Amazon offers a huge platform for selling branded products online, yet many of the top brands have been ‘gated’ by the site. Amazon gates certain popular brands to avoid the sale of counterfeit products. But what if you’re a legitimate seller with real inventory? Well, you can sell such products if you gain special approval from them. The good news? The process is fairly simple if you have the right documents and know the procedure.
In this guide, we will tell you everything about how to get ungated and sell restricted brands on Amazon.
What Is Brand Gating on Amazon?
Brand gating means that Amazon has restricted third-party sellers from listing products on their site under specific brand names (like Zebra, Fluke, Honeywell, etc) without explicit approval. In case you try to create a listing or ship inventory of these brands or categories, Amazon will block you unless you have acquired the ungating approval.
Why Does Amazon Gate Brands?
Amazon wants to maintain a smooth and credible shopping experience for its customers. By gating products and categories, it tries to:
● Prevent counterfeits
● Maintain product quality
● Protect brand integrity
● Ensure only authorized resellers list products
How to Check If a Brand Is Gated
Before you go on to list your product, it is important to know whether or not your product is restricted by Amazon. If you don’t have due confirmation, your account might get suspended or even banned. You can verify this in 3 credible ways:
- Try listing your product on Amazon Seller Central: Go to “Add a Product”, then search the item, and click “Listing limitations apply” if shown.
- Use the Amazon Seller App: Scan the product’s barcode to see if approval is required.
- Check with tools like SellerAmp, Helium 10, or InventoryLab.
Requirements for Brand Ungating
Brand ungating has special requirements. Here’s what Amazon will typically demand from you when you apply:
1. Invoices or Purchase Orders
● Must be from a manufacturer or authorized distributor
● Dated within the last 180 days
● Should include your name, address, and the supplier’s info
● Should have at least 10/50/100 units of the product
● The brand name must be clearly specified
Pro Tip: Avoid screenshots. Use scanned PDFs and photos, as Amazon prefers that.
2. Professional Seller Account
In order to apply for ungating, you should have a professional seller account. Individual sellers are not offered the option to apply for brand ungating.
3. Good Seller Performance
Ensure that you have optimal seller metrics, including:
○ Order Defect Rate < 1%
○ Late Shipment Rate < 4%
○ Pre-fulfillment Cancel Rate < 2.5%
Steps to Get Ungated for a Brand
Getting to the procedure, it only takes 3 steps to apply:
Step 1: Buy from a Recognized Supplier
It’s ideal to source the product directly from the brand owner or any reputable distributor, such as Ingram Micro, TD Synnex, or D&H. The prices won’t be as cheap, and you might not be able to secure a good deal, yet it will help you get the brand ungated. You can buy some accessories from the brand and then sell them for a small loss on Amazon.
Step 2: Request Approval
The next step is to get the approval. Follow these steps below:
-
Go to Inventory → Add a Product in Seller Central.
- Search for the product ASIN.
- Click on the “Listing limitations apply” badge.
- Click on “Request Approval”.
Step 3: Submit Documents
The final step is to upload the documents and proofs to back your request:
● Your invoice (highlighting the product with a handwritten ASIN)
● Photos of the product packaging
● Proof of delivery.
Once you are done applying, it is a matter of 1-3 days. Amazon typically responds within 24-72 hours.
How to Improve Your Approval Chances
While there isn’t a certainty that your request will be successfully approved, you can maximise your chances with a few steps:
● Avoid retail receipts — they’re almost always rejected.
● Ensure your invoice is clear and legible with a matching address and business name.
● In case the original invoice clearly shows the title or description of the product, then you can highlight the vendor SKU, and then attach a screenshot of the product page for that SKU on the distributor’s website. This will verify your product.
● Buy only what you can sell — although in certain cases, 10+ units (sometimes 100+) per invoice are required.
● Build relationships with authorized distributors for long-term ungating needs.
What If You Get Rejected?
Following the above steps will improve the chances of approval. Yet, if your ungating request is rejected, then don’t panic. Follow the next steps:
● Check the exact reason for rejection (Amazon provides one).
● Verify that the brand name is clearly listed on the provided invoice.
● If any information is missing, contact your supplier.
● Edit and resubmit — Amazon usually allows you to reapply.
Don’t worry, rejections are fairly common, especially for new accounts. However, being persistent and ensuring a good invoice quality are the keys to achieving your approval.
Should You Use Ungating Services?
There are plenty of service providers who offer ungating help if you aren’t able to do it yourself. Yet keep in mind that Amazon does not in any kind of third-party ungating services. Also, using any outdated or fabricated invoices might lead to account suspension.
Third-party services should be taken at your risk. Secondly, always prioritize sourcing from genuine providers.
Bonus Tip: If you want to buy your products in wholesale from us, but are gated, then we can offer a free ungating consultation.
Final Thoughts
Although the procedure of getting ungated to sell brands on Amazon might seem to be a tedious process, it is also worth the effort. It offers you a special competitive advantage. Typically, most sellers avoid taking this step, so if you get the approval, it would mean you will have very little competition.
Consider doing proper research, using reputable suppliers, and following the due process carefully. Once you get the hang of it, it will not just become easier for you to carry out the process again, but you will also have a better understanding of its intricacies. Finally, the profitable inventory it opens up is truly rewarding and worth the whole effort.
Let us know if you have any other questions related to ungating on Amazon. We might be able to help for free and also provide genuine electronic products to meet Amazon’s requirements.
