You can’t have your cake and eat it too on Amazon. Open a second seller account, and you’ll find that out in a heartbeat. If you’d like to know how to avoid a suspension, and what to look for in the event that your selling privileges are revoked, we may be able to offer some pointers.
To find out what to look for when Amazon suspends you for having two accounts, please read below.
One of Amazon’s General Guidelines prohibits sellers from having more than one seller account on a single venue at any one time. We’ve come across cases where sellers didn’t know about the policy until they were shut down, and they genuinely didn’t intend to break the rules.
While Amazon’s algorithm for filtering linked accounts is undisclosed, some of the details they use to match two different accounts could be:
- your device’s IP address;
- your network adapter’s MAC address;
- the registered company information;
- the email address on record;
- owner details;
- the bank account number on file.
What Can You Do?
1. Try to find the incriminating factors, and address them in your appeal.
Look at the elements in the list above and try to see what triggered the suspension. Amazon will notify you that your selling privileges are revoked for one of two reasons: operating on multiple merchant accounts, or having an account that’s been linked with a closed one. Match the information you have on file for these two accounts, and you’ve got your culprit.
The reason may not be all that clear, and you may feel it’s unfair. Be that as it may, remember that Amazon enforces this one-account rule to protect both you and its customers from dealing with unreliable sellers. If all sellers were allowed to open new accounts whenever their performance started to decline, with complaints and negative feedback piling up, then customers would be mislead into buying from disreputable sellers, and there would be unfair competition for you.
2. Stick to the subject and the facts; don’t get emotional.
Trying to appeal to Amazon for a reinstatement in either one of these two cases is one of the hardest battles an Amazon seller may ever face. Also, unless you have a legitimate reason for having two accounts, it’s probably a losing battle. Still, keep an open mind and a positive attitude when addressing Amazon. Remember that the account closure was automatic, and Amazon has no interest in closing your account if you’re a reputable seller.
If you were knowingly operating on two different accounts, all is not lost. Contact Amazon to demonstrate that the two accounts are essentially separate and independent. You’d need to prove that they operate with different products, product categories, suppliers, fulfillment means, and even business models. Basically, mention anything that would justify the need to run a second account separately from the first one.
Remember that you broke the rules for having operated two accounts without permission, whether it was intentional, or not. Still, you may just get away with a restriction from using one of the two accounts from here on in.
3. If Amazon gave you their approval to have two accounts in the past, provide them a record of the approval.
Amazon may have been persuaded to bend the rules in your case once, and they may do so again. It’s not unheard of for Amazon to grant sellers permission to use two accounts for a while, but then change their mind, and ask them to shut one of them down. In fact, they may even suspend the remaining account after a while, just for having been tied up to the old one in the past.
You’ll find that it pays to keep a record of all your communication with Amazon on this matter. Use your email record and the case number you were given every time to increase your chances of making a successful appeal.
For more information on how you can avoid Amazon account suspension, please feel free to download our complimentary Safety Guidelines infographic.
Melanie takes an active interest in all things Amazon. She keeps an eye on the latest developments, and keeps Amazon sellers up to speed