Policy violation - seriously?

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the lengthy post!
So, we recently got hit with a policy violation for a supposed “Duplicate child variation.” Total bummer.

But no worries, we wasted no time in submitting an appeal because, honestly, it’s not a duplicate at all. We’ve got two products under the same parent category, and let me tell you, they’re not twins. They have different prices because they come with different features. And here’s the kicker: the printing is what sets them apart. The cheaper option is single-sided, while the pricier one is double-sided (printing).

We made sure to mention these differences in the item specifics and options, but we might have slacked off a bit when it comes to showing them in the images (not possible).

Anyway, I’ve filed the appeal, and we’re dead serious about getting this sorted out according to the rules.

Here is what we have received from Amazon:

Hello,
We have detected a policy violation that impacts your account health. If left unaddressed, it may lead to account deactivation.

Why did this happen?
You created one or more ASIN variations that violate our ASIN Creation policies. Selling partners may not:
– Change the product’s detail page (parent or child) to become fundamentally different from the original product listed.
– Change the parent product’s detail page so it does not match the children.
– Add incorrect child variations that are not true variations of the parent product.
– Add multi-pack variations that are not manufacturer created to an already existing parent.

Here are examples of your listings that do not comply with this policy:

Listings Removed

Parent ASIN: X
Removed ASIN: XX
XX
Invalid Variation Type: Duplicate child variation

Our appeal sent with screenshots:

Dear Amazon Seller Support,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to appeal the policy violation related to the ASIN variations on our account. We firmly believe that this violation has been flagged in error, as our child ASINs, specifically xxx and xxx, are accurately listed and comply with Amazon’s ASIN Creation policies.

It appears that the violation was based on the assumption that these child ASINs are duplicate variations. However, we would like to clarify that these ASINs represent different variations of the parent ASIN, xxx. Each child ASIN represents a distinct product variation with unique features, specifically related to the printing style.

xxx represents a single-sided printing, whereas xxx represents a double-sided printing. We have taken great care to clearly indicate these variations on our listing, ensuring that customers can easily differentiate between the two options. The descriptions and product titles clearly reflect the distinct characteristics of each child ASIN.

We understand the importance of maintaining accurate and compliant listings on the Amazon platform. It is our utmost priority to provide a positive customer experience by offering transparent and distinct product options. Our intention was never to violate any policies, but rather to enhance the shopping experience for our customers by providing them with diverse choices.

We kindly request you review our listings once again and reconsider the policy violation. We firmly believe that our child ASINs, xxx and xxx, meet the necessary criteria and should be reinstated on our account. We are committed to adhering to Amazon’s guidelines and policies, and we assure you that we will continue to do so moving forward.

If any additional information or evidence is required to support our appeal, please do not hesitate to let us know. We appreciate your attention to this matter and thank you in advance for your time and understanding.

We look forward to a positive resolution and the reinstatement of our ASINs on our account.

Sincerely,

So, here’s the deal: those listings haven’t actually been removed, they’ve just been separated from the parent.
We got a reply this morning! Brace yourselves:

We received your submission but do not have enough information to remove the variation warning from your account at this time. To remove the warning, please send the following:
– The root cause(s) of the policy violation.
– The actions you have taken to resolve the policy violation.
– The steps you have taken to prevent this violation in the future.

If you worked with a third party to manipulate your sales and violate policies, you must provide the following information:
– Copies of all written communications with third parties involved in this activity.
– Evidence of payments made to any third parties involved in this activity.
– A description of how you learned about the third parties and how you and the third party conducted activities.
– At least two of the following: names, physical addresses, phone numbers, website, WeChat or Facebook account ID, or email address for any third parties involved.

They’re basically telling me that my only option is to accept liability.
Alright, now comes the big question: How on earth do I convince Amazon that we didn’t violate any policy? Or did we?