Can you use a VPN with your Amazon account?
Should You Use A VPN For Amazon Seller Central?
As a vendor, there are several reasons why you would use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for Amazon Seller Central.
But sometimes, it can get risky.
Here, we will look at some of the implications of using one and what you can do to avoid any adverse effects (like having your account suspended).
Reasons for Using a VPN for Amazon Seller Central
It’s always a good idea to protect yourself from potential security breaches when you access your seller account from public Internet hotspots in coffee shops or hotels.
A VPN service will prevent hackers stealing your passwords or interfering with your account.
You may also want to change your IP geo-location when using VPN for Amazon Seller Central.
Amazon could block you from accessing your US seller account if you are visiting another country.
A VPN may be the only way to conduct any business on your seller account while you are away from the US. One with servers in the US will make it look as though you are accessing your account from a US IP address.
A VPN is also useful if you have multiple Amazon accounts. Amazon strictly prohibits this unless you ask for a second one for a legitimate business reason as only one is allowed per geographic region.
Let’s say you want a backup account in case your main one is suspended. If Amazon detects that multiple accounts are being accessed from the same IP address, it may suspend them.
A VPN will give you a different IP from your usual one and trick Amazon into thinking that you are logging in from a different place.
The Problem With Using a VPN for Amazon Seller Central
While VPNs can offer an additional layer of security, they are not foolproof since Amazon can detect an IP address from a VPN. This is because of the way VPNs assign IP addresses.
Generally, VPNs offer two IP address services.
Either all customers logging into the client at the same time are assigned the same address, or VPNs will assign customers one of the thousands of IP addresses they own.
Once the customer signs out, the address is returned to the batch to be redistributed at some other time.
If several sellers with the same VPN are all assigned the same IP address, Amazon bots may detect this as one user opening multiple seller accounts from the same location – a violation of existing Amazon policies.
Even if you are a legitimate seller with just one account, this could set off a red flag.
However, it’s unlikely that your account will be blocked just because you logged in from the same IP address as many other sellers.
Amazon has several criteria in place to determine if a policy violation has occurred, such as the operation of multiple Amazon accounts.
It is also important to consider that some unscrupulous sellers use VPNs to either geo-spoof their location or to operate multiple accounts.
If you login to your seller account with the same IP address as an account that has already been suspended, you may be banned because of the perceived link to the dubious seller.
As long as you are not explicitly violating Amazon policies by operating multiple accounts, you may get away with using a VPN for the other reasons we mentioned – security, privacy, and geo-spoofing when traveling – even if you end up being assigned the same IP as another seller.
There is a higher risk of your account being suspended if you log in from the same IP address as a suspended one than if you log in as another user who has a legitimate account.
Quick Guide: How to Protect Your Amazon Seller Central Account
- If you need more than one seller account, ask for one: If you really do not want to talk to Amazon about this, you could use a VPN to hide your true location, but remember this is not foolproof; your accounts could easily be suspended.
- Avoid using free or popular VPNs.: They have very few IP addresses to distribute to customers, so there is a greater chance of sharing one with other dubious or legitimate sellers. This could easily set off red flags to your account.
- Ask your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for a static IP but be prepared for a large price tag for such a service: Alternatively, a VPN with a static IP address will cost you extra but it is not as expensive as getting one from your ISP.
Using a VPN with your Amazon Seller's account comes with advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, the choice is yours, and we trust that this explanation will assist you in making an informed decision.
If you’re looking for a good VPN for Amazon, here are the best ones:
Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
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