How to avoid IP complaints and brand restrictions on Amazon

Intellectual property complaints are one of the most common reasons wholesale sellers lose listings. Here is how to reduce the risk.

Why complaints happen

Brand owners can report sellers who they believe are infringing on their trademarks, copyrights or patents, or who they believe are selling inauthentic goods. Even a mistaken report can remove a listing while you sort it out.

Check before you buy

Make a list of brands and products that have caused complaints for you or for other sellers, and screen new supplier lists against it. Wholesale Analyzer lets you import your own IP data and flags matching brands on each line. A line marked as not flagged is not a guarantee, and a line marked as not checked means that no IP data has been imported.

Buy from authorised sources and keep proof

• Prefer the brand or authorised distributors.
• Keep invoices that show the supplier, the brand and the quantities.
• Store invoices for each purchase for at least a year.

Do not alter the product or the listing

Sell only what the brand sells. Repackaging, unusual bundles or editing a listing to add claims about the product are all things that raise complaints. Match the listing's title and pack size to what you are shipping.

If you receive a complaint

Read it carefully, collect your invoices and respond through the complaint process with facts. If the complaint is valid, remove the listing and do not argue. If it is not, provide the documents and ask the rights owner to retract it. Do not relist products that have been reported until you understand why.