Amazon Account Suspension & How to Avoid it?

Amazon Account Suspension of any online store is a significant setback in business for sellers. It is a significant challenge for the seller, but understanding the common reasons for suspension can lead to avoiding this issue.

Amazon Seller Account Suspension means your account is on hold and you can’t sell anything on it for a while. This is because you violated Amazon policies or you didn’t do well as a seller. The account can be reinstated but it takes time, during this period you can’t perform any transactional action on the account. Therefore here is a detailed guide on how to avoid the Amazon account suspension and how you can get back your account.

What is Amazon Account Suspension?

Every organization has some rules and regulations to maintain their trust in the public. Amazon also has rules and regulations to keep their customers out of any fraud and related issues. Suspension occurs when you violate the rules or don’t follow them. Sometimes sellers don’t do it intentionally because of no idea about the violation policies.

During Amazon account suspension seller can’t perform any task on the account and the account temporarily gets on hold until you reinstate the account. The holding period depends on your response, and how early or quickly you responded to Amazon and fix the issue of suspension. However, sometimes, you’ll have to send an appeal to Amazon explaining what went wrong and how you’ll fix it. This process can take around two weeks. Furthermore, you can’t just make a new account if your old one is suspended. You have to sort out the problem of a suspended account.

Why Can Amazon Suspend Your Account?

It’s a Universal fact if you violate or don’t follow the policies of any organization you have to pay for it. To prevent Amazon account suspension, firstly, you need to know why it might happen. Typically, it’s because of not following Amazon policies or not doing well as a seller. In short, the main factor can be the customer service performance. Amazon prefers its customers and keeps an eye on sellers through metrics like the Order Defect Rate (ODR).

Some common issues on which Amazon suspends the accounts are as bellow;

Performance Metrics:

• Order Defect Rate (ODR): This is the main common issue including negative feedback, A-to-Z Guarantee claims, and chargeback rates. ODR should be under 1% according to Amazon policies.
• Late Shipment Rate: Late shipments can negatively impact customer satisfaction. And it affects the account’s health. Amazon defines the range of this rate as 4%.
• Pre-Fulfillment Cancel Rate: Canceling orders before the fulfillment also plays a role in Amazon account suspension issues. Amazon prefers this rate to be below 2.5%.

Product Condition:

• Selling fake or used products as new can lead to account suspension. Amazon takes product authenticity very seriously.

Violation of Amazon Policies:

• Violating Amazon policies, including those related to product listing, pricing, and intellectual property rights, can result in Amazon account suspension.

Account Information Issues:

• Suspension may occur due to errors in bank account information, false tax information, or issues with verification documents.

Customer Complaints:

• Frequent and valid customer complaints about product quality or service may result in suspension.

Creating Multiple Seller Accounts:

• Creating another seller account with the same details or Amazon detects your multiple accounts will lead to suspension.

Types of Amazon Policilies Violation:

There are different kinds of policy violations some of which are mentioned below;

1. Suspected violations happen automatically and often deactivate listings. Received complaints come from rights owners and require resolution.
2. Product quality violations occur when you sell prohibited items or get complaints about authenticity, condition, or safety.
3. Listing policy violations happen when your listings don’t meet Amazon’s standards, like having duplicate listings or inaccurate information.
4. Restricted product policy violations involve selling items that need approval, and changes to these restrictions can affect your listings.
5. Customer product review violations include actions like reviewing your products or manipulating reviews. These actions are against Amazon’s rules and can lead to trouble.

 

How to Avoid Amazon Account Suspension?

To check your account health and status, there is a tool/metric named Account Health Rating (AHR).  If your AHR is “Unhealthy” (in red) and your score is 99 or lower, your account might be in danger or at risk of deactivation. In this situation, it’s crucial to act fast and try to avoid the violations that lead to Amazon account suspension and if any has been done then resolve that. Some common violations you must to avoid are the following;

Maintain Good Performance Metrics:

• • Regularly monitor your Order Defect Rate, Late Shipment Rate, and Pre-Fulfillment Cancel Rate through your Amazon Seller Central account.
  • Keep your ODR below 1%, late shipment rate below 4%, and pre-fulfillment cancellation rate below 2.5%.
  • Use Amazon’s performance notifications to address issues promptly to avoid Amazon account suspension.

 

Ensure Product Authenticity:

• • Source products from reputable suppliers.
  • Keep records of invoices and supplier information to prove authenticity if needed.

Follow Amazon’s Policies:

• • Keeps an eye on Amazon policies, including those related to product listings, pricing, and customer communication. Moreover, regularly review Amazon’s guidelines as they can change.
  • Ensure that your account information, including bank details, tax information, and verification documents, is up-to-date and accurate. Therefore, address any discrepancies promptly to avoid Amazon account suspension.
  • Do not engage in review manipulation or sales rank manipulation.
  • Follow Amazon’s guidelines for requesting reviews.

Handle Customer Complaints Efficiently:

• • Respond to customer feedback and complaints quickly and professionally. Aim to resolve issues to the customers’ satisfaction to avoid negative feedback and claims.

Regularly Audit Your Account:

• • Perform regular checks on your account to ensure compliance with all policies.
  • Use Amazon’s Account Health Dashboard to monitor your performance metrics and resolve any issues promptly.

Some tips to control Order Defect Rate (ODR) below 1%

1. Avoid negative customer reviews by providing clear, structured, and updated listing information.
2. Respond promptly to all customer issues using Amazon’s Buyer-Seller Messaging Service and emails.
3. In case of a bad review, resolve the issue of the customer and apologize to him/her by sending a free product. You can also publicly respond to negative reviews using the Feedback Manager.
4. Deal with A-to-z guarantee claims quickly and effectively by prioritizing customer complaints, offering refunds when necessary, and responding to claims promptly.
5. If a chargeback claim is filed, issue a full refund before the shopper files the claim. If you believe the chargeback is incorrect submit an appeal using Amazon Pay.

 

How to Reinstate Amazon Account Suspension?

If your account does get suspended, follow these steps to resolve the issue:

1. Identify the Reason for Suspension:
   • Review the notification from Amazon to understand why your account was suspended.
2. Create a Plan of Action (POA):
   • Address the root cause of the suspension.
   • Detail the steps you will take to prevent future issues.
3. Submit the Appeal:
   • Be clear and concise in your appeal.
   • Provide all necessary documentation to support your case.

You can also contact the experts of account reinstate service providers like Techiconix, we handle each case with a tailored approach to get you back to selling as quickly as possible. So, if you’re facing an Amazon account suspension, don’t worry and get our services for a better experience.

Conclusion:

In short Amazon account suspensions occur when the policies are violated. Hence you become inactive and can’t sell on Amazon for a specific period. Moreover, reactivation of your account requires the reinstatement process, which can take time. However, to avoid getting suspended, make sure your products haven’t caused problems for other sellers. The Seller Assistant App helps with this by checking for sales restrictions and past issues with account health.