Inauthentic item complaints on Amazon – What they are & how to appeal a suspension.
Inauthentic is a term loosely defined by Amazon that often confuses sellers who receive this type of complaint.
What is Amazon’s definition of inauthentic? According to seller policies, inauthentic items are not quite counterfeit.
In the eyes of Amazon, inauthentic items are not completely fake, but they are part of a gray market category that can get quite complicated.
This gray market can be hit or miss – regardless, when Amazon chooses to flag your item as potentially inauthentic, it means that the product has allegedly been purchased from a source that is not authorized to sell it.
In the eyes of Amazon, an inauthentic item is defined by where it is purchased by the seller.
Items purchased from any source other than the authorized manufacturer of the product are considered to be inauthentic – even if they are indeed the “real” brand name product.
If you have an inauthentic suspension on Amazon, get in touch with us, tell us what’s going on, we’ll guide you to help yourself or we can handle it for you.
Inauthentic suspensions have historically been the number one cause of Amazon sellers getting their listing suspended and Amazon sellers temporarily losing their accounts.
If you get an inauthentic claim, you need to submit an invoice. Don’t redact anything. Don’t put any handwriting on it. Hopefully, the source will answer the phone calls from Amazon and all the information regarding you as the purchaser matches your Amazon account. Good invoices lead to quick reinstatement.
Inauthentic vs. Counterfeit Product Complaints
Inauthentic items aren’t necessarily fake (although it’s possible for an item to be both inauthentic & counterfeit). Inauthentic refers to a product that was not purchased from a good enough distributor. Counterfeit refers to a product that is a fake (a knock off).
If an item is in question and a complaint is issued, you will be required to provide proof of purchase to the seller performance team to show that you purchased your items from an authorized seller or at least one that passes Amazon’s unknown standards. It’s common that Amazon often refuses to accept receipts that fail to identify the product & also dislikes liquidators & other resellers where it’s difficult to identify where your distributor obtained the products.
Why Do Customers File Inauthentic Item Complaints?
Buyer Mistake:
Sometimes, complaints are simply misplaced by your buyer. This leaves you, as a seller, in a frustrating position. Your products are 100% authentic, but the customer has made the complaint regardless. If you cannot discover why someone left the complaint, you will need to demonstrate in your plan of action where you bought your items.
Inconsistent Packaging:
You may be selling authentic products, but perhaps the packaging is inconsistent with the customer’s expectations. Some buyers reported inauthentic items due to a perceived difference between the product on Amazon and the one they received. While this should be filed as a “Not as Advertised” complaint, it is now your job to correct your packing mistakes and prove the authenticity of your product: show Amazon where you purchased your products.
Product Looks Similar:
Another reason for inauthentic complaints is that your product looks similar to another brand name product, and customers believe you are selling a knock off. It is once again your responsibility to correct your product descriptions so that the customers are not easily confused, as well as prove the authenticity of your product.
An inauthentic suspension is the #1 reason for an account getting suspended and the #1 reason for a seller to lose a listing (ASIN) or a group of ASINs.
Inauthentic means Amazon wants to see where you’re sourcing your products from. You need to be able to show where you source your products from, show an internet presence of that source, submit invoices that have a whole bunch of things on it. Then you also want to be able to track your source of goods back to the manufacturer, and that could also be done in countless ways. If you receive an inauthentic suspension, whether it’s a listing suspension or an account suspension, there are literally dozens of ways to skin the cat to get your account back and get your listings back.
If you’ve been suspended on Amazon, contact us for a free consultation: 1-877-9-SELLER.
GET HELP NOW: The law firm of Rosenbaum, Famularo & Segall PC is required by law to assure you 100% confidentiality under the Attorney-Client privilege.
Read some of our amazing reviews from reinstated Amz sellers:
New sellers getting killed with inauthentic suspensions.
We’re seeing a rise in new sellers who finally get past verification & then boom.. immediately getting hit with an inauthentic. When it comes to inauthentic, there’s no intellectual property complaint from a brand. No one has accused you of anything. Amazon on its own volition, is going after you.
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