Yanked and Suppressed Listings? Here’s How to Get Back on Track

The Silent Killer of Amazon Sales: Yanked and Suppressed Listings

You’ve finally gotten your Amazon listing right—optimized, researched, the whole package. Suddenly, it’s yanked. Or maybe you get that dreaded notification that it’s been suppressed. This isn’t just a minor hiccup; it’s a full-blown revenue drain. The stress of losing sales, racking up storage fees, and watching your traffic drop is enough to shake any seller. But don’t panic—there are steps to identify the cause, fix the issue, and even prevent it from happening again. Here’s everything you need to know to keep your listings live and kicking!

Are Yanked and Suppressed Listings the Same?

While yanked and suppressed listing statuses restrict a product’s visibility, a suppressed listing is still technically active but hidden, whereas a yanked listing is completely removed from Amazon until the issue is resolved.

Yanked Listing

• A yanked listing is completely removed from Amazon due to serious violations. It’s invisible and unsaleable. Reactivation requires significant effort, like submitting a detailed plan of action.

Suppressed Listing

• A suppressed listing is hidden from search results due to issues like incomplete info or compliance problems. It’s still active but invisible.

Both yanked and suppressed listings on Amazon hide your product from customers. But they have different reasons, effects, and solutions. Let’s explore each one.

Yanked Listing: Detail Page Removed

A “yanked” listing typically refers to a listing that Amazon has removed or deactivated from visibility due to a policy or compliance issue. However, “yanked” is a more informal term, often used by sellers to describe when Amazon unexpectedly removes or disables a listing, requiring steps for reinstatement, such as providing documentation, correcting keywords, or other adjustments.

So, while “yanked” and “suppressed” listings can often mean similar outcomes (both are unsearchable and unavailable for sale), “yanked” emphasizes the sudden and often unexpected nature of the listing removal.

Causes

• Policy Violations and Compliance
  Listings can be yanked due to violations such as:
  1. Selling restricted or prohibited products.
  2. Offering counterfeit goods or infringing intellectual property (IP) laws.
  3. Not meeting Amazon’s product quality, safety, or authenticity standards.
• Account Suspensions
  If the seller’s account is suspended, all associated listings may be “yanked.”
• Legal Issues
  Trademark or copyright infringement claims, or safety concerns about the product.
• Incorrect Listing Information
  Misleading or inaccurate details, such as incorrect descriptions or pricing, can lead to listing removal.
• Non-Compliant UPC Codes
  Non-compliant UPC codes can result in a yanked listing on Amazon, as the platform enforces GS1 standards and removes listings without notice, leaving sellers with no recourse.

Here’s how you can update your listing’s UPC code:

Signs to Detect

• Listing Disappears Completely
  The product will not show up in search results, and it cannot be found by customers. The ASIN shows a “Detail Page Removed” in your Seller Central catalog.
• Notification from Amazon
  Sellers usually receive an email or notification from Amazon regarding the violation that caused the listing to be yanked.
• Account Health Issues
  A drop in the seller’s account health metrics or a notice about specific violations on the Amazon Seller Central dashboard.

Impact on Business

• Sales Loss
  Total loss of revenue from the affected listing as customers can no longer find or purchase the product.
• Reputation Damage
  If the product is yanked due to counterfeiting or legal issues, it may harm the seller’s reputation with Amazon and its customers.
• Potential Account Suspension
  Repeated offenses can lead to account suspension, which can shut down all listings and result in loss of business entirely.

Troubleshooting a Blocked Listing

Blocked listings show up as “Inactive (Blocked)” in Manage Inventory. A red icon means the product cannot be relisted, while a yellow icon indicates it can be relisted.

Click the link next to the icon for more details and steps to resolve the issue. Use a tool in Amazon Seller Central to identify specific reasons and the necessary fixes.

How to Resolve Yanked Listing

If your Amazon detail page is removed, follow these steps to get it reinstated:

• Identify the Cause
  Check “Performance Notifications” or “Product Policy Compliance” under your Account Health dashboard to find specific details on why your listing was removed.
• Resolve the Issue
  Address any identified issues, like product non-compliance or policy violations. Refer to Amazon’s product detail page rules for specific guidelines.
• Submit an Appeal
  After resolving the issue, go to the “Performance” section in Seller Central, locate the removal notification, and click “Appeal.” Provide a thorough explanation of the corrective steps you’ve taken.
• Enhance Customer Feedback
  If customer feedback affects your listing, improve your product quality and address any negative reviews to bolster your reputation.
• Contact Seller Support
  For unresolved questions, reach out to Seller Support and utilize Amazon’s Help Hub for added guidance.

Promptly addressing issues and maintaining clear communication can help reinstate your listing effectively.

Proactive Measures to Avoid Yanked Listings

• Stay updated on Amazon’s seller guidelines and ensure all products and listings are compliant.
• Make sure that products meet safety standards, particularly in regulated categories.
• Enroll in Amazon Brand Registry to help protect intellectual property and prevent other sellers from filing false claims against your products.
• Keep an eye on account health metrics and address any warnings or policy flags immediately.

Here is a video where I explained how crucial it is to check your dashboard and address any notifications from Amazon:

What Happens to The Yanked Listing’s Inventory

If your listing is removed, you have two options: work to reinstate the listing or remove the inventory from Amazon’s fulfillment centers (FCs) if reinstatement isn’t possible.

Hijacking Resulting To Yanks

Listing hijacking can happen if unauthorized sellers attach themselves to your ASIN, leading to a yanked listing. To prevent this, check your listings for compliance with Amazon’s keyword policies and ensure you’re the sole seller.

If another seller is present, their use of blacklisted keywords could affect your listing’s status. Stay vigilant to maintain your listing’s integrity. Watch this video below to discover what to do to resolve a hijacked listing.

Suppressed Listings: Inactive

A “suppressed” listing occurs when Amazon hides a product due to incomplete or inaccurate information. The listing stays in inventory but isn’t visible to customers until fixed.

Causes

• Incomplete Product Information
  Missing essential details, like images, categories, titles, and PPU (price per unit), can lead to suppression.
• Character Limits
  Apparel, shoes, and luggage listings must have titles under 80 characters; all others should be under 130 characters.
• Specific Character Requirements
  • Shoes: Missing Department, Size, or Color values.
  • Jewelry: Missing or invalid Department (except accessories), or missing Material, Metal, Gem, and Pearl type (for non-accessories).
  • Watches & Luggage: Missing Department.
  • Consumables (Grocery, Beauty, Pets, Health & Personal Care): Missing Unit Count and Value.
• Images
  Required in all categories except Digital, Alexa, and Services. Missing images lead to suppression.

All parent and child SKUs in listings with variations must meet these standards to avoid suppression.

Signs to Detect

• Visible in Inventory, Not Searchable
  The product is visible in the seller’s inventory but cannot be found by customers. The ASIN’s status in your Seller Central is “Inactive.”
• Check the Fix Your Products Page
  Find all inactive or suppressed listings under “Manage Inventory” > “Search Suppressed and Inactive Listings.”

Impact on Business

• Sales Decline
  Products are unavailable for purchase, causing a temporary loss of revenue until the issue is fixed.
• Negative Customer Experience
  Customers searching for the product may be unable to find it, leading to frustration or a negative perception of the brand.
• Reduced Visibility
  Loss of search ranking and visibility can hurt overall performance metrics and the product’s standing in Amazon’s algorithm.

Troubleshooting Hidden Image Suppression on Amazon

Experiencing a dip in sales and struggling with traffic despite visible listings? Your listing might be affected by hidden image suppression, often triggered by minor image issues like “bleeding” (when an image crosses the pixel boundary).

Identifying Hidden Image Suppression

• No tool currently detects hidden image suppression. To verify, manually search your ASIN on Amazon to ensure it appears in organic results.
• Main images should not cross the pixel edge. Bleeding can prevent your product from showing up in search results.
• Ensure ample white space around the main image border to avoid triggers.

Fixing Image Bleeds

• Use free tools like IrfanView or SnagIt to add a few extra white pixels around the edges.
• Follow Amazon’s guidelines: 1500×1500 pixels minimum for image size, use JPEG format to avoid suppression issues, and keep the main image focused on the product.

How to Resolve a Suppressed Listing on Amazon

• Access the Fix Your Products Page
  In Seller Central, go to the top left menu, select Inventory, then Manage Inventory. Click Search Suppressed and Inactive Listings under Listings Tools.
• Review Listing Issues
  On the left side, use filters like Completed with Issues (submitted but not buyable or displayable) or Incomplete Listings (submitted but missing details). See the count of Inactive, Suppressed, and At-Risk listings, and click the question mark icons for more information.
• Locate Suppressed Listings
  Suppressed listings might be flagged for missing details, like an image with a white background or duplicate product information. Use search, fulfillment date, and fixability filters to pinpoint specific issues.
• Address Listing Issues Directly
  Add missing details like product descriptions or compliant main images. For out-of-stock SKUs, update quantity or restock. Mark listings as “not duplicates” if shown in error.
• Additional Steps and Review
  Most fixes update within 15 minutes, but some may take longer if human review is needed. If your listing stays inactive, revisit the page for additional steps or reach out for support.
• Regularly Check for Suppressed Listings
  Regularly checking helps keep listings buyable and visible to customers.

Proactive Measures to Avoid Suppressed Listings

• Ensure that all required product details (title, description, bullet points, images, etc.) are complete, accurate, and follow Amazon’s guidelines.
• Adhere to Amazon’s Style Guidelines for product titles, descriptions, and other key information.
• Make sure that images meet Amazon’s technical requirements and style guidelines, especially the use of a white background for the main image.
• Regularly audit your listings using Amazon’s tools or third-party software to catch potential issues before they lead to suppression.

Regain Control Over Your Amazon Listings

In the competitive Amazon marketplace, having a yanked or suppressed listing can significantly impact your sales and brand reputation. However, understanding the differences between these two statuses and knowing how to address them is crucial for your success.

By promptly identifying the causes, taking corrective action, and implementing proactive measures, you can protect your listings and maintain your sales momentum. Don’t let unexpected removals derail your business—stay informed, act quickly, and keep your products visible to customers.