Amazon Restricted Categories 2021: The Definitive Guide
Just like any other marketplace, Amazon shuffles all the products in specified categories. The e-commerce giant does this to facilitate a seamless buyer experience for the customers and also ensure a smooth seller experience, including a hassle-free process for Amazon seller registration. But there are certain categories that are gated by Amazon’s restrictive policies and rules, known as the Amazon Restricted Categories or Amazon Gated Categories
In this blog, we have tackled the nuances of this often misunderstood notion in detail and suggested ways for sellers to get past the Amazon restricted categories, once they are done with the online seller registration.
What Are Amazon Restricted Categories?
On the surface, the term “Amazon Restricted Categories” sounds pretty self-explanatory; but there’s more to it than meets the eye. These gated categories are guarded by Amazon’s stringent rules and guidelines to serve a multitude of purposes, one of them being the prevention of counterfeit and/or harmful products. And unlike general categories, sellers are required to seek Amazon’s approval to sell commodities in these restricted categories.
Although in recent times, Amazon has changed its policy to restrict entire categories; instead the restrictions are now applicable to particular sub-categories & sub-niches. As such, Amazon sellers need to wary of not just restricted categories but also the list of gated products and brands while selling on the platform.
Difference Between Restricted Categories, Products & Brand
Indeed, selling on Amazon is a highly profitable affair for the sellers, which is why many individuals are opting for Amazon seller registration in India and USA. However, the golden Amazon business ticket comes with its fair share of rules & regulations that can often be too perplexing for the sellers.
Numerous sellers are yet unbeknownst to the fact that Amazon has outlined a clear distinction between the gated categories, products, and brands. Here is the gist:
(A) Amazon restricted categories refer to the entire category of products such as pet food & music category. Sellers need Amazon’s approval to sell any product within that category.
(B) Amazon restricted products refer to the specific product types like electronics and food & beverages for which sellers require additional approval to sell.
(C) Amazon restricted brands refer to particular brands like Nike, Jockey, etc. that sellers are restricted from selling on Amazon.
Knowing the difference between the three not only helps Amazon sellers to sell better but can also sometimes lead to surprising incentives. For instance: If a product falls into a restricted category but the product itself is not restricted by Amazon, a seller can list the same under a different category with certain tweaks.
List Of Amazon Restricted Categories
It is essential for Amazon sellers to research the eligibility of their products before they start selling on the platform. In that regard, we have curated a list of the Amazon restricted categories, as listed on Amazon.com, that sellers should keep an eye on. (For this article, we have used the list as per the USA marketplace)
Collectible Coins
Personal Safety and Household Products
Entertainment Collectibles
Fine Art
Toys and Games (Holiday Selling Requirements Apply)
Jewellery
Join Amazon Handmade
Join Amazon Subscription Boxes
Made in Italy
Music & DVD
Automotive & Power
Sports
Services
Sports Collectibles
Streaming Media Players
Video, DVD & Blu-ray
Watches
List Of Amazon Restricted Products
Just like the categories, there are plenty of products labeled as restricted by Amazon. After completing the process of Amazon seller registration, the sellers need to ask for Amazon’s approval before selling any product on this list. (For this article, we have used the list as per the USA marketplace).
Alcohol
Animals & Animal-Related Products
Art – Fine Art
Art – Home Decor
Automotive and Powersports
Composite Wood Products
Cosmetics & Skin/Hair Care
COVID-19 Supplies
Currency, Coins, Cash Equivalents, and Gift Cards
Dietary Supplements
Drugs & drug paraphernalia
Electronics
Explosives, Weapons, and Related Items
Export Controls
Food & Beverage
Hazardous and Dangerous Items
Jewellery & Precious Gems
Laser products
Lighting
Lock Picking & Theft Devices
Medical devices and accessories
Pesticides and Pesticide Devices
Plant and Seed Products
Postage Meters & Stamps
Subscriptions and Periodicals
Surveillance Equipment
Tobacco & Tobacco-Related Products
Refrigerants: Ozone-Depleting Substances and Substitutes
Upholstered Furniture, Bedding, & Other Quilted Products
CPAP Cleaning and Disinfecting Devices
Since the list of Amazon restricted categories and products is updated regularly, sellers constantly need to keep an eye on Seller Central for potential changes.
Seller Requirements For Restricted Category Approval
Looking beyond the gates of restricted categories and products, we realize that there are immense profit-making opportunities for the sellers. With all the stringent restrictions in place, fewer sellers are competing for the restricted categories & products. This often results in boosted sales & profits for those few lucky sellers who get to be a part of this elite club.
However, each category has its own rules and a set of approval steps that sellers must successfully clear. And while there isn’t a uniform code of solution to overcome all the gated categories, there are a few criteria that sellers must meet to be eligible for approval.
1. Professional Seller
Only those sellers who have a professional seller account on Amazon can think about getting approval for the Amazon restricted categories & products.
2. Seller Performance Metrics
Sellers with stellar performance metrics have a higher chance of getting Amazon’s approval to sell restricted products. Amazon sellers need to maintain the defect rate at less than 1%, the pre-fulfilment cancel rate at less than 2.5% and the late shipment rate at less than 4%.
3. Product Authenticity
Amazon sellers need to produce an evidence that validates the authenticity of their products. This is possible when the seller is able to prove that they have sourced the products either from the manufacturer or a licensed dealer.
4. Invoice History
To sell in the Amazon restricted categories, sellers need to produce a factual invoice history of their inventory. It must be dated within 90 days of the application date and must contain the same company information as the Seller Central account. Amazon asks for the invoice history to verify the name, address, contact, and website of the seller.
How To Get Approval For Selling Restricted Category On Amazon
Let’s clear all the clouds of confusion surrounding the main procedure. Getting approval for selling in the Amazon restricted categories is not much of a complex process as it is time-consuming. If the sellers have all the required documents at the ready, all they have to do is go through the following steps:
1. Log in to the Seller Central account. On the top menu, click on the ‘Inventory’ option to reveal a drop-down menu.
2. Select the ‘Add a Product’ on the drop-down menu.
3. Browse the product list and choose the one that you want to sell.
4. If the message displays that it is restricted, click on the ‘Listing Limitations Apply’ link.
5. Finally, select the ‘Request Approval’ button to begin the application process.
In some instances, the sellers can get instant approval. But most of the time, the approval process takes some time as the Amazon executives review your case & documents to arrive at a decision.
Is It Worth For Sellers To Sell In Amazon Restricted Categories?
Getting past the gates of Amazon restricted categories can certainly prove to be a tedious and time-consuming task for the sellers. So, the most common question that sellers have is: “Is all the trouble worth it?”
Unsurprisingly, the answer is yes. The mere fact that the categories are restricted raises a valuable opportunity for profit for Amazon sellers. The restricted status of these categories ensures that fewer sellers are trading in those categories and hence, there's lesser competition.
Additionally, selling in the Amazon restricted categories exposes sellers to a wider scope of the audience with niche demands. This improves the visibility of their listings and consequently increases their revenues.
Final Thoughts
Yes, getting approval for selling in Amazon restricted categories is a challenging task after completing the online seller registration process. And yes, it requires extreme caution on the part of Amazon sellers. But behind these fences of restrictions, there lies a huge business prospect for the sellers. Selling in Amazon restricted categories gives you a clear advantage over those sellers who fail to get approval or don’t even bother attempting to leverage these gated categories.
The populace of sellers in these gated categories is quite small which results in low competitive threats and higher profitability. And as mentioned earlier, these categories will grant you access to a broader & highly niche community of buyers. All in all, Amazon restricted categories offer a fruitful chance for you to grow your business on Amazon and set yourself apart from other sellers.
