Frequently Asked Questions

You have exactly 7 calendar days from the notification timestamp in Seller Central to submit your response. This includes weekends and holidays, with no grace period for late submissions. Amazon's system automatically rejects responses submitted even minutes after the deadline.

It depends on how cleanly you closed it and how much time has passed. Accounts closed in good standing with no outstanding obligations generally leave you eligible to open a new account under Amazon's policies, though Amazon evaluates each situation individually. Accounts closed with unresolved issues or violations are much harder to revive. Always exit with a zero balance and no open disputes.

Amazon typically reviews Account Health Rating appeals within 24-72 hours for initial responses, though comprehensive review and final decisions can take 5-14 business days depending on case complexity. Average review times track at 3.2 days for straightforward AHR appeals and 8.7 days for complex c

Amazon typically provides initial responses to Brand Registry appeals within 7-10 business days for straightforward cases with complete documentation. Complex disputes involving multiple trademark owners, international trademark conflicts, or suspected fraud may require 21-45 days for thorough inves

A messaging violation is any breach of Amazon's Communication Guidelines: sending marketing content, embedding external links or contact info, requesting reviews improperly, sending unnecessary messages, or adding prohibited attachments. Amazon's system permits only transactional, order-related communication. AppealsPro.ai's Notice Analyzer identifies which specific rule your notice references.

Most categories require one to three invoices from a verifiable supplier, often showing a combined purchase of at least 10 units within the last 90 to 180 days. Requirements vary by category, so check the exact criteria in Seller Central before sourcing inventory. Document Checklists list the precise threshold for your target category.

You typically have 7-10 days from chargeback notification to submit your representment package, though deadlines vary by card network and issuing bank. Visa generally allows 10 days, Mastercard provides 10 days, and American Express often extends to 14 days. Submit at least 48 hours before the deadl

Amazon typically provides 14 business days to respond to copyright infringement claims through the formal appeals process, though immediate response within 48 hours significantly improves success rates. Delayed responses reduce appeal effectiveness and may result in automatic case closure after the

An inauthentic claim questions whether you can prove your sourcing is legitimate. A counterfeit claim goes further, alleging your products are actively fake branded items or unauthorized reproductions that infringe a brand's intellectual property. Counterfeit claims carry harsher penalties and demand stronger authenticity proof. AppealsPro.ai's Notice Analyzer identifies exactly which category your notice falls under.

CPSC violation appeals typically require 14-21 business days when sellers provide complete documentation immediately upon submission. Cases with incomplete or inadequate documentation can extend to 45-60 days as Amazon requests additional information. At AppealsPro.AI, we've seen expedited resolutio

Yes, though removal is not guaranteed. Amazon's review guidelines require feedback to reflect the customer's genuine experience with the product, not the logistics experience. Reviews that describe crushed packaging, missing items due to shipping, or damage that occurred after the item left your hands are legitimate candidates for a removal request. Your strongest supporting evidence is an FBA reimbursement case ID showing Amazon acknowledged the damage on their end.

Health claims describe a relationship between a food component and reduced disease risk, and they require FDA pre-approval before use. Structure/function claims describe how nutrients affect normal body structures or functions. They do not require pre-approval but they do require substantiation. Amazon generally prohibits health claims outright while allowing properly qualified structure/function claims that carry the required FDA disclaimer.

Most verification-based holds resolve within a few business days once Amazon receives accurate, name-matched documents. Policy-investigation holds take longer because they depend on the underlying issue being resolved. The fastest path is submitting a complete, consistent packet on the first attempt. Rejected or incomplete submissions are the main reason holds drag on for weeks.

No. Drop shipping is permitted when you are the seller of record, you fulfill orders under your own branding, and the customer never sees another retailer's packing slips or invoices. The violation occurs with non-compliant fulfillment, typically retail arbitrage where another online store ships directly to the buyer with its branding. AppealsPro.ai's Notice Analyzer confirms which specific scenario Amazon flagged in your case.

It means a product, while not yet expired, arrives with too little time before its expiration date. Typically under Amazon's 90-day delivery threshold. Amazon treats this nearly as seriously as a fully expired sale, because the customer cannot reasonably use the item. Your appeal must prove you now verify remaining shelf life at intake. AppealsPro.ai's Notice Analyzer separates this from a true expiration breach so you appeal correctly.

No. Driving real shoppers from Google Ads, social media, influencers, or email is legitimate and often rewarded. The violation is *artificial* traffic: bots, click farms, or incentivized search-find-buy schemes designed to deceive the ranking algorithm. AppealsPro.ai's Notice Analyzer helps you confirm which behavior Amazon actually flagged.

You have 18 months to file a reimbursement claim with Amazon, but reporting within 48 hours yields the best results. Quick reporting demonstrates legitimacy and makes documentation easier while details are fresh. Delayed reporting can raise questions about claim validity and reduce your chances of successful reimbursement.

Resolution time depends on case complexity and the quality of your initial documentation. Simple cases with clear fulfillment center confirmations often close within one to two weeks. Cases involving multiple ASINs or recurring system triggers can run four to six weeks. Thorough documentation from day one is the single biggest factor in shortening that window.

Disease and treatment claims are the top offenders. Saying a supplement "cures," "treats," or "prevents" any disease, or that a cosmetic "heals" a medical condition, reclassifies the product as an unapproved drug under FDA rules. The phrase "FDA approved" on a supplement is also a violation, since the FDA does not approve supplements. AppealsPro.ai's Notice Analyzer flags which claim category your suspension references.

Amazon removes feedback that breaks its content policies: comments that are entirely product reviews rather than service feedback, complaints about Fulfillment by Amazon shipping or service, feedback containing profanity or abusive language, and feedback exposing personal information. It will not remove honest, service-related negative opinions. AppealsPro.ai's Notice Analyzer helps you confirm which category your feedback falls into before you file.

Recovery is possible but difficult. Success depends on honestly acknowledging the authenticity concern, providing genuine supplier-verifiable replacement documentation, and demonstrating concrete process changes. Because attempts are limited, AppealsPro.ai's Appeal Strength Scorer confirms your draft addresses all three elements before you submit.

Unauthorized gift card sales include listing Amazon-branded or third-party gift cards without being an approved reseller, selling gift cards obtained through promotions or liquidation, or transferring gift card value outside Amazon's system. Even sellers acting in good faith can trigger an **unauthorized-gift-card** flag. AppealsPro.ai's Notice Analyzer helps confirm whether your case is a resale issue or a fund-movement concern.

Not necessarily. Gray-market goods are genuine products, and in many jurisdictions reselling them is legal under first-sale principles. But legality under trademark law does not shield you from Amazon's policies. Amazon enforces its own marketplace agreement and brand-registry rules, so you can face suspension even when no law was broken. Your appeal should focus on policy compliance and sourcing, not legal arguments.

Amazon hazmat suspensions average 7-14 days for first-time violations with complete documentation, but can extend to 30-45 days for complex cases involving multiple products or missing safety data sheets. Accounts with previous hazmat violations face extended review periods of 45-90 days.

Amazon's published target keeps your Cancellation Rate **below 2.5%** of seller-fulfilled orders. Crossing that threshold can trigger a performance notification, loss of Buy Box eligibility on affected listings, and, if uncorrected or repeated, listing suppression or account review. Because the metric uses a rolling window, a short burst of cancellations can spike the rate even when your long-term average looks healthy.

Amazon doesn't publish one fixed cutoff, but negative feedback that frequently exceeds a few percent of orders, especially alongside a rising Order Defect Rate, typically draws performance notifications. Track the trend, not just the snapshot. A sharp upward spike often triggers review before any single percentage threshold does.

Amazon's verification system often deactivates accounts automatically when submitted documents contain inconsistencies, expired dates, or mismatches against the information on the account. This is not a judgment that you violated policy intentionally. It means the documents did not satisfy the automated or manual verification criteria. Submitting a corrected, consistent set of documents through a structured appeal is the standard path to reactivation.

Amazon typically wants proof of lawful importation: commercial invoices, customs entry documents such as CBP Form 7501 showing the importer of record, bills of lading, country-of-origin certificates, and any agency certifications like CPSC or FDA registrations. The exact set depends on the specific violation trigger, which is why decoding the notice first matters.

A Section 3 violation covers any concern about product authenticity or sourcing under the Seller Code of Conduct. It includes buyer "fake item" complaints, rights-owner reports, and sourcing red flags. Amazon places the burden of proof on you to supply traceable supplier documentation, even when no genuine counterfeit was ever sold.

Generally no, unless they retained specific trademark rights or licensing authority through your partnership agreement. If you're the trademark owner and verified Brand Registry holder, their complaints likely lack legal foundation. However, Amazon's automated systems may still process these complaints initially, requiring you to provide evidence of the relationship termination and your continued ownership rights.

Amazon has historically set the minimum IPI threshold at 400, though the number changes and Amazon may adjust it ahead of peak seasons. Scores below the published threshold trigger storage limits. AppealsPro.ai's Notice Analyzer reads your specific Amazon messaging to confirm the exact threshold applied to your account and which metric pushed you below it.

Amazon wants your IDR below 5%. Anything at or above that threshold risks listing suppression, restrictions on new ASIN creation, and escalation toward account deactivation. The goal is to keep the rate as close to zero as possible by providing a compliant invoice for every Amazon Business order within 24 hours of the request.

As a rights owner, document your ownership (trademark, copyright, or patent registration), identify the exact infringing ASINs with dated screenshots, choose the correct complaint type, and submit through Brand Registry's Report a Violation tool or the infringement form. AppealsPro.ai's Appeal Letter Generator and Document Checklists help you assemble a complete, accurate filing.

An Amazon IP retraction request is a professional message you send to the rights owner who filed an intellectual property complaint against your listings, asking them to formally notify Amazon they wish to withdraw it. Because Amazon defers to rights owners on their own IP, a retraction email from the complainant typically reinstates your listing faster than any standard appeal. AppealsPro.ai's Notice Analyzer identifies the complainant so you can target your outreach.

Yes. Amazon's listing guidelines require titles and content to describe the product accurately and concisely. Even if stuffing doesn't immediately trigger enforcement, it risks suppression and usually harms ranking, because the relevance algorithm penalizes unnatural keyword density rather than rewarding it.

Amazon calculates LSR based on orders where the first carrier scan occurs after the expected ship date shown to customers at checkout. The calculation includes all merchant-fulfilled orders over a rolling 30-day period, excluding FBA orders, cancelled orders, and orders with buyer-requested delivery

No. Amazon's product detail page rules prohibit a single seller from maintaining multiple active offers for the same product in the same condition under the same ASIN. Two offers from one seller on one ASIN is a policy violation, not a gray area. Document both offers with screenshots and submit a Report Abuse complaint through Seller Central, citing the specific policy language that prohibits this structure.

No. MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) is a private agreement between a brand and its resellers, and Amazon does not enforce third-party pricing agreements. But brands frequently reframe MAP complaints as trademark infringement or authenticity issues, which Amazon does act on. AppealsPro.ai's Notice Analyzer helps identify which allegation Amazon is genuinely enforcing.

It means a buyer received a product that differs from your listing in color, size, condition, quantity, function, or appearance. Amazon treats the detail page as a promise to customers, so any mismatch can trigger a policy warning, listing removal, or account deactivation if complaints accumulate.

Amazon typically reviews ODR appeals within 3-7 business days for complete submissions. However, appeals missing required documentation or lacking specific corrective actions may face delays of 2-3 weeks. Properly formatted appeals with comprehensive supporting evidence achieve significantly higher first-submission approval rates.