Do I Need Approval To Sell On Amazon?
So, you have a great product and you want to sell it on Amazon? Well, we hate to break it to you, but it’s not that simple. There are a number of products and categories that are in the ‘restricted’ section in Amazon. This means they require Amazon approvals before selling/ advertising – and these approvals take up significant time. You may be required to pay additional fees, undergo performance checks, and provide other qualifications.
We created this chart to help you better understand where you fit, and the conditions and approvals required around your category:
| Product category | Types of products | Conditions allowed | Approval required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Device Accessories | Amazon Device Accessories | New, Refurbished, Used | Yes. See Requirements. |
| Automotive Parts & Accessories | Parts, Tires, Tools & Equipment, Accessories |
New, Refurbished, Used, Collectible Tires may only be sold in new condition. |
No. See Category Guidelines |
| Baby Products | Nursery, Feeding, Gear | New only | No |
| Beauty | Fragrance, Skincare, Makeup, Hair Care, Bath and Shower. (See also: Restricted Products) | New only | No |
| Books | Books, Calendars, Card Decks, Sheet Music, Issues of Magazines and Journals, and other publications | New, Used, Collectible | No |
| Camera & Photo | Cameras, Camcorders, Telescopes | New, Refurbished, Used | No |
| Cell Phones | Unlocked Cell Phones | New, Refurbished, Used | No. See Category Guidelines. |
| Consumer Electronics | TVs, CD Players, Car Audio, GPS | New, Refurbished, Used | No |
| Electronics Accessories | Accessories for Audio & Video, Camera & Photo, Car Electronics, Cell Phone, Computer, and Office Electronics Accessories. (See a list of examples.) | New, Refurbished, Used | No |
| Grocery & Gourmet Food | Beverages, Breakfast, Canned Goods, Snacks, Meat, Seafood, Chocolate, Desserts, Gift Baskets | New only | No |
| Health & Personal Care | First Aid, Nutrition, Baby & Child Care, Personal Care Appliances, Medical Equipment, Household Supplies, Sexual Wellness (See also: Restricted Products) | New only | No |
| Home and Garden | Kitchen & Dining, Home Appliances, Vacuums & Storage, Furniture & Décor, Bedding & Bath, Sewing, Craft & Hobby, Patio, Lawn & Garden | New, Refurbished, Used, Collectible | No |
| Industrial & Scientific | Janitorial & Sanitation Supplies, Lab & Scientific Products, Occupational Health & Safety Products, Power & Hand Tools | New, Refurbished, Used | No. Selling Guidelines |
| Music | CDs, Cassettes, Vinyl, and other sound recordings | New, Used, Collectible | No |
| Musical Instruments | Guitars, Keyboards, Band & Orchestra, Recording Equipment, Instrument Accessories | New, Refurbished, Used | No |
| Office Products | Office Supplies, Electronic Office Devices | New, Refurbished, Used | No |
| Personal Computers | Desktops, Laptops, Drives, Storage | New, Refurbished, Used | No |
| Pet Supplies | Pet Apparel, Pet Bedding & Furniture, Pet Carriers & Travel Accessories, Pet Toys | New, Used, Refurbished | No |
| Software | Business, Media Education, Utility, Security and Children’s Software | New, Used | No, but may be required for specific products. Learn more. |
| Sports & Outdoors | Sports Equipment, Athletic Shoes, Bicycles, Fan Gear, Camping Equipment, Hiking Boots | New, Refurbished, Used, Collectible | No, but may be required for specific products |
| Sports Collectibles | Trading Cards, Game-Used and Autographed Items | Collectible – Like New | Yes. See Requirements. |
| Tools & Building Supplies | Power Tools, Hardware, Hand Tools, Lamps and Light Fixtures, Kitchen and Bathroom Fixtures | New, Refurbished, Used | No |
| Toys & Games | Infant and Preschool Toys, Learning and Exploration Toys, Ride-ons, Action Figures, Dolls, Board Games, Arts, Crafts, Hobbies | New, Collectible | No |
| Video & DVD | Movies and TV shows, VHS tapes, DVD discs, Blu-ray discs | New, Used, Collectible | No |
| Video Games | Game Consoles, Console Games, PC Games and Accessories | New, Used, Collectible | No, but may be required for specific products. Learn more. |
| Watches | All Watches Product Types | New only | Yes. See Requirements. |
Since Amazon requires you to obtain approval before listing in certain product categories, it is important for you as a seller, to know where you stand. We hope this chart helps you understand if your category requires approval. If you are still unsure, or don’t know how to proceed with gathering the right documentation, we can help! Get in touch with us for a free, no-obligation consultation.
**category information taken directly from Amazon.
