Overview

When Amazon suspends or deactivates your selling privileges, the appeal questionnaire is your primary path to reinstatement. This structured process requires sellers to explain what went wrong, what steps they've taken to fix the issue, and provide supporting documentation. Understanding how to complete this questionnaire effectively can mean the difference between a swift reinstatement and a prolonged suspension that costs your business thousands in lost revenue.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Appeals are initiated through your Account Health dashboard - You can find your appeal questionnaire by navigating to the Account Health page in Seller Central and selecting the specific violation that triggered the deactivation.
• Root cause analysis is essential - Amazon expects you to identify and address the underlying reasons for the violation, not just acknowledge that it happened. Deactivations often result from multiple compounding issues.
• Supporting documentation is mandatory - You must provide evidence for every product or ASIN under review, including invoices, supplier agreements, and other relevant records that demonstrate compliance.
• Clarity and precision matter - Amazon reviewers process a high volume of appeals, so submissions that are concise, factual, and well-organized have a better chance of success.
• Time-sensitive document requirements apply - Many appeal types require invoices and records from within the last 365 days, so check the specific timeframe requested before gathering your documents.

How the Appeal Process Works

The appeal questionnaire is accessible directly from your Account Health dashboard in Seller Central. Once you locate the violation that led to your deactivation, selecting it will open the appeal form. The questionnaire guides you through several sections where you must explain the root causes behind the issue, outline the corrective actions you've already taken, and upload supporting evidence. Amazon reviews these submissions and determines whether your account should be reinstated based on the strength and completeness of your response.

It's important to understand that deactivations are frequently the result of multiple overlapping problems rather than a single isolated incident. For example, a seller might face suspension due to a combination of unverifiable supplier documentation, inventory management failures, and product quality control breakdowns. Your appeal needs to address each contributing factor individually to demonstrate that you fully understand what went wrong.