A suspended Amazon account doesn’t have to be the actual death of your selling on Amazon. In fact, the older an Amazon account is suspended, the more likely it is that it can be reinstated. Surprised by that statement? So were we the first time we took on an “ancient” Amazon appeal.
Now, after several dozen “old” account appeals, our team at ReviveYourJourney has established an impressive record of resurrecting long-dead seller accounts. The oldest suspension that we’ve managed to appeal to date occurred over 14 years ago.
Today, we’re walking you through Amazon account suspensions, what they are, how to avoid them, and how to revive an ancient account from the dead. Well, maybe not the dead, but we’re touching on reinstating older accounts.
What does a suspended amazon account mean?
Getting suspended by Amazon is a stressful scenario that can have far-reaching consequences. For many sellers, once you abandon your old account, you may not know that reinstatement is an option. But it certainly is.
A suspended Amazon account means a seller has violated the platform’s policies or failed to meet its performance standards. This can range from selling counterfeit items, manipulating reviews, or not meeting customer expectations regarding shipping, product quality, and more.
An immediate impact of an Amazon account suspension is that your Amazon business is halted. You lose the ability to list new products, fulfill existing orders, and access crucial sales data. This abrupt disruption can lead to significant financial setbacks, affecting revenue and brand reputation.
One of the most challenging aspects of an Amazon account suspension is the uncertainty surrounding the reinstatement process. Whether your account was recently suspended or suspended years ago, appealing the decision can be complex.
Ultimately, you’ll be required to address the root cause of your suspended Amazon account. You’ll also need to submit a detailed Amazon POA (Plan of Action) and possibly provide supporting documentation. The review process can take days, weeks, and even months. It’s critical that you submit an effective POA and are equipped with the best-case language Amazon requires to grant your appeal.
What to expect if your amazon account is suspended
Step 1 – Notification of Suspension
You’ll first receive an email from Amazon Seller Performance, notifying you that your account has been suspended. The email typically outlines the reason for the suspension, such as policy violations, performance issues, or customer complaints.
Step 2 – Immediate Account Freezing
Once suspended, you’ll face an immediate freeze of your account. This means you lose the ability to list new products, fulfill existing orders, and access vital sales and customer information.
Step 3 – Assessment of Suspension Cause
You must carefully review the suspension notice to understand the specific reasons behind the action. Reasons include product authenticity, policy violations, poor performance metrics, customer dissatisfaction and more.
Suspended Amazon Account: A Tale from Over a Decade Ago
Nearly a decade and a half ago, one of our clients had his Amazon account suspended. At the time, he was a college student who listed textbooks for sale after the semester ended. The books sold, but he forgot to ship them. Amazon rightfully suspended his seller account, and he walked away.
Fast forward 14 years, this gentleman launched a new brand. He wanted to sell his products on Amazon. Unfortunately, Amazon Seller Performance detected that he had a previously closed account.
That’s when ReviveYourJourney came to the rescue. His suspended Amazon account was overturned and reinstated in only a couple of weeks. This isn’t unusual — we’ve worked with many sellers who lost accounts years ago and successfully reinstated them. Some examples include:
An auto parts seller shut down for Late Shipment Rate. Six years later, we got their account reinstated.
An electronics seller taken down for Order Defect Rate. We reinstated the old account, bringing their current account back online.
A health and beauty seller with a decade-old suspension. Together, we uncovered the reason for the suspension and got her reinstated quickly.
How Does Amazon View Old Suspended Accounts?
Believe it or not, Amazon believes in second chances. Sellers who have struggled with Seller Performance in the past may find this hard to believe, but it’s true: your suspended Amazon account can be reinstated.
For older accounts, sellers benefit from time to:
Mature in both personal and business experience
Improve and expand operations
Build a track record of success elsewhere
All of these factors can help your second chance on Amazon.
What is the Typical Amazon Appeal Process?
Navigating an Amazon appeal is a strategic process that involves addressing the reasons for suspension and presenting a compelling case for reinstatement. Key steps include:
Reviewing the suspension notice
Evaluating account health metrics
Researching Amazon’s policies
Identifying corrective actions
Crafting a persuasive appeal letter
Providing supporting documentation
Submitting through the correct channels
Monitoring communication and exercising patience
Implementing preventive measures
Building a strong seller reputation
How to Reinstate Your Old Amazon Account
An effective Amazon account appeal for older accounts should include:
Root cause: Explain the original reason for suspension.
Actions taken: Show how you rectified past issues.
Future prevention: Detail systems to prevent repeat issues.
This three-part structure builds credibility and increases reinstatement chances.
The Most Challenging Aspect of Appealing an Old Suspended Account
The hardest part? Getting someone at Amazon to actually read your appeal. Often, escalation to an executive group is necessary for timely review. Without that, you might be waiting indefinitely.
Success! What Then?
Once reinstated:
Make Amazon your priority.
Follow your POA commitments.
Watch your account health metrics closely.
Don’t let your Amazon account go down again. You worked too hard to get it back.
ReviveYourJourney Amazon Consultation Services
If you’ve got a long-dead seller account that needs resurrection, try ReviveYourJourney’s Amazon consultation services. Let’s talk about how reinstatement can get you back on track.
Visit our Amazon Account Suspension page and fill out the form — we’ll get back to you quickly.