Books "NOT AVAILABLE" To list is becoming immeasurable, PLEASE HELP
As the title explains, I have run into a major issue as of late where the majority of the books that I try to list are showing "NOT AVAILABLE." I understand the restricted products policy and this is not that. This is not about one product or one brand. It's not about one publisher or one author. This happening with approximately 50% of the books that I attempt to list (several thousands). It is an issue SPECIFIC to my account. Amazon Support has been of no help. What I think I need is an eligibility specialist to review my account to release me from these restrictions. I can see that every other bookseller, thrift store, and general amazon seller under the sun has these books for sale, yet I cannot even list them. I have been selling books on Amazon for over a decade and would greatly appreciate some help from an Amazon representative, preferably a specialist who understands the context of my problem.
I will offer a random book that I tried to list today as an example. ISBN 9781319245085 "The Bedford Book Of Genres" but again this is a very broad problem for me which covers about half of all books in Amazon's catalog.
@Cooper_Amazon
@Glenn_Amazon
@Rose_Amazon
@Charly_Amazon
@Emet_Amazon
@Michelle_Amazon
Books "NOT AVAILABLE" To list is becoming immeasurable, PLEASE HELP
As the title explains, I have run into a major issue as of late where the majority of the books that I try to list are showing "NOT AVAILABLE." I understand the restricted products policy and this is not that. This is not about one product or one brand. It's not about one publisher or one author. This happening with approximately 50% of the books that I attempt to list (several thousands). It is an issue SPECIFIC to my account. Amazon Support has been of no help. What I think I need is an eligibility specialist to review my account to release me from these restrictions. I can see that every other bookseller, thrift store, and general amazon seller under the sun has these books for sale, yet I cannot even list them. I have been selling books on Amazon for over a decade and would greatly appreciate some help from an Amazon representative, preferably a specialist who understands the context of my problem.
I will offer a random book that I tried to list today as an example. ISBN 9781319245085 "The Bedford Book Of Genres" but again this is a very broad problem for me which covers about half of all books in Amazon's catalog.
@Cooper_Amazon
@Glenn_Amazon
@Rose_Amazon
@Charly_Amazon
@Emet_Amazon
@Michelle_Amazon
16 replies
Seller_LVZcgxAgZ2xBv
That's an $86 book or textbook published by an imprint operated by one of "Big Five" publishers, MacMillan. The biggest publishers are playing hardball on Amazon, because they want to preserve sales of full-priced new copies and also to cut down on counterfeits.
The books category is tightening up for resellers, just as other media products have in the past such as DVDs, CDs, and game publishers.
Seller_ENBrTBTSn3PDq
No problem listing it for me and I have been around for about 15 years. It usually states "Apply to Sell" if you are not authorized to sell it. I did not see that when I went to list it.
Seller_JxGBh45c1NGew
We are also experiencing the same issue with brands we have been authorized and sold for many years in the video game category. Like you mentioned, everyone and their grandma are able to list except us who are actually authorized too with a long track record. Amazon does absolutely nothing! It is 100% an Amazon issue and nothing to do with publishers or brand, if that was the case there would be a formal e-mail from Amazon and a new Apply to Sell button. This is something internal within the Amazon BS artificial intelligence or some moron employee oversees who pressed the wrong button and never fixed it. It is truly amazing what crap this platform has turned into.
Seller_EGAYxdv2MmpO0
It's not you, it's me, too. I checked that ISBN 9781319245085 and also not able to list.
If your focus is the textbook market, you need to hit the 'bay, abe, where ever.
Seller_rGcQW1yb6ZWbC
I was able to list it. I have been around for a long time and have had many McMillan books for sale over the years. I don't know if some of us "older" sellers have been grandfathered in or what.
If this is a "one-off" book, then you may just want to put it aside or list it elsewhere. If you have a bunch of McMillan titles, than it may be in your best interest to contact them and request approval. Usually, if we can't list a book for sale its because there is an issue between the publisher and Amazon. The publisher is the one requiring approval, not Amazon. If that's the case, then Amazon can't really do much.
There are certain publishers that basically no one - no matter what - can list, such as Prentice Hall. And the only way to list these books is to be an authorized seller directly from the publisher. Meaning, you need to buy your stock directly from them or an authorized wholesaler.
Textbooks, in general, are often hit or miss as far as being able to list. Are the rest of the books you're not able to list also textbooks? If so, then you may want to consider getting approval from the publishers or listing elsewhere. I know it stinks to find out after you have obtained inventory to find out you cannot list it.
The Amazon Seller App has recently added functionality where you can scan the cover of a book to see it in the catalog. If it is a restricted book/product, the catalog page will tell you. This way, when you are sourcing, you can decide ahead of time if you want keep it to list or put it put it back.
Seller_TGyYibGGY2EwR
I can't list it either. I have been selling books here for over 9 years. What bothers me even more than the "not available" books are the ones where Amazon asks for invoices for used books. As if there were such a thing.
I have started checking each book before I buy it, using Scoutly as a scanning app.
Seller_Mkrx4J4NLcpJM
I get the same:
You are not approved to list this product and we are not currently accepting applications.
Refurbished condition: We are currently not accepting applications for this product. To maintain a safe and trustworthy shopping experience, we restrict certain products from being listed or sold on Amazon. If the ability to list this product changes, you will be able to sell by clicking “Sell this product” or “Apply to Sell”.
I have been selling books here for 21 years, but very seldom do I get this notification. My big complaint is the "apply to sell" say, a Lippincott book that was published in 1939, having to somehow "prove" that I ordered at least 10 copies from a distributor within the last 180 days. It's getting tough to sell collectible books here.
Seller_roNdLQpqbVoOH
Interesting that when I search for this ISBN on Amazon using All Departments, nothing comes up but a few totally unrelated "Sponsored" items.
Only when I change the search to "Books" does it appear.
Seller_roNdLQpqbVoOH
I'm an old-timer too, but I cannot list it. I can, however, list the "newer edition" that is linked there...
And it's good to know that Amazon is looking out for buyers in cases like this by allowing a Goodwill to list the book (I'm sure they bought 10 new copies from the publisher), along with a couple sellers sporting feedback in the 60% range.
Yup, Amazon, as usual, making no sense.
