Account deactivated for fraudulent or illegal but I have no idea what we did wrong
Hi fellow sellers, I’ve been selling on Amazon for about 4 years, and now I’m stuck in the most absurd appeals or re-activation process ever. I have already gone through what appeared to be an absolutely silly reverification process as well. I’m hoping some of you might have advice on how to escape this madness.
Recently, I had to reverify my identity and business license details for no apparent reason. I went through this identity verification circus just 1 month ago using my driver's license, business license, bank account statement,, etc. But now, after I thought everything went well my account has been deactivated. Nobody at Amazon is helpful or able to tell me exactly why my account has been deactivated except that I'm selling counterfeit fraudulent or illegal goods?!
To make things even more hilarious, they have asked me to upload my invoice for the used products which I purchased (generally when you buy used products you're buying them off individuals, so there isn't exactly all the supply chain documentation you would expect to find when selling a brand new product).
In any event I've uploaded the invoice for the used items, and now they expect me to provide additional details as to where my supplier purchased the items from! Can you tell me in what world supplier will reveal their trade secrets to their customer? They want an invoice from my supplier detailing where the supplier purchased the goods from and I feel that this is absolutely unreasonable.
I’ve contacted Amazon support multiple times over the past, but their team is the most unprofessional and inept group I’ve ever encountered. They always just bounce me around like a ping-pong ball, ultimately offering no real help. Now Amazon is holding my funds, also has a bunch of FBA inventory which I paid them to receive and prep. The worst part is the US inventory I can't even file a removal's request since they don't send inventory out of country.
Is Amazon even aware how ridiculously some of these policies are being enforced. can’t see how a group can be so inept. If they would only tell me what it is exactly that is fraudulent and illegal about my selling practices then maybe I could explain myself or do something to correct it. At this point my account is deactivated and I have no idea what I've done wrong I've tried to explain to them that the product is not counterfeit that I sell and I was willing to have it verified by the manufacturer or even demonstrate that it works perfectly and is original product, but no opportunity has arisen for me to do so. But what makes this the most ridiculous is that nobody can tell me what it is I've actually done wrong for me to be able to explain myself.
Has anyone else gone through this clown show? How did you resolve it? Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated!
0 replies
Seller_rI7BZIczK8iAC
From what I read lateley in the forum, Amazon doesn't want people sell used products anymore. As you say, it's impossible to provide invoices for used products. Putting this hurdle, used items will disappear by itself from the platform.
Unfortunately I can't give any advice what you should do. And unfortunately, sellers who resolved that issue (if there are even) normally come here just to ask and not to help others.
In the future, I think used items should be sold on Ebay or other platforms.
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
"In any event I've uploaded the invoice for the used items,"
If it's a USED item you do NOT have an invoice, you have a RECEIPT.
The exception would be if you are purchasing from one of the liquidation companies that brag about all their items that can be sold on Amazon (WRONG) and other sites.
Here is what Amazon has to say about that --
Sourcing
This is from @Bryce_Amazon and I have added some bold type for emphasis!
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/seller-forums/discussions/t/b85da569-03c1-401d-92e3-09c057cd76de
From @bryce_amazon:
"Leave a thumbs up or a thumbs down to let me know if you find this helpful (or not)!
As an Amazon seller, it's crucial to understand the platform's policies and requirements when it comes to sourcing and selling products. Whether you're selling branded products from a third party or your own private label items, there are several guidelines you need to be aware of.
1. Validate Your Suppliers: Ensure that the suppliers you purchase from are legitimate and authorized to sell the branded products you intend to offer. This may involve checking their business licenses, brand authorization letters, business bureau ratings, and other credibility indicators.
2. Build Relationships with Brands: For certain branded products, you may need explicit permission from the brand owner to sell on Amazon. Take the time to establish a relationship with relevant brands and understand their specific requirements.
3. Retain Business Invoices: Amazon may request documentation to prove the authenticity of your products. Maintain invoices from your suppliers that include details like their contact information, an itemized list of products, and the purchase dates.
4. Understand Amazon's Dropshipping Policy: If you plan to use a dropshipping model, make sure you comply with Amazon's dropshipping policy. This includes validating your dropshipping suppliers, formalizing the relationship with a service level agreement, and properly identifying yourself as the seller on all customer-facing materials.
5. Auctions: Auctions or auction style environments are not considered valid sources of supply. Reselling products that are intended for destruction disposal or otherwise designated as unsellable by the manufacturer, supplier, vendor, or retailer is strictly prohibited on Amazon.
Ultimately, it's your responsibility as an Amazon seller to ensure that the products you offer comply with all applicable laws and regulations, are authorized for sale or resale, and do not infringe on intellectual property rights. By following these guidelines, you can help protect your business and maintain a successful presence on the Amazon marketplace.
Let me know in the comments how you source your inventory!”
Atlas_Amazon
Hello @Seller_GH3OGaQjAalxs
Thank you for the information that you have shared regarding your recent issues on the account.
I understand our team has recently requested information to verify your supply chain and ensure that all of your products are able to be traced back to the original supplier. Our team must take steps to verify that product on the platform are both authentic and authorized for sale.
As you have seen, this may require requesting additional documents to verify the sourcing. If this documentation cannot be provided, we cannot guarantee that a resolution will be available.
As for your inventory, if our team cannot verify your supply chain, then they may be unable to release the inventory. Have you attempted to open a case into the removal? Would you be able to share more information regarding this?
Any other details or updates you have on this situation should be provided to this thread for support.
Best,
Atlas
