Dear Amazon,
We are writing to express our apologies for the variant policy violations on our product listings. The violations are detailed as follows:
Incorrect product information for parent ASIN B0C5N****: Upon review, we discovered that we incorrectly bundled two unrelated products - a back massager (ASIN3) and two foot massager variants (ASIN1, ASIN2) under the same parent ASIN. These products are distinctly different, and we sincerely apologize for the confusion and violation of your variant policies.
Incorrect selection of variant theme: We erroneously used the variant theme of "color" across multiple upgraded product versions. The product variants ASIN1 and ASIN2 are two separate, differently featured products - ASIN1 comes with a stand, while ASIN2 does not. Our use of the variant theme implied they were simply two colors of the same product, which is inaccurate. We should have created separate listing pages to differentiate these products properly.(Additional instructions for both products)
The main reasons for these issues include:
Human Error: We inadvertently provided incorrect or misleading information for the product variants. Our staff made mistakes in accurately uploading product images, dimensions, details, or other attributes, resulting in the violation. We will re-train our staff on proper procedures to minimize the risk of human error going forward.
System Glitch: An unforeseen technical issue with our product database and listing software caused improper information to publish for these product variants. We have updated our systems and technology to resolve the glitch, strengthened system checks, and will closely monitor new listings in the coming weeks to ensure no other issues.
Improper Product Categorization: The products in this ASIN were incorrectly categorized internally, leading to incorrect product details being provided for the different variants. We have updated our product information in all company databases to properly categorize these items by variant and all their unique attributes. This will ensure accurate product data publishing moving forward.
Lack of Oversight: We did not have proper controls and oversight in place to catch these incorrect product variant details before they caused issues. We will improve compliance controls, review processes, and accountability across departments involved in product listings to provide necessary oversight and prevent future violations.
Ambiguous Variant Policy: There may have been some lack of clarity or confusion in our understanding of Amazon's specific policy regarding product variants, which allowed these violations to occur. We aim to gain any additional clarification or education needed on variant policies to eliminate any ambiguity and strengthen our knowledge and procedures. Increased policy understanding will drive continual improvement to compliance.
We take full responsibility for these policy violations and the resulting customer confusion. Compliance with all Amazon policies and providing an optimal customer experience are our top priorities as sellers on your platform. We clearly failed at both in this instance.
Since notification, we have completed the following corrective actions:
Removed back massager (ASIN3) from the current parent ASIN and deleted the page. All options and images for the foot massagers (ASIN1, ASIN2) have been moved to their own, properly differentiated ASINs.
Re-trained all staff involved on the accurate selection of variant themes based on the products in a listing. Staff now have a clear understanding of when product variants require separate ASINs to avoid violations.(Additional training documents)
Corrected product categorization in all internal databases. Our product databases and enterprise resource planning systems have all been updated to properly define product variants for this ASIN. All product information in every system has been aligned to match actual inventory and represent product details accurately to avoid confusion or incorrect product data publishing again in the future.
Completed full compliance and listing review within 7 business days. Within 7 business days of receiving notice of this violation, we conducted a full compliance review of all product variants for this ASIN and across our product catalog. Any other issues identified were immediately corrected, and updates made to our training, procedures, and systems as needed to strengthen policy compliance and prevent violations from recurring.
Established Standard Operating Procedures. We have established strict standard operating procedures for creating or updating variant listings to meet policy standards every time. These include checks and sign-offs to minimize human errors or oversight. We have also documented procedures for training and accountability.
To prevent the misuse of variations in the future, we have taken the following steps:
Continually educate ourselves on Amazon's variant policies. We stay up-to-date with Amazon's requirements for managing product variants, including details on when separate parent ASINs are needed, proper selection of variant themes, providing accurate product attributes, and more. Ongoing learning is key to compliance.
Developed standard operating procedures. We have created clearly defined SOPs for listing new products, adding product variants, updating product details, or making other changes. All teams involved in our product catalog follow consistent procedures that meet Amazon's policies. Documented SOPs minimize errors and support compliance.
Increased oversight and internal controls. We have added additional approval layers before product listings or variant changes go live, such as review by compliance teams or senior management. Internal controls provide oversight to catch any issues early and prevent violations. While technology can help, human oversight is still critical.
Conducted routine compliance audits. We regularly audit our existing product catalog, especially product variants, to detect any inaccurate information or non-compliant listings. We make any necessary corrections to resolve problems immediately and avoid policy violations. Ongoing audits help identify issues proactively before Amazon does.
Invested in tools and software. We utilize technology solutions that help facilitate and enhance compliance, such as tools for validating product data or automatically flagging potential issues for internal review. Technology, combined with optimized processes and human oversight, creates an effective compliance program. But technology alone is not enough.
Analyzed the root causes of any violations. If we receive a violation notice from Amazon, we determine what exactly in our systems or processes broke down to allow the violation to happen. We then update our controls and operations to close those loopholes and prevent the same failure again. Continual improvement based on experience is key to sustainable compliance.
Remained transparent in our communication. We explain any situation openly and honestly to Amazon, take responsibility for our failures, and share the solutions we implement to resolve issues. Our transparency in these communications builds trust in our commitment to compliance and continual optimization as a seller.
With investment in the right tools, training, expertise, communication, and consistent commitment to compliance, we can strengthen our understanding of Amazon's variant policies, fortify defenses against violations, and drive continual optimization of our product listings. The key is developing sustainable solutions through policy knowledge and operational excellence. This helps outline an effective approach to preventing future variant issues. Please let us know if you have any other questions.