Almost anybody can start an e-commerce business and start selling on Amazon. All you need to do is register for an Amazon seller account, create your product listings and start selling. However, some sellers make the mistake of treating Amazon as just another marketplace. This is where problems arise and sellers get banned from Amazon.
Amazon is unlike any other marketplace because they put all their customers on a pedestal. If you understand that and emulate Amazon’s practices and policies regarding customer service, then you don’t have anything to worry about.
However, if your business model lacks in customer oriented satisfaction then you need to change that right away! Otherwise you risk getting an Amazon ban instead of prospering. Incorporate company practices that will make sure your customer is always happy. It’s as simple as that.
8 Reasons Why Sellers Get Banned From Amazon
The privilege of selling your products on the Amazon platform comes with its own set of challenges like marketing, logistics, and sales. These are factors that add to your bottom line.
For the longevity of your seller account, keep in line with all of Amazon’s rules to prevent your seller account from getting banned. That said, here are the top eight reasons why your account may get banned from Amazon.
1. Bad customer service
Poor customer service encompasses a great many things for a customer. After-sales support is the most critical phase of a sale on the Amazon platform; just because you got paid doesn’t mean you can ignore customers emails or complaints about the product they ordered.
A customer trying to reach out to you to rectify a problem is synonymous with them throwing you a lifeline. Take action immediately and make things right with the customer. Do not make it seem like it is their fault even if it is. You don’t want your seller account getting banned from Amazon because of something that you can and are supposed to be doing — providing excellent customer service.
You want each customer to have a pleasant experience buying from your online store. If you need to resend the product for free, or issue credit or a refund to them, do it. It will reflect better on you as a seller, and there won’t be any negative feedback on your product listing page.
Who knows, they might post a positive review for the excellent customer service they received from your team or also recommend your store to others.
Having too many bad reviews and low ratings will merit an audit from Amazon. So unless you are totally cool with getting an Amazon ban, take extra good care of your customers. Although there is a way to remove Amazon feedback, you shouldn’t have to if you provide excellent customer service.
2. Delivery issues
Amazon has stringent rules when it comes to shipping products. Amazon prime customers enjoy two day free shipping. Regular Amazon customers expect to receive their orders after three business days; this is also a requirement from Amazon.
All Amazon customers expect to receive an email confirmation of their order with a tracking number for their package. This allows them to see where their package is right up until it arrives. Remember that any order received after three business days counts as a delayed delivery.
Amazon upholds a delay rate at a maximum of 4%. If a seller fails this metric, they risk getting their account suspended or worse, banned from Amazon.
3. Low product quality
When online shoppers purchase products on Amazon, they expect their purchase to be a high-quality product. Well, they hope it is anyway. Since you sell on the Amazon platform, it is your job as a seller to make sure your customers can buy a good quality product from you.
Do not sell defective merchandise or products that will fall apart after a few days use. Selling poor quality products will cause that customer to write a bad review and share their bad customer experience.
Amazon can and will find out about bad customer experiences. And too many of these bad experiences will cause your account to be suspended or banned from Amazon.
4. Soliciting for good reviews
Offering customers discounts or free items in exchange for good reviews is not allowed and goes against Amazon’s terms and conditions. Expressly asking customers for good reviews in any way is also not permitted.
Instead, provide your customers with excellent customer service, then ask for a review. The only condition is that you cannot ask for a good review. You can, however, ask for an honest review. Learn how to get Amazon reviews the right way that won’t risk you getting an Amazon ban. Additionally, learning how to spot fake reviews on Amazon will go a long way.
If you sold the customer a quality product at a reasonable price and showered them with excellent service, then you don’t have anything to worry about. Explicitly asking for good reviews is like begging to get your account banned from Amazon.
5. Copyright infringement
Selling products legally owned by another corporate entity is technically illegal. Naturally, selling copyrighted products is not allowed and can get you banned from Amazon. This is where you see the term authorised dealer or authorised reseller come into play.
It is legal to sell brand name products as used. But to sell brand name items as new; you usually need authorisation from the manufacturers.
Now that you understand that selling another company’s products is not allowed; make it a point to avoid this practice. That is, unless you want to get an Amazon ban.
Using pictures that are owned by another company or seller is also not allowed. Stock photos that you “googled” are too risky because those are typically copyrighted. If you don’t want to risk legal action, don’t use copyrighted material for your product listing.
Create a new product listing and use original photos taken by you. Taking these extra precautions will prevent your seller account being reviewed, suspended and eventually banned.
6. Selling prohibited products
Amazon has a list of restricted products that are not allowed to be listed on the Amazon platform. Items in some categories require special approval from Amazon before you are allowed to sell them.
Sellers are also not allowed to sell counterfeit merchandise. Any negative feedback or reports by customers indicating that fake products were purchased from you will result in your seller account getting banned from Amazon.
Sellers need to go the extra mile when double checking the authenticity of a particular product. Taking shortcuts and not checking the products personally will likely have a negative result for you and your business.
7. Cancelling orders
Proper inventory management is vital to running a successful e-commerce business. Make sure to only list the correct amount of inventory that you have in stock.
Novice sellers sometimes get their Amazon inventory management wrong, resulting in too many product orders that cannot be fulfilled.
You do not want to end up in a scenario where you, the seller, end up cancelling orders from confirmed buyers. Doing so will reflect poorly on your account, and too many instances of cancelled orders will get your account banned from Amazon.
8. Inaccurate listing information
Stating false information in your product listing to try and jump ahead in the product ranking will likely cause negative feedback from your customers. There is a proper way to master Amazon listing optimisation and stating false information is definitely not it.
Creating misleading listings for the sake of making a sale is not ethical and does not abide by Amazon’s guidelines. Advertising an item as new when in fact it is not is also a big no-no when listing products.
To avoid falling into this trap, do your best to create the best and most accurate product listing for your products and highlight how your product can solve your customer’s needs.
Be careful when doing retail arbitrage. When one buys merchandise in a store and resells that on Amazon; that item should technically be labelled as used. An Amazon ban can and will be given to sellers who fail to abide by this rule.
Now You Know How To Avoid An Amazon Ban
Getting your account banned from Amazon is easier than you might think. Read and understand all of Amazon’s terms and conditions to avoid being suspended or banned. Make sure to keep impeccable records of your e-commerce business. They may come in handy in the future.
Operate your business with diligence and integrity. The customer is king on Amazon — the sooner you understand that, the better. Make it a point to treat each of your customers like gold, and you will reap the rewards of a thriving Amazon e-commerce business.