Amazon has become a platform of initiation for e-commerce. It provides its sellers a wide field to reach their potential customers worldwide. However, the Amazon account journey is not so smooth. This is because many sellers have to face the dark side of Amazon account suspension, and most of them do not have an ecommerce consultant to guide them. Understanding the potential reasons behind these Amazon account suspensions can help you avoid hitting rock bottom and maintain a successful selling experience. This blog brings you the top five common reasons for your Amazon account suspension and shares some valuable tips on how you can prevent it.

1. Suspension on Unusual Activity

Unusual activity is classified as one of the most common reasons for an Amazon account suspension. This may include sudden boosts in sales without advertising, changes in your general selling patterns, or customer strikes and complaints that indicate suspicious behavior. Amazon's algorithms consistently monitor accounts, and any suspicious activity can trigger an inquiry.

How to Prevent It:

You should try to keep your amazon account’s position as clear as possible by maintaining consistent sales patterns and avoiding sudden changes in pricing or inventory levels. If you plan to run ad campaigns or any marketing activity or increase your inventory significantly, communicate with Amazon's support panel priorly. This action can help prevent your account from being suspended for unusual activity.

1. High Order Defect Rate (ODR)

The Amazon panel consistently monitors various performance metrics, including your Order Defect Rate (ODR), which covers negative feedback, A-to-Z Guarantee claims/recoveries, and cashbacks. If your ODR increases above Amazon's threshold, your account may be suspended. A high ODR is often taken as an indicator of poor customer service, product quality issues in product quality i.e. defective products, or fulfillment problems.

How to Prevent It:

To avoid an Amazon account suspension due to a high Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), you should emphasize on providing exceptional customer service. Try to quick respond to customer inquiries, resolve issues, market the offerings that you offer and make sure that your products fulfill customer expectations. Review your metrics to be aware of areas for improvement and take required action before they go out of hand.

1. Amazon Policy Violation

Amazon has some strict policies that all sellers must comply with. This includes rules and regulations for product listings, pricing strategies, and customer engagements. Any violation of any policy, even unintentional ones, can instantly lead to account suspension. Common violations include selling prohibited items, manipulating customer reviews, or not fulfilling orders completely.

How to Prevent It:

Get yourself accustomed to Amazon's policies and guidelines. Regularly review their updates to stay up-to-date about any changes in the regulations. Moreover, consider consulting with an ecommerce consultant who is an expert in Amazon to make sure that your practices align with the platform’s policies. Investing time in understanding these policies can help you prevent your account from being suspended.

1. Negative Feedback and Customer Complaints

Customer satisfaction must be the top priority for all sellers, as per Amazon’s guidelines. A high number of customer complaints or negative feedback can lead to account suspension. This is because Amazon prioritizes a positive shopping experience, above all. If your customers frequently report issues with your products or service, it can initiate an inquiry of your account.

How to Prevent It:

To reduce the negative feedback, emphasize on delivering high-quality products and outstanding customer service. Encourage satisfied customers to give positive reviews on the store’s account and professionally respond to any negative feedback. If a complaint is reported, address it straightaway to show your commitment to customer satisfaction.

1. Incorrect Product Listings

Your product listings should be an exact reflection of what you are selling. Adding inaccurate descriptions, misleading images, or failing to disclose important product details can lead to customer dissatisfaction and reporting of complaints. If Amazon identifies inconsistencies in your listings, they may instantly take strict action against your account.

How to Prevent It:

Make sure that your product listings are accurate and thorough to the maximum level. Use high-quality accurate images, correct and clear descriptions, and precise specifications. Regularly audit your product listings for accuracy, especially if you have multiple products. In case there are any changes made to your product, update the listings immediately to reflect those changes.

Conclusion

Getting through the complexities of selling through Amazon accounts can be challenging, but understanding the reasons for Amazon account suspension is an essential step in safeguarding your business. You can significantly reduce the risk of suspension by keeping consistent activity, low ODR, complying to Amazon’s policies, prioritizing customer satisfaction, and making sure of accurate product listings,

Even if your Amazon account gets suspended, you don’t need to panic. Review your account activity and identify any potential issues, then create a detailed plan of action to address these problems and submit an appeal to Amazon. Most often, a well-structured response can lead to the retrieval of your account.

If you wish to improve your position and avoid future issues, you should consider working with an ecommerce consultant that can provide valuable insights and strategies that are specific to your needs. By understanding these common reasons for Amazon account suspension and implementing preventive measures, you can easily grow your e-commerce business on Amazon without the fear of suspension.