Free Checklist

Amazon Suspension Prevention Checklist

32-Point Monthly Audit to Keep Your Account Healthy

Prevention is always cheaper than reinstatement. Run through this checklist every month to catch problems before Amazon catches them for you. One missed metric can cost you your entire business.

32
Audit Points
5
Categories
1x
Monthly
!

Why Monthly Audits Matter

Amazon suspends thousands of seller accounts every month. Most suspensions are preventable. The sellers who get suspended are almost always the ones who stopped monitoring their metrics. Set a recurring calendar reminder for the first of every month to complete this checklist.

Performance Metrics

8 items
Order Defect Rate (ODR)
Check your ODR in Account Health. This is the single most important metric. Includes negative feedback, A-to-Z claims, and chargebacks.
Target: under 1% (Amazon threshold)
Late Shipment Rate
Review all orders shipped in the past 30 days. Verify tracking was uploaded before the ship-by date for every order. FBM sellers: this is critical.
Target: under 4% (Amazon threshold)
Pre-Fulfillment Cancellation Rate
Monitor cancellations initiated by you (not the customer). Usually caused by inventory sync issues or overselling. Investigate each one.
Target: under 2.5% (Amazon threshold)
Valid Tracking Rate
Ensure every shipped order has a valid, scannable tracking number from a supported carrier. Missing or invalid tracking erodes your metrics.
Target: over 95%
Invoice Defect Rate
For Business (B2B) orders, check that invoices are uploaded within 1 business day. Low invoice rates hurt your B2B visibility.
Customer Response Time
Review all buyer messages. Every message must have a response within 24 hours. Late responses count against your metrics and hurt Buy Box eligibility.
Target: under 24 hours, every message
A-to-Z Guarantee Claims
Review every A-to-Z claim from the past month. For each one: Was it preventable? What was the root cause? Update processes to prevent recurrence.
Negative Feedback Response
Check all negative feedback (1-2 stars). Respond professionally to each. Request removal for feedback that violates Amazon's guidelines (product reviews, profanity, FBA fulfillment issues).

Policy Compliance

8 items
Listing Accuracy Audit
Review 10-20% of your active listings (rotate monthly until all are checked). Verify titles, images, descriptions, and bullet points are accurate and match the actual product.
Restricted Products Check
Cross-reference your catalog against Amazon's current restricted products list. Policies change frequently. What was allowed last month may not be allowed now.
Category Approval Verification
Confirm all products are listed in categories where you have active approval. Check for any approval expirations or new category gating requirements.
Product Condition Accuracy
Verify the condition listed (New, Refurbished, Used) matches the actual product condition for every listing. Condition mismatches are a top suspension trigger.
Shipping Template Review
Check that shipping templates reflect realistic delivery times. Over-promising delivery windows leads to late shipment violations.
Return Policy Compliance
Verify your return policy meets Amazon's minimum requirements. Check for any new return policy updates. Ensure return address is current and operational.
Intellectual Property Review
Audit listings for any unauthorized use of brand names, logos, or copyrighted images. Check for new IP complaints in your Performance Notifications.
Pricing Policy Compliance
Verify no listings violate Amazon's fair pricing policy. Check that your prices are not significantly higher than other channels. Review any pricing alerts.

Product Quality

6 items
Supplier Quality Check
Contact your suppliers to confirm manufacturing standards remain consistent. Request updated quality certifications if applicable. Address any recent quality issues directly.
Packaging Inspection
Inspect recent inventory for packaging quality. Check for damage during shipping, adequate protection, and compliance with Amazon's packaging requirements (poly bags, suffocation warnings).
Product Testing
Order your own products periodically (from your Amazon listing) to verify the customer experience. Check product quality, packaging, and delivery timeline firsthand.
Customer Complaint Analysis
Review all customer messages, returns, and reviews mentioning quality issues. Categorize complaints by type. Identify patterns that need supplier or listing corrections.
Return Reason Analysis
Download your returns report. Analyze return reasons by product. High return rates on specific ASINs signal quality or listing accuracy problems that need immediate attention.
Condition Guidelines Review
Verify all products meet Amazon's condition guidelines for their listed condition. Pay special attention to items listed as "New" that have been repackaged or relabeled.

Account Security

5 items
Two-Factor Authentication
Verify 2FA is enabled and functioning on all accounts with Seller Central access. Test it by logging in. If using an authenticator app, ensure backup codes are stored securely.
Password Rotation
Change your Seller Central password. Use a unique password not shared with any other service. Store in a reputable password manager. Never share credentials via email or chat.
Authorized User Audit
Review all user accounts with access to your Seller Central. Remove anyone who no longer needs access (former employees, old VAs, terminated agencies). Update permission levels.
API Access Review
Check all third-party apps and services connected via MWS/SP-API. Revoke access for any tools or services you no longer use. Verify all connected apps are reputable.
Login Activity Check
Review login history for any unfamiliar IP addresses, locations, or access times. Investigate any suspicious activity immediately. Report unauthorized access to Amazon.

Documentation

5 items
Invoice Archive Current
Verify you have invoices on file for every active ASIN from the past 365 days. Invoices must show supplier name, address, phone number, and quantities matching your sales volume.
Brand Authorization Letters on File
Check that you have current, signed brand authorization letters for every branded product you sell. Letters should reference Amazon specifically and not be expired.
Supplier Agreements Accessible
Ensure all supplier contracts, purchase orders, and communication records are organized and quickly accessible. You may need them within hours during a suspension appeal.
Compliance Certifications Valid
Check expiration dates on all product certifications (FDA, CPSC, FCC, UL, CE, etc.). Renew any that expire within the next 60 days. Keep digital copies readily available.
Insurance Documentation Current
Verify your commercial liability insurance meets Amazon's requirements ($1M per occurrence). Check policy expiration date. Amazon requires proof of insurance for sellers exceeding $10K/month.

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