If you’re here, chances are good that you’re already selling on Amazon or just about to launch into the Amazon ecosystem. An important component about selling on the world’s largest marketplace is staying compliant with Amazon’s Terms of Service. While their TOS can take a lifetime to learn, compliance is only one component of the selling experience. Staying informed about what you can and can not sell is is crucial. Even private label manufacturers, and brand owners need to understand that certain products will require approval from Amazon before listing them. Ready to take a deep dive into Amazon’s Restricted Product policy? Let’s go!
Why are Product Restrictions Important?
Amazon restricts, or limits, certain product categories, brands, and individual items to ensure adherence to safety regulations, legal requirements, and intellectual property protections. For instance, selling age-restricted products like alcohol or tobacco requires meeting specific legal guidelines. Similarly, products containing hazardous materials might be restricted due to safety concerns.
Understanding Amazon’s product restrictions is vital for several reasons:
- Maintaining Account Health: Selling restricted products can risk listing deactivation or even account suspension.
- Legal Impact: Restricted products, like counterfeit goods, can cause legal problems. Adhering to restrictions helps you avoid such issues.
- Ensuring Product Quality, Authenticity and Safety: As a customer-centric business, Amazon’s role is to protect customers from potentially harmful or low-quality products. Restricted items often require additional documentation to prove authenticity and safety.
Is There a a Definitive List of Restricted Products?
Identifying restricted products can be challenging because Amazon’s list is subject to change. Additionally, it’s not only about the PRODUCT itself, there could be restrictions at the category, subcategory and brand level that make a definitive list nearly impossible. Some other factors that determine restrictions?
- Different marketplaces may impose different restrictions
- Seller history and performance
How Do Sellers Check Availability of Products, Categories and Brands?
Part of researching the best product to sell on Amazon, you should spend time understand some additional hurdles preventing you ability to be profitable; including competitive pricing, storage and fulfillment costs. Additionally, you don’t want to invest a great deal of effort on products that may not meet Amazon’s strict requirements, or have compliance challenges.
Checking if you’re able to sell a product is as simple as heading to the Amazon dashboard, add the ASIN (or brand) and check eligibility.
How Do Sellers Get Approval?
- Apply for Approval: If you want to sell a product in a restricted category, you need to apply for approval from Amazon. You can do this through your Seller Central account.
- Search for the product you want to sell.
- If it’s restricted, you’ll see a message like “Listing limitations apply.”
- Click “Request Approval” to start the application process.
- Amazon may ask you to submit documents like invoices, business licenses, or letters of authorization from the brand.
- Get Approved: Your chances of approval are better if you have a good selling history on Amazon and are a professional seller (not an individual).
2. Brand Approval:
- Brand-Restricted Products: Some brands restrict who can sell their products on Amazon. This is to ensure that only authorized sellers are listing their items.
- Getting Brand Approval: Amazon does not grant approval to sell a brand-restricted product. Rather, you need to get permission from the brand itself. This usually involves contacting the brand and becoming an authorized retailer.
Is there any other way to sell products in restricted categories?
YES!!! Earlier we mentioned that your chances of approval often are dependent on selling performance and selling history. Therefore, established sellers have a distinct advantage over sellers new to Amazon.
That’s where AIA Assets answers your business needs. When you buy an Amazon seller account, not only do you purchase an established account with favorable disbursement schedules and ample feedback, you’re also purchasing “seller history”. Our accounts have been ungated for many categories and brands, making it a snap to sell the most competitive brands and categories.
Ready to purchase an Amazon Seller Account? Speak with with our sales team to get the best account to fit your needs!