Here’s your game plan on what to do if your Amazon Seller Account is deactivated
In what may be seen as a sign of the times, seeing your Amazon Seller Central account suspended can be a cause of stress for you! While there is no one clear reason for the suspension, there can be several factors contributing to it. Why does this happen? Can it be reversed? How long does it take to revert your account back to normal? What is amazon account suspension?
In forums, Sellers have point to stricter enforcement of Amazon policies, while Amazon maintains that they are simply trying to protect customers and ensure a high level of quality on their platform.Whatever the reason, Amazon sellers need to be aware of the potential consequences of a suspension and take steps to protect themselves.
We’ll walk you through the process of restoring your account and helping you figure out the best way to do it. Let’s look at every single aspect of account suspension on Amazon, so your questions are answered.
What is a deactivated Amazon Seller Account?
A deactivated Amazon seller account is one whose selling privileges have been withdrawn by Amazon due to a violation of their policies. Your amazon product listings will not be visible to shoppers during this time.
Fortunately, Amazon allows Sellers to submit an appeal to lift the suspension so that your account can be reinstated. Amazon always notifies sellers on account suspension. Depending on the type of account suspension, you can plan your appeal accordingly.
What is the differences in deactivation?
There are different levels or kinds of account suspension on Amazon:
- Account Suspension means you still have a chance to appeal. You need to build an action plan.
- Account Denied means your appeal application was rejected but you can revise your plan of action until the stated deadline.
- Account Deactivated means you have a chance for a second appeal within 90 days. Your account might have been associated with another that has be restricted on Amazon.
- Account Banned is the worst scenario of the three. Basically, you’re out of there. Your appeal has failed on several occasions, and Amazon will no longer look at emails you send.
While Amazon sellers can request an account review to have their account reinstated, there is often no guarantee that the account will be reinstated. It is important to know that Amazon will only lift a suspension if it is justifiable.
Reasons why Amazon Seller Accounts are suspended
The initial statement notifying you that your account is being deactivated on Amazon can be devastating for a merchant, especially if you’re selling items on the service. Knowing the main reasons why accounts are deactivated can help you steer clear of things that may lead to account deactivation.
So, what are the most common reasons for account suspension?
1) Selling prohibited items
2) Selling counterfeit products in any of amazon marketplace
3) Having duplicate accounts
4) Poor customer service score
5) Using unscrupulous methods to obtain reviews
6) Opening a new secondary account after being suspended
7) Selling used items as new
8) Too many negative feedback
9) Infringement and policy violations
10) Selling products using unauthorized images or brands
All sellers and buyers are required to adhere to those policies to ensure a safe buying and selling experience on the marketplace. Getting caught selling or buying from a deactivated account, or engaging in any other deceptive activities may result in consequences. That’s a good reason you should be aware of the potential consequences of a suspension and take steps to protect yourself. How do I get access to my Seller Central email address and password?
What to do if Your Amazon Seller Account is deactivated?
To re-enable your Amazon account, you’ll need to write a letter to Amazon summarizing the steps you took to resolve the account deactivation request. Please note that you may not receive a response from Amazon. If the deactivation was due to inactivity, or if you didn’t respond within 30 days of the original deactivation, you can expect to be permanently suspended.
If you’ve been suspended from your Amazon seller account, there are a few things you can do to get it reactivated. First, make sure that all of your activity on the account has been completed. If there’s anything you need to urgently upload to your account, now is the time to do so. Secondly, make sure that you have all of the required information ready when you call customer service. They will require your full name, shipping address, and contact information in order to process your reactivation request.
Prepare for an appeal and clearly identify the reason(s) for your suspension. You’ll need to type it out and highlight these pointers:
- Do take responsibility and acknowledge the harm done to the customer.
- Do tell Amazon you are committed to providing awesome customer service and you realise it is a privilege to sell on their site.
- Don’t criticise Amazon’s product quality process.
As the first step, your appeal needs to be informed and based on your own internal findings.This needs to be a thorough investigation so that you are taking all the necessary steps to ensure that your suspended amazon account can be appealed.
For example, as an online business operator that company has suspended for shipping reasons, you can state that you intend to or are considering FBA to facilitate the problem.
Once you’re ready to submit your appeal, visit the Performance Notification section within Seller Central, find your suspension notice and click the “Appeal button” then submit your Plan of Action.
You can refer to more examples from Amazon directly on Appealing the Removal of Selling Privileges.
How to avoid account suspension on Amazon?
You have worked so hard to build up your Amazon seller account, you don t want to be a suspended seller and you want to get back as soon as possible! The first thing is that you should be familiar with amazon’s policies and the relevant amazon rules that may be frequently updated. In this section, we highlight the important things to note so that you can follow these tips from Day 1:
Provide Best Customer Service
Turn around time is important in this industry, but it is not everything. Your performance as a seller needs to consistently be up to the mark on Amazon whether you’re a new seller or an experienced, reputed one. I love the Amazon feedback system because it gives you a very clear picture of how your customers are feeling about your goods. For example, you don’t want to accumulate too many negative reviews or comments about late shipment rate. These are things that you can work on in order to give the positive customer experience in your shop. Amazon increasingly values customers. Check your shipping, returns and refund policies to help maintain excellent customer satisfaction levels.
Sell Genuine Products
It is actually a bad idea to offer counterfeit products, even if you make a profit in the initial stages. Even though it appears as though it will gradually increase over time, the overhead will not be worth the effort, nor will loss follow. If you have your Amazon seller account suspended, there are a few things you can do to reactivate it.
Know Amazon’s polices and guidelines well
It’s imperative to keep up to date with Amazon’s policies concerning restricted merchandise in a number of countries to be a successful Amazon Seller. Some restricted products, including alcohol, explosives, currency, coins, tobacco and goods are classified as such. If Amazon has determined that you are stocking these merchandise, your Amazon account may be suspended. This is definitely the worst case you will want to avoid at all costs!
Take the time to review your suspension notification carefully to determine how many policies you’ve violated on the Amazon.com policies and agreements page and checking your Seller Central performance measures.
Respond To Quality-Related Notifications
Use a software such as Amazon’s Seller App to help manage this process. You can download the Amazon Seller App (Android, Apple) to increase your response rate when messaging. Pay attention to listings and product descriptions so that both accurate and honest.
Conclusion: Learn From the Experience
Maintain a professional and professional attitude as you compose your appeals. Constantly monitor your account health and analyze your company’s financial reports and audits so that your business maintains its reputation as a successful Amazon seller.
The good news is if you have been suspended and are given a chance to explain your case and end up reinstated, bear in mind this experience and take any precautions necessary to prevent it from happening to you again.
In the first place, if everyone maintains Amazon’s high standards and playing by the rules will let you continue selling on the marketplace and create positive customer experiences that benefit everyone.
If you have any doubts on amazon seller account suspension, you can now be part of a community at the FBA Bros. Simply schedule a call with us today to have your amazon seller suspension questions answered!