AS 6: How to avoid Amazon Suspension

How to avoid Amazon Suspension?

Episodes 6 focus is on Amazon Suspension is the number 1 fear held by amazon sellers. According to 61% of Amazon sellers surveyed, they fear that Amazon will take away their seller privileges.

This fear ripples across podcasts, to Facebook groups, to blogs and beyond. What is the cause of this suspensions? In this episode we go deep into the investigation.

The story sounds all to familiar. It goes as such… “ I’ve been on Amazon for 2 years, and have had good seller metrics, and out of the blue Amazon has suspended me. I don’t know why!”

Here are all the ways you can get suspended, so listen carefully, take notes if you have to, and when in doubt stop selling.

Your seller performance goals consistently hit or exceed amazon’s minimum targets

* Order defect rate: < 1%

* Pre-fulfilment cancel rate: < 2.5%

* Late shipment rate: < 4%

* Your product listing violates one of Amazon’s policies. Get familiar with amazon’s policies and agreements. Read them all.

* Follow the news, stay up to date on all thing amazon.

* Getting fake or paid reviews. Going to Fiverr and paying for 5 star reviews is an absolute big no-no. Asking friends and family to review your product is also against Amazon’s Terms of Service

*

Trying to sell restricted products. There is a reason why amazon restricts these products. Sellers that try to go around this, can be reported and quickly banned. Before picking your private label product, ensure that it is nor a restricted product, or that you get approved for it if there is a restriction on that category. Items that are typically restricted, are items that are easily stolen from retail stores. This is an obvious reason to be restricted. The other main reason is – if the volume is high enough both locally on Amazon, the brand does not want to be

Restricted products and brands will be posted in the show notes below.

Having titles that have other brand names is typically not allowed. It is not typical, or normal to have Nike or Apple in your title unless your selling cell phone cases, or a product that goes on top of a very specific product.

Redirecting customers to your website, or social links is a big no no. Amazon hates this, and obviously wants to always make its’ official cut on every product sold. The only time this is allowed if you have outside sales channels and are funneling people into Amazon and not out.

Selling used products as new. Here is another big no-no. All to familiar you hear of someone selling DVD’s, or products that have been used, refurbished as new. If you get a single customer complaint, on this factor alone, it can put you in a very dark spot in Amazon’s radar.

Opening multiple seller accounts with the same persons name or business without the permission of Amazon.

If you open a seller account with a previous suspended seller account.

Selling counterfeits – this isn’t the street of New York. This goes back to most counterfeited items are on the restricted list.

Shipping as a merchant account, and then shipping orders late. If your late shipments get below 4% this can get you terminated or suspended. If your in the FBA program, fulfillment by Amazon program, this does not affect you.

Using pictures that don’t accurately depict your picture. Using objects other products in your images that do not relate to your product.

Having high defect rates, as mentioned early, can get you suspended. Amazon wants to decrease customer service on their side as much as possible.

Receiving too many 1 star reviews.