This post will cover an overview on selling a restricted product, category, or brand on Amazon. Amazon has created a unique way for people to shop and find new products while also designing a space where customers can be confident that the products they purchase are safe and authentic. To protect consumers, some products, categories, and brands may need to get approval to be sold on the Amazon marketplace. Even if some brands or categories do not require approval, specific products may need approval. This process is built to help sellers remain compliant with any laws and regulations that apply to their business, but also compliant with all of Amazon’s Selling Policies. Having the ability to sell restricted products, categories, and brands on Amazon allows sellers to continue growing sales and business without having to limit the products they have to offer. This post will explore what restricted products, categories, and brands are, how you can apply to sell them, and how to prevent detail page violations.
What are Amazon Restricted Products, Categories, and Brands?
Amazon is working to ensure that products offered on their marketplace are not only safe but will not cause any damage to people or property. Restricted products, categories, and brands are a type of offering that must comply with any laws and regulations and require an application to sell on Amazon. No matter the type of goods you sell, each seller should review the Restricted Products Help pages to see if their products are considered restricted goods and must adhere to Amazon’s selling policies and regulation laws. Product compliance can vary from product, category, and brand type, so it is essential to not only identify if you have a restricted product but also what guidelines Amazon has in place to successfully list your products. Ensuring that your products, categories, and brands are compliant will help you avoid practices that can get your listings removed, or blocked, and your seller account barred from Amazon, which will lead to a more effective selling strategy.
How to Apply to Sell Restricted Products, Categories and Brands
While there are ways you can sell restricted products, categories, and brands on Amazon, there are a few extra steps you will need to take to apply and get approval to do so. First, make sure you are allowed to sell your product and that it is compliant with any laws and regulations. You should also confirm that the product is not prohibited from Amazon by checking any product compliance policies that apply to your product type. Next, you will want to confirm if any of the products you are looking to list need approval before you sell. To help make it easier for sellers, approval checks and applications have been built into the listing creation process. You can get approval to sell a product, category, or brand by submitting a selling application that may include performance checks, document requests, and other qualifications. The type of product you are trying to sell will determine the type of selling application you need to submit and the approval you will need to confirm. If you are approved to list a brand that is enrolled in brand registry, you are allowed to match the offers that are already on the brand's existing product detail pages. Creating and modifying product detail page privileges will remain with internal brand sellers, as well as any store and A+ content benefits. Once you have completed the selling application for your product, category, or brand, you will get a confirmation notice within 24 hours that your approval request is under Amazon’s review. You can locate the status of your selling application, by opening the main menu in Seller Central, clicking on catalog, and then clicking “view selling applications”. Once your selling application is approved, you can select “list products” to begin adding inventory to your products.
How to Prevent Detail Page Violations on Your Restricted Product
Once you have gotten approval to list your restricted product, you will want to check what guidelines Amazon has in place to list and merchandise your product. The guidelines for each product typically follow four core principles, which include covering one single item, being compliant with relevant style guides, not promoting false information, and making edits that are only made to improve or provide accuracy to the listing. If you do not follow the product and style guidelines and Amazon finds that you are in violation of their policies, you may receive an alert that your restricted products have been removed and can no longer be sold. This will not only impact your sales but also require you to get your product reinstated after receiving your notification of restricted product removal. Ensuring that your products follow all of Amazon’s listing guidelines will not only help you provide the most benefit to customers but also protect your listings and account from selling violations.
Frequently Asked Questions for Selling Restricted Products On Amazon
What are restricted products, categories, and brands?
Restricted products, categories, and brands are a type of offering that must comply with any laws and regulations and require an application to sell on Amazon.
How do I know if I am selling a restricted product, category, or brand?
Each seller should review the Restricted Products Help pages to see if their products are considered restricted goods and must adhere to Amazon’s selling policies and regulation laws.
How do I know if my product is prohibited to sell on Amazon?
You can confirm that your product is not prohibited from Amazon by checking any product compliance policies that may apply to your product type.
How do I get approval to sell my product, category, or brand?
You can get approval to sell a product, category, or brand by submitting a selling application that may include performance checks, document requests, and other qualifications. The type of product you are trying to sell will determine the type of selling application you need to submit and the approval you will need to confirm.
How should I list my restricted product, category, or brand?
Once you have gotten approval to list your restricted product, you will want to check what guidelines Amazon has in place to list and merchandise your product.
Conclusion
Having the ability to sell restricted products on Amazon helps sellers maximize their selling ability by not having to limit the products they offer, but also ensuring customers that the products they are purchasing are safe for customers. At Goat Consulting we continue to learn and understand how sellers can remain compliant with all of Amazon’s selling policies while also accomplishing their business goals. If you have any questions about selling restricted products and selling guidelines on Amazon, reach out through our Contact Us Form.
About the Author
This post was written by Matt McGinty, an Account Manager at Goat Consulting. Matt helps his clients sell on Amazon by increasing sales, mitigating risk, reducing costs, and solving problems. He has experience in product compliance and submitting restricted product selling applications for his Goat Consulting clients. If you want Matt to review your product compliance, or assist with other aspects of selling on Amazon, he is happy to lead your account.