ASIN Brand Hijacked - Brand Name changed by hijacker
Hello -
Recently had a classic "brand hijacking" on an ASIN for which I am the manufacturer, brand owner, and sole seller. I have been selling this same item under the same brand name since 2017. I didn't notice the brand change until I was prevented from sending inventory via the Send to Amazon workflow. Seller Support has been completely unhelpful as many others have also experienced, simply repeating the copy-pasted statement "As mentioned, we are unable to make updates as per your request, we have sent the changes you requested to the brand owner for consideration."
I submitted a case under "Report Abuse" (Complaint ID 15595615181) as others have had some luck with this approach. No response yet.
Does anyone know of any new silver bullet for these cases? Or is anyone from Amazon active on the forum and willing to look into the case?
Thanks!
ASIN Brand Hijacked - Brand Name changed by hijacker
Hello -
Recently had a classic "brand hijacking" on an ASIN for which I am the manufacturer, brand owner, and sole seller. I have been selling this same item under the same brand name since 2017. I didn't notice the brand change until I was prevented from sending inventory via the Send to Amazon workflow. Seller Support has been completely unhelpful as many others have also experienced, simply repeating the copy-pasted statement "As mentioned, we are unable to make updates as per your request, we have sent the changes you requested to the brand owner for consideration."
I submitted a case under "Report Abuse" (Complaint ID 15595615181) as others have had some luck with this approach. No response yet.
Does anyone know of any new silver bullet for these cases? Or is anyone from Amazon active on the forum and willing to look into the case?
Thanks!
43 replies
Seller_DB6hmdhpceZIf
@Jim_Amazon @Danny_Amazon @Michelle_Amazon@Cooper_Amazon @Sandy_Amazon
Thanks, team!
Seller_W8zW4X13SQyoz
If the seller ho hijacked it is from China good luck ! Your success rate is not going to be good/
Seller_bmlJ0yQfjoidt
I know this might not be helpful, but the exact same thing happened to me and I spent months trying to get Amazon to help me. They did nothing, they could not understand what happened as the hijacker's brand name was similar to mine. I never got it resolved but I can still send inventory under the hijacker's name. So I just have to live with it. I have been selling since 2014!
Seller_ZlqElNiPV8ib0
I recently noticed the same problem with one of my listing variations. I sell this product for a few years. I have UPC, i bought UPC for this product and I have a proof. Brand name changed but INSIDE of my listing the brand name is mine and this variation looks the same. I don't understand how brand name could be changed if it is not changed in my listing.
I didn't opened a case because I think I will waste my time. I'll better create a new listing for this product.
I don't even understand why they do "brand hijacking" if they not even selling this product.
My best guess is: some of my competitors paid to hijacking my product. I expect more issues like this.
I think to report this as "technical issue" on the page may get Amazon's attention.
Seller_W1tFzATWCqDHQ
The sad thing is that Amazon makes it so easy for these hijackers. Never should have happened in the first place.
Do test buys and report them as counterfeit.
Seller_kEtmJr6vLb8VR
One way to prevent this from ever happening is to have your company name/logo and products trademarked through one of Amazon's IP suggested lawyers, and then enroll in Amazon Brand Registry. Once you have the actual trademark approved through the government USPTO you can then list those products that no one can sell but youself.
https://brandservices.amazon.com/ipaccelerator
Registering your intellectual property is the first step to protecting your brand. Amazon IP Accelerator helps you save time and money with vetted IP law firms.
Enrolling in Amazon Brand Registry makes your brand eligible for exclusive programs that help you build and protect your brand. Simply enroll and we will activate proactive protections that stop infringing listings or inaccurate content.
Use the Report a Violation tool to report suspected IP infringement. Accurate use of this tool makes automated protections smarter and can allow you to be eligible for Amazon Project Zero.
Enroll in products in Transparency and our unit-level product serialization will help prevent the listing, sale, and shipment of inaccurate or counterfeit products.
Amazon Counterfeit Crimes Unit works with brands, law enforcement, and customers to stop bad actors and hold them accountabl
Seller_fWAA4b1wX8hJJ
If you have enrolled in the Brand Registry program, you have support options through that department that Seller Support is going to be largely ignorant about.
I strongly suggest going to https://brandregistry.amazon.com and click on Support > Contact Brand Support to open up a trouble ticket with them.
What has likely happened is some nonsense where a seller in China has registered a brand IN China and is claiming that the literal translation of their brand identity into English is roughly equal to the name of your brand. Using that language barrier technicality can give a Chinese seller leverage to go through Brand/Seller Support IN CHINA to claim your ASIN as belonging to the English transliteration of their Chinese brand.
Or something like that.
And Seller Support will NEVER have the level of understanding, tools, or time to sort through something that convoluted.
Fair warning, Brand Support moves a little slower though. I have no idea what a reasonable wait time is, but it felt like weeks went by before I ever heard from them on my case, but once they did, things got rolling pretty quick.
If you have not enrolled in the Brand Registry program, you're probably screwed.
Seller_DB6hmdhpceZIf
Thanks all, what you're saying is about what I expected to hear. This really seems like a fundamental failing of the Amazon system.
I think the only way I've ever seen this resolved is for an Amazon rep on the forum to engage directly, so... @Jim_Amazon @Danny_Amazon @Michelle_Amazon @Cooper_Amazon @Sandy_Amazon can you help out?
Seller_DB6hmdhpceZIf
Just got this copy-pasted non-response from the "Report Abuse" claim:
"
Hello,
Thank you for your report of a suspected policy violation. We cannot take action on the report based on the information you provided as no violation has been identified on the reported ASINs or order IDs.
ASIN: B07HKJWNGR
Order ID (if applicable): 114-3016911-3956242
Complaint ID: 15595615181
Violation Type: Inventory Hold Abuse
If you believe a policy violation has occurred, please resubmit your complaint with the following information:
-- The ASINs of the products or Order ID.
-- The marketplace.
-- The seller you are reporting, if known.
-- Any additional information that would help prove that inventory hold abuse occurred against you.
Amazon.com
Sincerely,
Seller Performance Team
Amazon.com
"
Of course, all of this information was included in the original claim...
Seller_fWAA4b1wX8hJJ
I felt nosy and looked over your store and noticed something I noticed that may or may not be helpful. None of your ASINs are attached to a registered brand. If you have gone through the effort of enrolling in the Brand Registry program, you missed an important step; letting Brand Support know to assign your ASINs to your registered brand.
Without being bound to a registered brand, an ASIN simply has a text field for filling in the name of a brand. In this case, that bit of text is just mostly just cosmetic, pretty much carries no weight.
The two big differences are
1) When attached to a registered brand, the brand name links to your brand store (not to be confused with your seller account store front) rather than linking to a generic search on your brand. Plus, it gets you access to using A+ content, which can go a long way to make your listings look more 'legit' or whatev.
2) When attached to a registered brand, an ASIN is pretty much untouchable. If you look a little closer at them, you'll find that most of the folk on this forum complaining about brand hijacking don't actually have registered brand status. I.e.: posts from people with a registered brand rarely post about problems like this.
The downside is that getting brand registration setup is a bit of an expense. You need a trademark, and trademarks take time and money to get pushed through.
