Amazon New vs Used Product Guidelines
Specific guidance on what qualifies as New condition on Amazon and the most common mistakes sellers make when assessing condition.
Key Points
- ✓New must mean genuinely factory-sealed — not resealed, not "like new"
- ✓Products that have been returned cannot be relisted as New
- ✓Scratch-and-dent items must be listed under an appropriate Used condition
- ✓Bundle items must all be New if the bundle is listed as New
- ✓Date-sensitive items (food, cosmetics with expiration) must be within usable date range
Policy Details
The distinction between New and Used condition on Amazon is strictly enforced through customer complaints and Amazon's monitoring systems. An item is New only if: it is in its original, factory-sealed packaging with no signs of having been opened; it has never been used in any way; all accessories, manuals, and documentation are present and intact; and the packaging itself is undamaged and in original condition. Common grey areas: items where Amazon has opened packaging for fulfillment center processing can still qualify as New if the product itself meets New standards; items with minor packaging damage from transit may qualify as New if the product is undamaged; items with manufacturing cosmetic defects should be listed as Used (Like New or Very Good depending on severity). Items that do not qualify as New under any circumstances: customer returns, even if the customer says they never used the product; items sold and returned through other channels; display models; items from damaged or wet cases, even if the product inside appears undamaged; items that have been repackaged after the original packaging was opened for any reason. For FBA sellers: items returned to Amazon's fulfillment centers by customers go into the Returns bucket and can only be relisted as Used — they do not automatically go back to your New inventory. Check your Amazon Reimbursements and Removals reports to track what happens to returned inventory.
Common Violations
- ⚠Listing customer returns back to New inventory without inspection
- ⚠Resealed boxes sold as New
- ⚠Scratch and dent warehouse deals listed as New
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