Amazon is pretty simple

[superstealth]

Since nobody gives any factual data on here, and just whines about Amazon suspending them..I will try making it clear for you guys:

A) If you have a new account (<90 days old) you are being watched, you can't just jump onto Amazon and sell however much you want

1. First month velocity limit of $750
2. First few disbursements, and larger disbursements around limits of $500, $1000, etc., will be checked out if you don't have history with these large transactions
3. Velocity limits increase with account age, feedback, higher sales volume without problems like refunds, late shipment, etc.


B) You need at least 10% of your orders receiving positive feedback. This is the natural feedback rate at Amazon and if you're not getting that much without doing anything then you have a problem.

1. A good rule of thumb would be $100 in sales per month per 1 positive feedback received in the previous 30 days.
2. This means that you can't just have "all positive feedback (why are they suspending me)", you have to have enough feedback to justify your sales


C) The most important:
YOU CAN ONLY HAVE A 1% DEFECT RATE. This means you can only have ONE negative feedback *OR* A-Z Claim PER 100 ORDERS. If you aren't doing 1000 orders per month then this is very hard unless you are being a VERY GOOD boy.
1. If you only sell 15 items and you get somebody leaving negative feedback, you will be under review.
2. If you do 80 sales in a month and get 50 positive feedback and then one negative feedback, you will be under review.
3. If you are doing great and sell 50 items a week, get a negative this month and an A-Z claim next month, you will be under review.


D) If you do any of the following you will have problems, but not as quickly as if you go over 1% defect rate or a velocity limit:
1. Refund rate over 5%
2. Late shipment rate over 2.5%
3. Pre-fulfillment cancellation rate over 2.5%


The above are clear-cut ways to NARU your account, not including being linked to a previously suspended account. Amazon isn't taking your $400 to get 2% interest on it for 90 days, they are holding it for 90 days to cover any claims that arise because obviously you have screwed up already in one of the above.

If you are getting caught up with the above problems, namely 1% defect rate, then it's tough, but Amazon doesn't want ****ty sellers on there, at least ones that are there to stay and not just coming to sell a textbook or two.

[Here We Go Again]

^^^^^^^^^
Nice information.

[ovidiu]

Very good, concise info. All of it rings true. Note that in a few categories, like software (where I sell), refund rates aren't held against you. The feeedback issue is especially important. I fulfill approximately 40 orders a month, and most people won't leave feedback (despite my asking for it), so a recent negative put me in 1.47% defect rate. Sucks.

[GreenBean]

Nice one.

Amazon is a long haul selling platform. Do it correctly and it works fine

[superstealth]

Originally Posted by ovidiu

Very good, concise info. All of it rings true. Note that in a few categories, like software (where I sell), refund rates aren't held against you.

That's true, they only hold you to refund rates in media, however I still think going over 5% would raise a flag.

Originally Posted by ovidiu

I fulfill approximately 40 orders a month, and most people won't leave feedback (despite my asking for it), so a recent negative put me in 1.47% defect rate. Sucks.

Yes it's very hard for somebody only doing 40 orders a month, that seems like a lot for something like eBay where feedback doesn't matter, but on Amazon you need a ton of orders to dilute it so that you don't go over 1% defect, that's very strict and hard to accomplish. I've done almost 400 orders since 1/1 and next month is looking like 1000+, and I still get nervous.

[superstealth]

To add to the above:

If you sell in any high risk categories, which I'm not sure what they are besides electronics, you will be watched more closely. I think I've found a pretty low risk category but I'm not convinced that means you can do whatever you want, just is one more part of the puzzle.

If you do anything like change your e-mail, address, phone number, bank account, start withdrawing every day, etc...those things could also draw attention to your account.

You want to stay under the radar, I don't even contact seller support.

[GreenBean]

You mean their non-existant customer support? I always reckon that any company that has hidden phone numbers is going to be difficult to deal with so I avoid contact

[ovidiu]

Whenever I've emailed Seller Performance, I've gotten an answer, usually satisfactory. I must disagree GreenBean. Yes, they are a-holes with their policies, but they do want to keep a very high standard on Marketplace.

[GreenBean]

Seller Performance differs from basic customer service. That was my point

[ovidiu]

My bad, I didn't get that lol. I never email anyone but seller performance "(please don't suspends me, it won't happen again!!)".

[GreenBean]

No worries!!!! I recall Lyda had a terrible time when she first started, I nearly stopped selling as there was nothing available help wise.

[ruexbluesummer]

how is it that amazon is able to link you even after your new account has all new information? (names, address, phone, bank account, flash cookies?)

[ovidiu]

We don't know for sure but it's likely that a real person looks at your account when it's flagged, and if you set off enough alarm bells, you're out. That's the difference between eBay who does a lot of automated suspensions, and Amazon, where I think they mostly suspend you after a manual review.

[superstealth]

I firmly believe that aside from linking to a suspended account, which means you were an idiot the first time, and most likely haven't changed, it's all about the defect rate and during the first 90 days more about the velocity.

You need a lot of orders piling up to withstand negative feedback. Short term defect rates are the previous 60 days ending two weeks ago...you can't have sales here and there. You need solid, consistent sales of at least 200 orders in the previous 60 days to withstand any more than *one* negative feedback. The more orders you have the more hits you can take. Like right now I can take about 3 hits before I would be in trouble...a month from now I should be able to take 8 hits..big difference, and the more orders you get the stronger you become.

I see how it can be difficult, but I'm sure that most people aren't as professional as I am with this and don't put in the effort to figure out how it works. I'm taking on lots of $1-3 profit sales right now to up both my order count and dollar amount..more wiggle room afterwards

[Here We Go Again]

Originally Posted by ruexbluesummer

how is it that amazon is able to link you even after your new account has all new information? (names, address, phone, bank account, flash cookies?)

Amazon tracks MANY more things about an account than eBay does.
If you are using the basic eBay Stealth strategy to open Amazon accounts you will be linked just about every time.
Amazon does track the basic items:
names, address, phone, bank account, flash cookies, credit cards, & bank accounts.

They ALSO track a few more items.
So study the forum and you might be able to figure it out.
I will NOT post it here due to internets prying eyes.
You can get around their tracking. It is possible.

[Amazombie]

Originally Posted by superstealth

.... 1. First month velocity limit of $750...

Where does this $750 figure come from? Is it from personal experience, forum, google, etc.?

I have seen this number before as well as a velocity limit of $500 a week.

Which number is the closest to being true?

[GreenBean]

When did amazon start weekly limits?

[Road-Kill]

Originally Posted by ruexbluesummer

how is it that amazon is able to link you even after your new account has all new information? (names, address, phone, bank account, flash cookies?)

They track the items you sell. All items in their catalog have a UPC/EAN number. So if 100% on the UPC's codes match a suspended account, it's not too hard to figure out. If 50% match it's a little harder for them to be sure.

They also can see you screen resolution and browser info. So if they get a 50% inventory match and 100% match on your monitor and browser. That would be a good way to link you. I change the screen resolution on different Windows user accounts.With Windows you can change the screen resolution for each user account and Windows will remember the settings for each user.

[ovidiu]

^^^Good info. Makes sense.

GreenBean, they've had the velocity limits at least since I was selling there.

[superstealth]

Originally Posted by ovidiu

^^^Good info. Makes sense.

GreenBean, they've had the velocity limits at least since I was selling there.

After your first month your limits should increase, and there's no way to tell what they are..I believe it's on a 30 day rolling period..I have shattered what I estimated mine to be, but I'm not new either. The longer you are consistent at a certain level the more you can increase sales.

[ovidiu]

My actual dollar sales are pretty high, but numbers aren't. I've sold as much as 16k in a month, but it's usually $100 per sale up to $500 per sale. At least I finally got this bitch buyer to remove the bad feedback. Damn, had to threaten legal action. It really was libelous feedback this time. Buyers on Amazon just don't care if their apathy ruins your seller's account (and your life).

[Hercules]

All my 100% feedback is from fast shipping and/or packaging. Plus quick friendly answers to questions. Plus if your in a small town and get suspended, selling the same stuff with a new account has to raise flags. Thats why I like to sell on four or five accs selling the same stuff. I get up early and throw them down the post office shoot and same for UPS cause I read somewhere the shipping goes faster.