Sorry sellers, retractions aren’t enough Amazon wants invoices to disprove design patent infringement, blocks accounts with retracted IP claims Infringement claims on Amazon have grown increasingly frustrating over the past year. This has reached a deafening crescendo over the last few weeks, with our clients being victimized by nonsensical … [Read more...]
Design Patent Infringement and Retractions on Amazon
UPS, USPS and the making of a shipping nightmare
Amazon sellers are no stranger to shipping challenges. But lately, some new hassles are rearing their ugly heads. One of these seems to be a technical error, while the other may signal long-term policy changes for Amazon.UPS covering FBA inbound shipment stickers Two prep centers have reached out to me about this bizarre issue. It appears that … [Read more...]
Amazon FBA Reimbursements – Amazon Owes You Money!
If you have been selling on Amazon using FBA, Amazon owes you money! You are most likely entitled to an Amazon reimbursement if you've been selling products utilizing FBA.FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is an essential component for a majority of Amazon sellers. FBA allows the seller to store inventory in Amazon’s fulfillment centers so Amazon can … [Read more...]
Amazon now permanently holding funds for a wide range of “sins”
If your Amazon seller account gets suspended, will you get your funds? Maybe not. Amazon is now permanently holding funds for a wide range of “sins”. For years, Amazon dispersed the funds for closed accounts in almost every case. Fraud and counterfeit were the occasional exceptions. But now, Amazon is permanently attaching sellers’ funds for a … [Read more...]
Why liquidation inventory can be 3P kryptonite
As major retailers clean out their warehouses post-Q4, the secondary markets are filled to bursting with liquidation inventory. Third-party sellers can find a treasure trove of hot deals across every category – all for pennies on the dollar. What could go wrong? Everything. In fact, things could go so wrong that you lose your Amazon seller … [Read more...]
Fake ungating invoices are the new fast track to losing an Amazon account
“You are a counterfeiter.” Do you assume your Amazon seller account would never be labeled as fencing counterfeit goods? Think again. Amazon is on a mission: detect and shut down counterfeiters. Unfortunately, many sellers are engaging in a behavior that can get them branded a counterfeiter and permanently banned from the platform – even if they … [Read more...]
Yes, Amazon can permanently hold sellers’ funds
Sellers beware. Amazon has begun holding funds for a growing number of sellers. Even more frightening, the path to recovering that money is long, difficult and expensive.We’ve seen all manner of reasons that sellers’ funds are being permanently attached:Violations of terms of service, such as selling prohibited products. Particularly … [Read more...]
Follow the rules
Being honest has become one of the most critical values for Amazon sellers. Why? Because Amazon is increasingly cracking down on sellers who fib, manipulate or otherwise break the rules. Here are some recent examples:Amazon has begun wielding the big stick of “Code of Conduct” violations to immediately block seller … [Read more...]
Big dogs & IP issues
Amazon allows big dog retailers to break rules, hurt small 3P sellers Not all players on the Amazon platform are treated equally. And the larger the company, the more likely Amazon will allow them to break the rules and hurt small sellers.For a while now, manufacturers, retailers and large distributors – as well as rogue third-party sellers – … [Read more...]
A simplified SMART plan can help your business in 2018
We are one week into 2018. Do you know where your business plan is? A traditional plan may be just too daunting for most Amazon and online sellers. And let’s face it – a lot of business plan formats are just …. long. They are lengthy, detailed, and full of information that’s not necessary unless you are applying for a business loan or trying to … [Read more...]