If you are reading this article, it is likely that you have recently read the shocking, saddening news that your Amazon account has been suspended. This can be extremely unsettling for both the most experienced sellers and those who have just stepped into their Amazon merchant journey. You may be wondering about the future of your finances or – more importantly – the ability for you to sell on Amazon ever again. 

I know, it is scary. The good news is that you have arrived here, where I will guide you through all you need to know about account suspension and how to get back on your feet. For now, all I ask is that you take a deep breath and pay close attention. 

What Happened to my Account?

Account suspension can come at any time and for a myriad of reasons that you may not have pinned down quite yet. I get that the email was full of jargon you didn’t understand, you saw the word “suspended” and you hopped on Google to find out what was going on. This mystery may just be the most bewildering part of the whole process for you – the over-achiever, rule stickler, and confident businessperson. It may bring you comfort to know, however, that thousands of merchants of all sizes and abilities get suspended from Amazon every day. 

You can find out why your specific account was suspended by visiting Amazon’s seller central. Before you hop off in all the wrong directions, though, let me give you some quick insight. When it comes down to it, there are only three main reasons for account suspension:

• Violation of Selling Policies: These rules include aspects of your business including commitments, account information, feedback, and representation. Are you up to date with your information?
• Violation of Product Policies: Amazon has a very detailed restricted product section that ensures merchandise is appropriate to sell. Have you taken note of these and compared them to your products?
• Poor Performance: Order defect rates, late shipment, and superior customer service are all extremely important to Amazon. Not meeting their standards can result in suspension. 

How to Get Back

No matter what the cause of your suspension, it is vital that you follow the proper response protocol. Reinstatement is not a fun or simple process and it will take a little bit longer than a day or two. In fact, most appeals occur over the process of a few weeks. While this length of time (and frankly the whole suspension process) may initially sound like a monster straight out of your nightmares, it is very likely that it could benefit you in the long run. 

Take a Deep Breath

Before any action is taken, you need to catch your breath, slow that pulse down, and grab some tea. You are to be the turtle during your appeal process, not the hare. It is time to accept that your process is going to take a lot of patience and a lot of communication with seller performance. 

The most important thing you can do right now is to not act. Do not rush and submit your first appeal, do not open a new account and start over, do not change any invoices for any reason, do not threaten legal action, do not try to find Jeff Bezos’s direct cell number, and – most importantly – do not rise up in anger against Amazon, your customers, or yourself. 

Get Organized

Now that your sadness, anger, or frustration is bottled up and thrown out the window, it is time to sit down and take a look at your Amazon account. Be honest with yourself when you analyze why Amazon suspended you. After all, you will not be able to fix the problem until you are able to identify it. Have your sales numbers been dropping recently? Was there any miscommunication that occurred? Are you getting backed up on shipments? All of these are completely normal and expected occurrences, which is why your account was suspended instead of banned. 

Take Action

Having this understanding is essential for the final step of your appeal process: actually writing the appeal. You will need a plan of action that clearly shows that you understand why you were suspended and how you will fix these problems moving forward. For example, if you were suspended for shipping reasons, your appeal could include a plan to move to FBA, or filled by Amazon. There are a few guidelines to follow when writing your appeal: 

• Stay professional
• Keep it simple
• Use numbers and bullet points instead of paragraphs
• Accept the blame

Need Help?

Sound scary? It can be. After all, this isn’t just your revenue but your future as an Amazon merchant on the line. That’s why we recommend teaming up with a professional that has been through the Amazon appeal process more than a few times. 

With anata, you will receive personalized care from experts with your best interest at heart. We hear you. We understand that this is a tough time. And we’re here to help. Visit our website or get in contact with a professional today to learn more about what anata can do for you.