The Seller's Background and Product Performance

Jake, an active 6-figure Amazon seller, had been successfully selling keychains for several years. He had established a solid relationship with his supplier and hadn't faced any issues. However, like many sellers, Jake wasn't conducting routine inspections for his products, which left him unaware of potential changes at the factory.

The Impact of Not Conducting Inspections on Product Quality

In 2022, Jake placed a routine order with his supplier. Unbeknownst to him, the supplier changed the placement of the UPC barcode on the product packaging, violating Amazon's Terms of Service and rendering the barcode unscannable. The shipment was then sent to Amazon.

Upon arrival at Amazon's warehouse, Jake was shocked to discover the UPC barcode issue. This caused his inbound performance to tank, putting his account at risk of having his inbound shipment ability suspended. Additionally, delays in the receiving process nearly led to stock depletion, which could have cost thousands in lost sales and even more in lost rankings.

Resolving the Issue and Avoiding Suspension

Fortunately, Jake acted quickly to resolve the problem. He spent hundreds of dollars relabeling the products just in time to prevent his account from being suspended. For future orders, he worked with his supplier to revert the UPC barcode placement to its original location, saving on relabeling costs and avoiding potential penalties from Amazon.

The Importance of Routine Inspections with Movley

Amazon enforces strict policies regarding storefront suspension due to order defect rates caused by mispacked or mislabeled products. If a seller's order defect rate exceeds 1%, which could be due to mislabeled products, they risk suspension from the platform. Moreover, if a seller has problems with inbound shipments, their ability to ship units into Amazon FBA could be suspended. According to Amazon's Terms of Service, sellers are responsible for ensuring their products meet quality requirements.

To avoid such situations, sellers should always inspect their products for potential issues before shipping, especially considering that changes can occur at the factory over time. To streamline this process, Jake turned to our Quality Inspection service. At Movley, our team of experts conducts thorough inspections and provides detailed reports on all product components, ensuring Jake's products are compliant with Amazon's standards.

Lessons Learned: The Value of Quality Control and Regular Inspections

Many sellers underestimate the importance of regular inspections, often citing simple products or good supplier relationships. However, even straightforward products can create challenges, like incorrect or unscannable UPCs, which could lead to Amazon storefront suspension or other significant issues.

It's crucial to remember that suppliers are businesses with numerous workers and ever-changing factors, such as production lines, raw material suppliers, machinery upgrades, and employee turnover. These changes can impact product quality over time.

A typical inspection costs as little as $302/day, representing a small percentage of your total COGs. This investment ensures your products are made right and packaged properly, potentially saving you from costly mistakes in the long run.

Choose Movley: Your Reliable Quality Control Partner

Movley may not be the cheapest option, but we're committed to doing things right and becoming your go-to quality control partner. As experienced sellers, we've built Movley to address quality control issues firsthand and help other sellers navigate these challenges. By choosing Movley, you're investing in a reliable partner who understands the importance of quality control and is dedicated to your success.