Selling on Amazon can be a profitable venture, but it also comes with strict policies and close monitoring of seller performance. Many sellers panic the moment they receive a notification from Amazon about their account status. Two common terms that often cause confusion are “Account Review” and “Account Suspension.”
While they both indicate that Amazon has noticed an issue with your account, they are not the same thing. Understanding the difference — and knowing how to respond — can mean the difference between a temporary slowdown and a complete halt in your business.
1. What is an Amazon Seller Account Review?
An Account Review is essentially a performance or compliance check initiated by Amazon to verify certain aspects of your selling activity. It does not necessarily mean your selling privileges have been removed. Instead, Amazon temporarily limits certain account functions while they investigate.
Why it happens:
- Amazon detects unusual account activity or sales patterns.
- There are concerns about product authenticity or documentation.
- Amazon is verifying your identity or business information.
- You’ve reached certain sales thresholds that trigger standard compliance checks.
What it means for you:
During a review, you may experience:
- Delays in disbursements (funds being temporarily held).
- Requests for invoices, compliance certificates, or ID verification.
- Limited ability to list new products until the review is complete.
Key point: A review is more of a “pause and verify” process. If you provide the requested information promptly and accurately, your account will usually return to normal without lasting damage.
2. What is an Amazon Seller Account Suspension?
An Amazon Seller Account Suspension is far more serious. It means Amazon has removed your selling privileges due to a violation of their policies, poor performance metrics, or failure to comply with previous warnings.
Common reasons for suspension:
- Selling counterfeit or inauthentic products.
- Policy violations (restricted items, misleading product listings, prohibited claims).
- Repeated late shipments, cancellations, or poor customer feedback.
- Manipulation of reviews or other prohibited seller behavior.
- Failure to provide acceptable documentation after an account review.
What it means for you:
- You cannot sell on Amazon until the suspension is lifted.
- Your listings are removed or made inactive.
- Funds may be withheld for up to 90 days while Amazon resolves any customer claims.
Key point: Suspension is a “stop until fixed” situation. You must submit a Plan of Action (POA) to Amazon explaining the cause of the problem, the corrective steps you’ve taken, and the measures you’ve put in place to prevent future issues. This is where a professional Amazon suspension appeal can make a huge difference in getting your account reinstated quickly and effectively.
3. Key Differences Between Account Review and Suspension
| Feature | Account Review | Account Suspension |
| Selling Privileges | Usually remain active, but may be limited | Completely removed until reinstated |
| Severity | Low to moderate – a precautionary measure | High – indicates confirmed policy violation or serious concern |
| Amazon’s Intent | To verify information and ensure compliance | To halt selling activity until issues are resolved |
| Seller Action Required | Provide requested documents or verification | Submit a detailed Plan of Action addressing violations |
| Impact on Funds | Funds may be held temporarily | Funds often withheld until resolution |
| Resolution Time | Shorter, if documents are correct | Longer, depending on complexity and appeal strength |
4. How to Handle an Account Review
If Amazon notifies you of an account review:
- Read the notification carefully – understand exactly what Amazon is asking for.
- Gather documentation quickly – invoices, proof of authenticity, ID, or other requested items.
- Ensure accuracy – documents should match your account details exactly.
- Submit through the correct channel – use the link provided in Amazon’s message.
- Respond professionally – avoid emotional language; stick to facts.
Tip: If you comply promptly and your documents are in order, reviews can be resolved in a matter of days.
5. How to Handle an Account Suspension
Suspensions require a different approach:
- Identify the root cause – review Amazon’s notification for the exact policy or performance metric you violated.
- Draft a strong Plan of Action (POA) – include:
- Root Cause – the specific reason for the violation.
- Corrective Actions Taken – what you have already done to fix the issue.
- Preventive Measures – steps you will take to ensure it never happens again.
- Be concise and factual – Amazon reviewers appreciate clarity.
- Submit and wait – it can take several days or weeks for Amazon to respond.
- Avoid multiple, rushed appeals – poorly written appeals can reduce your chances of reinstatement.
6. Prevention is Better Than Cure
While both reviews and suspensions can disrupt your business, they are avoidable if you consistently follow Amazon’s guidelines:
- Maintain accurate and compliant product listings.
- Source products from reliable suppliers and keep invoices for at least 365 days.
- Ship orders on time and maintain excellent customer service.
- Regularly monitor your performance metrics in Seller Central.
- Keep your account information up-to-date.
In short, a proactive Amazon suspension prevention strategy can save you from costly downtime and stressful appeals.
Final Thoughts
The main difference between an Amazon Seller Account Review and Account Suspension lies in the severity and impact on your selling privileges.
- A review is a verification step — inconvenient but often resolved quickly if you provide the right documentation.
- A suspension is a serious stop order — requiring a formal appeal and potentially lengthy resolution.
By understanding these differences, responding appropriately, and staying proactive in compliance, you can keep your Amazon business running smoothly and avoid unnecessary downtime.
