What Can I Sell on Amazon Without Approval: 10 Product Ideas
Amazon has a wide range of product categories and subcategories, presenting excellent opportunities for merchants to sell their products and generate revenue. However, certain categories on Amazon require seller authorization before items can be listed in order to regulate goods and prevent illegal product listings. This process can complicate the new seller onboarding process, leading to questions like, What can I sell on Amazon without needing approval?
This article provides product examples and offers a guide on how to identify products that can be sold without required approval.
Table of contents
When Approval is Required
Certain types of products may result in blocked listings because sellers must provide various pieces of required documentation to Amazon before being permitted to sell those items. Typically, it takes up to 14 days for Amazon to review the information you provide in order to approve or reject your application. These product categories include:
HAZMAT: These products include hazardous materials that can pose a risk to consumers' health or the environment, such as lithium batteries. For those types of items, you need to provide additional documentation and certificates to Amazon. If you don’t provide these documents, or if Amazon does not approve what you submit, you will not be able to list your products, resulting in lost sales.
Gated categories: Items prone to counterfeiting or those that must meet safety and quality standards (such as collectibles, jewelry, and fine art) are classified as “gated” categories. To sell products from these categories, you need to check the specific requirements in your Seller Central account and submit an application along with the necessary documents.
Branded: Your products may also face rejection if your listing infringes on any brands or trademarks. To sell products from big brands, it's necessary to get brand approval by becoming an official distributor. However, this process entails significant investments and paperwork that newcomers may prefer to avoid.
Therefore, it's better to check in advance whether a product requires approval or not. Review the instructions below on how to do this in a time-efficient and effective manner.
How to Easily Check if You Need Approval
To verify a product's contents, category, and seller type, you need to gather information for each individual item and check for any restrictions in Seller Central. To streamline this process and quickly determine whether a product can be sold without approval, consider using AMZScout tools.
The AMZScout Amazon Dropshipping, Arbitrage, and Wholesale Extension not only assists you in assessing selling limitations efficiently, but also helps you analyze each product’s potential profitability.
Simply follow these steps:
1. Install the AMZScout Dropshipping, Arbitrage, and Wholesale Extension for Chrome. Enter your email address to start a free trial (no credit card details needed).
2. Search for a product. Enter any product name in the Amazon search field and open the listing you are interested in.
3. Check for approval requirements. The built-in window just before the product bullets will clearly indicate whether the product belongs to a gated or ungated category, if it contains hazardous materials, or is a private label product that cannot be sold by other sellers without brand permission.
4. Check the profitability. Use the calculator in the built-in window to ensure that after all of your costs and expenses, your profit margin will be at least 30%.
5. Assess additional criteria. To make sure the product is a good option for selling, review the following criteria:
Competition: Ensure that Amazon isn't among the sellers on the listing and there are fewer than 20 merchants to avoid tough competition.
Estimated Monthly Sales: Verify if the estimated monthly sales exceed 300, indicating healthy demand and potential for consistent sales.
Price History: Examine the price graphics to ensure a stable or increasing trend without sharp fluctuations, indicating a positive sales pattern.
![AMZScout Dropshipping and Online Arbitrage extension price history]( "AMZScout dropshipping and online arbitrage extension price history")
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As a result, you can determine whether a product requires approval and assess its levels of profitability and competitiveness efficiently. Using the AMZScout toolkit, you can conduct this research quickly, saving valuable time.
How to Sell Without Approval
Earlier, we discussed which types of products require approval and how to identify these items. Now, let's explore situations where approval is not needed:
Launching a Private Label. Once you register your own brand, you can manufacture products under that label. In this case, you are allowed to sell on Amazon without needing any approval from other brands or sellers, since you are the rightful owner. Also, there are higher profit margins with the private label model compared to reselling products from other brands. However, this strategy can also require larger investments for product development, branding, and inventory management.
Selling Unregistered Brands or Generic Products. If a company hasn't registered their trademark yet or their application is pending, you can sell these types of products without approval. However, note that once the brand becomes registered, they can file a complaint against you for selling their products. When you sell a generic or unbranded product, be cautious as it could potentially be a used item or a counterfeit of an existing product.
Selling in Ungated Categories. Ungated categories enable Amazon sellers to list products without prior approval. No application process is required for these categories, making it easier and quicker to start selling. It's important to note that while certain categories are ungated on Amazon, some subcategories within them may still require approval.
Below, you can find a list of examples of products in ungated categories that you can start selling promptly without waiting for any approval.
Products You Can Sell Without Approval
Here’s a list of ungated products you can sell on Amazon in 2024. As rules may change over time, it's important to verify each individual product to make sure you can sell it via Amazon FBA without approval.
Books - Includes books, calendars, magazines, and more.
Books, initially Amazon's core focus, has remained an ungated category primarily due to the challenges associated with counterfeiting. Also, in 2023, Amazon's print book sales surpassed those of ebooks, generating $28 billion in revenue, making the Books category worth considering for sellers.
Amazon Kindle - Audio and ebooks.
Digital products are easy to start out with because they don't have to meet specific quality and safety standards the same way physical products do. Additionally, you can sell your own works without encountering approval hurdles.
Sports Equipment - Yoga mats, balls, resistance bands, etc.
Basic sports equipment products are considered to be a viable option when it comes to low-risk items with minimal safety concerns, making them suitable for listing without approval. These products are widely available and commonly sold by various sellers on the platform.
Home Improvement - Picture frames, artificial plants, candle holders, etc.
![What to sell on ebay Home & Garden]( "Home & Garden")
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Home decor items are generally straightforward and pose little risk to consumers. This is also a category that tends to sell well consistently throughout the year, providing opportunities for steady sales.
Musical Instruments - Guitars, drums, digital pianos, etc.
These products are regulated by industry standards and are subject to general safety standards. Because of this, they do not typically require any special certification to list on Amazon.
Accessories (Electronics) - Instant print cameras, monopads, cell cases, etc.
These items are typically sold without the need for special approval because they're widely available. However, it's best to avoid items with top-brand names (for example, a branded phone case) without proper authorization.
Beauty & Personal Care - Scrubs, hair masks, blush, etc.
The most commonly used beauty products come with straightforward usage instructions. Make sure every product you list is within its expiration date and in good condition.
Industrial & Scientific - Gloves, paper, test tubes, etc.
These items often have to comply with standard safety regulations and industry standards. Request documentation from your supplier to ensure that products do not contain any restricted materials, such as lead or mercury.
Patio, Lawn & Garden - Lawn mowers, grill accessories, patio chairs, etc.
These types of products are intended for general consumer use, so sellers can list them without needing any additional approval. However, you should always check Amazon's guidelines to ensure compliance and avoid any potential issues.
Home Kitchen & Dining - Pots, napkins, containers, etc.
This category encompasses a wide range of everyday essentials that adhere to standard safety standards. According to statistics, approximately 60% of the best-selling items on Amazon originate from this category.
It's crucial to conduct a thorough assessment of any given item to ensure you don't need approval to list that ASIN, and to prevent any potential issues with listing products from restricted subcategories.
Conclusion
If you're interested in kickstarting your own journey as a seller on Amazon and simplifying the entry process, ungated products offer an excellent solution. By focusing on these types of goods, you'll avoid potential trademark issues and be able to start selling immediately. The AMZScout toolkit can assist you by identifying ungated products and evaluating their sales data and profit potential. This will enable you to build a successful Amazon business and thrive as a seller.
