If you haven’t already, we recommend checking out our in-depth article “Exposing Empire Builder: The Shocking Truth Darren Campbell Doesn’t Want You to Know” before diving in. In it, we uncover how Darren’s so-called proprietary software, Empire Builder, is nothing more than a white-labeled Zonbase clone sold at triple the price. It’s a prime example of the misleading practices that seem to run throughout his business model.
Darren Campbell’s FBA Brand Builder program charges £6,500, promising expert guidance and strategies for aspiring Amazon sellers. But does it really live up to the hype, or is it just a mix of basic tutorials, vague advice, and expensive upsells disguised as mentorship?
We’ve analyzed Stages 1–8 and found some clear gaps in value, a lack of actionable insights, and questionable mentorship practices. Whether you’ve been a client, a past participant, or just someone watching the videos we’ve linked to below, we want your feedback! Did the program deliver, or leave you disappointed?
Your input—100% anonymous—is key. We don’t need your name, just your honest take.
Share your experience through our secure feedback form, and we’ll update this article throughout the weekend with your insights. Let’s give potential participants the full picture before they make their decision.
Share your feedback anonymously here 👇
We fully expect the predictable response: scrambling to play “whack-a-mole” with the links below and leaving comments about how they’re “always learning and improving” while “valuing feedback.”
If any of the links break, let us know—we’ll get them fixed right away.
But take a moment to ask yourself—do you really want to be a test subject for this program and its mentors, all still working through their own "learning curve"?
Or, for £6,500, do you expect a well-established, highly detailed, and professionally crafted program delivered by genuinely experienced experts?
Why Are We Doing This?
Darren Campbell’s FBA Brand Builder consistently pitches itself as a top-tier mentorship program with a £6,500 price tag, but the reality often falls short of the claims. Based on client experiences and our own analysis, it’s clear there’s a lot left to be desired.
While Darren often says his dream is to build the biggest and best brand-building company in the world, we don’t share his “vision.”
So, why are we sharing these videos?
- People Deserve Transparency
If you’re going to spend thousands on a program, you should know exactly what you’re getting. By sharing the raw content, we want to help potential participants make informed choices, not just go off sales hype. - Protecting Consumers
Many people who’ve joined the program talk about vague advice, surprise upsells, and mentors who don’t seem qualified. That’s left some participants in tough financial spots, and we want to help others avoid the same situation. - Holding Them Accountable
Darren’s team sells this program as a complete solution for building a successful Amazon business, but what’s delivered often falls short. By showing the actual content, we’re shining a light on the gap between the marketing and what you really get. - Giving the Community Better Options
Let’s face it: selling on Amazon is tough, but there are tons of free resources and courses out there that provide way more value. We’re sharing these videos so people can weigh their options and choose tools that actually help them move forward. - Calling Out Unfair Practices
Programs like this often target people who are chasing financial freedom, and they come with a steep price—financially and emotionally. Our goal is to hold these programs accountable and push for a more honest, ethical approach to mentorship.
This isn’t about dragging anyone down, despite what Darren might say. It’s about fairness and giving people the full picture. If you’re someone who’s taken the program, or even just looked into it, we’d love to hear your feedback.
Stage 1: Onboarding and Basic Setup
What’s Included:
- Step-by-step guide to setting up an Amazon Seller Central account.
- Instructions for creating a Google account and organizing files.
- A beginner-friendly checklist to “get started.”
Reality Check:
Let’s be honest—Stage 1 feels more like an Amazon 101 crash course than the kickoff to a £6,500 premium mentorship program. The content is so basic that you could easily find it in Amazon’s free Seller University or with a quick Google search.
Client Feedback:
“This is what I paid £6,500 for? A tutorial on how to set up a Google account?” – Former Client
Verdict:
Stage 1 offers the absolute minimum when it comes to onboarding, falling far short of what’s needed to build a successful Amazon business.
Stage 2: Foundations for Business Success
What’s Included:
- Motivational speeches about adopting a “millionaire mindset.”
- General advice on setting goals and staying resilient.
Reality Check:
Sure, mindset matters—but this module offers no concrete tools or strategies to turn motivation into action. It’s essentially a pep talk without any practical follow-through.
Example from Program Videos:
“If you can dream it, you can do it. The only thing holding you back is fear.” – Darren Campbell
Verdict:
Stage 2 feels more like a self-help seminar than the structured, actionable mentorship you’d expect. Clients are often left wondering when the real value will kick in.
Stage 3: Product Research and Validation
What’s Included:
- Guidance on identifying 15 potential products.
- A process for narrowing options based on costs, competition, and market demand.
- Repeated encouragement to refine and retry until finding a viable product.
Reality Check:
This stage is where many participants hit a wall. Clients often report spending weeks—or even months—caught in a frustrating loop of rejected product ideas, with little support to help them navigate the process.
Quote from Weekly Calls:
“People go back four or five times. It’s part of the process.” – Darren Campbell
Client Impact:
Without clear, actionable guidelines, many participants feel overwhelmed and stuck in “analysis paralysis,” with some even walking away from the program entirely.
Stage 4: Sourcing Suppliers
What’s Included:
- Basics of reaching out to suppliers on Alibaba.
- Negotiation tips like complimenting suppliers and double-checking shipping weights.
- Instructions for ordering product samples.
Reality Check:
Sourcing suppliers is a make-or-break step for any Amazon seller, yet the program barely scratches the surface. There’s no deep dive into critical topics like long-term contract negotiation, quality control, or verifying supplier reliability.
Client Feedback:
“The tips were so basic—like ‘be polite to suppliers.’ I expected something I couldn’t have Googled myself.” – Former Participant
Verdict:
Stage 4 offers little more than surface-level advice, leaving clients unprepared to handle the complexities of sourcing effectively.
Stage 5: Branding and Product Packaging
What’s Included:
- Tutorials on creating logos, packaging designs, and product insert cards.
- Brief discussions on visual branding, with little focus on long-term strategy.
Reality Check:
Branding is one of the most important elements of e-commerce success, but this module glosses over it. Instead of teaching clients how to build a strong brand, the program pushes them toward FBA Studio—Darren’s own service—for pricey branding packages.
Client Experience:
“I thought I’d learn to create a strong brand identity, but instead, they just wanted me to pay for their design services.” – Client Testimonial
Verdict:
Stage 5 prioritizes upselling over genuine teaching, leaving clients ill-equipped to develop a brand that stands out in a competitive marketplace.
Stage 6: Pre-Launch Preparation
What’s Included:
- Basic tips for managing inventory.
- Instructions on creating shipping plans.
- An overview of Amazon’s Vine program for collecting early reviews.
Reality Check:
The pre-launch phase is one of the most crucial parts of selling on Amazon, yet this stage barely scratches the surface. It skips over practical strategies for common issues like optimizing inventory levels or navigating supplier delays—problems every seller is likely to encounter.
Client Feedback:
“Everything in this stage was something I could have figured out by reading Amazon’s help pages.” – Participant in 2024 Weekly Call
Verdict:
Stage 6 leaves participants underprepared for launch, offering shallow guidance on critical pre-launch challenges.
Stage 7: Listing Creation and Optimization
What’s Included:
- Tips on writing product descriptions, uploading images, and selecting keywords.
- Heavy emphasis on using FBA Studio for “professional” listing creation.
Reality Check:
Instead of teaching clients how to create and optimize listings themselves, this stage frequently directs them to outsource the work to FBA Studio at an additional cost. While high-quality listings are essential, the program misses the mark by failing to equip clients with the skills to handle this step independently.
Example from Weekly Calls:
“Your listing is your brand’s first impression. Invest in the Zero to Hero package for guaranteed results.” – Darren Campbell
Verdict:
Stage 7 doubles down on the program’s focus on upselling, offering little in the way of practical education for creating standout listings.
Stage 8: Launch and PPC Management
What’s Included:
- Basics of running Amazon Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns.
- Suggestions for gathering reviews and increasing sales velocity.
Reality Check:
Amazon PPC is notoriously complex, and success requires a deep understanding of targeting, bidding strategies, and campaign optimization. Unfortunately, the advice here is so general—things like “increase your bids”—that many participants report wasting hundreds or even thousands of pounds on poorly managed campaigns.
Client Frustration:
“The PPC advice was so vague—just ‘increase your bids.’ That’s not what I needed.” – Participant Testimonial
Verdict:
Stage 8 fails to deliver the detailed PPC training clients need, often resulting in wasted ad budgets and little progress.
The Myth of Mentorship: Unqualified Advisors
One of the biggest selling points of the FBA Brand Builder program is its promise of mentorship. But the reality of the advisors clients work with paints a different picture. Many of the so-called mentors are former clients whose own Amazon businesses have failed, raising major concerns about their ability to guide others.
Examples of Mentor Missteps:
- Recommending clients inflate revenue figures on credit applications.
- Encouraging unethical tactics like manipulating supplier quotes.
- Failing to provide personalized support during critical stages.
Client Feedback:
“How can I trust advice from mentors who don’t even have successful businesses themselves?” – Client Testimonial
Mentor Quote:
“Take a little bit of a risk. Order 50 units of something random and see what happens.” – Jordan McClean, FBA Mentor
Reality Check:
This lack of qualified mentors isn’t an isolated issue—it’s a recurring theme, as we explored in detail in Two Inexperienced Mentors, Countless Missteps: Inside the FBA Brand Builder Coaching Fiasco.
The Real Cost of Darren Campbell’s Program
Darren Campbell’s FBA Brand Builder program might advertise a £6,500 entry fee, but for many participants, the true cost ends up being far higher—sometimes exceeding £25,000. Hidden costs and constant upsells are part of the game, as we uncovered in our investigation, “The Hidden Truth About Darren Campbell’s FBA Brand Builder: Mindset Hype and Endless Upsells.”
Here’s what we found:
- 43% of the course videos cover Amazon FBA basics—material you can easily find for free online.
- 21% of the content is dedicated to upselling Darren’s own in-house services.
Participants are routinely nudged toward pricey extras like:
- FBA Studio branding services: Packages cost between £2,030 and £3,000.
- Empire Builder software: A subscription runs £699 per year.
- PPC management fees: Clients are charged anywhere from £2,000 to £4,000 per month—and the program doesn’t provide enough training to manage ads yourself, leaving you dependent on paid services.
These extra costs are rarely disclosed upfront, leaving many clients unprepared for the financial strain. To make matters worse, Darren’s team doesn’t recommend alternative providers, creating a setup where clients feel stuck paying for his services at every turn.
For anyone considering the program, the real question isn’t just whether the £6,500 entry fee is worth it—it’s whether the mentorship and training can possibly justify the mountain of additional expenses that come after.
Is the Program Worth It? Spoiler: No
For £6,500, participants expect a comprehensive roadmap to Amazon success—expert mentorship, actionable strategies, and advanced training included. But what they actually get is:
- Basic tutorials that are easily available for free online.
- Motivational fluff instead of real, practical mentorship.
- A sales funnel pushing expensive upsells like FBA Studio.
- Guidance from unqualified mentors using questionable tactics.
The Bottom Line:
The FBA Brand Builder program makes big promises but often falls short, leaving many participants feeling misled or even scammed. If you’re serious about selling on Amazon, free resources like YouTube tutorials and Amazon Seller Central can often provide better value when paired with self-motivation and dedication.
We Want to Hear From You:
Have you viewed the videos we’ve shared? Whether you’re a casual observer, a past participant, or a current client, we’d love your honest feedback. Tell us about your experiences, your frustrations, or what worked for you.
We’ll update this article with your comments as they come in to ensure potential participants have the clearest picture possible.
What People Are Saying About FBA Brand Builder
We’ve asked for your thoughts on Darren Campbell’s FBA Brand Builder program, and here’s what you’ve shared so far. Have something to add? Send us your comments, and we’ll continue updating this section with new perspectives.
You don’t need to be a brain box to be in business but the guy can’t even string a coherent sentence together. The suggestion that women should join only fans is jaw dropping, it’s also an indication of what Campbell truly thinks of women. He has no credibility, he has a very chequered past, not even a distant one either.
He has assembled a group of mates who are equally intellectually challenged to entice people to buy into his rubbish, wake up, it’s your money he’s living off, you won’t make any profit. His claim that he has to make sure that you both “fit” is laughable, he wants to make sure you’ll lap up what he says and that you won’t ask difficult questions. It’s all over for him now.
I feel for the people who are going to be affected by this, both financially and mentally. He doesn’t though, he cares about nothing and nobody, not even his wife and child. The sooner the authorities are involved the better.
I have since found that i could have got all of my A+ content, Videos, Images, Zonbase (empire builder) for a fraction of the price. I hope to make capital back and dip from the program.
They've ruined countless amounts of people because no one was seeing anything negative about them online. All smoke and mirrors and bluff.
If you have a budget, you should forget about it, as when you go through the programme, there are constant fees for this, that, and the other, most of which you’ll find are linked to companies connected to Darren or Darren himself. Even if it’s outside companies like FBAB, there are moves being made there also. The more you stand back and look, it’s all about thickening Darren's pocket and emptying everyone else’s.
We originally had a budget of around 15 to 20k, but with his programme and the route they advise you to go—high-end products—all the fees along the way would have taken it over 30k with no guarantee. But his so-called blueprint, he says, is something he can guarantee.
We just lost total faith in the programme, i.e., poor support, and felt like they were just draining money from us at nearly every stage. The mentors were not experienced whatsoever; most of them had only launched their first products themselves.
I've always had in the back of my mind that Darren was faking it until he made it.
The mentors don't have successful brands themselves. There are lots of hidden, unexpected fees, which they skim off the top. They delete messages from the network if they don't like them. They don't even need to be negative; they could simply be about PPC, something essential to know about. They then message you to tell you off like a child. They don't respond to messages or emails. They don't care about your emotional or financial well-being.
They know what they are doing to people, and they know it doesn't work. A lot of time and effort was put into this, with nothing to show for the nearly £20,000 we invested, other than an empty savings account that will take years to rebuild. Meanwhile, they continue to rob people of their emotional and financial well-being and flaunt their so-called success in your face. Avoid like the plague for your own sanity.
- Setting up a limited company £165
- Brand builder package £400
- Brand builder marketing/trademark £600
- Sign up fee £6500
- Movley/other expenses £400
- A video for your brand £1400
Don't be fooled by these crooks! You're in about £9000 before product costs.
Well done to Donald for posting his whole program. As seems now they removing everything and trying to start fresh in the new year. So what happens to current members they just forgot about and not cared about??? No thought whatsoever.
Well, Darren, that’s just openly admitting you have robbed the shit out of those of us who are on or have been on the program! Are you going to refund us the difference in costs????
Good job Donald has uploaded the program so anyone still wanting to continue can access it over the next few weeks and crack on.
Probably means no support from the team either and no calls, so clients will be relying on the community to answer their questions. They're a better help than the team anyway! This will be the third change to the program in two years, which should tell everyone it doesn't work, and the constant changes are an admission of this! They haven't a clue what they're doing and are just ripping people off. It's not changing because of growth, as he tries to upsell it… just like he upsells/lies about everything else! I feel sad for those stuck in this program.
Darren is very good at one thing—manipulating people into giving him their money—but when it comes to business, he hasn’t a clue.
A lot of the 'experts' that work for Darren are his mates, and most haven’t two brain cells between them. It’s a shame when someone is paying that kind of money into a program and being left with the business equivalent of a team full of Mr. Beans, Chuckle Brothers, or Beavis and Buttheads giving them direction and support.
All the people coming out and supporting the program are connected to Darren—and don’t get me started on his 58k followers on Instagram. Yet, he only manages to garner an average of 1k likes per typical post—more fakery and likely paying for bot accounts to follow him.
I'm not here to throw insults, but rather to help others avoid making a costly mistake.
There are more affordable and insightful programs available that offer genuine transparency.
Darren and his team's leadership guides people toward financial disaster.
They say, "We know we made mistakes," which is good that they are learning from them, but what about the people who suffered bad advice, poor service, and failed businesses while they learn from their mistakes? Our money is teaching Darren how to improve, but everyone else out there, don't be suckered in like we were! The last time this was "improved" was a few months ago, and to be honest, very little changed!
If you want FBA expertise, give these lads a miss—they know nothing about business and are like toddlers with stabilisers who have never run a business. They will rip you off for design and other work they have done in the Philippines for a few dollars. Expect to spend up to £5k on things including samples, logo design, Amazon listing and content, certifications, and brand registry. This is before you buy stock or ship your product—maybe £10-15k depending on cost. Then you may need ££££ for pay-per-click marketing, Vine reviews, and Rankbell to get to page 1, so don't expect a return of any kind on your first order. Then, when you're broke, they will cut you loose, and the next sucker is drained for all they have.
The PPC managers are made up of failed brand owners with no expertise, who wouldn't know the first thing about professional management of ad budgets. It's spend, spend, spend to get some sales, create a nice success story, and then it's on to the next sucker when the money runs out. If you are still there, go on Fiverr and source all design and other services—it will probably cost about a third of the cost of their FBA studio. Even better, get out before you lose any more money.
They are out of their depth and learning at your expense, and if you can't see that, you're royally screwed. Darren or Del Boy has your £6.5k fee paid to an exotic jurisdiction… why do you think that is? They claim Empire Builder is their own work when most of them struggle to turn on a computer and wouldn't know the first thing about software development. Two years in business, and all their expertise is gone into this software, which, in truth, is a poor white-label product with their brand stuck on. Zonbase has confirmed they are a white-label client. More lies if they deny it to you. Don't continue to be fooled by this charlatan!
Yes go somewhere else and save your money
Is that catch phase meant to be motivational?