Amazon Plan of Action

An Amazon Plan of Action (POA) is a document that a seller submits to Amazon as part of the platform’s formal appeal process. Sellers submit a Plan of Action when filing an appeal to have their selling privileges reinstated after their seller account has been banned by Amazon due to a violation of the platform’s policies or terms of service. The purpose of an Amazon Plan of Action is to offer a context regarding an issue and outline what the seller has done to address the problem.
A POA is an essential component of the appeal process on the Amazon Marketplace, demonstrating a commitment to compliance on the platform, and has a major part to play in Amazon’s eventual decision as to whether to reinstate a seller’s account.

What does an Amazon Plan of Action include?

Given that an Amazon seller account can be suspended for a range of different reasons, the specific information contained within an Amazon Plan of Action can vary considerably. However, a comprehensive POA typically contains the following essential components.

• Cause analysis: In their POAs, sellers are expected to demonstrate an acknowledgment and understanding of why their account was originally suspended. As such, an Amazon Plan of Action typically includes the findings of a seller’s review, wherein they identify the violations or infringements committed and point to the root cause that led to the problem.
• Corrective actions: Sellers must also show that they have made efforts to address the issue for which they have been suspended and its root cause. As such, an Amazon Plan of Action will typically contain a detailed description of actions that have been taken to rectify the issue. This may include, for example, the resolution of customer complaints, the removal of prohibited items, or the amendment of product listings to comply with Amazon’s standards and policies.
• Preventive measures: To have a suspended account reinstated, a seller must provide reassurance that they plan to act in compliance with Amazon’s policies going forward. Therefore, an Amazon Plan of Action will often delineate structured measures that the seller plans to implement in order to avoid future violations.
• Supporting evidence: In addition to an outline of their analysis findings, corrective actions, and planned measures, the seller is typically required to supplement their Amazon Plan of Action with additional supporting documentation. This may include, for example, relevant invoices or correspondence with customers or amended operating policies that further demonstrate a commitment to compliance.

How does one write an effective Amazon Plan of Action?

For an account suspension appeal to be successful, the seller needs to demonstrate professionalism, conscientiousness, and attention to detail. As such, an effective Amazon Plan of Action will typically be factual, logical, and concise, supported by relevant evidence with a clear structure and a high degree of readability to facilitate ease of review. Sellers should emphasize accountability in their writing and avoid commenting on Amazon’s review processes. In instances when an appeal case is complex, the seller may be best advised to seek legal counsel from an expert who can assist with producing a suitable Amazon Plan of Action that will meet Amazon’s expectations.