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How to Navigate Restricted Products on Amazon Effectively
Amazon offers a diverse range of categories and subcategories for listing your products, giving you numerous opportunities to make money. However, some products require Amazon's approval before you can sell them. This can pose challenges for new sellers, potentially leading to account suspension risks or delays in your business operations.
In this article, we'll review Amazon's restrictions and share tips on how to avoid problems with selling certain types of products.
In this article, we'll review Amazon's restrictions and share tips on how to avoid problems with selling certain types of products.
What Sellers Need to Know About Amazon's Restrictions
Some categories and types of products require Amazon approval before they can be sold. Sellers need to be aware of what could happen if they don’t obtain this approval:
- Listing suspension: Your listing will not be visible to customers until you comply with Amazon’s guidelines.
- Products not shipped: If you use Amazon FBA, your products won't be shipped until you provide the necessary documentation.
- Inability to list a product: You won't be able to resell products with applicable limitations until you resolve any missing steps required by Amazon.
- Account suspension: Repeated incidents of breaking Amazon’s rules can lead to suspension or even removal of your account , potentially causing you to lose your business.
Now, let’s take a look at which kinds of products come with restrictions.
When Do You Need Amazon Approval?
Here are the three main scenarios where Amazon requires additional documentation to sell products:
- HAZMAT: These are products that pose a potential risk to people’s health or the environment. An example of a frequently bought product is hairspray, which is considered hazardous due to being flammable, so it requires a quality standard certificate and an SDS. Similarly, OTC medications need to comply with FDA standards and therefore require appropriate certification.
- Branded products: You cannot sell top-brand products without authorization. When placing a wholesale order, you will typically receive an invoice and a reseller certificate, which you need to submit to Amazon. Infringing on the copyright of smaller brands is also punishable.
- Gated categories: Items that can be counterfeited, like works of art, or those with specific quality standards, such as jewelry, must have the necessary certificates or authenticity confirmation. This is often applicable to collectibles, and it's important not to list used items like new, as Amazon will penalize you.
You might feel limited in your choice of products, but don't get discouraged. First, let’s explore which products do not need approval, and then we’ll address how to fix any issues that may arise with Amazon if you plan to sell a restricted product.
What Kinds of Products Are Unrestricted?
There are many products that can be listed and sold without requiring approval from Amazon. These can be categorized into three main groups:
- Ungated categories: These are categories where no permission is needed to sell products (for example, sports goods with minimal safety risks, like yoga mats and bands).
- Your own brand: Selling products under your own brand doesn't require permission from other brands or Amazon, as you own the trade. These include your own digital products, like ebooks and audiobooks.
- Non-branded products: You can resell products from brands that are not yet registered or whose registration is pending (for example, home and kitchen products with no expiration date, like containers and cups). However, be cautious, as selling these kinds of products becomes illegal once the brand is officially registered.
However, some subcategories, brands, or specific products within these groups may still require approval. You need to examine each product individually, including its materials, patents, and more. This process can be time-consuming due to the vast number of products on Amazon. Fortunately, there are professional product research services you can use to provide you with in-depth insights into these types of products with ease.
Let Sellerhook Find Unrestricted Products for Your Store
Sellerhook offers personalized product research services using the latest tools to conduct thorough market analysis. Their experts leverage extensive knowledge and experience to identify the best opportunities for your business.
To receive one or more ideas for profitable products you can sell, just follow these steps:
To receive one or more ideas for profitable products you can sell, just follow these steps:
1. Place an order on the Sellerhook website for one or five unrestricted product idea(s).
2. Complete a brief questionnaire. Provide details about your preferred product categories, price range, and any specific requirements.
3. Get your product idea or a list of ideas. A detailed report will be emailed to you within 8-10 business days.
3. Get your product idea or a list of ideas. A detailed report will be emailed to you within 8-10 business days.
Sellerhook will find product options for you with strong sales potential and significant revenue opportunities, ensuring they can be sold without needing approval. This approach provides you with a ready-made, profitable business solution, enhancing your chances of running a successful Amazon business.
If you still choose to sell products from restricted categories, let’s review the steps needed to obtain Amazon’s approval.
If you still choose to sell products from restricted categories, let’s review the steps needed to obtain Amazon’s approval.
The Approval Process
To unlock products or categories on Amazon, you need to apply through your Seller Central account and provide the documentation required for the item. Amazon will review your application, and if you meet the requirements, you'll be able to list the product. Getting approved typically takes a few business days, but if Amazon requires additional information, they will contact you.
To get ungated, ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. While specific requirements vary by product, here are some general ones:
To get ungated, ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. While specific requirements vary by product, here are some general ones:
- Excellent account health: it’s important to maintain low order defect rates, late shipments, and other key metrics. Exceeding Amazon's thresholds in these areas may result in application rejection.
- Professional seller plan: For restricted categories (like alcohol), you need to upgrade to the Professional Seller plan, which costs $39.99/month.
- Shipping requirements: If you’re using Amazon FBA, be aware of any potential geographical restrictions. For example, alcohol can only be sold domestically and must meet packaging requirements to avoid rejection.
- Proper documentation: Provide all documentation requested by Amazon, and ensure that it's up-to-date.
Once you confirm your eligibility, follow these three steps to apply:
1. In Seller Central, go to the Inventory section and select Add a Product.
2. Locate the product you wish to list and click Show Limitations.
3. Click Apply to Sell and submit the required documents.
2. Locate the product you wish to list and click Show Limitations.
3. Click Apply to Sell and submit the required documents.
While this procedure is straightforward, rejections can still occur. Let’s review the most common mistakes made by sellers.
The Most Common Mistakes
Here are the top three mistakes sellers make when applying to sell restricted products:
- Insufficient selling history: New sellers might not have a strong account history. Some categories, like wine or jewelry, require a longer market presence before you can sell them.
- Outdated documentation: Generally, licenses or invoices should be no older than 180 days, but this can vary by product.
- Incorrect document format: Follow Amazon's specific format requirements. Invoices should include both yours and the supplier’s details, unit counts, and EAN/UPC numbers.
By carefully following Amazon’s guidelines and keeping your documentation up-to-date, you can improve the chances of submitting an acceptable application.
Tips for Sellers
Now that you're aware of the Amazon restrictions that can impact your business, let's look at some strategies for enhancing your performance. Here are a few tips from top Amazon sellers:
- Focus on unrestricted products: By choosing products that don’t fall under Amazon's restrictions, you can start selling more easily and quickly without needing approval from Amazon. This allows you to avoid potential delays and compliance challenges. Additionally, with fewer regulatory hurdles, you can focus more on other aspects of your business.
- Utilize Brand Registry: Launching your own brand can help you bypass some of Amazon’s restrictions. By enrolling in the Brand Registry program, you not only protect your brand and copyrights from counterfeit sellers but also gain access to advanced marketing tools.
- Review Amazon’s policies regularly: Amazon’s rules and policies can change over time, so it’s essential to stay up-to-date. Staying current with these policies will help you avoid legal issues and also take advantage of new opportunities as they arise.
- Ensure listing accuracy: To minimize return requests, make sure your product descriptions and photos accurately represent the product. Additionally, your listing should comply with Amazon's policy regarding any banned words and offensive content, as non-compliance can result in lower search rankings or even removal of your listing.
- Optimize your listing: Regardless of the category or types of products you sell, it's crucial to stand out from the competition. You can improve the visibility of your listing by incorporating relevant keywords to rank higher in search results. Additionally, remember that the text in your listing needs to be compelling, and ensure that you stay within character limits.
Improving your listings involves thorough keyword research, competitor analysis, and strict adherence to Amazon’s guidelines. This process can be time-consuming and overwhelming, especially for newcomers, as it requires an in-depth examination of various metrics and data points using specialized tools.
Order Professionally Optimized Listings
To save time and effort, consider ordering professionally-crafted product listings. Fortunately, this service is also available through Sellerhook, a top choice for listing optimization among Amazon sellers. Whether you want to create a listing from scratch or improve an existing one, Sellerhook's experts will optimize every component to enhance your presence on Amazon.
To get a professionally-optimized listing, follow these simple steps:
To get a professionally-optimized listing, follow these simple steps:
1. Place an order on the Sellerhook website. Click Order Your Product Listing, and choose whether you would like to receive one or three product listings.
2. Submit payment. You can pay all at once, or opt to split this fee into four interest-free payments, making it a very convenient option.
3. Answer a few questions about your business. This will help the experts customize your listing for your needs and business goals.
4. Receive your listing. You’ll receive your product listing via email within 10 business days.
2. Submit payment. You can pay all at once, or opt to split this fee into four interest-free payments, making it a very convenient option.
3. Answer a few questions about your business. This will help the experts customize your listing for your needs and business goals.
4. Receive your listing. You’ll receive your product listing via email within 10 business days.
Sellerhook’s experts will enrich your listing with the most frequently-searched keywords and create user-friendly content for you. This approach ensures compliance with Amazon’s guidelines while also increasing your visibility. Reaching a broader audience can help to enhance your chances of driving sales and growing your business.
FAQs
How can I find out if a product is restricted on Amazon?
To check if a product is restricted for selling, try to list it through your Seller Central account. If the item is among Amazon's restricted products, you'll receive a notification. To save time, use the AMZScout Extension, which indicates any limitations directly on each Amazon product page.
What are examples of restricted products?
Examples of prohibited items include those containing hazardous materials, such as lithium batteries and hairspray. Additionally, you cannot sell jewelry or collectibles without providing proof of authenticity, nor can you sell alcohol, tobacco, or dietary supplements without providing quality certificates. Furthermore, products from top brands (like Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci) require brand authorization for selling.
Which Amazon categories are not restricted?
There are more than 15 categories open for selling items on Amazon, with things like books, beauty products, and home products being among the top-sellers. However, within these ungated categories, there may be restricted subcategories. It's important to check each product individually to ensure you can sell it without needing approval.
To check if a product is restricted for selling, try to list it through your Seller Central account. If the item is among Amazon's restricted products, you'll receive a notification. To save time, use the AMZScout Extension, which indicates any limitations directly on each Amazon product page.
What are examples of restricted products?
Examples of prohibited items include those containing hazardous materials, such as lithium batteries and hairspray. Additionally, you cannot sell jewelry or collectibles without providing proof of authenticity, nor can you sell alcohol, tobacco, or dietary supplements without providing quality certificates. Furthermore, products from top brands (like Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci) require brand authorization for selling.
Which Amazon categories are not restricted?
There are more than 15 categories open for selling items on Amazon, with things like books, beauty products, and home products being among the top-sellers. However, within these ungated categories, there may be restricted subcategories. It's important to check each product individually to ensure you can sell it without needing approval.
Conclusion
To streamline your business processes on Amazon, consider focusing on products that do not require additional approval or permissions. Use Sellerhook services to help you identify these kinds of products and assess their profit potential. This approach allows you to build a successful Amazon business without worrying about trademark issues or delays in product approval.
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