Do you want to get ungated on Amazon but have no idea how to begin?
If yes, this is your lucky day!
This article features all you need to get started.
Amazon has certain product categories with seller restrictions, which it calls “gated products.” The whole idea behind those restrictions is to protect some “sensitive” niches such as healthcare and baby products.
Having access to those product categories or brands (that is, being ungated) broadens your selling opportunities and increases your profit margin down the road.
But before you do anything, familiarize yourself with the basic tips and tricks you need to understand before asking Amazon to “ungate” you for the specific products you want.
To get ungated on Amazon:
- Create an Amazon Wholesaler Account
- Purchase a Few Products Through a Reliable Wholesaler
- Verify and Scan the Invoices
- Send in Your Request for Approval
Alternatively: - Use Amazon Ungating Services
Ready? Let’s dig in deeper!
1. Create an Amazon Wholesaler Account
To get ungated on Amazon, create a wholesaler account—that’s if you don’t already have one.
With an Amazon wholesaler account, you buy bulk goods straight from the product’s manufacturer at discounted prices, and then resell them on Amazon at slightly higher retail prices.
To sign up for an Amazon wholesale account:
- Go to the Amazon Seller Page.
- Click on the “Learn more” button.
- Choose “Professional Seller account.” This allows you to sell more than 40 units of products monthly.
- Type in your email and password, and click “Next.”
- Go to your email inbox and verify your registration.
- Choose “Business location” and type in “The United States.”
- Choose your business type—in this case, select “Private-owned business” or “None, I am an individual.”
- On the personal information page, type in the required info— like “form of identification”, “phone number,” “address,” etc. Make sure you type in your address correctly because Amazon will send you a postcard with a verification number to the address so you can use your account.
- Enter your billing information and click “I understand.”
- On the next page, verify your bank account.
- Enter your credit card details.
- Input the required information on the next page, including the name of your Amazon store, Universal Product Code codes, and diversity certification, and click “Next.”
- Verify your identity by uploading images of your ID and a bank statement.
- Click “Submit.”
- Click “Confirm” to verify your business address.
- Once you receive your postcard, enter it into the “Enter code below” field and click “Next” to complete your verification process.
Once you complete your verification process, you are in.
2. Purchase a Few Products Through a Reliable Wholesaler
To get ungated on Amazon, purchase a few popular products from a reliable wholesaler and assess the quality of those products.
Find different Amazon Standard Identification Numbers (ASINs)—different products—in three different categories and place 10 orders for each ASIN. Bear in mind that your goal here is to get ungated, not necessarily to make a profit.
Keep that in mind because the last thing you want is to look for products with a high profit potential and ridiculously long shipping times thanks to the products’ popularity.
You definitely don’t want that.
Amazon demands at least one invoice to process your ungating request. You must choose from the gated product categories a few items you intend to sell.
Make sure the address on your invoice corresponds to your seller’s account on Amazon Seller Central—that is, the address on the products you bought from your supplier is the same as the one on your Amazon Seller account.
3. Verify and Scan the Invoices
To easily get ungated on Amazon, verify and scan your invoices after making purchases. Check your invoices to be sure your information is correct on those invoices.
Make sure the invoice has your seller’s name at the top—if not, add it before scanning.
Don’t make marks on the original copies, as this alters the authenticity of your invoice—which is grounds for denial. (Amazon service agents have specific instructions on “doctored invoices.”)
Also, write the ASIN, UPC and product model number for each commodity on the invoice. Pay attention to products like shoes, luggage and travel—you will need to submit their images instead of invoices.
4. Send in Your Request for Approval
To get ungated on Amazon, familiarize yourself with some general tips in terms of sending your request for approval. These tips make your ungating process easier.
Make sure you have good performance metrics and positive reputation with buyers before submitting your application. Ensure that your Order Defect Rate (ODR) is under 1%, Pre-Fulfillment Cancel Rate is under 2.5%, and your Late Shipment Rate (LSR) is under 4%.
Include the contact information of your supplier(s) during your application process to help Amazon establish your credibility and trustworthiness as a seller.
Send a finalized invoice to Amazon to get ungated—this shows proof of payment, alongside a list of products you bought. This does not include orders placed.
Also, don’t submit an invoice that’s editable. Preferably, send a scanned copy of your invoice alongside your application—that way, no one can alter it.
Choose popular brands with great reputations on Amazon. Don’t be generic with what you sell, specify your brand explicitly.
Pay attention to the address when writing your request. Ensure that the “Ship To” and “Bill To” addresses correspond.
Check through your seller account to confirm that all contact information is up-to-date and exact.
Convert product ID numbers to ASINs before sending in your application to make it way easier for Amazon service agents to cross-reference all the gated products, brands and categories. Use tools like “EAN to ASIN,” “UPC to ASIN,” and “ISBN to ASIN” for bulk conversions.
Submit your application during regular U.S. business hours to speed up the process—that way, an agent can see your application and give you early feedback. Don’t delay when an Amazon service agent requests missing data in your application.
5. Use Amazon Ungating Services
To get ungated on Amazon, use Amazon ungating services if you don’t want to go through the process yourself. Ungating services take care of all the logistics—sometimes offering advice that goes beyond ungating.
Check out the following Amazon ungating services:
- The Amazing Guru,
- Ungating Amazon, and
- Ungating Guru.
They are professionals in this field.
But wait! Don’t get too excited. This service comes with a fee—you pay for it. Research shows that such services come with high costs. Don’t go for this option if your budget doesn’t fit or you are new to ecommerce business.
Remember, this option makes you miss out on some important experiences. When you do it yourself, it builds your experience bank as a seller and expands your knowledge in the ecommerce business.
Recap
To get ungated on Amazon, create an Amazon wholesaler account and purchase a few products through a reliable wholesaler.
Make sure you verify your invoices to ensure the information on them corresponds with what you have on your Amazon seller account. Then scan it for submission. Send in your request to Amazon for approval.
Finally, use the alternative means to get ungated on Amazon. Hire ungating services from Amazon at a fee.
