What Can You Sell on Amazon Without Approval?

Introduction

When online selling began, people could sell virtually anything they wanted to. You could buy brand-name products at low prices and resell them without needing proof of authenticity or manufacturer approval. Over time, major platforms like Amazon started imposing restrictions to ensure quality and authenticity. 

Amazon now has "gated" categories that require sellers to undergo a special approval process that may involve additional fees, performance evaluations, and specific qualifications.

If you’re asking, “What can I sell on Amazon without needing approval?”— this guide will help you identify which categories are open for selling without the need for extra paperwork.

Why Does Amazon Restrict Some Categories?

Amazon restricts certain categories to keep its marketplace safe and trustworthy. By controlling who can sell these items, Amazon can better monitor the products and ensure they meet high standards. 

By restricting who can sell their products, they can ensure that customers are purchasing genuine products from approved distributors or verified sources. This is especially important for luxury brands or companies with high-value items like Jewelry or Fine Art which need careful checking to avoid counterfeit products.

Brands also gate themselves for strategic and business reasons:  This includes maintaining consistent branding, ensuring accurate product descriptions, high-quality images, and enforcing their preferred pricing and promotional strategies. Unauthorised sellers may sell products that are expired, damaged, or mishandled, leading to poor customer experiences which negatively impact the brand's reputation.  Or undercut prices, which can damage a brand’s pricing strategy and devalue its products.

What Is Ungated on Amazon?

Ungated categories are those where you don’t need special approval from Amazon to start selling. You can list and sell these products right away. This makes it easier for new sellers to get started without dealing with the lengthy approval process for gated categories.

Full List of Ungated Categories

Here’s a list of categories you can sell on Amazon without needing approval: however certain brands and subcategories will always need approval. Again - CHECK FIRST, before you spend your money.

• Amazon Device Accessories

• Amazon Kindle

• Baby Products 

• Beauty

• Books

• Camera & Photo

• Cell Phones & Accessories

• Grocery & Gourmet Foods

• Health & Personal Care 

• Home & Garden

• Industrial & Scientific

• Kindle Accessories and Amazon Fire TV Accessories

• Major Appliances

• Musical Instruments

• Office Products 

• Outdoors

• Personal Computers 

• Pet Supplies

• Software 

• Sports

• Tools & Home Improvement

• Toys & Games 

• Video Games 

Benefits of Selling in Ungated Categories

1. Start Quickly:

• Quick Listings: Post your products instantly without needing approval.

• Increased Exposure: Connect with more customers from day one. 

• Build Your Brand: Establish your presence and reputation early on.

2. Grow Faster:

• Instant Sales: Begin earning right away. 

• Track and Optimize: Concentrate on refining your sales and strategies. 

• Scale your Business: Once you're successful, you can venture into gated categories.

 New Sellers Restrictions

If you're a brand new seller - please note you will initially be restricted from many categories until Amazon sees from your selling history that it can "trust" you. Make sure  you check to see if you are allowed to resell a product before you sink significant capital into it.

New sellers can often find success in the following ungated categories:

• Amazon Kindle: Sell digital and audible books.

• Baby Products: Items like baby shampoo and car seats (excluding apparel).

• Beauty: Makeup and health and beauty products.

• Books: New and used books, including Kindle books.

• Cell Phones & Accessories: Phones, cases, batteries, and more.

• Consumer Electronics: Small appliances and grooming tools.

• Grocery & Gourmet Foods: Various foods, including specialty diets.

• Home & Garden: Household items and garden tools.

• Industrial & Scientific: Equipment and tools for various industries.

• Pet Supplies: Pet food, treats, and accessories. 

Best Ungated Products to Sell

Some popular ungated categories that might be profitable include:

• Toys & Games: High demand, especially around holidays.

• Electronics: Items like computer accessories and peripherals.

• Camera & Photo: Photography equipment and accessories.

• Video Games: A profitable category with a broad audience.

• Books: Always in demand, both physical and digital.

Other Things to Consider

When choosing a product to sell, think about:

• Demand: Look for products with high search volume and low competition.

• Seasonality: Consider whether the product is popular year-round or just seasonally.

• Starting Costs: Balance the cost of acquiring and selling the product with potential profits.

• Familiarity: Pick products you know well to make selling easier.

How to Get Ungated

If you’re an Amazon seller eager to expand your business by venturing into restricted categories - be assured that you're not alone. Every day, many sellers are working towards having their accounts ungated.

It is possible to apply to Amazon to be ungated in a category.   Getting ungated on Amazon has plenty of advantages and opens up a wider range of opportunities for sellers.  It allows you to expand your product range giving you the potential to greatly increase your sales. You may be able to set higher prices and improve your margins.  

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If you want to learn how to apply for permission to sell in Amazon's most lucrative categories?  We can support you with this and provide valuable information on the process in our free downloadable Amazon Ungating Guide.

And we regularly run an online session - the Introduction  to Selling on  Amazon webinar.  Want to join us and learn more about selling on Amazon? Find out more here.