Selling on Amazon requires more than just offering great products — it’s about meeting strict performance standards. One of these key metrics is your Valid Tracking Rate (VTR), which measures how often you provide valid tracking information for your shipped orders. If your rate falls below Amazon’s threshold, your account can be suspended, putting your business on hold.
A Low Valid Tracking Rate Suspension can be stressful and confusing, especially if you’ve always prioritized timely fulfillment. But with the right approach, you can recover your account and strengthen your operations to prevent future issues. Let’s go through how to handle this type of suspension and what steps to take for reinstatement.
The Valid Tracking Rate measures the percentage of your merchant-fulfilled orders that include a valid tracking ID from a recognized carrier. Amazon uses this metric to ensure a reliable customer experience by verifying that buyers can track their orders accurately.
Amazon expects sellers to maintain a minimum 95% Valid Tracking Rate. If your rate dips below that, your ability to list products or your entire account can be suspended until you demonstrate compliance.
A valid tracking number must:
When tracking data is missing, invalid, or unverified by the carrier, it affects your VTR score — and ultimately your account health.
Amazon’s focus is on customer satisfaction. When tracking data is unreliable or unavailable, customers lose trust in both sellers and the platform. A low VTR signals operational problems, such as:
Even small mistakes can trigger a performance alert or suspension. Amazon’s system is automated, meaning that once your VTR drops below acceptable levels, the account may be temporarily restricted until you provide a corrective plan.
Before you submit an appeal, review your recent performance data. Go to your Account Health Dashboard and look at your Valid Tracking Rate Report. Identify patterns in the invalid tracking entries — are they from a specific carrier, time period, or fulfillment team?
Common root causes include:
Amazon wants to see that you’ve taken time to understand the cause, not just copy a generic appeal template.
When Amazon suspends your account, you’ll receive an email or notice in Performance Notifications detailing the reason. Read it word-for-word. Amazon often includes hints about what specific issue triggered the suspension.
Check for mentions such as:
You’ll need this information to build your Plan of Action (POA) — the key document Amazon reviews when deciding reinstatement.
Your Plan of Action is your opportunity to show Amazon that you understand the problem, have fixed it, and won’t let it happen again. It should be professional, concise, and data-driven.
Here’s a proven structure to follow:
Clearly explain what caused your low Valid Tracking Rate. Example:
“Our Valid Tracking Rate dropped below 95% due to delayed uploads from our third-party shipping software, which failed to transmit tracking data automatically to Amazon.”
Describe what you did right after the suspension. Example:
“We manually verified and updated all affected tracking numbers, ensuring that all customers received accurate shipping updates. We also paused non-integrated carriers until the issue was resolved.”
Show how you will prevent future tracking issues. Example:
“We have implemented a new automated integration with Amazon-approved carriers, trained our staff on Amazon’s VTR policies, and set up daily audits to verify tracking uploads before dispatch.”
Keep your tone factual and cooperative. Avoid blaming Amazon or external systems — focus on accountability and improvement.
Your appeal should include documentation that supports your claims. Amazon’s investigators appreciate evidence that backs up your Plan of Action. Attach or reference items like:
These materials demonstrate that you’ve made real operational changes.
Go to Performance > Account Health > Appeal and upload your Plan of Action. Make sure it’s well formatted and easy to read. You can include attachments directly in your submission.
Be patient but attentive. Amazon typically reviews appeals within 24 to 48 hours, but in complex cases, it may take longer. During this time, don’t flood Amazon with repeated appeals — it can slow down your review.
If your appeal is rejected, review Amazon’s feedback carefully and make revisions. Many successful reinstatements happen on the second or third attempt, provided the seller improves the explanation and offers stronger preventive actions.
Once your account is reinstated, maintaining compliance is critical. Here are some best practices to keep your VTR healthy:
Consistency is key — once Amazon sees a sustained improvement, your account’s standing will strengthen over time.
Sometimes, even after multiple appeals, Amazon may continue to reject your reinstatement request. In such cases, it’s wise to seek help from professionals experienced in handling complex suspensions.
A professional appeal service can:
This approach not only saves time but also increases your chances of a positive outcome.
If your Amazon account has been suspended for a Low Valid Tracking Rate, don’t panic — help is available. At Amazon Appeal Pro, we specialize in reinstating suspended Amazon accounts through professional, customized appeal letters and data-backed Plans of Action.
Our experienced team understands how Amazon evaluates performance metrics and what it takes to get your seller account reinstated quickly. Whether it’s your first suspension or a repeat issue, we’ll help you correct the problem and regain your selling privileges fast.
Contact us today at (954) 302-0900 to speak with an Amazon appeal expert and get your business back on track. Let Amazon Appeal Pro handle the reinstatement process while you focus on what matters most — growing your Amazon business.
