One question we often receive from sellers is: “what manufacturer information should I provide to Amazon?” Some sellers fear that sharing such data could lead to Amazon stealing their market share or even duplicating their products to compete directly with them. With Amazon’s decision to shutter numerous of their private label brands this month, that should be less of a concern now. That, plus the incoming antitrust suit.
By providing Amazon with accurate and complete manufacturer information, you meet essential compliance requirements. That can help resolve any potentially negative issues that may arise during account reviews, policy warnings, or selling in general.
What Information Should You Share with Amazon?
The type of information you need to share with Amazon largely depends on the context in which it is requested. When filling in the “manufacturer” attribute on your product listing, you can usually use your own brand as the manufacturer if the product is contract-manufactured for you. Think of it as Apple listing themselves as the manufacturer of Apple products, even though Apple doesn’t directly own the factories where their products are made.
However, when Amazon asks for specific supply chain information, such as verifiable supplier websites or invoices, you need to provide comprehensive details. This is crucial for both private label brands and resellers. Your contact information, your supplier’s contact information, and the relevant product identifiers should be included on invoices to facilitate the process and ensure smooth operations on the platform. Make sure the documentation is dated within the past 365 days, too, and make sure it covers all units sold on Amazon. If the quantities don’t match up, Amazon may reject and ask again.
The Concerns and Misconceptions
Some sellers remain hesitant about providing their manufacturer information due to their fears over direct competition from Amazon. While it’s likely that Amazon has engaged in such practices in the past, it is less common now given the scrutiny tied to the antitrust investigation, and incoming lawsuit by the federal government. Amazon now knows that it is more profitable to have third-party sellers like you offering a diverse range of products rather than competing with them directly, in many if not most categories.
Inside the company, many various teams handle different aspects of Amazon’s operations. Teams handling Seller performance investigations or conducting compliance reviews don’t have any incentives to share sensitive information about your manufacturer with the retail buying teams.
The Importance of Proper Documentation
Regardless of whether you are a private label brand or a reseller, proper documentation is vital. Full supply chain documentation, including supplier invoices and any related legally-binding agreements, must be kept in order and ready to submit for review, when asked. If you manufacture the product yourself, it is essential to establish a separate entity to handle the manufacturing and invoicing processes. Self-issued invoices, where you invoice yourself within the same company, are not acceptable to Amazon.
Providing Amazon manufacturer information is crucial for ensuring compliance and smooth operation as a marketplace seller. Having complete and verifiable documentation will not only keep you in good standing with Amazon but will also help you address any issues that may arise in the future. Suppliers must be easy to search and confirm using Amazon’s current and detailed investigative techniques, which are used to confirm that each supplier is an established or reliable provider of the items you sell.
If you have any questions or concerns about sharing manufacturer information with Amazon, seek advice from experienced professionals to navigate the complexities of the platform successfully. Assuming that you understand everything Amazon is looking for and why when based only on their opaque, generic messages could easily lead to misunderstandings, or worse, later on when they start rejecting what you’ve submitted.
