Why Amazon Suspended Your Seller Account and How to Get It Back

As an Amazon seller, nothing is more frustrating than getting your account suspended. It can devastate your business, mainly if you rely on Amazon as your primary sales channel. The reasons for suspension can vary, from policy violations to performance issues, but the result is the same – you’re shut down and unable to make sales. It’s a nightmare scenario for any seller, but the good news is that it’s not the end of the road. You can take steps to get your account reinstated and back on track. Here is how to recover from Amazon suspensions.

In this article, we’ll explore the common reasons for Amazon seller account suspension and the steps you can take to fix the issue and get back to selling. So, if you’re an Amazon seller with a suspended seller account, read on to find out how to get your selling privileges back and start making sales again.

Common Reasons for a Amazon Suspensions

There are several reasons why Amazon may suspend your seller account. If you want more details, we have a complete article that covers the whole subject of suspensions. Some of the most common causes include:

Policy Violations:

Selling counterfeit or restricted products, infringing on intellectual property rights, or engaging in deceptive practices can lead to account suspension. Familiarizing yourself with Amazon’s policies and guidelines is essential to ensure compliance and avoid suspension.

The policies prohibit certain activities, including:

• Selling counterfeit products
• Offering items that are prohibited by Amazon (such as weapons or drugs)
• Failing to deliver products on time or as described
• Providing poor customer service
• Offering incentives for positive reviews

Poor Performance Metrics:

 Amazon closely monitors seller performance metrics such as order defect, late shipment, and cancellation rates. Excessive negative feedback, late shipments, or high cancellation rates can result in account suspension. Monitoring and improving these metrics is crucial for maintaining a healthy selling account.

Amazon has strict performance metrics that sellers must meet. Your account may be suspended if your metrics fall below a certain threshold. These metrics include:

• Order Defect Rate (ODR): The percentage of orders that result in negative feedback, A-to-z Guarantee claims, or credit card chargebacks
• Late Shipment Rate (LSR): The percentage of orders that you ship after the expected ship date
• Pre-fulfillment Cancel Rate (PFC): The percentage of orders that you cancel before shipping them

Inauthentic or Unsafe Products:

Selling inauthentic products or pose a safety risk to customers can lead to account suspension. Ensuring the authenticity and safety of your products is essential to avoid suspension and maintain customer trust.

Intellectual Property Infringement:

Unauthorized use of copyrighted material, trademarks, or patents can result in account suspension. Respecting intellectual property rights and obtaining proper authorization before using any copyrighted material is essential.

Manipulating Reviews:

Review manipulation, such as buying or incentivizing positive reviews, can lead to account suspension. Maintaining the integrity of the review system is crucial for a fair and trustworthy marketplace.

By understanding these common reasons for account suspension, you can take proactive measures to prevent suspension and protect your business. Implementing robust quality control measures, ensuring timely and accurate shipments, and maintaining excellent customer service is crucial to minimizing the risk of suspension.

The Impact of Amazon Account Suspension on Your Business

Having your Amazon seller account suspended can be devastating for your business. You are cut off from your primary sales channel and may lose access to valuable customer data, such as order history and shipping addresses. Additionally, a suspension can significantly impact your revenue and cash flow if you rely heavily on Amazon for your sales.

How to Prevent a Amazon Suspensions

The best way to deal with Amazon suspensions is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some tips to help you avoid suspension:

• Read and understand Amazon’s policies: Make sure you’re familiar with Amazon’s policies and that you’re following them to the letter. We suggest you read our complete guide on Amazon’s policies.
• Monitor your metrics: Keep a close eye on your performance metrics and take steps to improve them if they slip.
• Respond to customer inquiries promptly: Make sure you’re responding to customer inquiries promptly and providing excellent customer service.
• Keep your product listings accurate and up to date: Make sure your product listings are accurate and up-to-date and that you’re not making any false claims about your products.
• Stay on top of your inventory: Ensure you have enough merchandise to fulfill orders and that you’re not overselling or running out of stock.

Steps to Take if Your Amazon Account is Suspended

If your Amazon account is suspended, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to get it back up and running. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Determine the reason for your suspension

The first step is to figure out why your account was suspended. This will help you address the issue and provide a more effective action plan. You should have received an email from Amazon outlining the reason for your suspension. If you need more clarification, log into your seller account and check the Performance Notifications section.

2. Assess the damage

Once you know why the Amazon suspensions happens, you must assess the damage. Look at your order history, customer feedback, and performance metrics to understand how serious the issue is and what you need to do to fix it.

3. Create a plan of action (the appeal)

In most cases, Amazon may require you to submit an action plan. This detailed plan outlines the specific problems that led to your suspension, the corrective actions you’ve implemented to fix the issue, and the steps you’ve taken to prevent the issue from happening again. Be honest and provide as much detail as possible.

• Want more insights on this? Read now: Navigating the Storm: Recovering from an Amazon Account Suspension

4. Track your progress after the Amazon suspensions

Once you’ve submitted your appeal letter and plan of action, tracking your progress is essential. If you don’t hear back from Amazon concerning your appeal within a week or if your appeal was rejected, make sure to reach out to Amazon’s Account Health Team for guidance and support on improving your plan of action.

Tips for Reinstatement Success

Getting your Amazon account reinstated can be a long and challenging process, but there are some things you can do to increase your chances of success. Here are a few tips:

– Be honest and forthright:

Amazon values honesty and transparency, so be honest about what happened and what steps you’ve taken to address the issue. But, as an old proverb says: “You should not spend everything you have, nor tell everything you know”. Whatever you disclose to Amazon can and will be taken against you. This is why it is crucial to get professional legal help so you don’t make admissions or disclose information detrimental to your case.

– Provide as much detail as possible:

The more facts you provide, the easier for Amazon to understand what happened and the steps you’ve taken to fix the issue.

– Follow Amazon’s instructions:

Make sure you follow Amazon’s instructions to the letter and provide all the information they request.

– Be persistent:

Getting your account reinstated can take time, so be persistent and don’t give up.

Having your Amazon seller account suspended can be a nightmare for any seller, but it’s not the end of the road. By taking the steps outlined in this article, you can address the issue, write an effective appeal letter, and reinstate your account. Remember to be honest and forthright, provide as much detail as possible, and follow Amazon’s instructions to the letter. Then, with persistence and luck, you can return to selling on Amazon and growing your business.

Speak With an Amazon Seller Attorney at ESQgoⓇ

An Amazon seller attorney can help explain the Appeal process and what you can expect to happen. They can also help you through the entire process of getting your business back to selling on Amazon. We can be reached by calling 866-203-0541 or via our contact page. We offer a free initial 30-minutes consultation.