There are few things more detrimental to your business on Amazon than an account suspension. As Amazon continues to crack down and impose suspensions on millions of third-party sellers this year, it’s important to know not only how to avoid a suspension, but what to do if it hits you.
Have you recently experienced a dreaded Amazon account suspension? Take a deep breath: there are steps you can take to reactivate your account and prevent the problem from happening again. Here’s what to do if your Amazon seller account is suspended:’
How do I suspend a seller on Amazon?
First, you need to understand why your account has been suspended. There are many reasons why a seller account can be suspended on Amazon, but the most common three are
Amazon thinks your performance has declined. Amazon makes a lot of money by staying competitive and offering quality products with top-notch customer service. If you don’t meet their performance metrics (including order default rate, order cancellation rate, shipment delay rate, etc.), you risk having your business suspended.
You’ve violated a clear policy. Amazon is very strict about their sales policies and code of conduct. If they think you violated one of them, they will suspend your account.
You tried to sell a restricted item. Amazon has very clear guidelines on the categories of items it considers restricted. If you don’t follow them, you will receive a suspension.
What are the consequences of an Amazon suspension? Can you still sell merchandise?
First of all, it should be noted that there is a difference between suspending an Amazon account and deleting a listing. A deleted listing simply does not meet the platform’s strict standards and does not appear in search results. The good news is that you still have plenty of time to fix your listing and make it visible again. Typically, deletions occur one product at a time. If you want to fix a deleted listing, read our guide here.
Account Suspension, on the other hand, affects your entire account. This happens when Amazon believes your seller account has violated its terms and conditions. You will not be able to sell items and existing listings will not appear on the platform until the suspension is appealed and lifted.
How do I appeal a suspension on Amazon?
Wondering how to reactivate a suspended Amazon seller account? The good news is that you can appeal an Amazon account suspension. Start by reading the suspension notice carefully to determine exactly what policy you allegedly violated. Then develop and present a clear plan of action in which you take responsibility for the problem and offer a detailed plan for how you will prevent it from happening again.
Remember, you want Amazon to be assured that you understand what you did wrong and take clear steps to correct the situation. Your plan should be specific but concise, and you should avoid defensiveness, accusations, or excessive apologies.
Once you’ve sent everything in, you have to wait for the file to be reviewed, which for many sellers is the hardest part. Unfortunately, the response can take days or even weeks.
How to move forward after a suspension
After the first suspension, you can continue your business. Just remember to keep reviewing your listings and Amazon policies to make sure they are up to date. Make sure you are always providing a consistent and positive customer experience. And never, ever try to sell illegal items on Amazon. If you can do all of these things, you’ll avoid account suspension in the future.
How can Amazon sellers avoid account suspension?
Of course, you should always make sure that you meet all the requirements for listing on Amazon and follow the rules as closely as possible. The more you do, the less likely it is that your account will be suspended. But there are still a few things to keep in mind to avoid getting suspended again.
For example, always pay attention to the ads. Make sure they clearly convey what the buyer needs to know before buying, such as whether the item is new or used. A positive customer experience is paramount to Amazon, and repeated complaints can lead to problems on your account.
Also, don’t forget to close and archive old listings if you’re an FBA seller, or delete them if you’re a merchant seller. And remember, in the eyes of Amazon, the customer is always right. It’s always better to accept feedback or respond positively to a bad review than to face suspension for poor performance on the platform.
Save time navigating Amazon’s complexities
Looking for help with case management, brand management, listing optimization, logistics, and more? Appeal Ninja can help. We’ll help you navigate Amazon’s complexities and make sure your brand is not at risk of getting suspended—while freeing up your time to focus on other aspects of your business.
When you work with a trusted third-party seller like us, you don’t even have to worry about account health or suspension because your products are sold directly through Appeal Ninja. We ensure end-to-end compliance, superior customer service, and top-notch performance to always stay in good standing with Amazon. Connect with us here.