Amazon Hijackers: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Remove Them from Your Amazon Listings

What Are Amazon Hijackers and How Do They Hurt Your Business?

Counterfeit sellers on Amazon can be a serious problem for private label sellers. These unauthorized sellers, commonly known as Amazon hijackers or listing hijackers, join your product listing but sell products that are different from your authentic private-label products. Amazon hijackers can cause significant loss of sales and damage your brand reputation on the marketplace.

However, removing hijackers from your Amazon listing is possible. This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to protect your Amazon brand and remove counterfeit sellers from your listings.

Step-by-Step Process to Remove Amazon Hijackers

Step 1: How to Identify Amazon Hijackers and Counterfeit Sellers

The first step in removing a hijacker from your Amazon listing is identifying them. You can do so by monitoring your product listings and checking for any unauthorized sellers. You may suspect sellers who are offering your product at a much cheaper price than your retail price.

Red flags that indicate Amazon hijackers:

• Significantly lower pricing than authorized sellers
• Poor product images or stolen photos
• Different product variations (quality, size, shape, color)
• Products with different brand names
• Sellers with poor feedback ratings

Counterfeit products can be different from your listed product in quality, size, shape, color, and other specifications. Sometimes the hijackers sell a product that has a completely different brand name on it!

Step 2: Conduct a Test Buy to Confirm Counterfeit Products

Order the product from the suspected hijacker to confirm that it is indeed counterfeit (different from your product as explained above). This test buy is crucial evidence for your Amazon counterfeit complaint.

Important legal note: If the product you received is identical to your authentic product, then it is authentic – not counterfeit. In this case, you should not report the seller since they are legally allowed to sell authentic products that match the product sold on your listing. Not every unauthorized seller is a hijacker, so a report would generally be inappropriate if the product is authentic.

Step 3: Send a Cease and Desist Notice to Amazon Hijackers

If you confirm the product sold is indeed counterfeit, you may send the hijacker a cease and desist notice. You can use the following language as a sample cease and desist template:

Cease and Desist Notice Template for Amazon Hijackers:

Dear [HIJACKER NAME],

It has come to our attention that you have been purporting to sell [BRAND NAME] products on Amazon, while you are in fact selling infringing products.

Please be advised that we own all rights in the [BRAND NAME] brand. By using our brand name and pretending to sell our products on Amazon, you are misleading consumers and infringing our trademark.

Therefore, we demand that you immediately cease and desist any and all use of our trademark and remove all listings on Amazon in which you have been using our trademark.

Failure to take action within 24 hours will force us to report this serious violation to Amazon, which may eventually result in the removal of your selling privileges on Amazon.

If we do not hear from you or if your violation does not cease within 24 hours, we shall escalate this matter to our Legal Department for further legal action.

Sincerely,

[SELLER NAME]

Step 4: Report Amazon Hijackers Through Brand Registry

If the hijacker does not comply with your cease and desist request, you can report them to Amazon through the official channels. To do this, go to Report a Violation through your Amazon Brand Registry dashboard: https://brandregistry.amazon.com/brand/report-a-violation.

Amazon Brand Registry provides enhanced tools for brand protection and makes it easier to remove counterfeit sellers from your listings.

Step 5: File a Counterfeit Complaint with Amazon

If the counterfeit seller or hijacker continues to sell counterfeit products on your listing, you can file an official counterfeit complaint with Amazon via the Report Infringement page: https://www.amazon.com/report/infringement.

Requirements for filing a counterfeit complaint:

• You must provide your trademark registration number
• You need a registered trademark in the appropriate jurisdiction
• For hijackers on Amazon.com, you need a US trademark registration that covers the product you are selling

Amazon will investigate the complaint and take appropriate action against the counterfeit sellers.

When to Consider Legal Action Against Amazon Hijackers

If the hijacker is causing significant harm to your business despite following the above steps, you may want to consider legal action. Consult with an experienced intellectual property lawyer to determine if legal action is the right course for your specific situation.

How to Prevent Amazon Hijackers and Counterfeit Sellers

Proactive Brand Protection Strategies

To prevent counterfeit sellers or hijackers from taking over your Amazon listing, you can implement these protective measures:

1. Amazon Brand Registry Enrollment Register your brand with Amazon’s Brand Registry program. This will give you greater control over your product listings and help prevent counterfeit products from being sold under your brand name.

2. Regular Listing Monitoring Monitor your product listings regularly to ensure that no hijackers have joined your listing. Set up alerts to notify you when new sellers are added to your listings.

3. Amazon Transparency Program Enroll in Amazon’s Transparency program to authenticate and verify the authenticity of your products. This program helps customers identify genuine products and reduces counterfeit sales.

Protecting Your Amazon Brand from Hijackers

Removing a hijacker from your Amazon listing can be a time-consuming process, but it is absolutely possible with the right approach. By following the steps outlined in this guide – from identifying counterfeit sellers to filing official complaints with Amazon – you can protect your brand reputation and prevent counterfeit products from being sold under your listings.

Taking proactive steps to prevent counterfeit sellers or hijackers from targeting your listing in the first place is essential for long-term success. By being proactive with brand protection, enrolling in Amazon’s protection programs, and monitoring your listings regularly, you can minimize the risk of hijackers harming your Amazon business.

Key Takeaways for Amazon Sellers:

• Always conduct test buys before reporting sellers
• Use Amazon Brand Registry for enhanced protection
• Document everything for potential legal action
• Monitor your listings consistently
• Act quickly when hijackers are identified