Suspended seller thinks Amazon's playing favorites

A seller's account gets suspended while others keep selling the same item. Is it discrimination, or just strict documentation rules?

• Seller accuses Amazon of favoritism ⚖️
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• Thought of the Day 🍴

SELLER CONFESSIONS

A seller (OP) confessed: “To be honest, I’m starting to think that Amazon discriminates against sellers from certain countries or nationalities.”

After two years of playing by the rules—no counterfeit claims, all products sourced from brand websites, full compliance with Amazon’s policies—their account was suspended under Section 3. 

That was four months ago. It still hasn’t been reactivated. 🔴

• They submitted brand invoices and credit card statements—Amazon said it wasn’t enough.
• There were no complaints, no policy violations from the brand, and 20+ sellers are still selling the same item.
• Their inventory is frozen, and their fees are skyrocketing due to aged stock.
• Communication with Seller Support felt like a loop, with no real explanation or resolution—just copy-paste responses.

🧾 The red tape

A few sellers who’ve been through the wringer offered their take on what’s really going on.

• Not about nationality. It’s not always about nationality—it’s about documentation. If the documents don’t match Amazon’s exact requirements, they get flagged.
• Receipts ≠ relationships. Amazon expects brand authorization or supplier relationships, not just purchase receipts or invoices from marketplaces.
• Inconsistent enforcement. Policy enforcement varies depending on the team or region handling your case, which makes the process feel inconsistent and unfair.

🔍 What to do?

Some seasoned sellers tried to clear the air and help others navigate the mess.

• Entity mismatch issues. Success often depends on how well your documents match the legal entity on your Amazon account.
• Suspicious sourcing. If you're sourcing from lesser-known suppliers, Amazon may be more skeptical—especially without a strong brand relationship.
• Escalate when stuck. Escalating to Account Health Support or the Executive Seller Relations team helped a few sellers finally get unblocked.

💭 So, is Amazon discriminating—or just demanding?

It’s not always clear-cut. Sellers from around the world shared wins and losses, but the common theme was this: Amazon’s process lacks transparency, and that can feel deeply personal when you’re stuck.

Have you dealt with something like this? Drop your thoughts—we’re all ears.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

If success on Amazon comes down to paperwork, clarity should be a policy—not a privilege.

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BITES OF THE WEEK

• South African Summit: ICYMI, Amazon hosted their first ever Seller Summit in South Africa at Cape Town.
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