Did Amazon lock your seller account? There are many reasons why this had happened and Amazon has a good reason for doing so, for security purposes. Now, you may be wondering, what you did to get your Amazon account locked for security purposes.
In this article, I will discuss the reasons why your seller account was locked and how to fix it to get your Amazon account up and running again.
Read until the end to find several tips on how to prevent your Amazon seller account from getting locked.
Why is Your Amazon Account Locked for Security Purposes?
There are many reasons why Amazon has locked your account. It can be disappointing when this happens because it also means that you cannot sell. When you can’t sell, you won’t have sales then you lose profit.
So here are some reasons why your Amazon account is locked for security purposes.
Selling Restricted Items
Amazon now has Gated Categories to prevent other sellers from selling counterfeit items. For instance, if you are selling shoes for popular brands such as Adidas or Nike, you have to go through an approval process.
Proofs such as a purchase invoice and an official letter from your manufacturer are required. You may also need to pay anything from $500 to $5,000 for some products.
So if you’re selling items that fall under the gated categories and you didn’t get any approval, then there’s a big chance Amazon will lock your account for security purposes.
When it comes to Gated products, Amazon has a rigorous policy. If you’re selling restricted items and your Amazon account has been locked for security reasons, you’ll need to remove your listings as quickly as possible. Not only that, but you must also write Amazon a thorough statement stating that you would not repeat the error.
However, there are ways on how to get ungated on Amazon in case you want to sell items under restricted category products.
Hacking
When Amazon detects an attempt to gain illegal access to your account, it automatically locks it. This implies that neither the hacker nor you will be able to access the account.
This may appear to be unjust, but it is Amazon’s way of safeguarding you against the worst-case scenario.
If this happens, simply contact Amazon and make an appeal to get your Amazon account unlocked again.
Soliciting Positive Reviews
Positive feedback is critical for vendors to attract more buyers. However, in order to meet this demand, most sellers attempted to persuade or coerce consumers to post them positive ratings, even if they were false.
This is why, in October 2016, Amazon enacted a rigorous policy prohibiting the solicitation of good customer evaluations.
These deceptive reviews may help vendors increase sales, but they may harm purchasers, especially if they simply read false statements. This could also have an influence on the seller’s overall Amazon reputation.
Non-compliance
If you wish to do business on Amazon, you must follow the policies and code of conduct set forth by the company. Because failing to comply will result in another restriction or suspension.
Some reasons why your account is locked due to non-compliance with Amazon’s policies are:
- Failure to update account information
- Inability to keep purchase and order obligations
- Using an Amazon account that has lost its seller privileges
- Your promotions are misleading
Violating Federal Regulations
Before you jump in and start selling on Amazon, it’s a good idea to read Amazon’s fine print regarding the dos and don’ts.
If you’ve read it, then you’re aware that Amazon does not let vendors sell things that violate federal laws.
These are items that do not follow the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Federal Trade Commission, Fungicide, the Federal Insecticide, and Rodenticide Act, or the Federal Warranty Law in the United States.
For example, if you’re selling supplements that are labeled with “prescription-only use,” you’re violating the Federal Law, and Amazon will automatically lock your seller account.
Large Number of Returned Items
Amazon has to deal with shipping and restocking every time a customer returns an item, which costs them a lot of money. This is especially true for a seller that is known for selling things at a low profit margin.
According to a survey released by Appriss, US retailers lost $369 billion in sales due to returns in 2018. That’s why Amazon (and others) have put a lot of money on algorithms that can identify unprofitable sellers with a high return rate.
As a result, if your return volume is unusually high, your account may be locked.
To prevent this, some dropshippers are now taking up the expense of low-value returns to lower their return percentage.
How to Contact Amazon to Unlock Account
Here are several ways you can contact Amazon to help you unlock your account.
One way to contact Amazon is by replying directly to the email you received from an account specialist that informed you about your locked account. If you didn’t get one, you may opt to email directly their CEO, Jeff Bezos.
Most organizations, like Amazon, have a separate team that handles incoming emails and a direct email account for their CEO. These teams can usually escalate issues more quickly and have more authority. To contact Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, send your email to [email protected].
Because you’re not sending it through the Amazon portal, include some account information such as your name and the restricted account’s email address.
Alternatively, you can contact Amazon via the Amazon portal. In the account sign in form, click on “Need Help?” then click on Other Issues With Sign In”. Choose “I cannot sign in to my account” and a prompt will show up that will allow you to send an email to Amazon.
How to Fix Locked Amazon Account?
Amazon usually states the reason for your account being locked. Once you’ve figured out why your account was canceled, the only way to reopen it is to show that you didn’t do anything illegal or did not break any of their rules.
Once Amazon has locked your account, they will send you an email, to let you know that your account is locked. This way, you will be aware of why it was locked and what you have to do to resolve it.
For example, the reason why your account has been locked is they believe that someone is trying to hack your account. This usually happens when you use several IP addresses and open your Amazon account in different locations.
To get your account back, you need to make an appeal that you were the one who was trying to access the account and that you’re in a different country or location. If it wasn’t you who was accessing the account and you also believe that you’re account is being hacked.
You should contact Amazon through email and make an appeal. Make sure to provide a specific action plan for securing your account, such as changing your password so it won’t be hacked.
If your account was suspended because of non-compliance with Federal Regulations policies, write them a letter proving you were unaware of their current policy and promising that it would not happen again.
Make sure you include the following information in your Amazon appeal letter:
- Determine the specific cause for your Amazon account suspension.
- Accept responsibility for the situation and acknowledge it.
- Make a plan to ensure that you do not get suspended again.
How to Prevent Amazon Account from Getting Locked
Here are some ways to prevent your Amazon account from getting locked.
Keep Your Account Information Secure
To avoid getting hacked, you can follow Seller Central’s security best practices. One way to keep your account secure is by setting up a two-step verification process. Another way is using a strong password.
If your business has numerous users, have each one create their own account and then link them together. Make sure you review secondary users who have access to your account on a regular basis and deactivate access to those who no longer require it.
Comply with Amazon Policies
Amazon does not take it lightly when sellers fail to follow its rules and policies. Take time to read the code of conduct and its policies to ensure that you are not violating any of them.
Avoid Selling Gated Items
As much as possible, avoid selling items that are under gated categories. Or, if you have products that fall under that category, make sure you follow the guidelines and ask for approval before listing your items.
Improve Your Performance
To begin, keep track of your Amazon reports on a regular basis. The information in your Return, Imperfect Orders, and Feedback reports will show you whether you are routinely meeting Amazon’s performance targets.
Also, keep an eye on the status of your order’s delivery. Unless you’re an FBA seller, in which case Amazon handles shipping and delivery, you’ll want to ensure that buyers report on-time shipments and well-packaged goods to avoid negative feedback or a high number of late shipments.
Improving your seller performance and maintaining a high score will prevent your account from getting locked. This is one of the best ways to prevent account suspension.
Conclusion
Getting your account locked can be a hassle. Acting right away after a suspension or from being locked out of your account will help resolve the issue faster and get your account rolling again. No seller wants to miss out on any possible sales. For each day your account is locked, the more sales you’re missing out on.
Did your account get suspended or locked? Share your experience in the comments below. Also, please don’t forget to check out my Amazon FBA guide post and my Amazon FBA course. I’m sure you’ll find a lot of value in them.