Overview

Amazon has recently highlighted its Account Health Rating (AHR) system, zeroing in on product‑authenticity proof and review‑integrity rules. The reminder, posted in Seller News, signals that Amazon may increase enforcement in the coming weeks. Sellers who tighten documentation, avoid prohibited review tactics, and monitor their health dashboard now can sidestep suspensions or listing removals later.

Key Points

• Product authenticity proof — Amazon expects commercial invoices that list the supplier’s legal name, address, and the exact ASINs or SKU numbers for every item you sell.
• Review manipulation ban — Offering discounts, refunds, or any incentive for a buyer to leave a positive review violates policy, even if the intent is to boost sales.
• AHR dashboard vigilance — Amazon recommends checking the Account Health Rating at least once a week instead of waiting for an automated warning.
• Documentation retention — Keep all supplier paperwork— invoices, purchase orders, and agreements—for a minimum of 365 days after the last unit of that product is sold.
• Organic review tools — The “Request a Review” button in Seller Central sends a compliant message to buyers and is the only Amazon‑approved method for soliciting feedback.

How Amazon Enforces Account Health Policies

1. Supply‑chain audit trigger — When a compliance reviewer flags a listing, Amazon requests the original invoice for that ASIN. Example: A seller of branded headphones receives a request for the invoice showing the manufacturer’s name, address, and the specific model number; a handwritten receipt is rejected, leading to a violation notice.
2. Review‑pattern detection — Amazon’s automated systems scan for clusters of reviews that share similar wording, timestamps, or buyer locations. Example: A seller who sends a 10 % discount code to recent purchasers and asks for a 5‑star review sees a sudden spike in five‑star ratings from the same IP range, prompting an automatic alert and a possible account hold.