How to Remove Negative Reviews from Your Amazon Listing

Introduction

Online reviews play a crucial role in influencing purchasing decisions, especially on Amazon, where product rankings and sales performance are significantly affected by customer feedback. While positive reviews help build trust and increase conversions, negative reviews can deter potential buyers and harm a brand’s reputation.

However, not all negative reviews are justified. Some may violate Amazon’s Community Guidelines, while others may be from competitors or confused customers. Understanding how to handle and remove these reviews is essential for maintaining a positive brand image. In this article, we will cover the types of negative reviews, how to report and remove them, and best practices for handling customer feedback.

Understanding Negative Reviews on Amazon

Before taking any action, it’s important to understand the nature of negative reviews. There are two main types:

1. Reviews That Violate Amazon’s Guidelines
   • These include offensive language, fake reviews, competitor attacks, and irrelevant comments.
   • Amazon allows sellers to report and request removal of such reviews.
2. Legitimate Customer Reviews
   • These reviews provide honest feedback based on real customer experiences.
   • While they cannot be removed unless they violate guidelines, they present an opportunity to engage with customers and improve product quality.

Amazon’s Community Guidelines on Reviews

Amazon has strict policies to ensure reviews remain fair and unbiased. Reviews that violate these guidelines may be eligible for removal. Some of the key violations include:

• Profanity and Hate Speech – Reviews containing offensive or inappropriate language.
• Fake Reviews – Reviews posted by competitors, bots, or manipulated users.
• Non-Product-Related Content – Reviews about shipping, pricing, or seller behavior instead of the product.
• Repeated Reviews – If the same user posts multiple negative reviews about the same product.
• Incorrect Product Reviews – Reviews mistakenly left on the wrong listing.

If a negative review falls under these categories, sellers can take steps to have them removed.

How to Request Amazon to Remove a Negative Review

Step 1: Identify the Review Type

Read the review carefully and determine if it violates Amazon’s Community Guidelines.

Step 2: Report the Review

Follow these steps to submit a report:

1. Log in to your Amazon Seller Central account.
2. Navigate to the product listing and locate the review.
3. Click on the ‘Report’ button next to the review.
4. Select the appropriate reason for reporting (e.g., offensive content, incorrect information, competitor attack).
5. Submit the request and monitor your email for updates from Amazon.

Step 3: Open a Case with Amazon Seller Support

If the review is not removed automatically, you can escalate it by opening a case:

1. Go to Amazon Seller Central > Help > Get Support.
2. Choose Selling on Amazon > Product Reviews & Feedback.
3. Provide the review details and explain why it violates Amazon’s guidelines.
4. Submit the case and wait for Amazon’s response.

Examples of Reviews That Violate Amazon’s Guidelines

1. Review About the Seller Instead of the Product

Example: “The seller never responded to my messages. Bad experience.”

• This is considered seller feedback rather than a product review and should be reported for removal.

2. Reviews on Shipping Issues

Example: “The product arrived two weeks late. Not worth the wait.”

• If the item was fulfilled by Amazon (FBA), shipping is Amazon’s responsibility, making this review irrelevant.

3. Competitor Fake Reviews

Example: “Worst product ever. Buy [competitor’s product] instead!”

• This indicates an attempt to manipulate customer choices, violating Amazon’s fair competition policies.

4. Wrong Product Review

Example: “This protein powder tastes awful.” (Left on a garlic press listing)

• This review is mistakenly placed on the wrong product and should be reported.

5. Obscene or Inappropriate Language

Example: “This is absolute garbage! Total scam!”

• Reviews containing insults or offensive language can be removed.

Handling Genuine Negative Reviews

Not all negative reviews violate guidelines, and sellers must take proactive steps to manage them. Here’s how:

1. Respond to Negative Reviews Professionally

• Thank the customer for their feedback.
• Address their concern and offer a solution.
• Provide contact details for further assistance.

Example response: “We’re sorry to hear about your experience. Please reach out to our support team at [email] so we can resolve this issue for you.”

2. Use Amazon’s ‘Customer Review’ Feature

• Brand-registered sellers can contact buyers through the Brand Dashboard.
• You can offer a courtesy refund or additional support to resolve their issue.

3. Improve Product Quality and Listings

• Analyze trends in negative reviews to identify recurring issues.
• Update product descriptions to set clearer expectations.
• Enhance product quality to reduce dissatisfaction.

Automating the Process with Seller Tools

For high-volume sellers, managing reviews manually can be time-consuming. Tools like Sellerise, FeedbackWhiz, and Helium 10 offer automated review tracking and response management. These tools:

• Notify you of new negative reviews.
• Help identify trends in customer feedback.
• Automate customer follow-ups and support responses.

Using such tools streamlines the review management process, ensuring quick action on negative feedback.

Conclusion

Negative reviews on Amazon can impact sales and brand reputation, but understanding how to manage them effectively is key. By distinguishing between legitimate reviews and guideline violations, sellers can take appropriate action—whether by reporting fake reviews or improving customer satisfaction.

Taking a proactive approach to review management, including using automation tools and providing excellent customer service, ensures long-term success on the Amazon marketplace.

If you encounter an unfair review, follow Amazon’s procedures to report it. Meanwhile, for genuine negative feedback, engaging with customers and improving product quality can turn criticism into an opportunity for growth.