Seller Performance Solutions
Entrepreneurship
This is the definitive podcast that covers performance and policy teams from the perspective of a former Seller Performance team member, and former Amazon employee Chris McCabe. Leah McHugh nails down analysis of listing compliance violations and presents viable solutions to troubleshoot product takedowns. We created Seller Performance Solutions to help sellers better understand the inner workings of the team I worked on at Amazon, and to help 3rd party marketplace sellers cope with account and listing suspensions. We answer questions around things like, How does Seller Performance investigate a seller before taking them down? What do they need to see in an appeal, to reactivate the account for future selling? What are common mistakes that sellers make trying to get reinstated on Amazon?
Location:
United States
Description:
This is the definitive podcast that covers performance and policy teams from the perspective of a former Seller Performance team member, and former Amazon employee Chris McCabe. Leah McHugh nails down analysis of listing compliance violations and presents viable solutions to troubleshoot product takedowns. We created Seller Performance Solutions to help sellers better understand the inner workings of the team I worked on at Amazon, and to help 3rd party marketplace sellers cope with account and listing suspensions. We answer questions around things like, How does Seller Performance investigate a seller before taking them down? What do they need to see in an appeal, to reactivate the account for future selling? What are common mistakes that sellers make trying to get reinstated on Amazon?
Language:
English
Episodes
If you can't dispute, you can't reinstate
4/18/2024
Recently, there's been a significant uptick in suspensions on Amazon due to ASIN creation misuse, notably without the option for sellers to submit a plan of action, only allowing for disputes if Amazon made an error. This change marks a pivotal shift in how Amazon handles policy violations, particularly concerning ASIN variation misuse. In this episode, Chris and Leah explore the nuances of these policy changes and how they affect sellers, especially those previously warned about potential violations.
Duration:00:13:03
Navigating Price Changes on Amazon with AZSellerKit
3/28/2024
In the competitive world of Amazon selling, pricing strategies emerge as a critical factor that can significantly influence a seller's success. Companies like AZSellerKit are leading the way in offering sophisticated solutions that address these challenges head-on. In this episode, Chris McCabe & Jason Hasan from AZSellerkit discuss the challenges of pricing in an ever-evolving marketplace, the impact of Amazon's fees on seller margins, and strategies to stay profitable amidst rising advertising costs.
Duration:00:15:48
How to Fix Variations Not Merging Reviews
3/21/2024
Amazon sellers are constantly navigating through a maze of challenges to ensure their products stand out on the platform. One issue consistently resurfaces to perplex and frustrate sellers: ASIN variation families and their seemingly mysterious behaviors, especially when it comes to merging reviews. In this episode, Chris McCabe & Leah McHugh delve into the perplexing issue of ASIN variation families not merging reviews as they should while also unpacking the nuanced difficulties sellers face— ranging from disappearing reviews to the mismanagement of variation families.
Duration:00:17:23
AI vs The People
3/14/2024
As online marketplaces evolve, the reliance on automated systems for compliance and product listing management has grown exponentially. Yet, this technological advance brings its own set of challenges. Sellers find themselves at the mercy of algorithms that, while efficient, can sometimes miss the mark. In this episode, Chris & Leah dive into the strategies that successful sellers are employing to not just cope with but thrive amidst these unprecedented challenges.
Duration:00:16:55
Takeways from Prosper 2024
3/7/2024
The Prosper Show 2024 in Las Vegas served as a melting pot for Amazon sellers, brand owners, and industry experts, coming together to exchange knowledge, strategies, and experiences in navigating the Amazon marketplace. In this episode, Chris and Leah shed light on the pivotal conversations and think tank sessions that took place, focusing on the challenges and innovative solutions proposed by sellers and brand owners.
Duration:00:19:06
How to dispute restricted products with Seller Performance
2/29/2024
Compliance on Amazon has always been a challenge. But lately, sellers are facing a new trend: restricted product suspensions morphing into full-blown account suspensions, leaving many sellers wondering, what's the deal with these sudden shifts in Amazon's enforcement tactics? In this episode, Chris and Leah dissect the intricacies of product restrictions and the uphill battle of disputing them.
Duration:00:16:56
You aren't authorized to sell your own brand
2/15/2024
Amazon sellers are encountering an increasing array of challenges when it comes to listing and selling their own products. A rising trend has been observed where sellers, despite being brand owners, are facing restrictions and even deactivations for products they rightfully own. In this episode, Chris and Leah dissect the confusing messages from Amazon, the hurdles in product compliance, and the baffling interactions with Account Health Services.
Duration:00:13:35
When Amazon Sellers Should be Scared
2/8/2024
It's time to debunk the prevalent myth of effortless success on Amazon. The misleading allure of quick gains can often overshadow the importance of building a sustainable and compliant business. The truth is, focusing solely on sales and neglecting the operational and compliance aspects of selling can lead to detrimental consequences. In this episode, Chris and Leah delve into the critical aspects of compliance, policy awareness, and the potential risks that lie beneath the surface of the facade of quick and passive income.
Duration:00:12:07
Do Your Job
2/1/2024
One pressing issue currently surfacing is the increased difficulty in dealing with account health services. Many sellers have expressed frustration, highlighting a trend of receiving unhelpful, conflicting, or even rude responses from representatives. In this episode, Chris & Leah delve into the growing frustration among Amazon sellers regarding these unpleasant experiences & practical strategies to effectively navigate them.
Duration:00:15:30
Consultants Make Mistakes Too
1/25/2024
Recently, there has been a growing concern over the mistakes made by consultants in the Amazon space, leading to significant financial losses, wasted time, and increased difficulties in resolving issues. In this episode, Chris and Leah provide insights into how sellers can effectively vet and collaborate with consultants, ensuring that they make informed decisions and avoid costly errors.
Duration:00:16:43
Losing the Buy Box to Wrong Competitive External Prices
1/11/2024
The start of 2024 has brought to light an intriguing issue for Amazon sellers: the flawed operation of Amazon's pricing algorithms. These algorithms, originally designed to match products with competitive external prices, are causing considerable challenges for sellers due to erroneous product matches In this episode, Chris and Leah explore how these algorithmic errors can lead to sellers losing the coveted 'buy box', and examine the broader implications on fair pricing policies and seller strategies.
Duration:00:12:39
Important Updates for 2024
1/4/2024
As we begin 2024, we look back on the most popular topics discussed in the last year. Amazon experts Leah McHugh and Chris McCabe provide important updates for sellers and predict what they can expect to see this year.
Duration:00:18:51
When Amazon AI goes Wrong
12/28/2023
The increasing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) by major platforms like Amazon has introduced a series of complications, particularly in product categorization and compliance. In this episode, Chris and Leah delve into the intricate world of AI-driven recategorization on Amazon, exploring how products are often incorrectly classified, the consequent compliance triggers, and the impacts these errors have on sellers.
Duration:00:14:47
Reporting Abusive ASIN Merges
12/21/2023
ASIN merges, a technique initially used for legitimate catalog management, have evolved into a tactic used to manipulate product listings. In this episode, Chris & Leah unravel the intricacies of ASIN merges, highlighting the ethical and practical implications for the online marketplace and shed light on the difficulties sellers face in reporting such abuses.
Duration:00:19:08
What do you do when Amazon Forgets that you're Reinstated?
12/7/2023
In this chaotic final quarter of 2023, sellers are facing an unprecedented challenge with immediate resuspensions following reinstatements. Despite being recently reinstated, many wake up to find their listings suspended yet again, a problem that seems to be intensifying. In this episode, Chris and Leah will not only shed light on these occurrences but also explore the response (or lack thereof) from support teams, the ineffectiveness of traditional escalation processes, and the strategies sellers can employ to navigate these turbulent times.
Duration:00:12:18
The Consequences of Bad Legal Advice
11/30/2023
The legalities of the Amazon marketplace are perplexing and have become increasingly challenging for sellers to navigate. In this episode, Chris and Leah discuss the nuances of Amazon’s policies, the risks of improper legal representation, and the importance of specialized legal advice in certain areas, while offering insights into avoiding brand registry revocations and compliance blunders.
Duration:00:14:28
Why is my product flagged as a pesticide?
11/16/2023
There’s a lot of confusion around the seller community and in the general public about what exactly a pesticide is. Most people tend to think of chemical pesticides, but those are not the only types of pesticides. Often sellers are selling pesticides without even realizing it, due to the claims they are making. Or, especially during busy sales periods, their products are flagged as pesticides due to an attack from a competitor. In this episode, Leah McHugh talks about what pesticides are, how they are regulated on Amazon, and how to deal with attacks that could take your best-selling ASIN down during crucial sales periods.
Duration:00:00:07
Bulletproof Your Amazon Listings Against Suspensions & Defect Claims in Q4
11/9/2023
Recently, there’s been a noticeable uptick in listing suspensions particularly related to condition complaints—damaged, defective, used sold as new— triggering a flurry of suspension notifications. In this episode, Chris and Leah examine the murky waters of these suspension notifications exacerbated by the chaotic frenzy of this busy sales period.
Duration:00:12:53
Submitting Amazon's Appeal Form Can Hurt Your Account
11/2/2023
When engaging with Amazon's Seller Performance team, sellers must tread carefully. One pitfall many fall into is the checkbox appeals. While these forms might seem like a quick fix for sellers who find themselves in hot water, hastily clicking through them without understanding the full implications can lead to even bigger issues. In this episode Chris and Leah unpack the intricacies of checkbox appeals and offer advice on how to navigate them effectively.
Duration:00:12:44
Questions you need to ask before using Supply Chain by Amazon
10/26/2023
Amazon has recently introduced a service called "Supply Chain by Amazon." The program is Amazon's expansion into the logistics sector, aiming to provide more comprehensive warehousing and multi-channel fulfillment options to sellers. In this episode, Chris & Leah address key concerns surrounding this initiative, such as the potential impact on Amazon sellers and the practicality of using Amazon for logistics.
Duration:00:16:08