If you’ve received a notification that your Amazon FBA account is under review, it can feel unsettling. Whether you’re a new seller or have been operating for a while, this process can disrupt your business and cause concern. However, it’s important to understand that being “under review” is often a temporary situation where Amazon is ensuring that your business complies with its rules. The good news is that in many cases, you can resolve the issue and get your account reinstated.
Let’s walk through what happens during an account review, the possible reasons behind it, and how you can handle it efficiently to get back to selling.
What’s an Amazon Account Review
An Amazon account under review means that Amazon has temporarily paused your selling privileges. This typically happens when Amazon notices something unusual or concerning with your account.
The good news is that being under review is not the same as a permanent ban. While your ability to sell may be paused, this pause is an opportunity for you to fix the problem. You’ll usually be given a chance to appeal or resolve the issue before your account is permanently suspended. The review process is a standard measure Amazon uses to ensure the marketplace remains safe for both buyers and sellers. It’s essentially a safeguard, making sure sellers meet Amazon’s policies and customer expectations.
Important: If your account is under review for seller-fulfilled orders, it could be an effort to protect customers by ensuring that products are delivered on time.
Common Causes for an Amazon Seller Account Under Review
There are a variety of reasons why Amazon might place your account under review. These can range from performance issues to policy violations or even account verification problems. Understanding these reasons is the first step to resolving the issue. Below are some of the most common causes.
1. Performance Issues
Your performance metrics play a big role in determining whether Amazon will review your account. Here are a few key metrics that Amazon monitors closely:
- Order Defect Rate (ODR) above 1%: This could be due to negative feedback, A-to-Z Guarantee Claims, or chargebacks from customers. A high ODR suggests that you’re not meeting Amazon’s standards for customer satisfaction.
- Late Shipment Rate above 4%: Amazon expects that orders be shipped promptly. Consistently late shipments will raise flags.
- Pre-fulfillment Cancellation Rate: If orders are being canceled before they’re shipped, Amazon might want to review the cause.
- Negative Customer Feedback: Frequent complaints about issues such as incorrect orders or poor customer service can lead to a review.
If any of these metrics exceed the acceptable thresholds, your account may be placed under review.
2. Account Verification Problems
When setting up your Amazon seller account, Amazon requires that you provide certain documents to verify your identity and business operations. If there are discrepancies or missing documentation, your account may be flagged for review. This could include:
- Missing or mismatched documents: If you’ve submitted incomplete or outdated documents, Amazon may request additional verification.
- Failure to comply with verification requests: If you haven’t responded to Amazon’s requests for documents or further information, your account could be paused.
3. Policy Violations
Amazon has strict policies regarding what can be sold on its platform. Violating any of these policies could lead to an account review. Some of the most common violations include:
- Selling prohibited or restricted items: Items like counterfeit goods, pharmaceuticals, and hazardous materials are banned on Amazon.
- Misrepresentation of products: Listing products that don’t match the descriptions or selling fake goods can lead to a review.
- Review manipulation: Engaging in practices like offering incentives for positive reviews or using fake reviews is a violation.
- Intellectual property rights violations: If you sell counterfeit products or violate copyright, trademark, or patent laws, your account could be suspended.
4. Unusual Account Activity
Sudden changes in your account activity can raise red flags for Amazon’s automated systems. These could include:
- A significant spike in sales volume: A sudden, unexplained surge in sales might make Amazon suspicious about the source or authenticity of the orders.
- Unusual selling patterns: If your inventory or sales patterns drastically change, Amazon might want to investigate further.
- Suspicious transactions: Irregular buying or selling activity, like multiple logins from different locations, could trigger an account review.
5. Product Authenticity Complaints
If customers file complaints about the authenticity of your products, Amazon will likely review your account. Counterfeit or non-genuine items can result in serious penalties, including a permanent ban from the platform.
6. Missing Business Information
If your Amazon account is missing critical business information, it can raise suspicions. For example, not having a verified business address or missing contact details can lead to a review.
7. Insufficient Sales History
New accounts or accounts with little sales history may be placed under review if there’s not enough data to establish trust. A lack of feedback or low sales volumes could result in a temporary review until Amazon can verify the legitimacy of your business.
8. Account Security Concerns
If there’s a potential security threat, such as unauthorized login attempts or suspicious account access, Amazon may suspend your account while they investigate.
9. Payment Issues
Failure to pay Amazon fees, unresolved chargebacks, or disputes over payment methods can also result in an account review.
How Amazon Account Review Process Works
Once Amazon places your account under review, they follow a set process to investigate the issue. Here’s what happens next:
Detection
Amazon uses sophisticated algorithms and monitoring systems to detect issues with seller accounts. These systems look for patterns that might indicate violations of Amazon’s policies or problems with account performance.
Notification
If your account is under review, Amazon will notify you. The notification typically comes through email or on your Seller Central dashboard in the Performance Notifications section. The notification will specify the reason for the review and may include details about which ASINs (Amazon Standard Identification Numbers) are involved.
It’s important to check your notifications regularly because sometimes, notifications can be delayed. Don’t assume you’re in the clear just because you haven’t received a message immediately.
Investigation
Amazon’s team will investigate the issue by gathering data. They may request additional documentation or clarification to verify your account’s legitimacy.
Potential Selling Privilege Limits
During the investigation, Amazon might place temporary limits on your selling privileges. For FBA sellers, this could mean your listings become inactive until the issue is resolved.
Fund Holding
Amazon may hold funds in your account during the review period. You may not be able to receive disbursements until the review is complete.
Appeal
If your account is suspended, Amazon will allow you to submit an appeal. This is your opportunity to explain what happened and demonstrate that you’re taking steps to resolve the issue. A well-crafted appeal can help you get your account reinstated.
Review and Decision
Once Amazon receives your appeal, they will review the information and decide whether to reinstate your account or maintain the suspension.
Resolution
If your appeal is successful, your account will be reinstated, and you can resume selling. If your appeal is denied, you may need to resolve the underlying issue and submit another appeal.
Immediate Actions to Take If Your Amazon FBA Account is Under Review
If you find yourself in this situation, it’s essential to act quickly. Here’s what you should do immediately.
Review Amazon’s Notification
The first step is to thoroughly read the notification Amazon sent. Check your Seller Central Performance Notifications and email carefully. This will give you a clear understanding of why your account is under review. Focus on the specific reason Amazon highlights and avoid making assumptions.
Audit Your Account Activity
Look over your recent activities on Amazon. Review any listing changes, new product uploads, or sales spikes. Pay special attention to customer complaints, especially those regarding product quality or delivery.
Also, examine your account health metrics like your ODR and late shipment rate. If any of these metrics are out of compliance, take immediate steps to address them.
Gather Necessary Documentation
Prepare the documentation Amazon might request. This could include:
- Business registration documents: Make sure all details are accurate and match your Amazon account.
- Invoices from suppliers: Include product descriptions, quantities, and supplier contact information.
- Proof of authenticity: This could include photos of products, packaging, or supplier certifications.
- Utility bills: To verify your business address.
- Tracking information and proof of delivery: If you’re selling through FBA, this may not apply directly, but it’s still useful to gather any shipping or order fulfillment data.
Ensure that the documents are high-quality, clear, and accurate. Amazon may request these to verify the authenticity of your business and your products.
Verify Product Legitimacy
If the review is related to product authenticity, provide thorough documentation proving the legitimacy of your products. This could include supplier certifications, invoices, or other evidence that your products are genuine.
Submit a Clear and Concise Appeal
Once you’ve gathered all necessary documentation, submit your appeal. Be sure to follow Amazon’s guidelines for submitting an appeal. Your response should be clear, concise, and professional. Address the concerns directly and factually, avoiding emotional language or blaming Amazon for the issue.
How to Effectively Appeal When Your Amazon FBA Account is Under Review
If your Amazon FBA account is under review, it’s important to take action quickly. However, if the review process leads to a suspension, it’s essential to approach the appeal correctly. Amazon typically allows you to submit a plan of action (POA) to address the issues that led to the review.
Step 1: Understand the Reason for the Review
Before jumping into an appeal, make sure you fully understand why Amazon placed your account under review. Carefully read the notification you received. Amazon usually highlights the specific policy violation or performance issue.
For example, if your account was flagged due to late shipment rates, Amazon will detail that issue in your notification. If it was about product authenticity concerns, the message will specify which products were affected.
Take your time to understand the specifics before moving forward. If you need clarification, reach out to Amazon’s Seller Support. The more clarity you have on the reason, the better prepared you’ll be to resolve the issue.
Step 2: Address Specific Issues
Once you’ve pinpointed the problem, your next step is to focus on addressing the exact issues Amazon mentioned. If the review is linked to poor customer feedback, take the time to carefully analyze each review. Did customers complain about delivery delays, product quality, or packaging?
In some cases, Amazon may flag you for missing or incomplete documents. Review all your submitted files for accuracy and completeness. If there are discrepancies in the documentation or if you missed any step, correct it promptly.
The key here is accuracy. Be precise in addressing the cause of the review, and don’t make excuses. Acknowledge the mistake and demonstrate how you’re fixing it.
Step 3: Create a Clear Plan of Action (POA)
Amazon typically requires a Plan of Action (POA) as part of the appeal process. A POA is a written explanation of what went wrong, what actions you’ve taken to fix the issue, and what steps you’re taking to prevent it from happening again.
A strong POA will include three key components:
- Root Cause: Identify the underlying reason for the issue. For example, “We experienced delays in shipment due to a sudden change in our logistics provider.”
- Corrective Actions Taken: Detail what immediate actions you’ve already implemented. For instance, “We have switched to a new logistics partner with a proven track record and implemented a more efficient inventory system.”
- Preventive Measures: Show how you will avoid the same problem in the future. You might say, “We’ve scheduled weekly inventory checks to prevent future delays and trained our customer service team to proactively inform buyers of any shipment delays.”
A concise and professional tone is crucial. Avoid being defensive or blaming Amazon. The focus should be on presenting clear solutions.
Step 4: Submit Your Appeal
Once your POA is ready, submit it through Amazon’s Seller Central. Be sure to include all the relevant documentation that backs up your claims. If you’re addressing a performance issue like high order defect rates, include performance reports or screenshots from your system that show improvements.
Don’t submit incomplete documents or unverified information. Every detail counts. If Amazon requested specific files or reports, make sure you provide them exactly as they asked.
Step 5: Allow Time for Review
After submitting your appeal, it’s important to be patient. Amazon may take several days to weeks to review your case. The team will evaluate your POA and supporting documents to determine if they’re sufficient to reinstate your account.
During this waiting period, avoid following up excessively. While it’s understandable to feel anxious, bombarding Amazon with multiple messages could delay the process.
Pro Tip: Make sure your POA is as comprehensive as possible. If you rush through it or provide vague information, it can lead to further delays or even a rejected appeal.
What to Do If Your Appeal is Rejected
Unfortunately, not all appeals are successful. If Amazon rejects your appeal, don’t lose hope. Instead, treat the rejection as an opportunity to refine your approach.
Analyze Amazon’s Response
Amazon will provide a detailed explanation as to why your appeal was rejected. Go through the response carefully to see if you missed any important details or if the provided evidence was inadequate. Maybe Amazon requested additional documentation or clarification.
Look for specific feedback on what’s lacking or unclear. For example, if Amazon says that your action plan doesn’t address the root cause, you’ll need to rework that section.
Refine and Resubmit Your Appeal
Once you understand the shortcomings of your initial appeal, it’s time to refine your Plan of Action. Make sure you address all the points raised by Amazon in their rejection notice.
Consider adding more proof to back up your claims. For example, if you stated that you switched logistics partners, provide an official letter or contract from the new provider. If you claimed to have improved inventory management, submit a revised process or a performance report that demonstrates the improvements.
Submit your revised appeal with a more comprehensive response. This time, make sure you cover all bases and provide Amazon with everything they need to make a fair decision.
Escalate the Matter (If Multiple Appeals Fail)
If you’ve attempted multiple appeals without success, it may be time to escalate the issue. Amazon has a Seller Performance Team that can look at more complicated cases. You can reach out to them by responding to the rejection emails or directly contacting Amazon Seller Support.
When escalating the issue, make sure you provide a detailed explanation, including your case ID, the specific problem, and any new evidence you’ve gathered. You may also want to explain why previous appeals were insufficient and how you’ve made improvements.
Sometimes, escalations help to get the issue reviewed by a fresh set of eyes.
Consider Seeking ZonHack’s Expert Assistance
If you’re not making progress, consider seeking professional help.
ZonHack can help Amazon sellers facing account reviews by offering tailored consultation and troubleshooting services. We provide guidance on identifying the root cause of issues such as performance metrics, policy violations, or account verification problems.
ZonHack’s expert team helps draft compelling plans of action (POAs) and ensures that all required documentation is accurate and complete.
Additionally, we support communication with Amazon Seller Support, ensuring timely and effective resolutions, so you can get back to selling quickly and avoid future reviews.
Contact ZonHack today.
