Amazon has declined my seller application without any details. Why?

Did you know that Amazon can reject a seller’s application and not even give any details as to why?

Imagine this; you’ve decided to give e-commerce a chance, bought some stock for the product you want to sell, and are ready to start your e-commerce journey. You can already picture yourself as a global brand dominating page one of Amazon. The only thing that remains is sending an application to Amazon and submitting the required documents so you can start selling. You complete all of the necessary steps only to receive a gut-wrenching response from Amazon: “We have reviewed your application and determined that you are not eligible to sell X products. We are unable to provide additional details regarding this review.“

Hearing this news can send any new seller into a spiral, especially when all you get from Amazon is a vague response that doesn’t explain why your application was rejected. The worst part? You can re-apply and get rejected again.

But why does this happen to some sellers and not to others? After all, some sellers were approved on their first application. This article covers in detail why Amazon rejects some seller applications and what to do when you are rejected. Keep reading to find out.

What documents does Amazon require you to submit to start selling on the platform?

Whether you already have an established e-commerce business or are just starting your e-commerce selling journey, you must undergo a verification process to start selling on Amazon. Amazon already has 6 million sellers selling their products on the platform, and keeping their customers happy is their top priority. That’s why the verification process is tedious.

Creating a seller account on Amazon is relatively easy. However, before you start selling, there are some requirements you need to meet so your seller account is approved. The registration process shouldn’t take you more than an hour as long as you have the following documents and information in hand:

• Legal name, business name, and a valid address:Amazon needs to see that you are who you say you are. Your name will not be made public, but customers will see your business name when they purchase one of your products.
• Government-issued national ID:Or any proof of identity issued by the government. These documents help validate that you are who you say you are, once again.
• Contact information:Provide a phone number and email address. If you are considering selling on Amazon, it’s always best if you have a separate email address for that. Amazon will use your contact information to contact you directly. So, ensure that you have a working phone number since Amazon will use it to verify your information during the registration process.
• A ‘ship from’ address:This is in case you’ll be shipping your products from an address different from your main address.
• Bank account details:Include bank statements, credit card information, and more. Ensure accurate details since Amazon will send your proceeds to your account.
• Tax ID information:To sell on Amazon US, you must submit your Social Security Number or Company Federal Tax ID number. Amazon will verify the tax information you provide. But remember that Amazon doesn’t file taxes on your behalf but is expected to collect Tax ID information, so relevant authorities are alerted of taxable earnings.

Once you have all these documents, you can start filling in your Amazon seller account details. Always ensure that you enter the correct details in every section since Amazon will verify all information you provide before approving your application to start selling.

What would cause Amazon to reject a seller’s application?

First, there is one thing you need to understand about the Amazon application process. The process is automated. Because of that, the system might deny your account simply for filling out the wrong information or missing a few details. So, here are a few reasons why Amazon might decline your seller application:

• You didn’t provide all the documents:While registering for an account is pretty straightforward, sometimes, without intending to, you might miss out on some sections attracting a denial. An incomplete application where you don’t submit all the documents required will not go through. Before you even begin registering, ensure you have all documents, including your Tax ID information, bank statements, national ID, and the correct contact information.
• Your provided false documents:The Amazon verification process helps protect customers from “black hat” sellers and “bad actors” who want to use unethical tactics to make a profit. The process also ensures that counterfeiting and other illicit practices don’t find their way on the platform. If by any chance, you provided false or forged documents in your application like phone numbers and bank account details, Amazon will immediately reject your application. Don’t risk it.
• The documents you provided are wrongly formatted:This is one area on which Amazon is strict. The e-commerce giant has specific guidelines all sellers are supposed to follow when submitting documents. For instance, all details on the document must be clear and complete. If you submit poorly scanned copies of documents or take poor photos with your phone, Amazon has grounds to reject your application.
• You had an account suspended or closed:Amazon’s terms of service restrict sellers from having more than one seller account. If you had a seller account in the past that was closed or suspended for violating Amazon’s policies, creating another account will not work. Remember, Amazon verifies all information you provided and will know that you’ve had a problem with them in the past.

What actions can you take if Amazon declines your application?

First, don’t give up if you don’t get in the first time. A lot of successful sellers started just like you. Go back to the drawing board. Most often, Amazon will not tell you why your application was rejected, and that’s what is frustrating about the process. Seller support leaves you to figure it out on your own. If they state the reason for rejection, well and good. You can start from there.

Go through Amazon seller forums because chances are other potential sellers have been rejected on similar grounds. Review your application and find out what you may have missed. Sometimes, it could be as minor as missing a digit in your bank account details.

In other cases, you may have a simple mismatch of information, such as your billing and residential information not matching. The bottom line is to find out what you have done wrong based on Amazon’s terms of service.

If your application was rejected for providing false documentation, try contacting seller support and promise to submit the right documents. It’s not guaranteed that they will consider your application again, but it doesn’t hurt to try. If you have been rejected because you had a previous account closed in violation of the terms of services, the best thing you can do is try and appeal that decision. Amazon doesn’t allow multiple accounts, so this is a good reminder not to go down that road in the first place.

Summary

Creating a seller account on Amazon is a straightforward process. However, for many sellers, problems arise when it comes to document verification. If you apply and get rejected, don’t give up. Instead, find out why that happened and correct the mistake. Ideally, you could partner with an Amazon consulting agency to guide you on the process to ensure your application isn’t rejected in the first place.

You’ll learn that persistence is required when selling on Amazon because dealing with its nuances isn’t always black and white. Remember why you started, and don’t give up when things get difficult.

If you’re stuck in the loop of Amazon seller support and can’t get your account approved, its time to call on a team of trusted Amazon experts the Skunk Labs works on your behalf to ensure your Amazon seller account is approved so that you can focus on profits, not red tape. Connect with us today to learn about our top-rated brand management solutions.