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WHY ARE TOYS GATED IN Q4, THE HOLIDAY SEASON?

Generally, many new sellers are not allowed to sell toys on Amazon during Q4. This is understandable since Amazon wants its customers to be confident when they buy toys during the holiday season. Amazon, therefore, restricts those sellers who were unable to successfully sell items on the platform or haven’t started yet. Most sellers get quite discouraged when the products they want to sell are gated. However, to get approval to sell in ungated categories on Amazon, sellers must follow a whole procedure.

The toys category is gated to ensure quality and timely delivery. Any bad quality, damaged packaging, or even late delivery of the toys can cause huge damage to Amazon’s image. Customers are going to forget about the third party; they will only remember that they ordered from Amazon. Amazon doesn’t want its customers to worry about not finding the perfect gift with only a handful of days left to shop. In our opinion, this focus on customer satisfaction is essential for maintaining trust in the marketplace. Besides, Amazon obviously doesn’t want to put its reputation at stake, and so it makes sense.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE RESTRICTED TO SELL TOYS ON AMAZON?

Amazon starts emailing all newly registered and normal sellers in August. The tricky part is that the emails are always different each year, coming up with new rules. However, the email of 2024 is pretty much clear.

First off, if you are an FBA seller, you shouldn’t be concerned about this at all. You can ignore the email since the guidelines are for Merchant Fulfillment Sellers. Although, we recommend you add Merchant Fulfillment to your strategy for Q4. It will come in handy to sell items in the late season when it becomes difficult to ship items into the warehouses of Amazon.

However, if you are a Merchant Fulfill seller, then this email is for you. Amazon requires that all the sellers opting for Merchant fulfillment have a neat record of being the best Amazon seller. According to our experience, they want to be sure that you are authentic about the quality and delivery of the products. To make it easier for you, we are here to clear the air.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GET UNGATED TO SELL TOYS ON AMAZON?

If you want to get unrestricted from selling toys, there are two basic requirements you need to meet.

  1. A CPC
    You need a Children’s Product Certificate for any of the toys you want to sell. Amazon is very particular about the certificate. Toys is the most important subcategory that all the sellers are interested in as it contains the most popular brands.
  2. The Invoice
    An invoice from a very reputable and popular wholesaler can save your boat. You need the invoice that shows the fair number of toys that you have purchased from them to sell.

However, this year, Amazon has restricted all the new sellers from selling toys and games. Whatever the reason might be, Amazon surely is extra cautious and doesn’t want to put its image at stake. It’s going to be quite tough for sellers to start selling in ungated categories on Amazon.

CRITERIA FOR MERCHANT FULFILLMENT SELLERS:

If you are aware of the Q4 game, then we pinpoint the most important points from the email of 2024. They might help you in prepping yourself to sell toys this season as a Merchant Fulfill seller.

  • The first thing you sold on Amazon must be before September 1, 2024. It doesn’t have to be toys or games though.
  • You must have shipped a minimum of 25 Merchant fulfilled orders between 15th August 2024 to 14th October 2024.
  • Your late shipment rate should not be greater than 4% from 15th September to 14th October.
  • The defect rate of your order must not be more than 1% as of 14th October 2024.
  • The pre-fulfillment cancellation of your order should not be more than 1.75% during the same dates.

These requirements are related to Toys and games only. If you can’t manage to meet the requirements, you can still sell toys through FBA fulfillment.

The best part is that the email is much more clear about the requirements than it was way back in 2018. Phew! Amazon states that it will give final eligibility notification before November 2, 2024. Keep a lookout for that one!

These business practices might stress you out as a seller. Meeting this criterion might be difficult. However, knowing how to get ungated to sell toys on Amazon helps you stay profitable during Q4. We hope this blog helped you figure out your way to sell toys on Amazon. To learn more about the coming October Prime Day and how to sell profitably, click here! 

Want to know more? Visit our site! Alpha Repricer- the best Amazon repricer, always provides tips to help its sellers. Make sure to check our blog page! 

Author

  • Noor Jarri

    Meet Noor Jarri, a seasoned writer specializing in the dynamic world of Amazon. With over three years of experience, Noor has become a trusted resource for Amazon sellers seeking guidance on repricing strategies and navigating the e-commerce landscape.

    As a valued contributor to Alpha Repricer, Noor's expertise shines through in her engaging blog articles, press releases, and guest posts. Praised for her skill in crafting content that is both informative and approachable, Noor's writing is a knowledgeable resource for sellers of all levels. Beyond her professional pursuits, Noor is an avid traveler and culinary enthusiast. She finds inspiration in exploring new destinations and experimenting with recipes from around the world.

    Join Noor Jarri on her journey as she continues to empower Amazon sellers with insights, tips, and strategies to thrive in the ever-evolving marketplace.

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