June 27, 2025

Amazon Seller Central: How to Fix Common Problems

Struggling with Amazon Seller Central issues? Learn how to fix common problems like listing errors, account health warnings, and delayed payments with step-by-step solutions to keep your store running smoothly.
Amazon Seller Central: How to Fix Common Problems
Amazon Seller Central: How to Fix Common Problems

Key takeaways: 

  1. Some common Amazon Seller Central issues include listing updates, ASIN merges, suspended listings, login issues, account suspension, FBA inventory mismatch, shipping and delivery issues, and payment issues. 
  1. For better, faster support from Amazon, present your case clearly and politely, provide documentation if needed, and document everything if escalation is needed. 
  1. To prevent Amazon Seller Central issues, keep track of your performance notifications to identify problems with your account and deal with them promptly. 

Running into a problem with your Amazon Seller Central account can be completely frustrating. It can slow you down and cause you to lose out on valuable sales. These problems could include inactive listings, listing removals, account suspensions, or issues with your Amazon seller support. 

As a smart Amazon seller, you want to know what kind of Amazon seller account issues could come up, and how to solve or prevent them. 

If you need help with your Amazon Seller Central account, read on to learn how to tackle some of these problems and keep your Amazon account in good health.  

Common Amazon Seller Central problems 

Now, let’s look at some Amazon Seller Central issues that sellers commonly face: 

  1. Product listing issues
  1. Listing updates 

Making listing updates via your Amazon Seller Central is a major part of selling on Amazon. These updates are important for maintaining alignment of the listing with the actual product. Product title changes can take only a few minutes to reflect, while changing product images may take up to 24 hours to reflect on your product page. The problem may occur when new changes are not reflected, and you can see an error message or listing changes don’t appear even after the buffer period.  

If you are sure you’ve followed all the guidelines for updating any part of your product listing, you can contact Seller Support. Simply open a case via your Amazon Seller Central and choose the email contact method. Ensure you provide all relevant information, like ASIN/SKU reference.

The main problem, or what you would like updated, and the batch ID of the flat file that you uploaded.

  1. ASIN merges

You may have cases where two independent ASINS merge, listing them as one due to vague similarities. It could also appear in the reverse, where two items to be listed together appear as separate listings. 

To deal with an ASIN-related issue, 

  • Go to your Amazon Seller Central account, click on “Help” in the top right corner, and then “Contact Us”.
  • Next, choose the issue to be resolved. In this case, you want to choose ‘Products and Inventory’ or ‘ASIN Issues’.
  • Lastly, provide all relevant information needed to support your issue, and you will get a resolution. 

  1. Suspended listing

Suspended listings on Amazon are product listings that have been temporarily removed or made inactive by Amazon due to violations of its policies or issues with listing content. These listings cannot be found in search or bought by customers. It shows as “inactive” or “suppressed” in your Manage Inventory dashboard and often has a warning like "Listing removed", "violates policy", or "requires action". 

To fix suspended or suppressed listings: 

  • Go to Inventory > Manage All Inventory
  • Look for “Inactive” or “Suppressed” status
  • Click “Fix Issue” or hover for the error message
  • Fix the problem Amazon points out. If necessary, you can contact Amazon Seller Support and provide proof to back up your case.

  1. Account health and suspension issues 

Login issues

Account suspension

A suspension means Amazon has temporarily deactivated your account, usually due to a violation of its policies. You won’t be able to sell or list new products, access your funds, or manage orders. 

To fix this, 

  • Check your email and your Seller Central performance notifications. Common reasons include poor performance metrics, policy violations, safety concerns, product authenticity issues, or intellectual property complaints. 
  • Next, draft a strong plan of action clearly stating why the violation happened, what you’ve done to immediately fix the problem, and steps you’ll take to ensure the issue doesn’t happen again.
  • Go to Seller Central > Performance > Account Health, click on “Reactivate Your Account” or the specific “Appeal” button, and upload your plan of action and any supporting documents. 
  • Amazon usually responds within 24-72 hours, but it can take longer. If denied, revise your plan of action based on their feedback and resubmit. 

Avoid blaming Amazon, the system, or customers, and don’t send emotional or defensive messages. Take full responsibility and work patiently with Amazon to get your account restored.

Inventory and fulfillment issues 

Here are some common inventory and fulfillment issues and how to fix them:

  1. FBA inventory mismatch 

Sometimes your inventory count with Amazon may not match up. This can happen because:

  • Units missing during inbound shipment
  • The inventory was incorrectly received
  • Of lost or damaged stock in the warehouse
  • Units miscategorized or associated with the wrong ASIN. 

To check for FBA inventory mismatches:

  1. Check the summary: Go to Seller Central > Inventory > Manage FBA Shipments and review shipment statuses like “Receiving,” “Closed,” or “Problem”.
  2. Check inventory reports: You can check your FBA reconciliation report (shows received vs expected units), Inventory adjustments report (shows additions, removals, or damage), or inventory event detail report (tracks all movement and changes). 

To fix FBA inventory mismatches:

  1. Navigate to the affected shipment in Manage FBA Shipments. 
  2. Click “Reconcile” next to the problematic shipment.
  3. Select the discrepancy reason (e.g., “Units were sent,” “Wrong quantity,” etc.)
  4. Provide proof of payment. This could be a bill of lading, carrier tracking details, packing list or invoice, photos of boxes, and labels. Amazon typically requires documentation within 9 to 30 days, depending on the issue.
  5. Lastly, file a case. If the automatic reconciliation fails or the time expires. Go to Help > Get Support > Fulfillment by Amazon > Investigate Inventory. Include all shipment info and supporting documents. Lastly, reference the shipment ID and problem units. 
  6. Amazon may reimburse for lost or damaged units based on fair market value. They may also adjust inventory counts if your evidence is valid. You can track the resolutions in the “Reimbursements” report. 

Shipping and delivery issues

Whether you’re using fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) or fulfillment by merchant (FBM), shipping and delivery issues can lead to customer dissatisfaction, refunds, and even account health problems. Here are some common shipping and delivery issues:

  1. Payment issues 

Here are some common payment issues for Amazon sellers: 

  1. Delayed disbursements 

You may find out that your payment status says "pending" or "on hold". This may happen because you have a new seller account or an account change. It could also happen due to poor metrics of policy violations. 

To fix this payment issue: 

  • Go to Seller Central > Reports > Payments > Statement View
  • Check if your payout date has shifted
  • Review Account Health for flags
  • If unresolved, contact Seller Support > Payments > Disbursement Inquiry

  1. Payment on hold (due to verification)

You may get a message saying "Payment is on hold pending account verification".  This could happen if your bank account or tax info is not verified, or you make changes in business/legal information. 

To fix this payment issue:

  • Go to Settings > Account Info > Identity Verification
  • Upload required documents (bank statement, ID, utility bill)
  • Respond quickly to any Amazon performance or compliance team emails

  1. Incorrect or missing bank account information 

You may see "Deposit failed" in your payments dashboard. 

To fix this payment issue: 

  • Update bank info: Settings > Deposit Methods
  • Use a valid bank account in a supported country
  • Wait up to 5 business days for Amazon to verify the new account

Keep in mind that any update to bank details puts your payouts on hold for 3-5 days due to fraud protection. 

You want to make sure you keep your account up to date, monitor your payments weekly, use bank accounts supported in your country, and respond quickly to emails from Amazon. 

Here’s where to monitor your payments on Amazon: 

  • Reports > Payments > Statement view: Here, you can see past and upcoming disbursements. 
  • Reports > Payments > Transaction view: Here, you can get a detailed breakdown of fees and orders. 
  • Reports > Tax document library: Here, you can view your 1099-K and VAT/GST forms

  1. Customer service issues 
  1. Negative feedback

You may get negative feedback due to various reasons, including delayed shipping, poor product quality, and unmet expectations.

If you get negative feedback, here’s how to fix it: 

  • For FBA orders, you can request Amazon to remove the feedback if it's about fulfillment. Go to Performance > Feedback > Request Removal.
  • For FBM, apologize professionally and offer a resolution (a replacement or refund).
  • When you get a negative review, respond quickly, apologize for the issue, and tell the customer how you will resolve it. 
  • You can politely ask the buyer to remove or revise feedback once the issue is resolved. 

  1. A-to-Z Guarantee Claim

The A-to-Z Guarantee Claim is Amazon’s buyer protection that allows customers to request a refund when they are not satisfied with an order. Every approved claim filed can affect your Order Defect Rate (ODR) negatively and even lead to account suspension if above 1%.

Here’s how to fix this customer service issue: 

  • Respond quickly to Amazon’s claim notification.
  • Provide valid tracking, photos, or communication history.
  • Refund if necessary to protect your account metrics.
  • Proactively handle buyer concerns before they escalate to a claim.

Tips for faster support for your Amazon Seller Central issues

With better, faster support, you can save time and get your Amazon Seller Central account back in shape. Here are some helpful tips to help you get better support from Amazon: 

  1. Use Amazon-specific language 
  2. Attach documentation if needed
  3. Write a clear case description 
  4. Stay polite and professional 
  5. Document everything for future escalation 

Use Amazon-specific language

When you open a case on your Amazon Seller Central account, ensure you use keywords that match your issue. Amazon uses bots to route cases, so you want to use language that matches what’s in Seller Central. 

For example, instead of saying “my payment is missing”, you can say “payment disbursement issue” or “delayed disbursement in the payment report”. Instead of “my listing is wrong”, say “Listing not updating”. The more Amazon-specific your language is, the faster you can get your case resolved. 

Attach documentation if needed.

To support your claims, include documents like screenshots, invoices, tracking numbers, FBA shipment IDs, return/refund receipts, etc. Amazon is more likely to act quickly when proof is attached up front.

Write a clear case description. 

Use a structured format and write in clear, concise language. Write the issue in a one-line summary, include the ASIN if needed, explain what’s wrong, steps you’ve taken, and what you need from Amazon, and attach documents if needed. Avoid long paragraphs or emotional language. Stick to facts and requests. 

Stay polite and professional. 

You want to stay polite and convey the issue with clarity. Build a good rapport with the support representative, ask needed question,s and seek to align with them to get closer to the needed resolution. If your issue isn’t resolved, respond politely to the case every 1–2 days to keep it active and escalate further if needed. Ensure you follow up on Amazon’s policies. 

Document everything for future escalation. 

Keep your case ID numbers, screenshots of Amazon responses, email confirmations, notes from calls (name of agent, time, summary), etc. This will help with future escalations or appeals if something goes wrong. 

How to prevent Amazon Seller Central issues 

Preventing Amazon Seller Central issues altogether is the smartest way to keep your account healthy and maintain good customer satisfaction. Here are a few ways you can prevent Amazon Seller Central issues: 

  1. Track your performance notifications
  2. Minimize order cancellations 
  3. Maintain accurate, Amazon-compliant listings
  4. Respond to buyer messages promptly 
  5. Maintain efficient inventory management

Track your performance notifications

You can avoid issues with your Amazon Seller Central account by simply monitoring your performance notifications. You want to develop the habit of monitoring your performance metrics to make quick changes and avoid getting flagged by Amazon. By monitoring your performance notifications, you can be proactive and maintain a good account health. 

Minimize order cancellations 

The cancellation rate on your Amazon Seller Central account shows you the percentage of orders cancelled versus the number of orders received within 7 days. This rate is a negative performance metric that can affect sales and risk suspension. You want to keep this rate equal to or below 2.5% to avoid any issues. 

Maintain accurate, Amazon-compliant listings.

Incorrect listings cause everything from listing suppressions to A-to-Z claims. Use Amazon’s style guides for titles, bullets, and images. Ensure your product specifications match actual inventory size, color, and material. Upload clear, high-resolution images. 

Keep in mind that suppressed listings can negatively affect your performance metrics. So, ensure your listings do not violate Amazon’s policies. You can use “Listing Quality Dashboard” under “Catalog” to catch issues early. 

Respond to buyer messages promptly. 

Amazon takes Seller Feedback into consideration when determining your overall account health. Late or ignored customer messages can lead to negative feedback, A-to-Z claims, and lower seller ratings. You can set up notifications or use tools like Sellerboard, Helium 10, or Zendesk to monitor buyer messages. Have message templates for common questions for faster responses. 

Maintain efficient inventory management.

Keeping an eye on your inventory will help you avoid stockouts, prevent restocking delays, and save your account health. One way to efficiently manage your inventory is to set up stock alerts that tell you when your stock level decreases below the set limit. Amazon provides several free tools you can use to maintain your inventory. 

On your Amazon Seller Central, you can monitor the inventory performance index (IPI), which measures FBA inventory health (you want to keep it above 400), the restock inventory report, which forecasts recommended restocking levels, the stranded inventory report, which identifies unsellable items needing action, etc. 

Final thoughts 

Amazon Seller Central is a powerful platform that is central to selling on Amazon. Staying proactive, especially with your listing quality, account health, and customer service, you can minimize issues and grow long-term. 

If you’re overwhelmed by errors on your Amazon Seller Central, you can contact experts at ePlaybooks

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why can't I access Amazon Seller Central?

If you can’t access Amazon Seller Central, it could be one of the following issues: 

  • Incorrect login details: To fix this, double-check your login details or use “Forgot Password” to reset your password. 
  • Account suspension or account being reviewed: To fix this, go to sellercentral.amazon.com/performance/notifications, check your email for suspension or verification messages, submit requested documents or a Plan of Action (POA) if needed. 
  • Two-step verification issues: Choose an alternate two-step verification method (email or backup phone). If you’re completely locked out, submit the two-step verification recovery form. 
  • Browser or device issues: If your login page doesn’t load, the buttons don’t respond, or you’re getting repeated redirects, you can clear your browser cache and cookies, try a different browser, or disable ad blockers or browser extensions. You can also try private mode or switch to a different WiFi or device.   

If you’re completely locked out, try the Amazon account reinstatement form or call Seller Support via the account health dashboard. 

What are the risks of Amazon selling?

Selling on Amazon can be profitable, but it comes with real risks. You could face account suspension, policy changes, price wars, intense competition, counterfeit and IP complaints, listing hijackers, and inventory management problems, among others. As an Amazon seller, you want to keep up with and follow all of Amazon’s policies, monitor your account health, and be proactive in making necessary changes. 

How long does Amazon seller verification take?

Amazon verifies identity documents like passports, driver's license, business registration (if a company account), bank account and credit card, phone number and email verification, tax information, etc. Amazon seller verification can take 1 to 14 business days, depending on the type of document, among several factors.

How to recover your Amazon Seller Central account?

If you’ve forgotten your password, you can easily reset it via the “Forgot Password” feature on your login page. If you lost your two-step verification, you can use backup or the 2SV reset form. 

If your account was suspended, you will need to submit a Plan of Action (POA) by going to Performance > Account Health > Policy Violations. Your Plan of Action should include root cause, corrective actions taken, and preventive steps going forward.

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