How to Reactivate Your Amazon Seller Account
This is a guest post from Cindy Edward of SPCTEK. is an experienced Amazon and eBay brand growth expert. She has over seven years of experience in developing and implementing strategies to increase revenue and enhance brand visibility. She loves traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Logging in to your Amazon seller account should be a quick, routine check-in on your sales performance. But sometimes, that familiar click can lead to an unexpected surprise — a deactivated account. Maybe you took a break from selling, or perhaps you received a notification about performance issues. Whatever the reason, getting your account back up and running can be a frustrating experience.
But we’re here to eliminate some of the hassle on how to reactivate your Amazon seller account. This article will guide you through the process so you experience less headache and return to selling sooner. We’ll navigate you through the entire procedure, from understanding why your account was deactivated to crafting a winning appeal to get it reinstated.
The most common reasons for Amazon account suspensions
While Amazon doesn’t specifically list what causes suspensions, several common factors can trigger an account shutdown:
- Poor account health metrics: This includes factors like high order defect rate (ODR), which combines late shipments, cancellations, and A-to-z Guarantee claims. Low customer satisfaction metrics can also lead to suspension.
- Intellectual property violations: Selling counterfeit or unauthentic products is a serious offense. This also applies to listing violations, like using copyrighted images or text descriptions without permission.
- Payment issues: Problems with your linked payment method, such as declined credit cards or excessive chargebacks, can raise red flags and cause suspension.
- Suspicious activity: Unusual selling patterns or activity that violates Amazon’s policies, such as selling in restricted categories without approval, can trigger a suspension.
- Multiple accounts: Amazon strictly enforces a policy of one seller per account. So, if you have multiple accounts operating under the same business entity or using the same information, you’re on the path to a suspension.
- Negative feedback and reviews: While some negative reviews are inevitable (and actually good for your credibility), a consistent pattern of unhappy customers will raise concerns from Amazon. If you fail to address customer complaints actively and maintain a healthy seller rating, you place your account at risk.
- Product safety violations: Selling products that are deemed unsafe or hazardous can result in immediate suspension. This includes products that haven’t undergone proper safety certifications or that violate Amazon’s safety guidelines.
Knowing why your account was suspended will help in knowing how to reactivate your Amazon seller account. You can avoid these common triggers and minimize the risk of suspension by proactively managing your Amazon seller account. Remember, prevention is better than cure.
How to reactivate your Amazon seller account
Amazon account reactivation can be a complex process, but with the right approach, you can increase your chances of regaining your selling privileges. Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved in how to reactivate your Amazon seller account:
- Understand the reason for the suspension: First, identify why Amazon suspended your account. Check your email for a notification from Amazon Seller Performance outlining the specific policy violation(s). If the reason is unclear, you can contact Seller Support for clarification.
- Review Amazon’s seller policies: Once you learn the reason for the suspension, thoroughly review Amazon’s selling policies to ensure you grasp the specific violation. This will help you craft a more effective appeal.
- Develop a plan of action: A well-crafted plan of action (POA) is crucial for Amazon account reactivation. Your POA should acknowledge the violation, outline the steps you’ve taken to address it, and explain how you’ll prevent future occurrences. Be specific, professional, and action-oriented throughout your POA.
- Submit your appeal: Once your POA is complete, log in to Seller Central and navigate to the Performance Notifications section. Locate the suspension notice and click on the Appeal button. This is where you upload and submit your POA to Amazon Seller Performance for review.
- Be patient and professional: The review process can take time, so be patient. Avoid repeatedly contacting Seller Support for updates. However, an extended period (weeks or more) has passed with no response, a polite inquiry can be helpful. Maintain a professional tone in all communications with Amazon.
The benefits of hiring a professional service to reactivate your Amazon seller account
Whether or not to use a professional service to handle your Amazon seller account reinstatement depends on your unique circumstances. However, these third-party options have some noteworthy benefits that might make them a worthwhile option:
- Expertise: Seasoned professionals have extensive knowledge of Amazon’s policies and the appeal process. They can help you identify the root cause of your suspension and craft a compelling POA that addresses it effectively.
- Higher likelihood of success: Professionals with a proven track record can significantly increase your chances of a successful appeal. They understand how to navigate the system and present your case to Amazon professionally.
- Time constraints: If you’re short on time due to other business commitments, a professional service can remove the burden of the appeal process.
- Peace of mind: Knowing you have someone experienced guiding you through the procedures can provide much-needed peace of mind during this stressful situation.
The waiting game: Amazon seller account reactivation timelines
Once you’ve submitted your appeal to reactivate your account, the time it takes for Amazon to review and resolve the issue will vary depending on several factors, including:
- Severity of the violation: More serious offenses, like intellectual property violations or safety concerns, will likely take longer to review compared to minor, performance-related issues.
- Strength of your POA: A well-structured, detailed POA that demonstrates a clear understanding of the violation and outlines concrete steps for improvement will expedite the review process.
- Amazon’s current backlog: The volume of appeals that Amazon Seller Performance has to process can significantly impact response times. During peak seasons or periods of high activity, expect potential delays.
- Comprehensiveness of information: Ensure your appeal includes all necessary documentation and addresses the concerns raised in the suspension notice. Incomplete submissions might require additional back-and-forth communication, extending the review time.
Patience is essential during the account reactivation process. By submitting a strong appeal and maintaining professionalism, you increase your chances of a successful outcome. There are resources available to help you navigate this step in the process of how to reactivate your Amazon seller account, such as Amazon Seller Support.
Wrapping up — Protect your Amazon seller account from unnecessary suspensions
For many Amazon sellers, their online store is their lifeline. A sudden account suspension can be devastating and leave you unsure how to regain your selling privileges. Shutdowns often stem from performance and customer service issues such as consistently low buyer satisfaction ratings, late shipments, or violations of Amazon’s policies.
The preventive measures we discussed will go a long way toward safeguarding your store, but unforeseen errors can arise even in the most air-tight of operations. If you follow the steps outlined on how to reactivate your amazon seller account in this article, you can reactivate your Amazon account relatively quickly and return to business as usual on the marketplace.