This is a guest post from AMZ Sellers Attorney. They work exclusively with Amazon sellers to appeal account suspensions successfully and get their clients back to selling.

Amazon is one of the largest online marketplaces in the world, where individuals and businesses sell their products to a global audience. With over 2.5 million active third-party sellers on the platform, competition is fierce, so sellers need to be diligent in adhering to Amazon’s policies to avoid suspension, which can be a costly disadvantage.

In this article, we discuss Amazon’s policies, their importance, and how you can navigate them to keep your account in good standing.

What are Amazon’s policies?

Amazon has a long list of rules and regulations that merchants must abide by when selling on their platform. These policies are in place to ensure a fair and safe marketplace for both sellers and buyers.

Third-party sellers are further bound by Amazon’s Business Solutions Agreement (BSA). The BSA governs the use of Amazon’s business services, including the selling of products on the marketplace. Key points to note in the BSA include:

• Amazon’s right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate the agreement or cause harm to Amazon’s customers or brand
• A requirement to maintain accurate and up-to-date account information, including contact information and tax identification numbers
• Obligations to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including product safety and intellectual property laws
• Amazon’s right to withhold or deduct funds in the event of customer disputes or chargebacks
• A dispute resolution process that generally requires arbitration and prohibits class actions.

The major policies to know

Some of the most important policies to be aware of are those that deal with product detail pages, prohibited content, reviews, and logistics.

Product detail pages

These rules cover a wide range of topics, from product images and descriptions to their pricing. Sellers must accurately describe items and follow Amazon’s guidelines for product listings. This ensures customers have a clear understanding of what they’re purchasing and reduces the risk of returns and negative feedback.

The policies for product detail pages deal with:

• Accurate product information: Sellers must provide correct information about their products, including descriptions, images, and pricing. It must be consistent with the product being sold and not mislead shoppers.
• Images: Amazon sets regulations for product images that specify their quality, size, and content. Images must accurately represent the product being sold and contain no watermarks, logos, or other branding unrelated to the product.
• Titles and descriptions: Product titles and descriptions need to detail the product being sold clearly, avoiding any promotional language or misleading information. Titles should be concise and to the point so customers are well aware of what they’re purchasing. Meanwhile, descriptions should be detailed and informative, giving customers all the information they need to make an informed decision.
• Pricing: An item’s cost can’t be arbitrary; Amazon establishes minimum and maximum allowable prices, as well as rules for price comparisons and discounts.

Prohibited content

Amazon also prohibits the sale of certain products they consider to be illegal or harmful, such as:

• Counterfeit items: Amazon takes counterfeiting very seriously and has strict policies in place to prevent the sale of counterfeit items. Sellers must be able to provide proof of authenticity for any products they sell, and Amazon may take legal action against those who violate these regulations.
• Illegal drugs: These include prescription drugs that aren’t approved for sale in the United States.
• Tobacco products: This category includes cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco.
• Hazardous materials: Amazon prohibits the sale of hazardous materials like chemicals and other substances that could be harmful to customers or the environment.

Customer reviews

Customer reviews are crucial to a seller’s success on the platform. Positive feedback helps boost sales and improves product visibility, while negative ratings can damage a seller’s reputation and harm their sales. Because sellers can manipulate consumer opinion to their advantage, it’s important to adhere to Amazon’s rules and guidelines regarding customer reviews.

One of their most prominent policies states that sellers are prohibited from offering incentives such as gift cards or other rewards in exchange for positive reviews. Additionally, sellers aren’t allowed to post reviews for their own products, solicit reviews from family and friends, or ask customers to alter their reviews.

Due to the recent case involving The Bountiful Company, Amazon has also taken harsh steps to combat fake reviews on the marketplace, including lawsuits and permanently banning brands for review fraud. The company has established policies to prevent review abuse and continuously monitors for violations. Amazon receives millions of global reviews every week, which they analyze before publishing using skilled investigators and sophisticated, industry-leading tools. Thanks to this diligence, more than 99% of products customers view in Amazon’s stores contain only authentic reviews.

Intellectual property rights

Intellectual property rights (IPR) are a critical aspect of selling on Amazon, so merchants must have the appropriate rights to sell their products on the platform. Amazon takes IPR seriously and has developed a number of tools and programs to help sellers protect their intellectual property and ensure they don’t infringe on the rights of others.

One way merchants can protect their IPR is through Amazon’s Brand Registry program. The program provides a number of tools to help sellers defend their brand, including store creation and management, access to advanced search tools, and the ability to report instances of infringement directly to Amazon. To participate in the Brand Registry program, merchants must have a registered trademark for their brand. Once enrolled, they can monitor their brand and report any instances of infringement with ease. The program also offers customized product detail pages and automatic brand protections.

Additionally, Amazon has developed a number of policies and procedures to govern the use of intellectual property on the platform to ensure merchants avoid infringing on others’ IPR. These include strict rules concerning the use of trademarks, copyrights, and patents, as well as guidelines for product listings and descriptions.

For instance, sellers have to keep invoices showing the provenance of the products they purchase from suppliers. These invoices must contain sufficient detail so Amazon can identify the brand name, the product, the supplier, the merchant, and the number of units. That information helps Amazon verify the authenticity of the items sold on the platform and combats the sale of counterfeit goods.

Despite these efforts to protect IPR though, instances of infringement still occur. According to a recent report, Amazon remains a hotbed for counterfeiters, with many using the platform to sell fake or knockoff versions of popular items. In response, Amazon announced a number of initiatives aimed at cracking down on counterfeit goods and protecting brands’ intellectual property. These include the creation of a Counterfeit Crimes Unit dedicated to fighting counterfeit goods on the platform, as well as the use of advanced machine learning algorithms to detect and remove counterfeit listings.

Shipping and fulfillment

Customers expect fast and reliable shipping, and sellers have to meet that expectation to maintain a positive reputation and grow their business. In that regard, Amazon also enforces specific policies, such as requirements for how quickly orders should be shipped, how to handle returns, and the use of tracking information for each order.

Merchants are required to ship orders within the time frame specified in their shipping settings. They can adjust those settings to reflect their available shipping methods and the time it takes to prepare an item for shipment. In general, Amazon recommends sellers ship orders within two business days of receiving an order notification.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is an Amazon service that allows merchants to store their products in the company’s fulfillment centers. When a customer places an order, Amazon handles the picking, packing, and shipping of the item, as well as any customer service inquiries or returns. This can be a convenient option for vendors who want to take advantage of Amazon’s fast and reliable delivery options without having to manage their own inventory and logistics.

Returns also require care and attention to avoid negative feedback and penalties. In general, customers are allowed to return items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund, provided the item is in new, resellable condition. Sellers are responsible for providing a return shipping label and handling any customer service inquiries related to returns (unless they opt in to FBA).

Proper tracking of every order is essential for both the seller and the buyer. Tracking information allows merchants to monitor the progress of the shipment and ensure it arrives at the customer’s address on time. It also gives the customer peace of mind and avoids potential disputes or claims of non-delivery.

Why Amazon’s policies are important

Adhering to Amazon’s policies is not only important for avoiding suspension but also for maintaining a good reputation on the platform. Amazon has become a household name for online shopping and is known for its customer-centric approach. As a result, shoppers have high expectations for product quality, pricing, and shipping times. Sellers who violate Amazon’s policies and fail to meet these demands risk hurting their reputation and losing consumer trust. This leads to negative reviews and feedback as well, which further damage your store’s name and make it difficult to attract new buyers.

Customers are less likely to trust a merchant who’s been suspended, even after their account is reinstated. It’s also difficult to regain the confidence of current shoppers once you’ve been suspended.

These consequences snowball into a loss of revenue for your store. Amazon is a highly competitive marketplace, and sellers must constantly work to differentiate themselves and win over customers. If you’re suspended, your products will be removed from the platform and you’ll be unable to generate sales until your account is reinstated.

To complicate things further, Amazon has strict procedures in place for appealing suspensions: Sellers must provide detailed plans of action outlining the steps they’ll take to prevent future violations, as well as demonstrate a thorough understanding of Amazon’s policies and guidelines. The appeals process can thus be lengthy and may require the assistance of a qualified Amazon appeals specialist or attorney.

Navigating Amazon’s policies

Abiding by Amazon’s rules can be challenging, but it’s essential for maintaining a healthy account. Here are some tips for navigating Amazon’s policies successfully:

• Read the policies: The first and most important step is to read the rules thoroughly, which are readily available on Amazon’s website. This will help you understand what’s expected of you and what you need to do to stay in compliance.
• Stay up to date: Amazon’s policies change frequently, so it’s imperative to keep up with any changes or updates. Regularly check Amazon’s policy pages and subscribe to Amazon’s seller newsletter to stay ahead of the curve.
• Use Amazon’s tools: Amazon offers a suite of tools to help merchants stay in compliance with their policies. These include the Product Listing Quality Dashboard, which displays how your product detail pages perform and highlights areas for improvement, as well as the Brand Registry and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), which we discussed earlier.
• Monitor your account: Check your accounts regularly to ensure you’re in compliance with Amazon’s policies. This includes monitoring product detail pages, customer feedback, and order metrics. Taking these actions hones in on issues early so you can address them before they become significant problems.
• Respond to Amazon notifications promptly: If Amazon notifies you of a policy violation, it’s essential to respond quickly and take the necessary steps to rectify the situation. Failure to respond promptly can result in account suspension, so take these notifications seriously.
• Seek professional help: Navigating Amazon’s policies can be a maze-like undertaking, especially for successful Amazon merchants who are busy maintaining supply chains and managing resources. The platform’s internal appeals process can be even more convoluted, prompting many sellers to seek professional assistance. An Appeals Service like Amazon Sellers Attorney offers free consultation to help you understand the marketplace rules, maintain a healthy account standing, and reinstate suspended accounts. Their supervising attorney, Kenneth Eade, also provides legal services concerning intellectual property and Brand Registry support, as well as arbitration.

Wrapping up — Follow Amazon’s rules to stay competitive with uninterrupted operations

Amazon’s policies are crucial to understand and comply with to ensure your store runs smoothly. They cover product detail pages, prohibited content, customer reviews, intellectual property rights, shipping and fulfillment, and other important topics. Failure to abide by these rules can result in negative consequences like account suspension, loss of revenue, and damage to your brand’s reputation.

To navigate Amazon’s rules productively, read them thoroughly and stay up to date on any changes, use Amazon’s tools to monitor your account regularly, respond promptly to policy violations, and turn to outside help if needed. By following these guidelines, you’ll guarantee a positive customer experience while simultaneously protecting your business and remaining competitive on the marketplace.