Rules on sellers "contacting" sellers
I am trying to find any documentation on what the rules are regarding sellers contacting other sellers via their website, phone number, email, etc.
The common response here is “why would you need to?” And my response to that is, “what is the answer?”
I haven’t found anything in the TOS. I know it’s against the rules to provide any identifying information here in the forums. But I just don’t know.
Rules on sellers "contacting" sellers
I am trying to find any documentation on what the rules are regarding sellers contacting other sellers via their website, phone number, email, etc.
The common response here is “why would you need to?” And my response to that is, “what is the answer?”
I haven’t found anything in the TOS. I know it’s against the rules to provide any identifying information here in the forums. But I just don’t know.
21 replies
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
I have contacted other sellers -- generally to send a warning shot when they are selling knockoffs/counterfeits of my branded items.
I did contact one seller through their website OFF Amazon when I found out the 40 year old owner had died of a heart attack. I wanted to know if the widow was going to keep the business open or if they would consider selling me their inventory of one product line. Never heard back and they are no longer selling on here.
If it is about pricing it would be considered price fixing and is a FEDERAL CRIME.
Which brings us back to WHY? There are VERY few legal reasons to do so.
Seller_hMIK0M9OsKb5U
I don't think I have ever seen anything specifically seller to seller.
However, all sellers are probably also buyers, even though they may not be your buyers they are Amazon's potential buyers. There are "communication guidelines" for Amazon's buyers. Amazon hides buyers information and does not want you contacting them outside of specific information to complete the order. I would imagine if you are contacting them via some information your have discovered from Amazon's website, that it would depend upon if the seller knew you got the info from Amazon and if your communication with the seller was one in which they would want to report you to Amazon because of it.
Seller_kDIVlGduwNjqN
I know there used to be a rule like 6-ish or more years ago not to contact other sellers.
Searching duck duck go for "amazon policy contacting other sellers" brought up a forum post here titled "Amazon is no longer allowing Sellers to contact other Sellers" from six years ago. Guess it was that long ago.
Searching help for "contact other sellers" brought up a list of rules, "Here are some tips for contacting other sellers on Amazon:"
- Use Seller Central to send messages to other sellers. Go to the "Contact info" tab on a product page to find a seller's email address.
- Use tools like Jungle Scout or SellerApp to identify and reach out to potential suppliers or competitors.
- Do not contact sellers to undermine, sabotage or harass them. This violates Amazon's policies.
- And more...
Seller_BvWbKPdVkSXdc
DO NOT depend on 'where it is written' because it does NOT matter where or even IF it is written anyplace on Amazon.
Amazon rules are fluid, vague, and full of uncertainty ON PURPOSE.
Amazon wants nearly total flexibility to interpret and enforce whatever they want to at any time.
Truth. This is the key to all seller-Amazon interaction. I agree that one reason for the vagueness is to avoid loopholes, but the bigger reason is bottom-line profit-goal meeting stuff. You only need read a few of the myriad posts that provide incontrovertible evidence that Amazon violates their own stated policy to deny Safe-T claims and A-to-Z appeals (to the point where they're openly facilitating fraud or theft by customers), to be convinced of that.
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
An additional thought and comment about how Amazon FEELS about sellers being in touch with each other --
Back in the good old days BEFORE the New NOT Improved Forum we could do Direct Messaging to others on the Forum.
Because it was not out in the public things could be discussed that were 'sensitive' for various reasons.
When the new monstrosity rolled out the DM ability was gone. There were a dozen or so of us that were guinea pigs for the new design.
Virtually every one of us said we wanted DM left alone and available. Amazon refused.
The reason given is VERY instructive about how they choose to operate.
It seems that some small group of people were aggressive in the DM side and were attacking others verbally with all sorts of language. In addition, some apparently actually threatened to harm people physically -- IN PERSON.
Since they had a FEW people doing that Amazon chose to eliminate it for ALL the Forum users.
They do NOT know how to use a scalpel to ban a few. They have a hammer and everything is a nail.
Seller_miS6Vu2ya6Lch
I have not see anything in the TOS and really don't see anything wrong with it as well.
It could be a way to network AND also could be a way to start a discussion on why they (using family members and employees) would buy your product, open a return and leave fake negative reviews trying to destroy your buy box and company on here.
The latter happens alot. If you have been on Amazon for any length of time, you know what I mean here.
Seller_4HsL3GZbyDLea
I will contact a seller regarding their infringing on my trademark, before I bring down the hammer. I do it as a courtesy. I try to give them a chance to avoid the intellectual property strike. Because sometimes other sellers accidently end up on a listing. It does happen.
I have never had any other reason to contact a seller.
Seller_tAfXR7sVBEoZS
Amazon does not want us talking with each other without the ability to close the forum or delete our postings.
