On Amazon, protecting your brand's reputation is crucial. In this blog post, we'll explore what to do if your Amazon listing is hijacked by third-party sellers. Having your listing hijacked can cause significant harm to your business, leading to a loss in sales and customer trust. In this post we will cover what having your listing hijack is, how to correct it if it happens, and most importantly, how to prevent it in the future. To learn more about the strategies that will help you protect your Amazon listings and maintain control over your brand, continue reading below.
What Does Having Your Amazon Listing Hijack Mean?
An Amazon listing hijack occurs when another seller, often unauthorized, takes control of your established product listing, usually by offering a counterfeit or similar item under your brand's name. Sometimes, the hijacker may even change the photos, brand name, and title of the product so that it is unrecognizable. Another Seller could hijack an Amazon listing so that they can use your sales rank and keyword rank that you have built over time. They would take advantage of the good reviews and sales traffic you have earned.
One reason Amazon listing hijacking is an issue is because an unauthorized seller’s undercut your pricing, making it seem like customers are getting a deal on your product when, in reality, they’re receiving an inferior or fake version. That is one of the many ways an Amazon listing being highjacked can severely damage your brand's reputation, leading to negative reviews, customer complaints, and eventually, lost sales. Getting your listing hijacked may affect your immediate revenue and it can also have a lasting impact on your brand's credibility and long-term success on Amazon. Recognizing a listing hijack early is crucial to mitigate current and future risks.
Signs of a hijack include sudden changes in your product's Buy Box ownership, unexpected price change, and new sellers offering a product for sale on your listing at a lower price. If not addressed immediatley, an Amazon listing hijack can evolve into larger issues, such as a drop in your product ranking due to negative reviews, which could further decrease your sales and visibility on the platform.
As a seller, it's essential to understand how to correct a listing hijack and, more importantly, how to prevent listing hijacks from occurring in the first place. Programs like the Amazon Brand Registry and the Transparency Program are invaluable tools in this fight, providing you with the means to protect your listings and maintain control over your brand's presence on Amazon.
How to Correct an Amazon Listing Hijack
If you suspect that your Amazon listing has been hijacked, taking swift and decisive action is essential to minimize the potential damage to your brand. The first step in correcting an Amazon listing hijack is to verify the details of the offending seller. You can do this by checking the "Other Sellers on Amazon" section of your product listing. This section will show you all the sellers currently offering your product, allowing you to identify unauthorized sellers who may be attempting to hijack your listing.
Once you've identified the potential hijacker, it's important to gather as much evidence as possible. Document the hijacker's seller information, including their store name and seller ID, as well as the listing's ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number). In some cases, you may need to go a step further by purchasing the hijacker’s product. Once you receive it, take detailed photos of the item, packaging, and any discrepancies between their product and your authentic product. This visual evidence can be a crucial part of your report to Amazon, clearly demonstrating the differences and proving the unauthorized nature of the hijacker's product. If you’ve received customer complaints or noticed negative reviews associated with the hijacked listing, also document these as well.
When reporting an Amazon listing hijack, provide Seller Support with all the necessary documentation, including proof of your ownership of the brand and any relevant trademarks. If you are enrolled in the Amazon Brand Registry, this process can be more streamlined, as the program offers additional tools and support for protecting your brand. Amazon will typically investigate the claim and, if validated, will remove the unauthorized seller from your listing, helping to correct the hijack and restore control over your product.
To prevent listing hijacks in the future, consider enrolling in the Amazon Brand Registry, which provides additional protections for your listings. Additionally, Amazon’s Transparency Program offers another layer of security by allowing you to attach unique codes to your products, making it easier to identify and prevent counterfeit sales. By taking these steps, you can not only correct an Amazon listing hijack but also safeguard your brand against future threats.
How to Prevent Amazon Listing Hijacks in the Future
Getting a trademark for your brand name is another critical step in preventing listing hijacks. A registered trademark provides legal backing to your claims of ownership, making it easier to correct listing hijacks if they occur. Ensure that your branding is consistent across all channels, both online and offline. This includes using the same logos, packaging, and product descriptions to reinforce your brand identity. Consistency makes it more difficult for hijackers to successfully imitate your brand and deceive customers.
To safeguard your Amazon listing from future hijacks, it’s crucial to implement a multi-layered approach that protects your brand and keeps unauthorized sellers at bay. One of the most effective ways to prevent listing hijacks is by enrolling in the Amazon Brand Registry. This program offers enhanced tools and protections, such as the ability to report violations and have more control over your product listings. By registering your brand with Amazon, you are proving your ownership of the specific brand name and also gaining access to advanced features like the Brand Dashboard. This allows you to monitor your brand’s presence on the platform and quickly address potential hijacking attempts.
Regular monitoring of your listings is helpful for catching potential hijacks early. Look out for unusual activity, such as sudden changes in pricing, unauthorized edits to your product descriptions, or the appearance of new sellers offering your products at suspiciously low prices. You can accomplish this by looking at your Amazon listings from a customers point of view or by monitoring your Buy Box win percentage. By keeping a close eye on your listings, you can detect and correct listing hijacks before they cause significant damage.
Additionally, consider leveraging Amazon’s Transparency Program to further prevent listing hijacks. This program allows you to attach unique, scannable codes to each unit of your product, making it easier to verify authenticity and prevent counterfeit sales. When customers scan these codes, they can confirm that the product is genuine and learn more about your brand. For sellers, the Transparency Program provides detailed insights into where and how your products are being sold, enabling you to track and control your inventory more effectively.
Signing up for proactive measures like securing trademarks, enrolling in Amazon Brand Registry, maintaining consistent branding, monitoring your listings, and utilizing the Transparency Program will help you prevent listing hijacks and retain control over your Amazon presence. By staying on top of your Amazon listings and using the tools at your disposal, you can protect your brand, build customer trust, and ensure that your products remain securely under your control on Amazon.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions on What to Do if Your Amazon Listing is Hijacked
What is an Amazon listing hijack?
An Amazon Listing Hijack is when an unauthorized third-party seller takes over the product listing of the listing you are selling under when you know the product they have is either not the same or fraudulent. This can lead to negative reviews, customer complaints, and lost sales, ultimately damaging your brand's reputation.
How can I tell if my Amazon listing has been hijacked?
The most obvious sign of listing an Amazon listing hijacker is a sudden change in Amazon Buy Box activity. You may also notice an increase in negative reviews or customer complaints about receiving a product that doesn't match your Amazon listing.
What should I do if I suspect my listing has been hijacked?
If you suspect that your Amazon listing has been highjacked, the easist way is by checking the Other Sellers on Amazon section of your product listing. See who the unauthorized seller is. Document the hijacker's seller information, the listing's ASIN, and any customer complaints. You may also need to purchase the hijacker's product, take detailed photos, and report the issue to Amazon Seller Support with all the necessary evidence.
How do I report a hijacked listing to Amazon?
To report the seller who hijacked your Amazon listing, you will have to contact Amazon Seller Support. You will need to provide detailed documentation, including proof of your brand ownership, trademarks, and any evidence of the hijacker's unauthorized activity. This process will go a lot quicker and smoother if you are signed up for Amazon Brand Registry. This process should be very simple if you are signed up for Amazon Transparency.
How can I prevent future listing hijacks?
You may not be able to prevent all Amazon Listing hijackings in the future, but there are ways to protect yourself. Prevent future hijacks by enrolling in Amazon Brand Registry, securing trademarks for your products, and maintaining consistent branding. It also helps to regularly monitor your Amazon Listings and Buy Box for unusual activity.
Conclusion
Protecting your Amazon listings from hijackers is pivotal to maintaining your brand’s integrity, customer trust, and overall business success. By understanding what a listing hijacker is, taking swift action to correct it, and implementing proactive measures to prevent it from happening in the future, you can safeguard your products and ensure your listings remain under your control. However, navigating these challenges can be complex and time consuming, which is why expert guidance can make all the difference. If you're facing a listing hijack or want to fortify your defenses, contact Goat Consulting today through the button below. Our team specializes in helping sellers regain control of their Amazon listings and protect their brands from hijackers so you can focus on growing your business with peace of mind.
About the Author - Will Tjernlund
This post was written by Will Tjernlund. Will Tjernlund is the co-founder and CMO at Goat Consulting. Will is a notable figure in the e-commerce industry, speaking at conferences around the world, including the United States, Europe, and Asia. Will started his Amazon selling career at his family's 80+ year-old manufacturing company with the goal of expanding their Amazon presence. The efforts by Will quickly made Amazon the number one sales channel for his family's business, which now grosses tens of millions of dollars annually. Will uses his background in economics, experience selling on Amazon, and insights gained from speaking with businesses around the world to help brands and manufacturers have a clear strategy for success.