Our Amazon Account Has Been RESTORED!

Summary

In this video, Jennifer and Brendan recount their challenging experience with Amazon, where their account was mistakenly flagged for selling counterfeit goods. Despite winning a previous case against a trademark infringement claim, they faced another accusation, leading to their account's suspension. They discuss the importance of legal protection for products, the complexities of Amazon's internal processes, and the need for better communication and understanding within the platform. The pair express gratitude for the support received from their community and share lessons learned about the necessity of diversifying business strategies to mitigate risks.

Takeaways

• 😀 The account issues have been resolved and are now healthy, bringing relief to the team.
• 🙏 They express gratitude to many people and discuss the reasons behind the account issues and what was learned from the experience.
• 🛑 A mistake was made with communication between the team and their team in China regarding product packaging, leading to intellectual property issues.
• 🚫 The trademark for the original product was denied, but the team's packaging still used certain words, causing a complaint from the bestseller of the game.
• 📞 A conversation with the original maker resulted in a commitment to remove the disputed words from packaging and listings.
• 🔄 Changes were made, and new packaging was designed to avoid infringement, but a complaint was filed again just before Prime Day, alleging counterfeit goods.
• 🤔 There's a need to better understand Amazon's internal departments, their powers, and how to communicate with them effectively.
• 💡 The importance of having unique, protectable products through utility or design patents is highlighted to maintain a competitive edge.
• 📉 The account was temporarily shut down due to health score issues, emphasizing the impact of account management on business continuity.
• 🤝 They received significant support from the community, indicating the value of building strong relationships within the industry.
• 🔄 The experience has led to a reevaluation of business strategies, including the potential risks of growing a business too large within a single platform or account.

Q & A

What was the primary issue that led to the account being flagged on Amazon?

The primary issue was that the product's packaging and instructions used certain words that were claimed by another seller, who had a denied trademark for those words. This led to a complaint of counterfeiting and infringement, causing the account to be flagged.

What steps did Jennifer and Brendan take after realizing the mistake with the packaging?

They conducted a call with the original seller to negotiate and agreed to remove the disputed words from the packaging and listing. They also redesigned the packaging and ensured all new orders were shipped with the updated packaging.

How did the original seller react when Jennifer and Brendan reached out to them?

The original seller did not have a proper trademark, so Jennifer and Brendan won the case initially. However, the original seller was upset because they felt that Jennifer and Brendan were benefiting from their marketing efforts without spending on similar marketing channels.

What was the second complaint lodged against Jennifer and Brendan's account?

The second complaint was that they were selling counterfeit goods, this time not under a trademark infringement but claiming that they were counterfeiting their own products.

What did Jennifer and Brendan learn about Amazon's internal processes during this ordeal?

They learned the importance of understanding the different departments within Amazon, their limitations and powers, and how to communicate effectively with each of them. They realized the need to know who owns what type of claim and the correct way to address each situation.

Why did Jennifer and Brendan decide to speak openly about their experience?

They wanted to share their insights and lessons learned from the ordeal, to help others in their community navigate similar situations, and to potentially affect change within Amazon's processes for handling such cases.

What was the role of social media marketing in the conflict between the two sellers?

The original seller felt that Jennifer and Brendan were benefiting from their social media marketing efforts, as customers were searching for the product on Amazon after seeing advertisements, leading to a perceived loss of their marketing investment.

How did the community respond to Jennifer and Brendan's situation?

The community showed overwhelming support, with hundreds of private messages and comments expressing care and concern for their case, which was very humbling and motivating for Jennifer and Brendan.

What are some of the strategies Jennifer and Brendan are considering moving forward to protect their business?

They are considering investing more in legal protection, such as utility or design patents, diversifying their brands across different accounts and entities, and possibly rethinking their growth strategy to avoid being too reliant on a single platform like Amazon.

What advice do Jennifer and Brendan have for other sellers to avoid similar issues on Amazon?

They advise sellers to understand Amazon's internal processes, to invest in legal protections for their products, and to be proactive in communicating and escalating issues to the appropriate departments within Amazon.