It’s every seller’s worst nightmare: account suspension. For a high-volume seller, even a few days of suspension can be financially devastating, and in many cases appealing the removal of selling privileges can take over a month. This can not only wreck your business, it can also leave you without income for several weeks, and greatly diminished income for months while you work to rebuild your business.
Suffice to say, keeping your account in good standing with Amazon should be a top priority for any seller. Remember, Amazon is the ‘face’ of your business — people never say “I just ordered a purse from Fashion4wardBags”, it’s always “I just ordered a purse from Amazon.” No matter who fulfills the order, it’s Amazon’s reputation at stake, and they guard that reputation carefully, suspending accounts at the slightest hint of noncompliance with their rules, and requiring a detailed plan of action before the account is reinstated. Keep the following in mind to help protect your account from suspension:
Know what you can sell. Never, ever assume that an item can be sold without checking it against Amazon’s guidelines. Don’t take the word of someone in a Facebook group, and don’t assume that just because you see someone else selling it that you’ll be fine. Many items are restricted, meaning you need special permission from Amazon to sell them, and others are forbidden entirely. Compare each item you plan to sell against the site’s regulations to ensure compliance.
Know your stock. Having a good relationship with your supplier is essential, as this can allow you to verify your stock’s origin if it is ever called into question by Amazon. Itemized receipts and good communication are a must.
Be 100% truthful in your descriptions. If your product undergoes even a minor change, be sure to make note of that in your description and provide new photos that are representative of the product you’ll be shipping. Falsely representing a product is one of the quickest ways to get suspended. In this same vein, be careful about dropshipping; it makes quality control difficult and can make you miss minor or even major changes that should be noted.
Be vigilant of poor reviews. If your products are getting bad reviews, it’s probably for good reason. Is it poorly packaged, causing customers to receive products in poor condition? This can lead Amazon to believe you are violating their Condition Guidelines. If customers complain of slow shipping times, you may need to review your fulfillment process. If you see several reviews saying the item is not as described, double check that no changes have been made to the product since you wrote your description. Customer feedback is one of your greatest tools in preventing suspension.
While suspension is a scary prospect, constant vigilance can help you protect your account and your income. Know your items, your wholesale supplier, and your customer reviews, and you can avoid the complacency that causes problems that lead to suspension.
