18 Abr Banned goods on Amazon: What are they and why are they banned?

Although Amazon has a highly varied catalogue, the reality is that you can’t sell all kinds of products. Always thinking about consumer safety and its relationship with the consumer, Amazon has a list of reasons why some products cannot be marketed.

Below, we’ll explain some of the reasons why certain products can’t be sold and what types of items are most commonly identified as banned goods. We’ll also provide you with alternatives in case you want to sell products that are on this list.

Why are some products banned on Amazon?

Consumer safety, legality and even ethics are the reasons why some goods are banned on this platform. Let’s look at them one by one:

Customer safety: Offering an ideal shopping experience is one of the retail giant’s main concerns. To ensure this, it’s vitally important that the items the consumer buys aren’t life-threatening, nor are they life-threatening to the person delivering the goods. That’s why poisonous, toxic, flammable or corrosive items are strictly forbidden by Amazon.

Illegal products: If you have to hide to buy a product, be sure you won’t find it in Amazon’s sales catalogue. Counterfeit goods, illegal drugs, explosives, firearms and any other items with dubious utility and provenance are considered prohibited goods and aren’t part of the marketplace’s inventory.

Ethical reasons: Closely related to the previous point, especially as far as intellectual property rights are concerned. If Amazon can’t verify that trademarks are properly registered and that patents and copyrights are respected, it won’t give its consent to the sale of any product. There are also some items that may be considered inappropriate or offensive, such as films containing erotic, graphic or sensitive content, and items that allude to xenophobia, racism, etc.

What goods are banned on Amazon?

Some goods that aren’t sold on Amazon include the following:

Illegal goods: Counterfeit goods, drugs, firearms, explosives… If it’s something you can’t easily find in a physical shop, you won’t find it on Amazon either. Although it’s an online business, the laws also apply in the marketplace, so selling products of this nature can lead to serious legal problems for both the buyer and the seller. That’s why items with ivory and skins of protected species can also be affected by these restrictions.

Dangerous items: Any product that poses a risk to the customer’s (and the delivery person’s) safety can’t be sold on Amazon: toxic, flammable, corrosive, poisonous goods… As well as the physical well-being of buyers, Amazon is also interested in protecting its public image, delivery record and customer relations.

Intellectual property infringements: To avoid unwanted lawsuits and legal consequences for sellers, Amazon takes special care with regard to third-party intellectual property rights, such as trademarks, patents and copyrights. If the company deems that these aren’t respected, it chooses to prohibit the sale of certain products.

Adult products: Sex toys, films with explicit content and items with obvious adult content are just some of the items that can be banned on Amazon. The reason? It can result in a bad image for the company and negatively affect its reputation and ties with customers.

Do you need to sell any of these products?

You may have some products that Amazon identifies as banned goods, even though you comply with all the legal requirements. Don’t worry! There are always options to continue selling them.

If you’re convinced that selling on Amazon is your best option, you can try to get approval. You should contact the Amazon Seller support team to explain your case through convincing and compelling arguments as to why you believe your product should be approved. It’s not a sure thing, but there’s a chance that after reviewing your case, they may approve the item for sale.

Finally, if it’s up to you, then consider changing your product. Changing your line of business is a rewarding experience for any entrepreneur. Maybe Amazon’s refusal will offer you the opportunity to sell other kinds of items and gain a great deal of professional learning