Category approval

[Canadianleaf]

Im considering applying for the sub category of Cooks' Tools but im scared ****less of Amazon miraculously ****ing up the request and suspending my account for what ever reason, whether this be the amazon monkey thinking the docs are "forged" (they're not), or calling my supplier and the supplier not saying the right words, etc. Amazon is both merciless and incompetent making them very dangerous.

The request requires invoice and certificate of compliance (i have both)



BTW. My supplier does not allow me to sell on Amazon and I no longer have an account with them. Because of the risks above im considering just offloading on Ebay for a loss.


Whats everyone's experiences with requesting category approval? Were they smooth? Were they denied? Did it result in a bigger problem such as suspension?

[ungatelord]

Either you’re selling legitimate products, and you will submit the invoices with no issues. It’s possible you could have to verify certain things further, but if you have all the documents and everything is good, then you’ll be fine in the end.

Or, you are sourcing a product from China, or through Alibaba (or both), and submitting a ⊗⊗⊗⊗/insufficient invoice that will probably get declined. There’s also a small chance it gets through.


Either way though, you shouldn’t get suspended. You’re asking for approval, worst thing they can do is say no, that’s the whole point in the system, to make you ask. You’re not doing anything wrong by asking.

[Canadianleaf]

Originally Posted by ungatelord

Either you’re selling legitimate products, and you will submit the invoices with no issues. It’s possible you could have to verify certain things further, but if you have all the documents and everything is good, then you’ll be fine in the end.

Or, you are sourcing a product from China, or through Alibaba (or both), and submitting a ⊗⊗⊗⊗/insufficient invoice that will probably get declined. There’s also a small chance it gets through.


Either way though, you shouldn’t get suspended. You’re asking for approval, worst thing they can do is say no, that’s the whole point in the system, to make you ask. You’re not doing anything wrong by asking.

They're legit products and so are the invoices. They're sourced in Canada.

If they decline the request could they also suspend your account? What if they think its "forged" or they call my supplier and they say "they're not authorized" or "they're not one of our clients" or "that address is not what we have on file", or "we dont allow amazon sales"?

I ship products to my suspended address and request invoices from my supplier be under my stealth address.

[ungatelord]

They aren’t going to ban you for failing verification. If you are sourcing legitimate products from a legitimate supplier amazon should be able to easily verify it. If they can’t, they’ll ask for a brand authorization letter from the manufacturer.

[Canadianleaf]

So lets say they cant verify so they then request brand authorization letter and I cant provide... will they then suspend me? Because I cannot provide brand authorization letter.

Only things I can provide are invoice from distributor (Who doesn't allow amazon sales and I no longer have an account with) and "product safety testing documentation" which isnt "certification of compliance" I do not think. I have no idea what "certification of compliance" is.

[ungatelord]

No they’ll just say you failed to provide documents, and if you want to apply again, please have the documents ready.

And if they don’t allow amazon sales... you can’t sell them on amazon. So your application will most likely be declined

[Canadianleaf]

Originally Posted by ungatelord

No they’ll just say you failed to provide documents, and if you want to apply again, please have the documents ready.

And if they don’t allow amazon sales... you can’t sell them on amazon. So your application will most likely be declined

It will be declined only if amazon actually contacts the supplier, correct? Otherwise Amazon has no idea whether the supplier allows amazon sales or not - So what reason would they have to decline the application?

[ungatelord]

Originally Posted by Canadianleaf

It will be declined only if amazon actually contacts the supplier, correct? Otherwise Amazon has no idea whether the supplier allows amazon sales or not - So what reason would they have to decline the application?

If it’s a gated brand, it’s a gated brand because they (the company) have requested it so. So amazon knows you aren’t allowed to sell the **** without approval most likely.

[Canadianleaf]

Originally Posted by ungatelord

If it’s a gated brand, it’s a gated brand because they (the company) have requested it so. So amazon knows you aren’t allowed to sell the **** without approval most likely.

The brand itself is not branded. One of the ASIN's is now under the sub
category of Cooks' Tools and is required to be pre-approved to sell.

The 3 ASIN's in question are the same brand kettle, just a different material each, IE: Polished, matte, metallic, etc. Only one is in this "Cooks' Tools" sub category. The other two are not.

Why would one of these now but under Cooks Tools and the other two are not? If the manufacturer did this why would they not just gate the brand instead of adding a gated sub category? And why would they only do it to one ASIN?

[garry9061]

Originally Posted by Canadianleaf

BTW. My supplier does not allow me to sell on Amazon and I no longer have an account with them. Because of the risks above im considering just offloading on Ebay for a loss.

This comment alone is your answer, the supplier doesnt allow you to sell on amazon and they arent your supplier anymore. Submit those docs and you are running the risk of Amazon contacting your supplier.

[rsot]

Interesting new profile pic Canadianleaf, just saying.

[Canadianleaf]

Originally Posted by tinsoldier

As garry has said, you've already answered your own question.

Even if the documents are accepted would I risk a potential (and quite likely) Rights Holder complaint - not a chance.

But the distributor is not the "rights owner" of the product, the manufacturer is, right? The manufacturer is the "rights owner" of the trademarked product who has brand authority, not a distributor from my understanding.

[agent006140]

I would just find something else to sell,there are zillions of things to sell on Amzn,you are in Canada,look up tradeshows in Montreal and Toronto or go to Vancouver Chinatown and see what they have.