Amazon Support told us we could transition a generic listing to branded but now refuses to do so
We consulted amazon support to ask if it would be possible to transition a generic asin to a branded asin once our trademark was approved. We asked specifically if it was possible prior to sending in our inventory and we were assured that yes we can transition from a generic to branded asin by modifying the feed file on the account.
Now after getting our trademark, getting brand registry approved, Amazon says that it is not possible. I spoke to a seller support agent at length and they informed that it can be done on a case by case basis but then the change was not approved and all I can get from support is generic box messages that do not address my issue.
Why should we be penalized as the brand by being forced to recall all of our inventory and have to relabel our products, apply for a new gs1, then reship to amazon all at our own expense and frustration because of a clear mistake from the amazon support team?
We are open to any suggestions, we are willing to work with amazon to resolve the issue but we can't have a simple conversation with someone who is authorized to help us in a way that doesn't hurt our business. If anyone can please connect me with an appropriate person at amazon that can help us solve this problem.
Amazon Support told us we could transition a generic listing to branded but now refuses to do so
We consulted amazon support to ask if it would be possible to transition a generic asin to a branded asin once our trademark was approved. We asked specifically if it was possible prior to sending in our inventory and we were assured that yes we can transition from a generic to branded asin by modifying the feed file on the account.
Now after getting our trademark, getting brand registry approved, Amazon says that it is not possible. I spoke to a seller support agent at length and they informed that it can be done on a case by case basis but then the change was not approved and all I can get from support is generic box messages that do not address my issue.
Why should we be penalized as the brand by being forced to recall all of our inventory and have to relabel our products, apply for a new gs1, then reship to amazon all at our own expense and frustration because of a clear mistake from the amazon support team?
We are open to any suggestions, we are willing to work with amazon to resolve the issue but we can't have a simple conversation with someone who is authorized to help us in a way that doesn't hurt our business. If anyone can please connect me with an appropriate person at amazon that can help us solve this problem.
18 replies
Seller_OvL8C4BJWiuS9
Always take what Amazon says with a grain of salt and then ask your question here.
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
"We asked specifically if it was possible prior to sending in our inventory and we were assured that yes we can transition from a generic to branded asin by modifying the feed file on the account."
In addition to the comment by @Seller_OvL8C4BJWiuS9PLEASE report the source of that LOUSY advice and information to Amazon.
According to multiple posts from Amazon MODS it can't be done.
Start with this one from several weeks ago (as of 07/17/2023).
":What is the impact in enrolling in brand registry after listing your first product?"
In it @Sandy_Amazon stated quite clearly:
"Hello @bigbundytime
@C_W_Bt is correct that sellers will have to create new ASINs.
Please see the help page and look at the details under Policies for editing detail pages.
If you choose to re-brand a product you must create a new ASIN rather than update an existing ASIN. This is true even if the product is unbranded and does not change materially after the brand change. This includes adding a brand to a previously unbranded product. (emphasis added).
If you get lots of positive feedback on your generic listing, it could be damaging to delete and erase back to your trademarked ASIN, but this is a decision for you to make as you know your business and product the best.
If you have any additional questions please let me know.
Best,
Sandy"
Dougal_Amazon
Hello @Seller_W1qc0RkPZjzTA,
My name is Dougal from the Community Manager Team and I am sorry to read about what happened. I may be able to assist although generally speaking, the Product detail page rules state, "If you choose to re-brand a product, refer to Amazon Brand Name Policy page for minor Brand name changes. Any major Brand Name change requests are considered re-branding and will not be supported. To protect Customer trust and ensure catalog quality, we ask that you create a new ASIN for the new product."
I would be happy to take a closer look into your specific situation. Do you have any case ID's that show seller support providing you the guidance on changing a generic brand name? I can start there.
Best, Dougal
Seller_rI7BZIczK8iAC
That was clearly a wrong information and this question was treated many times here in the forum. Would have been useful to you to READ the forum from time to time....
Please post this case ID here, like this the mod @Dougal_Amazon can inform this specific seller support member about his wrong and falsely given information.
Modifying a generic listing to a branded listing can not be done, you have to start from scratch by creating a new listing taking a NEW UPC from GS1.
Seller_XuzmXXUIMHtah
Its against the product detail page rules at first glance, but really isn't in this case. But, with that said, if you keep creating tickets asking for it to be updated you can get it done. Unsure if its a case of getting a bad rep that doesn't know their job, or a good rep who is willing to do what needs to be done, but, I have done hundreds of these. Before I had SAS it would take about 10 tries. Now days we have SAS and had the brand attributed on ~100 ASINs already this year. Definitely possible. Just have to get infront of someone who cares enough.
Seller_a6O2rypQTzhp0
If you list branded product under generic brand product, then you will be violating at least 15 Federal Patent laws such as, Consumer confusion trademark infringement, Mislabel infringement trademark, Unauthorized trademark infringement, Misuse of a logo infringement, Unauthorized artwork infringement, Unauthorized commercial usage infringement. These are just some few. The trademark infringement is serious and penalty for trademark infringement is severe. Please understand that when you violet Federal Laws on Amazon platform, when and if those companies' initiate prosecution for some kind of issue, those companies will prosecute both you and Amazon. So, Amazon will not take any responsibility for your error because Amazon provided all the Generic listing guidelines including brand name polities in their seller agreement. As a seller, we are supposed to know how to list the product. Just because you are a registered brand owner, it does not qualify you to register a branded product under Generic brand. There is article on Seller University. Here is the link https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/G2N3GKE5SGSHWYRZ. If I were you, I would read the link and follow the link carefully. In the meantime, if you have any branded product under Generic, I will close and delete the listings and clear those inventories back to your warehouse.
So, final key point-
Trademark & Intellectual Property Violations – Listing branded products as "Generic" can mislead customers and violate Amazon’s policies.
Amazon’s Liability – Amazon will not take responsibility if a brand takes legal action. The seller is responsible for compliance.
Amazon Seller Agreement & Policies – Amazon provides guidelines on proper listing practices, and failing to follow them can lead to listing removal, account suspension, or legal consequences.
Immediate Action Required – If you have any branded products listed incorrectly, you should remove or correct them to avoid enforcement action.
I hope this helps.
Seller_TvaTXH61RRGLO
You blame seller support when the fault is yours. They can tell you whatever especially on the phone. You should have transitioned the product to your brand and then send the inventory.
The number 2 mistake is that you call. Everything on Amazon is done in writing. Email and messages.
If you would have post it here everybody would have told you what you want to do is not possible.
