Deactivated for dropshipping but not actually dropshipping
Our account was recently deactivated because of dropshipping policy violation but we don't dropship anything. Our products are only available for purchase through us so we couldn't dropship even if we wanted to. Everything we sell is assembled and shipped directly from our corporate warehouse. We have a different headquarters address and warehouse address but these are both listed on our Amazon Seller Account. I genuinely have no idea why we are getting this violation.
Over the past few months, we've received several "at-risk" notices but they've gone away on their own after talking to a seller support person but this time we were fully deactivated.
As part of the appeals, we've provided invoices for every part of our kits (we don't manufacture the parts of our products in house), images of the entire process within our warehouse, copies of sales orders, and an explanation that our products aren't available elsewhere.
Additionally, we've provided images showing everything comes in a regular brown box showing only the shipping label on it.
At this point, I'm at a bit of a loss for what to do and looking for any advice.
Deactivated for dropshipping but not actually dropshipping
Our account was recently deactivated because of dropshipping policy violation but we don't dropship anything. Our products are only available for purchase through us so we couldn't dropship even if we wanted to. Everything we sell is assembled and shipped directly from our corporate warehouse. We have a different headquarters address and warehouse address but these are both listed on our Amazon Seller Account. I genuinely have no idea why we are getting this violation.
Over the past few months, we've received several "at-risk" notices but they've gone away on their own after talking to a seller support person but this time we were fully deactivated.
As part of the appeals, we've provided invoices for every part of our kits (we don't manufacture the parts of our products in house), images of the entire process within our warehouse, copies of sales orders, and an explanation that our products aren't available elsewhere.
Additionally, we've provided images showing everything comes in a regular brown box showing only the shipping label on it.
At this point, I'm at a bit of a loss for what to do and looking for any advice.
33 replies
Seller_CF0URQS5DxG2u
what brand boxes do you use? i've heard of people getting in trouble for using boxes from companies like Wal Mart and Home Depot.
Seller_hDXyye9VvHq85
I once received a dropshipping ding because a buyer's No Longer Needed return comment was "got it from Target." They obviously meant they already found one there, but that's not how the bots understood it. Appealing with the fact I used Buy Shipping and it came from my zip code couldn't even convince them to remove it. Point being is check your return comments; it may be something as silly as that.
Seller_aV1Bh32hE0KND
What do you think may have caused this? As mentioned by ThisIsFine, check your seller feedback, product reviews, A-z claims (comments), and your Buyer-Seller messaging.
Also, go through Amazon's → Drop Shipping Policy to see if you can identify what may have caused this; maybe you left an invoice/paperwork in with an order accidentally.
Figuring out the Root Cause is essential in order to address this.
You can submit an explanation if you believe this was done in error; it's important to include supporting documents as evidence. Your strongest defense is to Include invoices that show you purchased and had/have ownership of the inventory you have listed and sold/shipped for the past 3-6 months. Invoices can not be older than 365 days.
If you can identify which order may have triggered this you can also include tracking info and a screenshot from the carrier page showing that the item was shipped from your location.
If drafting an appeal you must include:
- What was the root cause that led to the issue?
- What actions have you taken to resolve the issue?
See →Complete an appeal questionnaire to reinstate selling privileges for additional info.
You can post your explanation or your appeal here for revision and suggested edits before you submit it.
Keep us posted.
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
When you say "We have a different headquarters address and warehouse address but these are both listed on our Amazon Seller Account." are those in different Zip Codes?
EDITED SINCE THIS COMES FIRST AND THE ANSWER IS DOWNSTREAM (HINT CLICK ON THE ARROWS PEOPLE!!!!) THANK YOU NEW NOT IMPROVED FORUM FOR THAT! -- THE OP HAS VERIFIED THEY ARE IN THE SAME ZIP CODE.
It may be something as simple (for people but not BOTS) as one Zip Code in CA and one in AZ. If the label is from one Amazon BOTS would look and say -- 'DROP SHIP ALERT -- IT"S NOT THE SAME'.
You will probably have to patiently explain to Amazon that the postage meter is in THIS Zip Code where our warehouse is and the Amazon account is our HQ which is THIS Zip Code so they will NEVER match.
Use short sentence, bullet points, and SMALL words since the BOTS (and people) need to translate across multiple languages -- machine and otherwise.
Seller_v95qqMBLFluEx
- Are you always sending out packages by yourself or have used any other 3rd party fulfillment services? If you did, did you make sure they properly identify you as the seller on packages & invoices/receipts?
- Do you package your shipments in any way that may confuse your buyers? Example: sender showing different company/locations/contact info, invoices/receipts showing other business info than yours etc
- When you mentioned HQ and WH, have you shipped packages out from both of them? Do they generate same or different labels? If different labels, are they registered as different companies on Amazon?
Seller_Xq8OeQbeklM3f
We had an IP complaint. Turns out our parent company placed it. Took a while to fix it all. Check with your parent company, if you have one. Make sure they know.
Seller_tpolZSBygNOyI
A while back, the BOTS identified me, as a possible drop shipper, which I am not. Fortunately, a very helpful seller support person, figured out what happened. A customer, bought two of my items, in separate orders. I shipped them together. For some reason, the BOTs thought it was drop shipping, from myself!
Seller_W1w4IAbSKp9ki
They only shut down your FBM sales
I'm betting they believe one of your locations is a 3PL facility or something along those lines
Seller_rMfC1OWAKWYWf
does your warehouse provide any shipping or prep or any other services for someone else…? Could another company/seller have used your addresses in some way?
Seller_mGPFMXpwtrCnf
this happened to me as well never dropped shipped in my life i have about 20k sales a month and out of no where they slapped me with that "drop shipping " violation come to find that i had 10-20 packages stopped up at the post office and since it said shipped and it was taking too long to arrive at the customers address they assumed i was drop shipping tried fighting it for months never got anywhere cause they don't care
now i have to use FBA and they take more then 75% of your revenue but youll be taxed on the full amount leaving you with no profit after paying taxes
