How To Ungate Your Amazon Account To Sell in Spain
Amazon made entry into Spain in September 2011, first opening its online shopping website Amazon.es to the public. However, it was not until 2012 that the e-commerce giant opened its first logistics center in San Fernando, Madrid.
Spain’s excellent geographical location in the South of Europe, coupled with the country’s commitment to innovation and digital transformation, lured Amazon into the Spanish marketplace.
Due to the brand’s excellent level of acceptance in Spain, coupled with the growing number of small and medium businesses (SMBs) selling products on the platform, Amazon decided to set up logistics centers across the country to cater to the growing demand from Spanish customers. Amazon’s virtual marketplace has consequently helped Spanish businesses reach a wider audience, and even infiltrate international markets.
Amazon’s catalog is massive, offering a host of possibilities for Spanish businesses. Selling products on this marketplace can be a lucrative venture, and expanding your reach to Europe can significantly increase your customer base and revenue potential. However, sellers need to ungate their Amazon seller accounts before they can start selling on Amazon Seller Central Spain.
When it comes to selling on Amazon, gating refers to the process of obtaining approval to sell certain products or in specific categories.
Amazon employs this strategy to safeguard its platform and ensure sellers meet certain criteria. Ungating your seller account for the Spanish marketplace requires a similar process. While the steps involved can be tedious and frustrating, the upside is that a merchant on Amazon Spain seller central will get access to Amazon’s gated (restricted) categories and, therefore, tap into more profitable and less competitive markets.
If you are a Spain-based Amazon FBA seller with a Professional account (that is in good standing with no unresolved issues or policy violations) looking to access Amazon’s restricted categories, there are two ways to go about it: You can do all the tedious legwork by yourself, or enlist the help of Amazon’s ungating service for Spain that is sure to make the process fairly simple.
Either way, this article highlights the necessary steps and requirements needed to ungate your Amazon Spain Seller Central account.Selling on Amazon in Spain
Amazon opened its subsidiary in Spain in September 2011, and its importance on the domestic, regional, and global scale is insurmountable. Over the years, the company has shown its commitment to Spain, investing in new logistics centers across the country, slashing delivery times, offering lower prices, and bolstering the overall customer experience. In the first half of 2019, for example, Amazon opened its Seller Support Hub in Barcelona which consists of a multilingual team designed to assist SMBs located not only in Spain but also those from France and Italy who sell in its vast marketplace. Additionally, Spain became only the third country (after Poland and the UK) to implement the Amazon Robotics technology in its fulfillment centers to slash delivery times.
In 2021, Amazon generated a year-on-year gross merchandise value (GMV) of $7.2 billion. That comprised mainly of its gross revenue from third-party sellers in Spain. Moreover, the Amazon marketplace contributed an estimated $340 million to Spain’s state coffers during the same period. Compared to elcorteingles.es which posted e-commerce net sales of $1.4 billion in 2022, Amazon generated $5.3 million in the same timeframe. That, coupled with numerous other factors, cements Amazon as a leading e-commerce market in Spain.Fast forward to August 2023, Amazon.es is ranked as the most visited Retail website in Spain, attracting nearly 107 million monthly visits. That’s according to data drawn from the Trends Platform, an internet algorithm that tracks page visits. Amazon beat aliexpress.com (ranked second with 40 million) and elcorteingles.es (ranked third with 22 million) by a country mile.
Amazon’s marketplace is vast and boundless, with its array of product categories that continue to drive Spanish shoppers to the platform. From the wealth of Spanish gastronomy and jewelry to electronics and pantry items, the list is endless. Merchants with Amazon Seller Central accounts in Spain have access to the platform’s robust selling tools, and its vast logistics network service called Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Prime members can also enjoy the benefits associated with Amazon Prime Spain membership.
Amazon has mastered its craft when it comes to ensuring a seamless shopping experience, reliability, and customer service – all vital aspects that sets the platform apart from the competition. So, whether you are a new entrant or an established brand looking to cater to the demands of Spain’s local market, or tap into Amazon’s vast global market, here is a brief outline of the seller guidelines for Amazon Seller Central Spain platform that all new sellers must fulfill to sell successfully:
- Visit the Spanish version of the Amazon marketplace (Amazon.es) and register with Amazon Seller Central Spain using a valid username and password.
- Select a plan between Individual and Professional. The former (which is limited to 40 items) charges €0.99 per sale, while the latter charges a monthly fee of €39 regardless of your sales volume.
- Once you have a subscription plan that suits your needs in place, register and verify your seller account using the requisite documentation. Amazon requires a phone number, a business email address, contact details, VAT (Value Added Tax) registration, a national identity card, and a chargeable credit card to which all sales proceeds will be remitted.
- If you are looking to sell in European marketplaces, beware of VAT regulations and registration requirements.
- Once all the tabs have been completed and you now have access to the Amazon Spain Seller Central, create a listing and make it public.
- Note that the products you sell should feature identifiers like SKU, UPC, ISBN, or EAN, as well as price details, quantity, and shipping options.
- Choose a fulfillment method – either ship independently or utilize Spain Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Opting for FBA lets sellers use Amazon’s storage and shipping infrastructure.
- Maintain proper standards on your seller account. Amazon expects Spanish sellers to uphold certain performance standards, emphasizing metrics such as order defect rate and timely shipments. So be sure to track sales, fulfill orders, and employ ethical standards while seeking feedback or responding to customer queries.
- Grow your business with promotion by leveraging advertising tools provided by Amazon such as Sponsored Products and Amazon Stores to boost product visibility.
- Entice customers with special offers to boost sales.
Note that the aforementioned guidelines can vary depending on the product, category, or brand. Furthermore, not all categories on Amazon Spain Seller Central are open to all sellers. Some require a Professional seller account, while others can’t be sold by third-party sellers without approval from Amazon. And this is why new sellers may need to consider Amazon’s ungating service for Spain to list and sell in such restricted categories.
Amazon Seller Spain’s Massive Marketplace
When Amazon’s e-commerce model first hit the Spanish marketplace in 2011, it was restricted to selling books in Spanish, Galician, Basque, and Catalan languages. Shortly after, the retailer added DVDs, software, electronics, and home appliances to its virtual shelf.
Fast forward to today, Amazon.es is a full-fledged marketplace, allowing third-party Spanish sellers to list and sell a broad range of products. If you are an aspiring Amazon seller still hanging in the balance, here are quick facts about the giant online retailer that are worth noting:
- Amazon has existed for more than a decade in Spain, enabling more than 9,000 SMBs to sell and achieve export figures of over 450 million euros since 2011.
- Amazon’s operations have had a major impact on the Spanish economy, creating more than 17,000 permanent jobs and 82,000 indirect jobs.
- Amazon.es expanded from books and DVDs to include millions of products across more than 20 product categories. This opened up a new market for third-party sellers wanting to target Spanish consumers.
- Amazon’s operational footprint has seen the giant open numerous logistics centers across major Spanish towns, including Madrid, Barcelona, Paterna, Getafe, Valencia, Catalonia, etc.
- The UK and Germany are the biggest importers of Spain’s wealth of gastronomy. As a result, Amazon has enabled SMBs to internationalize this business by going online with the program called “Alimentos y vinos de España,” which translates to “The Food and Wines of Spain.”
- Before Amazon’s expansion, other platforms like eBay, aliexpress.com, and elcorteingles.es dominated the e-commerce landscape in Spain. However, with Amazon’s strong brand recognition and extensive logistics network, it currently stands as Spain’s top online retailer.
- For sellers active in Amazon’s European marketplaces, they can fulfill orders across EU countries such using the European Fulfillment Network (EFN). This means a seller on Amazon.co.uk (The UK’s outlet of Amazon marketplace) can also easily sell and ship products to customers in Spain.
- Sellers can also use the Pan-European FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) to store inventory in Amazon’s fulfillment centers across Europe. This reduces shipping times and costs as products are stored closer to customers.
- While English is widely spoken in Spain, listing products in Spanish (Spain’s national language) is likely to enhance customer experience. Amazon provides tools and services to help sellers localize their listings.
- Sellers targeting the Spanish market must be aware of local regulations, consumer rights, and VAT requirements. Spain, like other EU countries, has specific rules that govern product compliance, returns, and taxes.
- If your company is registered outside of Spain, use the VAT registration service to obtain a non-resident Spanish VAT number.
The Spanish population is generally accustomed to online shopping, and this presents a lucrative opportunity for sellers offering unique products, competitive prices, and efficient delivery services. So, any seller looking to break into Spain Amazon’s more restrictive categories should head on to the ungating service for Spain and unlock more profits.
Amazon Prime Spain
Amazon has made tremendous progress, opening numerous market possibilities around the world. The platform has diversified its categories to cater to the demands of the local markets, and one of its most popular services, Amazon Prime, has been tailored to suit the tastes and preferences of the Spanish people.
Amazon Prime launched in Spain on February 25, 2020, making Spain the fourth market in Europe (after France, Germany, and the UK) to offer customers this premium service. The service offers a host of features, including unlimited same-day free delivery within Spain, among others. The service continues to enjoy steady subscription rates, which is a testament to the growing demand for shopping and streaming services in Spain.
Select Features of Spain Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime in Spain offers several key features that enhance the shopping experience for its members, largely providing convenience, savings, and exclusive benefits. These features include but are not limited to:
Free One-Day Delivery:
Prime members in Spain enjoy fast and free shipping on millions of eligible items. They typically receive their orders within one business day, and at no additional cost. This makes Prime membership convenient for urgent purchases or last-minute shopping.
Prime Video:
Prime members have access to Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and documentaries.
Prime Music:
Prime members can stream ad-free music and enjoy access to a vast library of songs, playlists, and stations.
Prime Reading:
Prime members have access to a rotating selection of eBooks, magazines, and comics.
Prime Day Deals:
Prime members get exclusive access to Prime Day, a highly anticipated annual shopping event that offers significant discounts and deals on most products across various categories.
Amazon Seller Central Spain
Amazon Seller Central Spain helps you to manage and oversee the growth of your business on Amazon.es. It is essentially a one-stop destination for Spanish Amazon sellers to manage, strategize, and grow their business. The Amazon Seller Central account Spain dashboard lets you list your products, handle shipping options, take care of logistic needs, track sales, manage payments, and analyze a whole host of aspects of your business.
What Are Amazon Restricted Or Gated Categories?
Amazon gated or restricted categories are those with strict selling rules that no seller is allowed to sell freely. These categories, brands, and ASINs have specific approval guidelines, and any seller who meets the standards can enjoy a vast market with less competition.
That means Amazon only has the power to draw the rules and open gates for more sellers to access the categories. The good news, however, is that Amazon does not always restrict the entire category, like in the previous gating practices.
Instead, it gates subcategories, leaving some products open, even though they might be under gated categories. This explains why there is a short list of gated categories and a long list of restricted products or subcategories.
Generally, any seller who wants to sell within a gated category must apply for Amazon to let them in.
Also, enlisting the services of third-party ungating companies is another way on how to get ungated in Spain for Amazon.es.
To get a broader picture of ungating categories and brands, here is a big guide to read.
Why Does Amazon Gate Its Categories?
Most multi-million investments are built on trust, customer satisfaction, and a healthy working environment, and Amazon is no exception. Being a huge marketplace with millions of users globally, Amazon strives to maintain a good relationship with both buyers and sellers by ensuring only high-quality products are in circulation.
It achieves this by gating some categories, brands, and ASINs. Therefore, among others, here are the main reasons why Amazon gates its categories:
To Be Able To Monitor Product Standards
One of the first missions of the company is to ensure buyers are offered both high-quality and safe products. It does this by allowing only sellers whose products have undergone stringent quality assessment steps to access highly-demanded categories.
Since the platform is home to millions of brands and buyers, there are high chances of buyers getting counterfeit products.
Hence, it is Amazon’s responsibility to block such products by setting up strict selling rules. That is why ungating service for Spain requires sellers to show authorization and necessary documentation from agencies that oversee all safety standards concerning ingredients or raw materials, packaging, product labeling, and expiry dates.
For the Protection of Every Brand’s Reputation
Amazon also works jointly with big brands to ensure that only authorized resellers can list products from certain brands.
Therefore, to protect the brand’s reputation, Amazon asks sellers to provide legit documentation from these brands to show they are allowed to list their products.
Resellers who do not provide proof of authorization are locked out of certain categories. Many large and well-known brands require pre-approval with them directly, before even applying to Amazon.
This is true for both seasoned sellers, and individuals new to the platform.
To Enhance Customer Satisfaction
Besides ensuring buyers can get high-quality products, Amazon also restricts some categories to prevent sellers from exploiting buyers. That means only sellers with a positive track record can access the categories and reach buyers.
This enhances customer satisfaction and a positive rating. The company may also limit or dictate maximum pricing to ensure buyers are not being fleeced.
Categories And Products That Require Amazon Approval in Spain
As stated earlier, Amazon has a long list of gated products and a short list of restricted categories. That is because one category can have more subcategories, which can add up to tens of products.
Therefore, when applying for approval, sellers need to consider three ungating levels; category, brand, and product ungating. They should also differentiate between category and product unlocking.
General Guidelines to Get Ungated on Amazon Spain
Whether you are a new reseller or an established FBA seller, utilizing the vast market space offered by Amazon should never be a challenge again.
Two of the most common questions new sellers seek answers to are; can you do Amazon FBA from Spain? And is FBA profitable in Spain?
The answer to both is yes. You can create an account, get ungated, scale your business, and enjoy the benefits that come with Fulfillment by Amazon such as storage spaces, returns, and world-class customer service. Amazon’s mission is to see its users grow, and thus, increase sales and profitability. And this does not matter if you are listing your products in a locked or unrestricted category.
As a result, if you want to expand your selling portfolio by accessing restricted categories, here are the general guidelines to get ungated on Amazon:
Sign Up for A Professional Amazon Seller Account
Professional Amazon Seller Account is the backbone of any seller as it records all the activities conducted by the seller on the platform. It is through this account that Amazon can tell your business position and determine whether you meet all the quality standards or not.
Analyze And Verify Your Account Health
Creating a professional Seller Account is not enough. You still need to maintain its health to maximize your chances of getting approved. Maintaining a healthy account includes meeting your customers’ expectations and adhering to Amazon’s business code. That means you should have a timely shipping record, good customer relations, competitive pricing, and avoid violating Amazon’s policies. To check your account health, go to the Account Health section on the Seller Central Account and click on the Performance menu.
Check Specific Category Ungating Guidelines
Each category has specific ungating instructions, and you need to check them before requesting approval. Some categories are complicated, while others have simple instructions that even new sellers can unlock easily. For example, some categories like CA Grocery & Gourmet ungating service may require sellers to have at least three years of selling experience and running websites.
Choose A Reputable Supplier
Getting a reliable supplier is also a vital step, especially as your demand curve grows. Amazon will also ask you to provide legitimate invoices from trusted suppliers whose products fall under gated categories. After choosing a supplier, you need to place at least three orders, with each order having at least ten pieces of the restricted product. Retailers are not considered suppliers. You cannot go down to your local store and purchase a bunch of items for resale. The products need to come from verified wholesalers and distributors.
Prepare All Documents
Before submitting your approval request, you need to prepare your documents, which include recent purchase invoices from reputable wholesalers. These scanned copies of individual invoices should have all the ASINs written next to the product name. Price and other confidential information should be locked for wholesaler privacy.
Request Approval
With all the documents and other requirements ready, you can proceed to request approval from Amazon.
Final Thoughts on Ungating Service for Spain
Expanding your Amazon business to Spain can open up new opportunities and a larger customer base. That may require sellers to get ungated in Amazon’s restricted categories.
For Spanish sellers, this process can be done via the ungating service for Spain. While it can be admittedly tedious, Amazon’s restrictive policies safeguard the end user, while opening more avenues for new sellers to tap into the less competitive yet profitable markets.
