Overview

Amazon has instantly rolled out a major overhaul of its product‑review and seller‑feedback guidelines while also ending its paid search partnership with Google. The revisions tighten who can write a review, how sellers may request feedback, and how promotional content is filtered. Sellers need to adapt quickly because the changes influence product discoverability, conversion metrics, and overall brand perception on the marketplace.

Key Points

• Google Ads Terminated — Amazon will cease buying or showing paid search placements on Google, cutting off a traffic source that many vendors previously leveraged.
• Verified‑Purchase Requirement — Only buyers who completed a purchase within the past 90 days are eligible to submit a review, shrinking the pool of potential reviewers.
• Manual Feedback Requests Only — Automated email templates for soliciting feedback are banned; each request must be individually crafted and sent after delivery confirmation.
• Stricter Content Filters — Amazon’s moderation engine now aggressively flags reviews containing promotional phrasing or external URLs, resulting in faster removal of non‑compliant entries.
• Early Impact Signals — Internal metrics indicate a slight decline in the average number of new reviews per listing during the first week after the policy took effect.

How the New Review Policy Works

1. Purchase Confirmation Logging — When a transaction is finalized, Amazon records the order ID and timestamps the sale. Example: Maria purchases a Bluetooth speaker on July 2; the system marks her account as review‑eligible starting July 3.
2. Eligibility Window Activation — The buyer’s right to review opens for a 90‑day period after the item is delivered, and the “Write a review” button becomes visible on the order page. Example: Maria receives the speaker on July 7 and can post a review any time until October 5.
3. Personalized Review Requests — Sellers must access Seller Central and use the “Request a Review” function for each order individually, ensuring the message is tailored and free of templated language. : Carlos sends a custom note to a customer thanking them for the purchase and politely asks for honest feedback after confirming delivery.