Selling on Amazon can be an amazing experience for resellers, but it can come with its fair share of hoops. In your time on their marketplace, you may have noticed that some categories are restricted and don’t allow access to just anybody. These categories are referred to as “gated” and protected, but that does not mean you should count yourself out just yet. Big brands like Nike, toy companies, and even beauty products have gated categories, and this guide here will show you the process of getting your hand in these money-making categories.
People assume that obtaining the ungated status is too much trouble and quickly become discouraged, but you will find a whole new world open up before you with a little bit of research and time. Again, this process does take time, but that comes with getting access to even the most difficult categories.
The primary benefit of getting access to these categories is the number of competitors in each one. Considering the barriers to entry, most people and sellers cut their chances before they even begin, which makes up a more significant majority than you would think. For you, if you manage to get through this process, this means there is a larger market for you to take advantage of while getting your inventory more attention from potential buyers. Here is the current list of gated categories in Amazon:
- Automotive and Powersports
- Clothing, Accessories, Shoes, and Luggage
- Collectible Books
- Collectible Coins
- Entertainment Collectibles
- Fine Art
- Fine Jewelry
- Gift Cards
- Grocery and Gourmet Foods
- Kindle Accessories
- Major Appliances
- Sexual Wellness
- Sports Collectibles
- Textbook Rentals
- Toys & Games (Holiday Guidelines)
- Video, DVD, and Blu-ray
- Watches
- Wine
In previous articles, there have been mentions of the benefits of signing up for a professional seller account, and this is another one of them. This will be the first step in your process of being ungated in the category of your choosing. Professional seller accounts are the only ones given access to selling in restricted categories. At the same time, Amazon will even take a minor cut from your sales, so the long-run benefit to making a killing in sales will outweigh the $39.99 monthly fee.
The next step is now determining which category you want to sell in. I suggest picking a category you already have a fair amount of knowledge on and a product where you know what a potential customer will want to see. Presentation is also key when creating your listings as well, crisp and clear images while having eye-catching sales copy will help customers feel more at ease when choosing to go with your product over a competitor’s. How you set yourself apart will surely make a difference in your success on Amazon.
The final step in the process is filling out the application form to get approved. When navigating Amazon Seller Central, there will be an inventory tab that drops down the option to “Add Product”, go ahead and click on that, then search for the restricted product you will sell. Once you find your product, you will notice a “Listing Limitations May Apply” link to link you to the option of “Request Approval”. As you may have guessed, clicking on “Request Approval” will take you to the application form that you will have to fill out to get started. Some categories only require a simple questionnaire, while more restricted ones will have you input invoices and images of your product. It is vital to research the category of your choice to have the information to complete the form beforehand.
That is all there is to it! As I had mentioned before, these categories differ, and the requirements to get are also different. When selecting your gated product, conduct the proper research on its corresponding category before getting to the application process so you won’t have to go back and forth and then become frustrated when you don’t have all the correct information. Gated categories have major benefits for sellers but they do not come without obstacles which I’m sure you already know if you have experience with Amazon or have tried this process before. However, do not give up and take another crack at it! Remember, nothing ventured, nothing gained!
