Amazon has made its marketplace more accessible to newcomers.
New sellers will discover a platform that requires only a few minutes to sign up and a few more minutes to get product listings live on the site.
With Amazon’s goal of attracting as much variety as possible to the marketplace, it stands to reason that Amazon would want to make it functionally simple for anyone to begin listing products on its site.
However, the decision to sell on Amazon should not be based solely on the ease of registration.
One of the greatest benefits that come with shopping through Amazon is the huge variety of products you can find. But, there’s also an array of Amazon-only items.
There will be a variety of products available for sale by anyone, however, there are some restricted categories that sellers must be aware of before beginning to sell their items on the platform.
Certain categories are accessible however, others need authorization from Amazon.
In this article, we’ll look at Amazon’s restricted product categories as well as the requirements that you must be able to meet if you’re looking to sell these products.
What Is a Gated Category?
The first thing to know is that certain categories are not available to all. In the majority of instances, it is easy to sign up for an account and begin publishing your work.
It’s not a big deal except for the effort necessary to make listings that are successful on Amazon. But it’s different with restricted categories.
These categories are subject to Amazon approval required. Not only does Amazon require you to grant permission to make listings available within these categories, but, but you’ll also have to meet specific conditions to be recognized as a valid applicant.
The requirements will vary based on the area you want to be included in. generally, it’s similar to having a website
- an established UPC or
- providing authentic certificates.
Check out Sellerapp’s Amazon UPC guide to know more.
The majority of these terms are set to guard buyers against fraud as items in Amazon categories that are gated typically:
- More expensive,
- Safety-related,
- of a sensitive nature or
- Collectible items
What is the reason Amazon has categories with gated access?
As we’ve mentioned, these are products that are specific to a particular niche or segment or have more expensive prices than what you typically pay for platforms such as this.
However, there are more serious issues when it comes to selling specific kinds of goods.
Here are a few examples:
Security is a major concern
Amazon is always vigilant in this regard particularly because its name is always on the forefront of any purchase and it doesn’t wish to be associated with items that could harm others.
For instance, a faulty automobile component could result in a problem that could expose someone to danger. old medicines could be associated with health risks or other risks.
Amazon will restrict these categories to prevent risks to their customers.
Amazon’s name and reputation
As we’ve mentioned earlier, Amazon’s name appears at the top of every purchase.
We know that the items originate from independent sellers however the marketing on this platform has been so successful the fact that “Amazon” is all we have.
Due to this, Amazon is mindful of how purchases could influence the way that sellers view Amazon’s image.
In the end, this is the company that created an empire based on customer service So it is natural that they’d like to safeguard their customers from purchasing fake products, counterfeits, or engaging in fraud during their purchase.
The risk of fraud
E-commerce has come a great way since its beginnings in this particular area. It’s only natural that a company such as Amazon will do everything in its capabilities to minimize the possibility of fraud.
However, the danger is more prevalent with certain kinds of products than other types of products. For instance, if you purchase glasses that you use for cooking, you’re safer than when you purchase rare memorabilia.
If you’re planning to gain entry into one of Amazon’s restricted categories, you’ll need to make sure that you keep Amazon’s trust as well as a flawless customer experience.
Certain things are protected, but they’re not actually
There are a lot of sections that have been un-tagged, which might sound like good news, but there’s a small niggle You must be aware of subcategories.
Food items cosmetics, food items, and other health-related products used to be restricted to new vendors. However, this is not the case anymore.
But, you must obtain a license to market certain products that fall under these labels, but possess specific features like cosmetics for the face as well as over-the-counter medicines and prescription drugs.
In some cases, you’ll need to obtain approval from the brand, and, likely, it’s not something you can do for a low cost. If you aren’t sure about your financial situation, you may need to reconsider your stock.
Certain brands are not available to Amazon even if the category isn’t. If you are feeling frustrated because your product wasn’t accepted, consider that it may be that is related to your brand, and you could still sell other products within that same market.
A drawback is that you will not be able to locate a comprehensive requirements list for the items you need, as in other situations. This means that you’ll need to conduct some trials and errors from time to time.
What happens if you are refused access to the category that is gated?
This is a regular phenomenon that occurs for a variety of reasons.
Do not be discouraged. You might have done everything right! Perhaps you submitted each document and adhered to every rule however the range of applicants is limited and you’ll need the patience of waiting until an opening opens.
Make this time to improve your company and your plan to ensure that you are more prepared for the next time.
Recommended Guide: How To Increase Organic Sales For Your Amazon Products.
