Account Does not qualify
I was selling an item and had successfully sold 35 units under a specific ASIN. Recently, I purchased 40 more units and was in the process of creating a shipment to send this new stock to Amazon. However, now I'm receiving a message saying, "You need to request approval to sell this item." When I click on "Request Approval," it simply says that my account does not qualify.
I contacted Amazon customer support, but they had no solution. They just kept repeating, "This is our policy and we can't allow you to sell this item." My question is, why was I allowed to sell it earlier then? These kinds of restrictions seem to mostly affect sellers from Asian countries. My friends in the U.S. are selling the same item without any issues—they're free to sell almost anything.
Now the brand is refusing to take back the inventory, and I'm stuck with $5,000 worth of stock. Who is going to compensate me for this? Certainly not Amazon. Why would they care about small sellers trying to do business?
To be honest, this feels like discrimination. I'm extremely disappointed and frustrated. I don’t even want to hear the name Amazon again.
3 replies
Seller_OvL8C4BJWiuS9
Don't do that-It is happening across the board, not just Asian sellers.
Sell it on another platform.
Amazon can give and take away permissions whenever and however they choose to.
Seller_XSqPquQH4FvW1
I recently went into my inventory to reduce a price on a used book. I was told I couldn't because I am no longer authorized to sell it. So I left it on there at the higher price. You really need to look at other platforms. I can't believe Amazon is advertising itself as a "business partner". They can't even run their own business.
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
"My question is, why was I allowed to sell it earlier then?"
Multiple possibilities --
One is that you were allowed to by one BOT that did NOT know all the rules and policies on Amazon and now a second BOT reviewed the situation and KNOWS the rules so you were rejected.
The more likely situation is that AMAZON changed their rules/policies and/or the BRAND put in restrictions. That happens on here a lot -- minute by minute, day by day.
" My friends in the U.S. are selling the same item without any issues—they're free to sell almost anything."
Again, multiple possibilities.
They may be sourcing from an authorized distributor and you sourced from a gray market source.
OR, they just haven't been caught up in any policy/rule changes YET. Amazon is terrible at uniform enforcement on a timely basis in many cases.
"Now the brand is refusing to take back the inventory"
If you purchased directly from the brand and they are not taking it back it sounds like it may have been closeout items with a no refund/return notice posted at the time of purchase.
Frankly, that refusal is more often done (again) by gray market sources and not brand direct purchases.
"it simply says that my account does not qualify."
Brands that you COULD sell yesterday may be restricted today or next week. Amazon is a moving target to deal with.
