I've been running an online store for four years, and I'm starting to think that marketplaces like Amazon and Shopee are strangling small e-commerce businesses. When I first started, I saw them as a way to reach customers I couldn't find on my own, but the fees, advertising costs, and algorithm pressure now eat up over 30% of my margins. On top of that, you never own the customer relationship—the platform owns it, and they change the rules overnight. I realize some sellers thrive there, but for most of us, is selling on these giant platforms worth the long-term cost?