Amazon.in Seller Policy Violations & Account Deactivation: What Every Seller Must Know
Selling on Amazon.in offers immense potential for growth, but with opportunity comes responsibility. Thousands of Indian sellers join Amazon every month, yet many face sudden account deactivations due to policy violations—some unknowingly, others due to avoidable oversights.
This blog aims to be your detailed guide on Amazon.in’s seller policies, the common pitfalls, the reasons for account deactivation, and how to respond if it happens to you.
🔍 Understanding Amazon.in’s Seller Policy Framework
Amazon operates under a strict set of rules to maintain its customer trust and marketplace integrity. These policies include:
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Amazon’s Seller Code of Conduct
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Product Listing Guidelines
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Restricted Products Policy
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Intellectual Property Policy
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Infringement Reporting
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Performance Metrics (ODR, Late Shipment Rate, etc.)
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Customer Communication Guidelines
Violating any of these can result in temporary suspensions or permanent deactivation.
🚨 Top Reasons for Seller Account Deactivation
1. Intellectual Property (IP) Violations
One of the most frequent causes. This includes:
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Using brand names or logos (like “Marvel”, “Nike”) without permission.
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Listing copyrighted images or brand-tagged titles.
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Selling replicas or counterfeit products.
Real-world case: Many sellers have faced action just for using the term “Marvel” in a title—even for generic comic-style products.
2. Product Authenticity Complaints
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Even if you sell genuine items, poor packaging or unprofessional invoices can lead to customers doubting product authenticity.
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Repeated “inauthentic” complaints can lead to immediate suspension.
3. Manipulating Reviews or Ratings
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Offering incentives for 5-star reviews.
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Reviewing your own products or asking friends/family to do so.
This is a zero-tolerance violation.
4. Listing Violations
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Posting in restricted categories (e.g., Ayurvedic medicine, toys without BIS certification).
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Using misleading titles, keywords, or images.
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Duplicate listings of the same product.
5. Poor Performance Metrics
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Order Defect Rate (ODR) above 1%
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Late Shipment Rate above 4%
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Cancellation Rate above 2.5%
Amazon closely tracks these. Ignoring metrics can quietly trigger a suspension.
6. Linked or Related Accounts
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If a deactivated account shares the same PAN, bank account, IP address, or contact details as your account, both accounts can be flagged.
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This is especially risky for sellers who previously had secondary access to suspended accounts.
🧠 How to Avoid Policy Violations
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Study the Seller University Portal: Amazon offers free training resources.
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Use only original images or Amazon’s own listing content.
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Avoid trademarked keywords unless you are an authorized reseller.
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Always generate professional tax invoices.
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Use FSSAI, BIS, and brand authorization wherever applicable.
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Communicate with customers professionally via the Buyer-Seller Messaging system only.
🛠️ If You’re Suspended: Steps to Reactivate
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Check the exact reason in your Seller Central Performance Notifications.
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Prepare a solid Plan of Action (POA):
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Root Cause: Clearly identify what led to the violation.
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Corrective Actions: What you’ve done to resolve it.
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Preventive Measures: Steps you’ll take to ensure it never happens again.
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❗ Tip: Avoid copy-paste POAs from online forums. Amazon uses AI to detect generic responses.
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Attach proofs where needed: invoices, supplier authorizations, shipping records.
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Appeal through Seller Central. Wait at least 48 hours between follow-ups.
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Be polite and factual. Avoid emotion or blame.
⚠️ Amazon’s Final Decision: Is It Always Final?
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If your appeal is denied multiple times, you can contact Amazon Escalations or the Grievance Officer via email.
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In certain cases, legal recourse through consumer courts or the Competition Commission of India (CCI) may be considered.
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However, Amazon has broad discretion. Focus on compliance and documentation to avoid ever reaching this stage.
🧾 Bonus: Seller Checklist for Safe Selling
✅ Use only approved images & descriptions
✅ Keep invoices and brand authorizations ready
✅ Monitor account health weekly
✅ Never list in restricted categories without permission
✅ Keep communication records clean & professional
✅ Avoid linking with suspended accounts in any form
✅ Keep your listings, inventory, and delivery commitments updated
🔚 Conclusion: Compliance is the Key to Longevity
Many passionate entrepreneurs lose their hard-earned businesses overnight on Amazon—not because they were dishonest, but because they were unaware.
Let VrlNewsBox be your shield against such setbacks. Follow our blog for real-time updates, case studies, and tips to grow safely on Amazon.in.
Got questions about your seller account or need help crafting a Plan of Action? Comment below or write to us!
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