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Amazon Beware

Discussion in 'Amazon' started by bob25, Mar 21, 2018.

  1. #1
    I've been an Amazon affiliate for about 15 years. Back in the days when "Exact Match Domains" was the rage (around 2003 I think) I was making around $400 - $700 a month. After all the "Google" slaps it kind of dried up and I kind of let my Amazon affiliate account stagnate for several years.

    But with all the Wordpress plugins being developed for Amazon I decided to give it a try again. There was around $75 in my Amazon account (for around 6 or 7 years) that had been stagnating for years. I began to make sales and was looking forward to a check until Amazon closed my account ($300 plus).

    As far as I know the Wordpress plugins all complied (well known developers, pulled updated prices daily from Amazon). But getting a straight answer from Amazon is like trying get an answer from Google's Adsense. Good luck.

    One support person from Amazon (while they were still speaking to me) claimed I couldn't use the words "Best Seller". After all how would I know what Amazon's best sellers were, they could change "THEIR" best sellers. I explained I did a search on Google - best sellers Amazon treadmills AND linked to that page using THEIR Amazon link.

    Listed #1at the top of Google's search
    -----
    Amazon Best Sellers: Best Treadmills - Amazon.com
    https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Sports-Outdoors-Treadmills/...goods/3407831

    Discover the best Treadmills in Best Sellers. Find the top 100 most popular items in Amazon Sports & Outdoors Best Sellers.
    -----

    I gave them several more examples, I also used Amazon's link located at the top.

    I have a plugin that does the same thing BTW. Amazon's support response was.... oh, you can do that. Geez... of course I'm linking directly to Amazon's page

    Here's a snippet of Amazon's termination:

    Operating Agreement (https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/help/operating/agreement), we may terminate your account at any time, with or without cause.

    -------

    Funny thing is this arrived about a week AFTER disabling ALL the Wordpress plugins that used my Amazon affiliate link. I had 2 domains that used NO Amazon affiliate links. I "trashed" the Amazon links to one, and the other was a NEW site - NO links to Amazon.

    I have a few other domains (disabled the Wordpress plugins). But if you go there now you'd only see a totally "blank" homepage.

    Go figure :(


    Again Amazon's response:

    ...we may terminate your account at any time, with or without cause.

    If they would point out the problem I'd delete it :(


    Amazon's Termination:

    We received your appeal regarding the termination of your Associates account. A specialist has reviewed your account and the decision to terminate your account was found to be correct. As stated previously, under the terms of the Operating Agreement (https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/help/operating/agreement), we may terminate your account at any time, with or without cause. This termination is final and not subject to appeal and ***you are not eligible to reapply for a new account.***

    Because you are not in compliance with the Operating Agreement, Amazon will not pay you any outstanding fees related to your account. Amazon exercises its right under the terms of the Operating Agreement to withhold fees based on violations, which include the following:

    -An account belonging to you (or a person or entity connected or affiliated with you) has previously been closed for violations of the Operating Agreement or one of the other Amazon marketing programs.

    It is important that you immediately stop using the Content and Amazon Marks and promptly remove from your Site(s) and delete or otherwise destroy all links to the Amazon site, all Amazon Marks and all other and any other materials provided or made available by or on behalf of us to you under this Operating Agreement or otherwise in connection with the Program.

    Please be aware that any other accounts you have, or may open in the future, may be closed without payment of any fees pursuant to our rights under the Operating Agreement. Amazon reserves all other rights and claims.

    We'd appreciate your feedback. Please use the buttons below to vote about your experience today.
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2018
    bob25, Mar 21, 2018 IP
  2. knowledgeherald

    knowledgeherald Well-Known Member

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    #2
    Really bad. Why not to use the word Best Seller. Don't know why Amazon says so.
     
    knowledgeherald, Mar 29, 2018 IP
  3. bob25

    bob25 Well-Known Member

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    #3
    Just a followup:

    ----------

    For many years, I have been warning Amazon affiliates that automated content websites will not work long-term.

    I have recently heard from other affiliates that Amazon has started to suspend accounts and even prohibit access on new accounts to combat this problem.

    Now that Amazon has taken notice, you really need to be careful.

    Here is what you should do...

    #1. Make sure you aren't running any automated Amazon store websites (where entire pages or websites full of content are created for you with the click of a button). If you do have some of these sites, I urge you to close them down immediately and make sure those URLs aren't listed in your Amazon account.

    #2. Build a high-quality Amazon site with unique content - it does take some time and effort, but the results will work for you for many years.

    If you are not comfortable writing your own content, I completely understand because I used to be the same way.

    Fortunately, content writing isn't hard if you know an easy way to make high-quality content.

    I've spent years learning the best ways to do that type of writing and now I want to pass my strategies along to you.

    To help you overcome this Amazon problem, I'm making my in-depth niche content writing training course available to you for a fraction of the original price.

    Visit the page below today to master niche content writing:

    http://ryanstevensonplugins.com/niche-content-writing/

    To Your Success,
    Ryan Stevenson
     
    bob25, Jun 23, 2018 IP
  4. Katrin Hadson

    Katrin Hadson Peon

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    #4
    Amazon has banned my account! Please help! I own and run my own business here on Amazon, but for some reason my seller account has been banned. I have incredibly high ratings with my customers… over 98% satisfaction. I’ve only had 3 people return items in the past 2 years, and I maintain top quality customer service. I deal with over $90,000 every month, and I’ve been extremely careful to follow all Amazon’s rules and regulations. I pay fees on time, I replace orders when need be, and I have done nothing to violate any of their terms of service.

    Then, out of the blue, Amazon shuts down my account! I have scrounged all over my account to see if there was some sort of rule I broke without realizing it, but I can’t find a thing I did wrong. All my recent transactions have gone smoothly, more good feedback has come rolling in, but it doesn’t seem Amazon has taken any of this into their reasoning.

    Has anyone else had this happen to them? I have a lot of money on the line here, and can’t exactly just walk away. Please… Any help would be greatly appreciated!
     
    Katrin Hadson, Sep 2, 2018 IP
  5. 2ndChance_Amazon

    2ndChance_Amazon Greenhorn

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    #5
    Hi!

    Sorry to hear that your seller account has been suspended. Could you maybe post the original suspension notification here? Or you can PM me if you're not comfortable doing so.
     
    2ndChance_Amazon, Sep 8, 2018 IP
  6. thewahm

    thewahm Well-Known Member

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    #6
    Is it at all possible the plugins you were using collected your data and used it against their terms? Its odd that they would kick a good affiliate.
     
    thewahm, Oct 25, 2018 IP
  7. DigitalNT

    DigitalNT Member

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    #7
    The more i work with Amazon, the more i hate them. Affiliates help them make money for heaven's sake! It's not like we're stealing from them. We're only bringing them more clients!
     
    DigitalNT, Nov 6, 2018 IP