I am an Amazon seller facing an unprecedented issue that has caused significant financial and reputational damage to my business.
Here’s what happened: on November 13, 2024, due to an error on my product listing, Amazon flagged my product as violating intellectual property rights. AS the mention of this TM was a technical error during ASIN creation, I immediately corrected it. Amazon reinstated the listing, seemingly resolving the issue. Account Health Specialists also assured me that day the ASIN is good to go.
However, Amazon then sent over 1,500 automatic emails to my customers falsely accusing me of selling counterfeit for that TM. With no prior investigation Amazon labeled my product as 'counterfirt recalled' and asked customers 'not give this product to your pets and dispose of it', aslo 'seek veterinary advice'. NO. PRIOR. INVESTIGATION.
This resulted in $20,615.62 in automatic refunds, including refunds for unrelated products, with no proper notification. This day still, I HAVE NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED.
Not only this case seemd to be illegal from Intellectual Property Law, this situation also violates Amazon’s 'Product Safety and Recalls' policy. Namely, the following article was totally ignored 'We promptly inform both customers and sellers about the recall or safety alert.'.
To address this situation, I reached out to multiple external and internal channels:
- Filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB),
- Submitted a detailed case to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC),
- Contacted the State Attorney General’s Office,
- Sent personal emails to Amazon’s C-level executives,
- Opened multiple cases through Amazon’s Selling Partner Support.
Despite these extensive efforts, none of these actions have led to a resolution. BBB, the FTC, and the Attorney General's Office have not been able to compel Amazon to take corrective action. Internally, Amazon’s support agents have repeatedly stated that "this matter does not fall under Selling Partner Support’s responsibilities" or given inconsistent responses, leaving me without any path forward.
Amazon’s baseless accusations have caused significant financial harm, irreparably damaged my reputation, and destroyed trust with my customers. I am sharing my experience to expose the systemic failures that allow small businesses like mine to be crushed under false accusations and lack of accountability.
I need advice:
1) Has anyone else experienced similar treatment?
2) What additional steps can I take to hold Amazon accountable and recover my financial losses?
I hope this post will not only shed light on this issue but also prompt Amazon to address their unjust actions. Shame on you.