It’s not that you can’t, it’s just…well, you should ask first!
Selling adult products (+18) has always been an up-in-the-air subject when it comes to Amazon. Some industry experts claim that it’s better to avoid the category altogether, while others say it’s not as bad as some people make it out to be. What we at Got Suspended Clients know for sure is that as an Amazon reinstatement service, we’ve seen many sellers who have had their seller account suspended because they sold adult products. What we are even more sure about is that the best course of action, if you decide on selling these types of products, is going straight to the source: Amazon. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Follow Amazon’s Guideline
Amazon has guidelines for everything, and adult products are no oddity. In fact, not only does Amazon have its own regulations for adult products, but it clearly states in its guidelines under “Sex and Sensuality” that sellers must “comply with all federal, state, and local laws and Amazon policies applicable to those products and product listings.”
But, what exactly are adult products?
Amazon’s definitions for adult products are a bit murky, to say the least, which is why many sellers get suspended because they are not really sure whether the products they are listing are actually adult or not.
Amazon.ca, for example, defines adult products as “any product that, because of the nature of the product, its image, product title or product description, appears to be designed for use in sexual/adult activity.” Pretty standard, but not really!
Maybes and No-Nos
Some adult products can, against all odds, be sold on Amazon’s platform only IF you receive permission to sell them.
These include the following, quoted directly from Amazon’s Sex and Sensuality policies:
- Prophylactics and other over-the-counter contraceptives (pre-approval not required)
- Unrated erotic videos and DVDs
- Magazines widely available in non-adult-only bookstores
- Sexual health products listed by pre-approved sellers
- Sexual aid devices listed by pre-approved sellers
- Adult-only novelty items listed by pre-approved sellers, such as:
- Novelty food items
- Soaps
- Vibrators
Obviously, a company with as many regulations as Amazon, which is visited by so many sellers of all age demographics, would blacklist certain products which cannot, under any circumstances, be sold on its platform.
Here’s Amazon’s no-no list when it comes to adult products:
- Products that portray nudity in a gratuitous or graphic manner, such as:
- Amateur pornography
- Pornography
- X-rated movies
- Sexual health products unless listed by pre-approved sellers
- Sexual aid devices unless listed by pre-approved sellers
- Adult-only novelty items unless listed by pre-approved sellers
- Media featuring Traci Lords created prior to May 7, 1986
Yes, we realize that the last no-no is a bit strange, but we’ll leave you with Google on that one.
Selling Permitted Listings
As we said, Amazon has a list of adult products that you can sell without getting your Amazon seller central account suspended. But you’d still need to strictly observe Amazon’s regulations.
Here’s how you can sell adult products from Amazon’s permitted list:
- Set the IS_ADULT_PRODUCT flag to TRUE in the product feed
- Make sure the product is coded with a valid Health & Personal care adult item type. Keep in mind that adult products cannot be listed under the Health and Personal Care Store.
- The images you use should display only the actual product or its packaging. As always, human models are a big no-no, especially when it comes to adult products.
- No naked people allowed! It doesn’t matter which body part! Even the package shouldn’t contain nudity.
- Do not use any curse words or graphic language in your bullet points and titles.
- Describe the product objectively, and in a way that Amazon describes as “clinical.”
You should be good to go!
That being said, many sellers still find themselves suspended over selling adult items and rush to Amazon appeal services like Got Suspended Clients to reinstate their seller accounts. If you are unlucky enough to be one of these sellers, always remember that Got Suspended Clients is here to help you out with your Amazon account suspensions. We’re not an Amazon suspension appeal service just for show!
Comments:
0