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Related accounts

What does the explosion in Amazon related account suspensions mean for you?

June 17, 2020 4 Comments

Some related account suspensions are Amazon errors, some are ancient history

By: Lesley Hensell
A flood of related account Amazon suspensions has sellers wondering what is going on. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t a simple one. Earlier this year, Amazon changed its policy about multiple accounts. Before, if a seller wanted more than one Amazon account, they had to request approval and follow a set of simple rules. The most important of these rules was that the accounts could not sell the same inventory.
With the policy change earlier this year, Amazon said no advance permission was now necessary. However, sellers with more than one account must have a valid business reason for doing so. Plus, Amazon explicitly stated that if one account is suspended for whatever reason, Amazon reserves the right to suspend all of the accounts that seller owns.
linked amazon accounts
Since that time, we have seen a rash of accounts going down for “related” or “linked” accounts. In some cases, these are real linkages. For example, we have sellers who owned a different account a long time ago and it was suspended, or they worked for another Amazon business and that created a linkage.
In other cases, our clients are being caught up in false positives. For whatever reason, Amazon thinks there is a link – but there honestly is not. Finally, in some cases, Amazon makes a tremendous mistake. They suspend a seller for having an account in another marketplace – be it Canada, Japan or elsewhere. These are flat-out technology errors on Amazon’s part. Appeals for related account typically require an escalation for reinstatement. Unfortunately, front-line Seller Performance does not feel empowered to turn these accounts back on.
Your best strategy?
  1. Make sure there are no linkages between your Amazon account and another selling account, such as account owners, tax ID numbers, bank accounts, credit cards, IP addresses, warehouse addresses, etc.
  2. If you have more than one account, ensure you have a valid business reason for doing so. This might be using one account for private-label products and another for goods purchased via wholesale. Or, some sellers are developing multiple brands on separate accounts.
  3. If you have more than one account, never sell the same inventory. Stay away from offering the same items, brands or – if possible – categories.
  4. If your account is suspended for related accounts, be ready to provide a reasonable explanation – even if you’re guessing.
  5. Be ready to offer detailed verification information about your account.
If you’re stuck or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Riverbend Consulting. We are happy to discuss your case. Let’s talk 877-289-1017 or visit our website.

Lesley HensellLesley is co-founder and co-owner of Riverbend Consulting, where she oversees the firm’s client services team. She leverages two decades as a small business consultant to advise clients on profitability and operational performance. Lesley has been an Amazon seller for almost a decade.

Filed Under: Account Health, Amazon, Linked Account, Related Account, Suspended Tagged With: 3P seller, Amazon, Amazon FBA, Amazon seller, Amazon Seller Performance, Linked accounts, Marketplace, Related accounts, Suspension

Amazon is refusing to release funds for some suspended sellers!

December 18, 2017 1 Comment

Amazon is refusing to release funds, they are permanently holding funds for some suspended sellers

By Lesley Hensell

Amazon appears to have made a recent policy change, where it will permanently attached the funds of some suspended sellers. Yes, Amazon is refusing to release funds.

This has happened in the past in cases of counterfeit or fraud. But now, Amazon is going after sellers who it deems have engaged in a pattern of repeatedly breaking Amazon’s rules.

For example, a client was selling products that Amazon deems “prohibited” for sale on the platform, even though they are legal in all 50 states. Amazon didn’t like the way our client listed the products. Instead of simply suspending him, they also attached the nearly $20,000 in his account – and say they will never give it back.

We are working to get the funds released and will keep the community updated.

The moral of the story? Don’t engage in a pattern of breaking Amazon’s rules. They will figure it out. And now, they might just be a lot more aggressive about ensuring you never do it again.

Lesley is Partner at Riverbend Consulting, she offers practical know-how to improve retail performance. Lesley’s experience with Amazon compliance gets accounts back up fast. Check out more of Lesley’s videos, here.

Filed Under: Amazon Tagged With: Account Reinstatement, Account Suspension, Amazon, Amazon Account Reinstatement, Amazon Seller Account, Related accounts

Emergency: I can’t log in to my amazon account!

December 15, 2017 Leave a Comment

By Lesley Hensell

For Amazon sellers, it’s a nightmare scenario. They try to log in to their seller account, but just can’t. The error might say something like, “You don’t have permission to access this account,” or worse, “This email address is not associated with an Amazon seller account.”

What’s a seller to do?

First and most importantly, take these steps to protect yourself:

  1. Make sure two people in your company have the user name and password for your Amazon seller account. This creates redundancy in case someone is sick, on vacation, gets fired or leaves.
  2. Beyond those two people, don’t spread around your primary user name and password. Keep it safe.
  3. For other users, create sub-user accounts. Give each person appropriate permissions – and only the permissions that they need.

If you are locked out of your account, contact Seller Support. If they can’t help, ask them to escalate to engineering.

If you’re still stuck can’t log in to your Amazon account, contact us at Riverbend Consulting. More videos are available on our YouTube channel.


Lesley is Partner at Riverbend Consulting, she offers practical know-how to improve retail performance. Lesley’s experience with Amazon compliance gets accounts back up fast.

Filed Under: Amazon Tagged With: Account Suspension, Amazon, Amazon reinstatement, ASIN suspension, Invoices, Related accounts

Amazon Seller account problems? Honesty is the best policy.

December 14, 2017 Leave a Comment

Amazon Seller account problems

By Lesley Hensell

When Amazon Seller account problems arise, it’s tempting to tell Amazon what you think they want to hear. Unfortunately, this can mean fake invoices, doctored documents and false statements.

This short-term solution can destroy your account. If Amazon detects falsified invoices or documentation, they will suspend you – and it can be nearly impossible to come back from this kind of suspension.

On the flip side, telling the truth just might get what you want from Seller Performance. In a recent case, one of our clients had multiple major problems with his accounts. Brutal honesty resulted in a super-fast reinstatement.

Here are a few tips:

  1. Don’t rush. Yes, it’s faster and easier to doctor an invoice. Instead, take the time to get the real – and right – documentation.
  2. Be clear. Sometimes, the reason you’re in a pickle is a good and valid one. Explain it briefly, with any evidence you can provide to back your story.
  3. Don’t give in. It is so tempting to lie because you need your products to sell – right now. It’s better to see lower, slower revenue numbers than to take actions that might kill your account.

You can trust us. Need call us 877-289-1017 or check out our website Riverbend Consulting.

Lesley is Partner at Riverbend Consulting, she offers practical know-how to improve retail performance. Lesley’s experience with Amazon compliance gets accounts back up fast. Check out more of Lesley’s videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here.

Filed Under: Amazon Tagged With: Account Suspension, Amazon, Amazon reinstatement, ASIN suspension, Invoices, Related accounts

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