Can selling legit products get you flagged?

A new Amazon seller thought they’d scored big with liquidation finds, until a rival accused them of selling counterfeits. 

What happened next exposed a harsh truth about Amazon’s gray zones.

• Replace your entire Amazon software stack 📚
• Even legit products come with risks ⚠️
• Thought of the Day 🍴

SELLER CONFESSIONS

An Amazon seller (OP) confessed: Another seller threatened them, accusing them of selling a counterfeit product, one OP insists was completely legit.

According to OP, they received a message accusing them of selling a fake version of an ASIN they’d sourced through a liquidation auction. 

The other seller demanded OP remove their listing “or face an A–Z complaint.” Fearing an account strike, OP pulled the product. 

Now the real question: was the threat real or just hot air?

⚖️ “Gray area” isn’t Amazon’s favorite color

The community didn’t sugarcoat it, this isn’t just an idle threat.

• Liquidation means liability. Even if the product is genuine, Amazon treats liquidation invoices like Monopoly money, making authenticity nearly impossible to prove.
• The private label trap. The listing likely belongs to a brand-registered seller who owns it, and anyone else selling under it risks being flagged as counterfeit.
• Ungated does not mean permission. Just because Amazon did not block the ASIN does not mean you are allowed to list there. Gating filters out beginners, not accountability.
• The moral gray zone. One veteran seller said, “You are freeloading on someone’s branding. I did it once and got burned too.”

🧭 The seller reality check

It’s not always about who’s right — it’s about who Amazon believes.

• A single complaint can trigger suspension faster than you can say “Appeal denied.”
• Liquidation-sourced inventory is always a gamble. Without manufacturer invoices, your defense is paper-thin.
• Private label listings are minefields, unless you built the brand or have written authorization, stay clear.
• Amazon sides with brand owners. Always.

So while the other seller’s message might’ve been aggressive, it wasn’t empty. On Amazon, “better safe than sorry” isn’t advice, it’s survival strategy. 😬

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THOUGHT OF THE DAY

On Amazon, the gray areas are where most sellers get suspended.

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