Amazon account suspension can be scary. Here are some tips to prevent that and what to do if you’re facing account suspension.
It’s no surprise that Amazon is a popular marketplace for sellers. The ecommerce giant offers devoted customers, a user-friendly interface, and numerous fulfillment options. That’s why Amazon suspension is the last thing sellers want.
Unfortunately, this has happened to many sellers. Amazon suspends thousands of seller accounts every year. When this happens, you can’t sell any items, and buyers won’t be able to purchase your products.
Is suspension one of your biggest concerns? If so, it’s better to prevent account suspension before it happens.
Why Amazon May Suspend Your Account
To prevent suspension, it’s helpful first to know why Amazon may suspend your account in the first place. The two main reasons concern seller performance and Amazon’s policies.
Multiple Seller Accounts
While sellers can have multiple Amazon business accounts, you must have a legitimate reason. But before making several seller accounts, you must get Amazon’s permission first. You can contact Amazon Seller Central by clicking here.
Why is Amazon strict about having multiple seller accounts? If one person opens various accounts, they have a better chance of getting away with fraud. For example, if Amazon suspends one account, they can still sell products on another account.
If you plan on selling under different brand names, it’s best to get permission from Amazon first to avoid Amazon seller suspension.
Poor Customer Service
All sellers must provide excellent customer service. If you sell on FBA, Amazon will handle all customer interactions. But there are still several customer service metrics that Amazon will track, such as:
- Negative customer feedback
- Order Defect Rate (ODR)
- Chargeback claims
- A-to-Z guarantee claim
It’s important to note that negative reviews won’t result in Amazon account suspension, but review fraud will.
To track your customer success, visit Seller Central and find your account health dashboard. Your ODR should be less than one percent.
Violating Amazon’s Policy
Amazon has a strict seller policy and you must adhere to their code of conduct. You may face account suspension or deactivation if you violate Amazon’s guidelines. Some common Amazon policy violations include:
- Product quality violation
- IP violation and violations of Amazon brand registry
- Authenticity complaints
- Selling illegal or prohibited products
- Product safety issues
- Product condition issues
- Review violations
- Product listing violations
- Non-compliance to the INFORM Act
Amazon will deliver a warning when you first violate any of these policies. If the violation is severe, Amazon may immediately suspend your account.
Amazon Account Suspension vs. Deactivation
Amazon usually suspends your account if you violate its code of conduct, but they may also deactivate it. What’s the difference between these two punishments?
Amazon Account Suspended
Account suspension is when Amazon makes your account unavailable for buyers to view or purchase your products.
That said, there’s a way to reinstate your account, which we will discuss later. For the most part, Amazon will need you to correct any problems in your account and make a plan of action to avoid this issue in the future.
You can learn more information by reading the Amazon suspension policy.
Amazon Account Deactivated
Amazon will deactivate your account for serious offenses. Like suspension, you won’t be able to sell products on a deactivated account, but your account will be unavailable for a longer period. You won’t be able to appeal your deactivation for 90 days.
What if you decide not to file an appeal? Amazon will keep your account deactivated, but you can request that your funds be paid back after 90 days.
To learn more about deactivations, read section 3 policy violations.
Tips to Prevent Suspension
Amazon may suspend your account for many reasons. Fortunately, there are also many ways to prevent account suspension. Here are a few key tips:
Follow Amazon’s Rules
Before selling on Amazon, read the Amazon violation policy. This may also include monitoring seller performance and undergoing seller identity verification.
There are also third-party tools you can use to prevent any common mistakes, such as accidentally selling prohibited products or including copyrighted material in your listings. Other standard best practices include selling on one account and having accurate listings.
Keep Order Defect Rate Low
Your ODR is one of the most critical metrics. It uses many selling factors to determine your selling performance score. Claims and negative feedback are two of the most common factors influencing it.
To keep your ODR low, only sell high-quality products and answer customer questions and concerns. If customers are dissatisfied with your products, issue a refund before they contact Amazon or issue a chargeback claim.
Fast Shipping
If you handle your fulfillment, you must offer high-quality and fast shipping. Amazon prides itself on its fast shipping, and sellers face severe consequences due to shipping issues.
Common issues that can result in account suspension include late shipments, no tracking data, and cancellations.
Only use reliable shipping carriers and an order management system that supplies automated tracking numbers. Notify your customers of any delays. Monitor your late shipment rate to ensure your shipping strategy complies with Amazon’s. It should be below 4%.
Excellent Customer Service
Customer service also impacts your order defect rate. If an issue arises in an order, contact the customer first and offer to solve the problem. Respond to negative reviews and answer questions. Doing so will prevent customers from filing claims and will increase their trust.
Creating high-quality listings will keep customers educated, and you’ll struggle with fewer returns and complaints.
Amazon Account Suspension Appeal
When Amazon suspends your account, they will email you the reason for the suspension. Your first step is always to solve the problem and improve the situation for the future. You’ll need to submit this plan to Amazon so they can reinstate your account.
Here are the steps to file your Amazon suspension appeal:
- Check and resolve the problem.
- Review Amazon’s rules.
- File your appeal on either Seller Central (Performance < Performance Notifications) or by contacting Amazon on the email they provided.
- Create a clear plan of action to prevent the problem in the future.
- After Amazon reinstates your account, follow that plan of action.
FAQs
How long will Amazon suspend my account?
This varies depending on the offense and how quickly you can rectify the issue. After you submit an appeal, Amazon will respond within a few business days. If your case is very complex, your suspension can take longer.
Amazon keeps suspending my account! What should I do?
If you solved your problem but Amazon keeps suspending your account, check first to ensure your account and data weren’t compromised. Amazon will suspend an account if they suspect fraudulent activity.
If everything seems okay, contact Seller Central Support to see if there’s an issue on Amazon’s end.
Protect Your Assets
Amazon is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms for buyers since it promises a secure shopping experience. But if a seller makes one small mistake, their account could be suspended on Amazon.
Amazon may suspend your account if you use several seller accounts without permission, offer poor customer service, or break any other rules. That’s why some of the best ways to prevent suspension include following Amazon’s rules, maintaining a low defect order rate, offering fast shipping, and having excellent customer service.
Another way to protect your Amazon account is by partnering with an experienced Amazon agency. Our team will create high-quality materials that coincide with Amazon’s policies. We’ll also have weekly meetings, so you always know your account health and seller performance.
Click here to schedule a consultation.
Author
Stephanie Jensen has been writing ecommerce content for seven years, and her copy has helped numerous stores rank on Amazon. Follow her on LinkedIn for more insight into freelance writing and creating high-quality content.
