Wrongfully being denied for brand approval.
(reference case ID 17704112031)
Hello!
I was approved to sell NIKE branded products in 2023, but last month had to get reapproved like many others. I got an invoice from an authorized distributor totaling 100 items and included the FedEx proof of delivery and product photos in my documentation. Despite having every piece of required information for brand approval, I have been denied dozens of times now. I have been given many false reasons for denial like "The document you submitted must be legible." Often times I am not even given a reason for denial, and when I ask for one they ignore my message and send me the same application denied script while completely disregarding the request I sent them.
As an Amazon seller that relies on this brand to make a living, this situation has been very frustrating for me. I know many people in the community who had no issues with being reapproved for this brand. I have sold this brand for years and am committed to selling only authentic items sourced from authorized distributors.
Does a community manager or anybody else have any advice to offer? Thanks!
25 replies
Seller_nRFmxiQg4EGrw
You need to include your written Letter of Authorization directly from Nike (not from a distributor) stating that you are authorized to sell Nike products on Amazon.
Without that, you won't be approved. Nike has gotten quite strict about who gets to sell their products. (same is true to a lesser extent for Adidas and Puma).
Seller_nRFmxiQg4EGrw
Amazon never states that they require a LoA; but they often do. Nike has been VERY clear that they want to control who sells their products, and states on their website (the corporate one, not the retail site) that they will NOT authorize sellers who sell only on 3P sites like Amazon or Ebay.
And Amazon is cracking down on these people. On the bright side, they've softened a bit; telling you that your listings are deactivated. 6 months ago, listing Nike would, when Amazon caught up with you, result in your account being suspended.
Glenn_Amazon
Hello @Seller_KnZufE5ThnXym,
I'm sorry you have had difficulties getting your account approved to sell Nike Products. In general Amazon won't give explicit explanation on why you are or are not accepted, however my strongest recommendation is to ensure that the invoices you provide demonstrate the exact products you intend to sell and the ones you currently list (if any).
Please continue to work with the investigators to appeal further. Thank you for your understanding.
-Glenn
Seller_EGAYxdv2MmpO0
Nike has closed Amazon down for resellers. You had a good run, now it is time to move to eBay before they start blocking there, too.
Seller_QPwjYIcPFoXha
Also heard Nike may be coming back on to amazon to sell their products again thus kicking off 3rd party sellers to prepare for this :(
Seller_Qg1FueblHU9RR
There is no more easy money on Amazon bro it's over.
Seller_08TZq9sOIaGvv
You were never supposed to be selling these items as NEW. They never carried the Nike warranty. This violates the Amazon definition of "New". Takes time to bust all of them. Time to pivot to something else asap! (if you think I am wrong, here is a clue - read the NIKE warranty - only valid if you purchased from THREE places, you aint one of them listed.)
Seller_CW0P5hgbsiqWX
Somewhere below lies the reason for your problem.
Do you understand the different types of distributors, meaning the real ones, and the fake ones.
1. Real Distributor:
- EX 1: The manufacture makes the product in a home location but does not sell the product there. They sell their products thru a distributorship office, one on the east coast, and one on the west coast. The only place you can buy the product is from those 2 locations. Each has a sales rep, and you can only buy from that Rep with a company account. they take your order and the factory ships. If there is any problem, the Rep will take your returns, and you get wholesale pricing.
- EX 2: The manufacture makes the product is a home location but does not sell the product there. The country is divided into territories, each with a Rep. When you want their product, you contact the manufacture, who intern takes your business information and gives it to your local Rep. The Rep makes personal calls to your business to see if you are who you are, and will stop by to refund any products you have a problem with.
2. The Fake Distributor:
This is the distributor you need to watch out for. They are actually just a retail store calling themselves a distributor (because they distribute to the public, products of others). They sell anything they can get their hands on cheap. They have the accounts with manufacturer and buy wholesale, then mark it up and sell it to you (at the so-called wholesale price).
These distributors don't carry any manufacturer's full line just stuff they can buy for cheap. These products are usually end of the line stock, or Gray Market inventory. Gray Market distributors buy the product in massive quantity in foreign countries for cheap, then bring them to the USA for sale. These products carry no USA warranty. They can even through in a few counterfeit items depending on how smart they believe YOU to be. They sell with an ALL SALES FINAL policy (because their deals and pricing are so good).
If you go to trade shows, you will find the real and fake distributors are both there. When you talk with the real manufacture distributor, they say we would like to have you as a customer, here is our wholesale pricing. When you talk with the fake distributor, they tell you all kinds of reasons they are the best to buy from. You look at their pricing and compare it to the other and see they are selling for $10 more per unit, and walk away. BUT...……………..There is more to the story as Paul Harvey used to say.
The fake distributor, while you, the smart seller, didn't buy from him, others placed orders with them for 5,000 units @ $10 more. So...…..at the end of the show, the fake distributors goes to the manufacture's booth and orders 5,000 products @ $10 less, and takes home a profit of $50,000 on unsuspecting buyers. And now you know the rest of the story. What type of distributor are you using?
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INVOICES:
Amazon knows what a commercial invoice includes. An invoice is used when Your USA business has a retail commercial credit account with the manufacturer. Most all invoices include all of the following:
- YOUR: business name, business address, business phone, sales tax exempt number, your EIN number, your credit line, and terms of sale
- MANUFACTURER’S: address, phone, EIN number, account Rep’s name & phone number
- PRODUCT’S: quantity, SKU-Model number,
- DISCOUNTS PROCESSES ON THIS PURHASE: quantity, sale, specials
- TERMS OF SHIPPING: method, who pays, company used, tracking number
- TERMS OF PAYMENT: 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, interest assessed
Some have more, but they all use the same basic format. Even when you call and make a small online order and pay by credit card, an invoice is still sent to you separately containing all of the above.
If you purchased the items from a distributor using cash and carry, or on-line with a credit card, and paid sales tax on it, you are not buying wholesale from the manufacturer.
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Letters of Authorizations, the trick request by Amazon.
Did you notice that Amazon always asks for a manufacturer’s invoice first, then asks for/or a letter of authorization? Amazon knows how businesses operate.
If you have a commercial retailers account with a manufacturer, your invoice as described above will suffice. You will not need a Letter of Authorization because the invoice says it all. If you really need one, your manufacturer Rep handling your account could get one for you.
If you do not actually have a commercial account with the manufacturer, Amazon knows companies will not give any letter of authorization to individuals without a commercial account.
