How Amazon's Account Health Rating Works and How to Keep Your Score High
Amazon’s Account Health Rating (AHR) scores sellers from 200‑1,000 (Healthy) to below 100 (Critical). Recent changes now deduct points for any order lacking a tracking number, causing a 20‑point drop per untracked shipment, and a 2% rise in late‑shipment rate can cut about 30 points from the overall score.
Overview
Amazon’s Account Health Rating (AHR) is the primary gauge that determines whether a seller’s account remains active on the marketplace. The score, displayed on the Account Health page in Seller Central, aggregates performance in shipping, customer service, policy compliance, and listing quality. Keeping the rating in the “Healthy” band prevents listing suppression and the risk of account suspension, making it essential for every seller.
Key Points
- Score Range Definition — Amazon classifies AHR into three bands: Healthy (200‑1,000), At Risk (100‑199), and Critical (99 or below).
- Shipping Weight — Late shipments, missing tracking numbers, or deliveries that miss the promised date each subtract points, even if the package eventually arrives on time.
- Customer Communication — Failing to answer buyer messages within 24 hours triggers a direct penalty to the rating.
- Listing Accuracy — Listings that misrepresent size, material, or quantity generate returns and A‑to‑Z claims, which drag the score down.
- Inventory Visibility — Selling items that are out of stock leads to order cancellations, a major factor in moving a rating from Healthy to At Risk.
- Proactive Monitoring — Sellers who review the Account Health dashboard daily and resolve alerts immediately maintain higher scores than those who wait for Amazon notifications.
How the Account Health Rating Is Calculated
- Data Collection — Amazon continuously pulls metrics from four pillars: shipping performance, customer service, policy adherence, and listing quality. Example: A seller who ships 500 orders in a month will have each order’s handling time, tracking status, and on‑time delivery recorded.
- Weighted Scoring — Each pillar carries a preset weight; shipping and policy compliance have the highest influence, while listing quality contributes a smaller but still significant portion. Example: A 2 % increase in late‑shipment rate can drop the overall rating by roughly 30 points, whereas a single inaccurate image may reduce the score by 5 points.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
A rating below 100 can trigger immediate listing suppression or account deactivation, forcing sellers to file a Plan of Action. Keeping the score above 200 avoids enforcement actions and supports steady sales growth.
Key Takeaways
- Score bands: Healthy 200‑1,000, At Risk 100‑199, Critical ≤99.
- Missing tracking numbers now subtract ~20 points per order, regardless of delivery time.
- A 2% increase in late‑shipment rate can lower the overall AHR by roughly 30 points.
- Failing to answer buyer messages within 24 hours triggers a direct penalty to the rating.
Recommended Actions
- →Check Seller Central > Account Health daily; resolve any ‘Missing tracking number’ alerts immediately.
- →Set up automated tracking uploads in your shipping software to ensure every order includes a carrier‑provided tracking number.
- →Configure message alerts in Seller Central and use templated replies to answer buyer inquiries within 24 hours.
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