Amazon Buyer Account Suspended: How to Get It Back
How to Get Your Suspended Amazon Buyer Account Back
I know how frustrating it can be to get that email saying your Amazon buyer account has been suspended. As someone who has sold on Amazon for over 10 years and helped countless sellers manage their accounts, I want to provide you with an in-depth guide on exactly how to get your suspended Amazon buyer account reinstated.
Why Amazon Suspends Buyer Accounts
Amazon uses sophisticated AI and machine learning to monitor all activity across their platform. In 2021 alone, Amazon blocked over 2.5 billion bad actor accounts before they could even place an order [1]. They take account security very seriously. Here are the main reasons your Amazon buyer account may have been suspended:
- Using an unverified gift card or having gift card balances over $500 [2]
- Incomplete account information or details that don‘t match up
- Frequently changing your billing or shipping address
- Logging in from different locations or IP addresses
- Using a stolen credit card or one connected to a previous banned account
- Leaving abusive, obscene or untruthful reviews
- Too many returns without just cause – over 20% return rate raises flags [3]
- Sharing your account credentials or payment details with others
- Allowing someone else to use your account
- Having a linked seller account that was suspended
Appealing an Amazon Buyer Account Suspension
If you‘ve received that dreaded account suspension email from Amazon, don‘t panic. Take a deep breath and follow these steps to appeal the suspension:
- Verify the email is actually from Amazon – look for an @amazon.com address and be wary of any links or requests for personal info
Read the email closely to see if they give a specific reason for the suspension. This can help you tailor your appeal.
Draft a polite and formal appeal email admitting your mistake and taking accountability. Provide context if possible.
Suggest steps you will take to resolve the underlying issue and reassure Amazon it won‘t happen again. Be specific.
Be patient as Amazon reviews appeals. Avoid spamming them as it may hurt your case. Expect a 1-2 week wait.
If reinstated, send a thank you email reiterating your learnings and commitment to following their policies.
The key things Amazon wants to see are you taking responsibility, proposing solutions, and promising better behavior going forward. They need to know you understand the policy violation and will avoid similar issues in the future.
Here are two appeal email templates that have proven successful in getting Amazon buyer accounts reinstated:
[Appeal Email Example 1] [Appeal Email Example 2]Tailor these templates to your specific situation, be polite yet firm, and highlight how you will improve. This gives you the best shot at getting your account access restored.
Pro Tip: Avoid Future Suspensions
The best way to avoid the hassle of appealing an Amazon suspension is to be proactive in following their guidelines. Here are my top tips as an Amazon expert:
- Provide accurate, up-to-date personal and payment information in your account. Amazon cross-checks this across databases.
Only use your own payment methods – don‘t share cards with family or others. Amazon monitors this closely.
Avoid large gift card balances over $500 or gift cards for expensive items. These are commonly flagged. [2]
Don‘t use virtual credit cards or prepaid cards as these set off alerts.
Keep shipping addresses consistent and update Amazon if moving.
Only log in from your own devices and locations. Amazon tracks IP and location data.
Carefully read Amazon‘s terms of service, account guidelines, and security best practices. Ignorance is no excuse with Amazon!
Unless you have an Amazon Business account, avoid purchasing too many quantities of the same item as Amazon may think you are reselling.
Never use someone else‘s account, even if a family member, after theirs was suspended. This association raises red flags.
Keep your buyer and seller accounts completely separate. Use different emails, payment methods, etc. Cross-contamination can cause issues.
Following these tips diligently can help avoid the nightmare of having your Amazon account shut down and needing to appeal. Amazon account suspensions are never fun, but hopefully this guide provides a roadmap to getting back in Amazon‘s good graces quickly. Let me know if you have any other questions!
[1] https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/article/amazon-blocks-billions-bad-actor-accounts/[2] https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=202140280
[3] https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/200386250
