As an Amazon seller, you put in a lot of effort to create and maintain your listings, but unfortunately, there are people out there who try to take advantage of your hard work by hijacking your listing. Brand hijacking on Amazon is a serious issue that can cause a lot of damage to your business. When someone hijacks your Amazon listing, they take control of your product page and start selling their own products using your listing. This can lead to loss of sales, damage to your brand reputation, and even legal issues.
Have a Trademark and Brand Registry in Place
If you’re an Amazon seller, having a trademark and brand registry can make all the difference when it comes to recovering a hijacked listing. Here are some benefits of having these in place:
- Trademark ownership gives you exclusive rights to use your brand name, logo, or slogan. It can also protect your products and prevent others from copying your ideas. This can help you avoid disputes and protect your brand from hijacking.
- Brand registry is a program that Amazon offers to brand owners that provides a higher level of protection and control over their listings. It enables you to create your brand store, edit your product listings, and monitor any changes made to them. Additionally, you can use brand registry to report intellectual property violations, including hijacking.
To obtain a trademark and register for brand registry, you can follow these steps:
- Conduct a trademark search to ensure that no one else is already using the name, logo, or slogan that you want to trademark.
- File a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This process can take several months to complete.
- Once you have your trademark, enroll in the brand registry by submitting your trademark registration number and other required information to Amazon.
By having a trademark and being enrolled in the brand registry, you can gain more control over your brand and be better equipped to prevent and recover from hijacking.
File a Brand Registry Ticket and Escalate It
If you’ve been the victim of brand hijacking, one of the first steps you can take is to file a brand registry ticket. Here’s how:
- Go to your brand registry dashboard and click on “Report a Violation.”
- Select the type of violation you’re reporting, such as “listing hijacking” or “counterfeit product.”
- Provide all relevant information, including the ASINs of the hijacked listings and any evidence of infringement.
- Submit the ticket.
Once you’ve filed a ticket, it’s important to escalate it to get higher-level support. You can do this by:
- Contacting Amazon seller support and requesting to speak with a higher-level representative.
- Providing additional evidence, such as sales data or customer reviews, to support your case.
- Being persistent and continuing to follow up until you receive a resolution.
By filing a brand registry ticket and escalating it, you can increase your chances of recovering your hijacked listing.
Email Jeff Bezos at Amazon
If you’re having trouble recovering your hijacked listing through traditional channels, another option is to email Jeff Bezos directly. Here are some tips for crafting an effective email:
- Keep your email concise and to the point. Be clear about what the problem is and what you’re asking for.
- Provide evidence of the hijacking, including any customer complaints or negative reviews.
- Be polite and professional. Avoid using an accusatory or angry tone.
- Include your contact information, including your phone number and email address.
While there’s no guarantee that emailing Jeff Bezos will result in a resolution, it can sometimes get the attention of higher-level support and lead to a faster resolution.
Buy the Item From the Hijacker to Report Them From a Consumer Account
Another tactic that can sometimes help in recovering a hijacked listing is to buy the item from the hijacker and report them from a consumer account. Here’s how:
- Purchase the hijacked item from the seller using a separate account.
- Leave negative feedback and report the seller for any violations, such as counterfeit products or poor customer service.
- Provide Amazon with the order number and any evidence of the seller’s violation.
While this approach may not always work, it can help to provide additional evidence of the hijacking and potentially speed up the recovery process.
Wait for Recovery
After filing a brand registry ticket, escalating it, and possibly contacting Jeff Bezos directly, it’s time to wait for Amazon to recover your hijacked listing. Unfortunately, recovery can take anywhere from two to three weeks, so it’s important to be patient and focus on what you can control in the meantime. Here are some tips on what to do while waiting for your listing to be recovered:
- Close the Listing: In order to avoid negative customer reviews, it’s recommended to close the listing while waiting for recovery. This will prevent customers from purchasing the hijacker’s counterfeit or inferior products and potentially leaving negative feedback for your brand.
- Monitor the Listing: Keep an eye on your listing to ensure that the hijacker isn’t making any changes to the product details or pricing. You can set up alerts in Seller Central to notify you of any changes made to your listing.
- Stay in Communication with Amazon: While waiting for recovery, it’s important to keep in communication with Amazon. This will ensure that you stay updated on the status of your ticket and any actions that Amazon is taking to recover your listing.
Consider Outsourcing Help
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure about the steps to take in recovering your hijacked listing, consider outsourcing help from a professional. Here are some benefits of outsourcing to a professional:
- Expertise: Professionals who specialize in Amazon brand protection have the expertise to quickly and efficiently recover your listing. They have experience dealing with Amazon’s support team and know the best strategies to recover your listing as quickly as possible.
- Time-Saving: Recovering a hijacked listing can be a time-consuming process, especially if you’re not familiar with Amazon’s policies and procedures. Outsourcing to a professional can save you time and allow you to focus on other aspects of your business.
- Cost-Effective: While there is a cost associated with outsourcing to a professional, it’s important to consider the potential cost of not recovering your listing. Losing your Amazon listing can have a significant impact on your sales and revenue, making the cost of outsourcing worth it in the long run.
If you decide to outsource help, here are some tips on how to find a professional:
- Research: Do your research and find a reputable professional with experience in Amazon brand protection.
- Reviews: Read reviews from past clients to get an idea of the quality of their work and level of customer service.
- Communication: Make sure the professional communicates clearly and effectively with you throughout the recovery process.
Recovering a hijacked Amazon listing can be a frustrating and time-consuming process, but it’s important to take action as soon as possible. By having a trademark and brand registry in place, filing a brand registry ticket and escalating it, contacting Jeff Bezos directly, buying the item from the hijacker to report them, and potentially outsourcing help from a professional, you can increase your chances of recovering your listing and protecting your brand.
Remember to be patient and stay in communication with Amazon throughout the recovery process. With persistence and the right strategies in place, you can successfully recover your hijacked Amazon listing and continue to grow your sales on the Amazon marketplace.
