Are you wondering how to get ungated on Amazon? You’re not alone. Whether you’re an Amazon FBA seller looking to expand your product offerings or a starter looking for opportunities to exploit, you’ll always find some restricted seller categories.
However, this should not be the end of your Amazon career. You can become approved by Amazon to sell products in less competitive and profitable categories. First, however, you need to conduct a little research on how to go about it. This comprehensive guide offers some actionable tips on how to get ungated on Amazon on specific product categories.
So, let’s get started.
1. What are Amazon restricted or gated categories?
Are you wondering how to get ungated on Amazon? You’re not alone. Whether you’re an Amazon FBA seller looking to expand your product offerings or a starter looking for opportunities to exploit, you’ll always find some restricted seller categories.
However, this should not be the end of your Amazon career. You can become approved by Amazon to sell products in less competitive and profitable categories. First, however, you need to conduct a little research on how to go about it. This comprehensive guide offers some actionable tips on how to get ungated on Amazon on specific product categories.
So, let’s get started.
2. Why does Amazon gate its categories?
Organizations must adhere to a specific code of conduct in the business environment. Any business that contravenes such regulations will likely face huge fines and sometimes license cancellations.
As a responsible company, Amazon gates various products and product categories to ensure that the necessary regulations are followed. These restrictions also help to safeguard its interests. Other significant reasons why Amazon has product restrictions include:
- Maintain brand integrity
- Enhance product safety
- Promote fair pricing
- Promote consumer confidence
3. Exploring categories and products that require approval
As highlighted above, Amazon has been stringent in gating products in various categories. However, Amazon sellers can get quick and easy approvals to sell such products.
Nevertheless, some products require additional permissions before you start selling on Amazon. Some of these products include:
- Alcohol
- Animals and Animal-Related Products
- Art – Fine Art
- Automotive and Powersports
- Composite Wood Products
- Cosmetics and Skin/Hair Care
- Cleaning and Disinfecting Devices
- Currency, Coins, and Cash
- Dietary Supplements
- Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia
- Electronics
- Weapons and Related Items
- Food and Beverages
- Gambling and Lottery
4. General guidelines to get ungated on Amazon
As highlighted earlier, you already know why Amazon restricts various products. However, if you’re interested in selling such products, you need guidelines on getting ungated.
Importantly, each product category has a defined process for getting approvals. However, you can follow the general guidelines if you need licenses in multiple areas.
Get a professional Amazon Seller account
Amazon is a professional eCommerce platform that requires sellers to follow a professional approach as they operate on the forum. Therefore, you need to get a professional seller account if you don’t have one already. As a professional Amazon seller, you can sell restricted and unrestricted products. Amazon professional selling account is available for $39.99 a month.
Analyze your Amazon account health
Amazon will approve your request to sell restricted products if you have a healthy selling account. Therefore, you need to keep track of your performance. You can quickly get a clear image of your selling account in customer satisfaction and product quality in the ‘seller central account.’
Follow category instructions
As discussed above, each category has specific instructions that you need to follow to get approval. For example, the fine arts category requires sellers to have a three-year of experience and a functional site.
Choose a wholesaler
As you continue to grow your Amazon business, you’ll need to meet the growing consumer demands. This is only possible if you have a reliable supplier who consistently provides the products required. Therefore, you must choose a reputable supplier to supply the products in the restricted category.
Submit invoices
Amazon is not a corner shop where you can submit scanned invoices from suppliers and get away with it. Instead, it’s a strict eCommerce that incorporates all the necessary measures before approving the seller accounts. Therefore, if you want to get approvals, you must submit invoices in the original state.
Request approval
Lastly, you can request approvals if you’ve ascertained that everything is perfect. However, there are some steps you need to follow while requesting approvals.
- Click on the “Inventory”
- Click on “Add a Product”
- Search the products you intend to sell
- Go to “Listing Limitations Apply”
- Apply by clicking the “Request Approval” button
In addition, you must apply during US business hours. Make an effort to respond to the Amazon support team immediately. Also, submit additional information as requested.
5. Category specific guidelines to become ungated on Amazon
If you’re interested in selling toys, groceries, as well as beauty products, here are the guidelines you need to follow to get ungated on Amazon.
5.1 How to get ungated in beauty on Amazon?
The beauty sector has consistently grown over the years. However, this is one of the restricted product categories on Amazon. Therefore, before you exploit the opportunities in this sector, you need to get approvals.
This is a particular category where Amazon has been stringent. Therefore, you must sell sealed beauty products with the original manufacturer’s packaging. Also, you must ensure that the products on offer are unused.
Besides selling new products with the manufacturer’s packaging, there are some fundamental steps that you must follow before requesting approvals. Some of these steps include:
Acquire pro-merchant status
Reduce order defect rate
Lower your pre-fulfillment cancel rate
Avoid late shipment
5.2 How to get ungated in toys?
Show a purchase invoice
Amazon requires that you submit an invoice from the wholesaler or manufacturer of the toys. The invoice you’ll be submitting must contain all the necessary details Amazon needs.
Brand authorization
Amazon is focused on protecting brand integrity. Therefore, you must submit a brand authorization letter from the toy company. This also creates an impression that the company has given you consent to sell its products.
A child product certificate
To protect children, Amazon requires a Children’s Product Certificate. This is primarily a must for some toys. In addition, this certificate proves that you’ve complied with the local product safety rules.
5.3 How to get ungated in grocery on Amazon?
If you’ve been an Amazon FBA seller for a lengthy period with good selling metrics, there’s a higher chance you’ll get automatic approvals. However, if you’re joining this category for the first time, there are some steps you need to follow.
Get invoice from suppliers
First, Amazon will demand an invoice from suppliers. The invoice will ascertain that you’re a legitimate seller buying groceries from reputable distributors.
Avoid false dietary claims
Dietary claims such as allergen-free must be proved legitimate by the necessary organizations. Making false claims will lead to further restrictions on Amazon.
Focus on safety
Order cancellations, as well as product defect rates, demonstrate that your groceries are not safe. In fact, these are issues you need to address to get a chance of getting approvals for groceries.
Frequently asked questions
How do you apply to get ungated on Amazon?
You must understand the approval process for each category to become ungated. However, there’s a general process that you can follow to get ungated on the majority of product categories.
How long do you take to get ungated on Amazon?
There’s no defined time to get ungated. It depends on how fast Amazon review your application. However, getting ungated in some categories may take a few weeks.
How much money does it cost to get ungated on Amazon?
Gain more profits through diligence
As an Amazon FBA seller, the goal is to gain higher profits as well as face fewer competitors. To achieve such objectives, you should endeavour to operate in restricted categories-which is not easy.
As you’ve already learned, Amazon is not using restrictions to punish sellers. There are genuine reasons why the company constantly imposes barriers on various categories.
In fact, the key to succeeding in Amazon is to exploit the chances that others are avoiding. By following the simple steps discussed above, you’ll soon emerge as a successful Amazon seller in restricted categories.
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