Ultimate guide 2025: How to really get rid of hijackers on your Amazon FBA listing

You've spent months developing your product, sourced it carefully and it's finally online on Amazon. Suddenly the Buybox is gone and another seller is selling on your listing - a clear sign of a so-called hijacker. The consequences: Loss of sales, annoyed customers and trouble with your own store. There is hardly any other topic that concerns FBA merchants so much, but it is not so rare, especially at the beginning. How to get rid of hijackers and reclaim your Buybox is explained here step by step - with practical tips, examples and the corresponding PDF guide.

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What is a hijacker on Amazon?

Hijackers are sellers, usually from China, who "set themselves up" on your FBA listing and appear to offer your product - often without ever having owned an original product. They claim to sell your product on Amazon, even though they have no access to it. This can happen like this:

1. Definition: A hijacker appears to offer the same product under your existing listing. You are actually selling it exclusively.
2. Origin: In most cases, the providers come from the Far East. Their aim: quick money, little effort.
3. Consequences: In the worst-case scenario, your customers will not receive the original, but counterfeit or similar products without your branding. The damage not only affects sales, but also your brand reputation.

Imagine you are the only one who owns the product, but suddenly another retailer appears and sells it too. The customer often doesn't recognize the real product when they unpack it. The result: bad reviews, returns or even the blocking of your listing if too many customers submit complaints.

A listing should always be a reflection of your product quality. Hijackers attack this claim head-on by sitting on your work and exploiting the trust of your customers.

Negative consequences of hijackers on your listing

Here is an overview of the most important disadvantages:

• Loss of the Buybox: Without a Buybox, your visibility shrinks and sales collapse.
• Risky customer reviews: If an incorrect or inferior product arrives, it will be met with bad reviews.
• Blocking by Amazon: Too many complaints quickly lead to listings being blocked.
• Damage to your business: Your reputation suffers, as does customer trust in your brand.
• Direct loss of revenue: With every sale made by the hijacker, you lose revenue and follow-up business.
• Increased workload: Communicating with customer support and clarifying the situation costs nerves and time.

Anyone who understands the risks knows that you should act quickly and consistently against hijackers.

Step 1: Register your trademark - your first line of defense

With a trademark registered with the DPMA (German Patent and Trademark Office), you not only get a fancy ® next to your name, but also much more control over your listing. Amazon recognizes your trademark ownership and gives you extended protection functions. Without a trademark, however, things look bleak: You have virtually no power to officially report and remove a hijacker.

5 to 10 % of FBA retailers initially forgo brand protection and then experience the consequences much more frequently. People tend to underestimate the problem, especially in the early days. I still remember my own first product: the brand was not yet registered, I was briefly "out of stock" and at some point I saw that someone was apparently selling the product anyway. My first hijacker - and suddenly the Buybox was gone.

Practical tip:
Register your brand at the latest when the product is launched. Registration may take some time, but it will protect you from misuse in the long term.

Official brand registration gives you access to Amazon's brand protection tools. Retailers without a registered trademark experience attacks much more frequently as they are seen as easy prey. Those who start early have less stress.

Step 2: Direct contact with the hijacker

As soon as a hijacker appears on your listing, you should waste no time. A clear and professional letter is usually enough to get them to back off. Many people try to go unnoticed. Experience shows that 80 to 90 % of cases are resolved after direct contact is made.

This is the best way to proceed:

1. Via the Amazon shop window: Search for the seller and use the "Contact seller" function directly next to the store.
2. Check imprint: Many companies provide an e-mail address, especially European providers.
3. Email cover letter: Use a clear, polite but specific template. Your brand, EAN and ASIN should be mentioned.
4. Letter as an emergency solution: If the legal notice is incomplete or the retailer is based in China, the postal route may fail. Nevertheless, proof of contact attempts can help Amazon.

Always send the first message directly via Amazon. You can also try contacting us by email. You can find a tried-and-tested template and complete step-by-step instructions in the detailed PDF guide on dealing with hijackers.
Enter your personal details and send the letter - in the vast majority of cases, the hijacker will respond within a short time and withdraw.

Schedule for establishing contact:

1. Discover hijackers
2. Write to us via Amazon
3. Send e-mail (if available)
4. Send a letter if necessary
5. After 24 to 48 hours, check whether the hijacker has disappeared

Chance of success: Over 80 % succeed straight away - direct communication works.

Step 3: Product order to preserve evidence

If the hijacker persists, order his product directly from Amazon. The aim: Compare, document and prove that it is not your original.

Procedure:

1. Buy product from the dealer in question.
2. Comparison with original: Check packaging, product features, quality and branding.
3. Documentation: Take photos, record differences in writing, use checklists.
4. Create evidence document: Collect pictures, order confirmation, comparison material and sort everything in a clear PDF.

Practical tip:
Many FBA retailers add an invisible feature to their packaging, such as a hidden text in the box like "Welcome to the world of [brand]". Such features can hardly be copied by an imitator, as they are not visible on pictures and product photos.
When unpacking, it is immediately clear: this is or is not your original.

This will significantly increase the strength of your case against Amazon. Add all documents to the support case. Amazon will evaluate your evidence and often decide in favor of the brand owner if it is clear that the delivered product does not correspond to the information in the listing.

Practical example:
A retailer discovers a hijacker, orders its product and finds no branding inside the packaging. The comparison with the original, documented with photos and text, leads to Amazon removing the third-party seller.

Step 4: A-Z warranty application as the final step

If the hijacker remains on your listing despite clear evidence, the so-called A-to-Z guarantee request remains, which you can submit as a customer.

This is how it works:

• You buy the product as a private customer via the hijacker's Amazon listing.
• On receipt, check whether the product differs from the description or is a fake.
• As a customer, you submit an A-Z warranty claim with reasons via the "My orders" section: The product received differs from the original/from the product description.
• Amazon takes the complaint particularly seriously, as end customers are a top priority for Amazon. Sellers who are subject to multiple A-Z complaints quickly lose their listing authorization or even their seller account.

Checklist for the A-Z application:

• Place an order
• Check product in detail and compare with original
• Take meaningful photos
• Fill out application in the customer area
• Provide proof directly to Amazon on request

Even stubborn hijackers are giving up now at the latest, as they have to fear massive sanctions from Amazon.

Explanation: An A-z Guarantee is Amazon's customer protection program. If a delivered item does not correspond to what is stated in the store, a refund and an inspection of the supplier usually takes place.

Bonus: Additional tips and practical advice

Hijacker problems occur particularly often at the beginning, for example when you are "out of stock" or the brand is still missing. Many listings are particularly vulnerable in the initial phase.

Mistakes that many retailers make at the beginning:

• No early trademark protection
• Inattention in out-of-stock situations
• Incomplete or unsafe product packaging (missing authenticity features)

Important:
It is best to prepare yourself before the case occurs. Create structured documentation and secure your proof of purchase.
The detailed PDF guide for dealing with hijackers on Amazon FBA listings takes you through every step - including legally compliant templates for contacting them.

Are you facing a problem or simply want to be prepared?
Get the PDF now, save it and ensure you are calm in the face of possible attacks.

Are you unsure or would you like professional support?
Use the Stacvalley contact form for personal help with listings, product images and more.

Resources & tools

Here you will find the most important tools, links and channels at a glance:

• 📄 Detailed PDF instructions: Guide to removing Amazon hijackers
• 💬 Get personal Amazon support
• 📸 Inspiration & tips on Instagram: Stacvalley.de
• 👍 Community updates and news on Facebook: Stacvalley profile

Conclusion: With a system against hijackers - for lasting success

Amazon FBA is a highly competitive market, so it pays to act quickly.
Don't waste any time and don't wait if a hijacker starts to spread on your listing. A registered trademark is the best foundation. In most cases, personal contact and structured documentation will clear up the mess. The complete instructions and suitable templates provide you with additional protection.

If you have a problem right now or want to prepare yourself for an emergency, use the resources in this article. Your brand deserves protection, your listing and your buyers should never suffer from black sheep.

Stay informed, be prepared and secure your place as a successful Amazon seller.
Use the power of the community and, if in doubt, fall back on experienced help.
With these steps, the topic of hijackers will no longer be an ongoing issue for you.

Success and growth for your Amazon Business 2025 - for sure.