An Open Letter to Amazon: Where Is Fair Trade and Equal Opportunity?
In the last quarter of 2024, our Amazon account was suspended without a clear or justified reason. After a long and difficult process, we submitted all requested documents, successfully completed two rounds of live supplier verifications, and finally managed to reinstate our account. We thought things would return to normal—but now, when we attempt to list many of the brands we’re authorized to sell, we’re met with a message: “Your account is not eligible to sell this product.”
We currently have 2,000 units of inventory left in stock, and over $2,000 has been deducted from us for warehouse and removal fees.
What’s most frustrating is that we see other sellers—with accounts opened using SSNs (Social Security Numbers) and registered as U.S. citizens—successfully selling the exact same products without restrictions. So we ask: Is the real issue here the fact that we hold Turkish passports? If this isn’t discrimination, then what is?
Since opening our Amazon seller account, we’ve complied with every policy and requirement. We’ve verified suppliers through live video twice. We’ve overcome a suspension. Yet, even now, we’re still being prevented from running our business.
So we ask Amazon directly:
Why are sellers with non-U.S. passports systematically blocked or restricted?
Why are those with SSNs allowed to sell identical products freely?
If Amazon claims to be a global marketplace offering equal opportunity, how can this treatment be explained?
We are sellers who invest our time, energy, and money into growing our businesses on Amazon. Our products are sitting idle, our investments are vanishing, and it is Amazon’s system that is stopping us from conducting business. Instead of protecting sellers, the system seems to penalize us.
We are calling for a fair, transparent, and equal Amazon selling environment. This silence from Amazon is deafening for small and medium-sized sellers like us.
Sincerely,
An Open Letter to Amazon: Where Is Fair Trade and Equal Opportunity?
In the last quarter of 2024, our Amazon account was suspended without a clear or justified reason. After a long and difficult process, we submitted all requested documents, successfully completed two rounds of live supplier verifications, and finally managed to reinstate our account. We thought things would return to normal—but now, when we attempt to list many of the brands we’re authorized to sell, we’re met with a message: “Your account is not eligible to sell this product.”
We currently have 2,000 units of inventory left in stock, and over $2,000 has been deducted from us for warehouse and removal fees.
What’s most frustrating is that we see other sellers—with accounts opened using SSNs (Social Security Numbers) and registered as U.S. citizens—successfully selling the exact same products without restrictions. So we ask: Is the real issue here the fact that we hold Turkish passports? If this isn’t discrimination, then what is?
Since opening our Amazon seller account, we’ve complied with every policy and requirement. We’ve verified suppliers through live video twice. We’ve overcome a suspension. Yet, even now, we’re still being prevented from running our business.
So we ask Amazon directly:
Why are sellers with non-U.S. passports systematically blocked or restricted?
Why are those with SSNs allowed to sell identical products freely?
If Amazon claims to be a global marketplace offering equal opportunity, how can this treatment be explained?
We are sellers who invest our time, energy, and money into growing our businesses on Amazon. Our products are sitting idle, our investments are vanishing, and it is Amazon’s system that is stopping us from conducting business. Instead of protecting sellers, the system seems to penalize us.
We are calling for a fair, transparent, and equal Amazon selling environment. This silence from Amazon is deafening for small and medium-sized sellers like us.
Sincerely,
0 yanıt
Seller_OvL8C4BJWiuS9
Just because you could, doesn't mean you still can. It has nothing to do with your ethnicity. You should be focused on your account. Do you have the brands permission to sell on Amazon? Requirements have changed across the board and more and more are being restricted.
Seller_LyYw7fQRKc5G7
Amazon is increasingly shutting down categories and specific brands for all but specific sellers or no sellers at all.
For instance, ingestibles(vitamins) are being shut down when a seller runs out of the product. Amazon will not allow it to be restocked in FBA nor will Amazon allow it to be sold via FBM. We have seen numerous sellers telling us of this new restriction policy on the forums.
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
"Why are those with SSNs allowed to sell identical products freely?"
How would you know what Tax ID a seller is using?
It really doesn't matter since someone with an LLC is allowed to use their SS Number if they are a 'Sole Member'. It's a legitimate business form for millions of small sellers across the US.
Getting reinstated these days is a MAJOR victory since it is so hard to do.
"but now, when we attempt to list many of the brands we’re authorized to sell, we’re met with a message: “Your account is not eligible to sell this product.”"
Authorized by WHO (WHOM)?
You are likely confusing AMAZON allowing you to list (or at least "ungate") an item or category and actually being APPROVED to sell a product. Amazon might ungate you for a CATEGORY, but there can be 100's of brands in the category and they ALL have their own restrictions.
AMAZON is only interested in FEES. They will allow a chimpanzee to list if it means they collect $$$$$.
Additionally, brands that you COULD sell yesterday may be restricted today or next week. Amazon is a moving target to deal with.
DO YOU have an LOA from the brand allowing you to sell on here?
If you have an LOA that specifically says you can sell on Amazon you MIGHT survive listing items.
More and more brands are providing a "whitelist" of their approved sellers and if YOU are NOT on the list you will be stopped in your tracks and probably hit with an IP violation.
DID YOU source from AUTHORIZED wholesale sources that your rep at the brand says are OK? You DO have a sales rep at the brand, don't you?
Manny_Amazon
Hello @Seller_Kv6VpweDtxL4J,
I understand your frustration over being unable to list certain brands after account reinstatement, despite having completed supplier verification. As your fellow Sellers have stated, brand restrictions are increasing across categories, and having permission to sell in a category doesn't guarantee approval for specific brands. It's important to have proper authorization from brands and sourcing from approved wholesalers. I would also recommend having a Letter of Authorization (LOA) that states you're allowed to sell with a certain brand on Amazon.
Regards,
- Manny
