discussing negative experiences. This legal gag order protects Darren’s reputation, making it harder for unhappy members to warn others.
It’s a tactic commonly used in pyramid schemes to keep bad press at bay.
3. Awards That Feel More Like Marketing Stunts
The FBA Brand Builder Awards are marketed as a celebration of entrepreneurial wins, but are they really? A closer look shows these awards are less about recognizing success and more about keeping up appearances.
- Close Ties to Winners: Many awardees, like Ryan Tweed and Jordan McClean, have strong connections to Darren’s team, making the awards feel less genuine.
- Motivational Spin: The awards are framed to inspire struggling members to “push through,” subtly blaming individuals for their lack of success rather than questioning the program itself.
- No Clear Criteria: There’s no transparency in how winners are selected, which makes it all feel a bit staged.
By focusing on a few cherry-picked success stories, the program glosses over the struggles of most participants.
4. Emotional Manipulation to Keep You Hooked
Darren leans heavily on emotional tactics, calling the community a “family” and framing any criticism as a betrayal. During a recent coaching call, he even said, “We’re all in this together. If this isn’t for you, that’s fine—but leave without hurting the community.”
That kind of rhetoric makes it hard for people to leave without guilt, even if they’re struggling financially. Failures are reframed as “part of the process,” with Darren often saying things like, “You only fail when you give up.”
While perseverance is important, this approach shifts the blame away from the program’s flaws and onto the participants.
5. PPC Management: Dependency, Not Education
Amazon ads (PPC) are crucial for success, but instead of teaching members how to manage campaigns, Darren’s program charges £175/month to handle it for them. This setup leaves participants in the dark about why their ads might not be working.
Without that knowledge, they’re stuck paying for help indefinitely, which is eerily similar to how pyramid schemes keep people dependent.
So… Is It a Pyramid Scheme?
While Darren’s program does provide some mentorship, it shares too many similarities with pyramid schemes to ignore:
- Costs pile up without providing real, lasting value.
- NDAs silence participants from sharing honest feedback.
- A handful of cherry-picked success stories create the illusion of widespread success.
- Members are kept dependent on expensive services rather than taught to succeed on their own.
What to Watch Out For
If you’re considering joining FBA Brand Builder (or anything like it), keep an eye out for these warning signs:
- Big upfront fees plus ongoing costs for basic services
- Legal contracts that restrict criticism
- Motivational hype without solid, actionable advice
- Awards or success stories that lack transparency
The Takeaway: Be Careful
While the FBA Brand Builder program sells itself as a supportive community for Amazon sellers, its structure raises serious doubts. From high fees to NDAs and dependency on Darren’s services, the program seems more focused on profits than empowerment.
If you want genuine success in the Amazon FBA space, look for programs that prioritize independence, practical education, and transparency. Don’t fall for shiny awards or promises of mentorship if the costs—and the red flags—keep piling up.