At risk of losing access to the product advertising API (PAAPI)
Yeah, sometimes business doesn't work so well. That's what happened to me recently. After generating Amazon sales since May 2017, the Google August 2018 update killed my rankings, and I haven't made any EU store sales since Dec 1. (l wasn't doing anything fishy but still lost my rankings). I should add that sales are still coming in via Amazon US.
I've now learned that it's not enough to have three qualifying sales on Amazon. More than one year after making sales, I got this message from Amazon that in order for me to retain access to product advertising API (PAAPI), I must generate referring sales before January 16, 2019, otherwise my access to PA API may be removed.
This is bad news for me because I have over 200 blog posts. So, I'm sitting here wondering how I'm going to make it if I lose access to PA API and have to update my blog posts using SiteStripe.
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Update
I sent an email to Amazon yesterday to understand what losing access to the PA API implied. Here's an excerpt of their email:
Each country is separate from the others. One account does not affect another. If you have API from .com and .co.uk, you may lose your .com API access, but that doesn't mean you will lose your .uk API access.
None of your accounts will be closed if you lose API access. You simply won't be able to utilize API. All the other features of the program will still work.
If you do lose access, that does not mean it's permanent. This is based on the sales you're driving through your links. If you are driving regular sales through API links, you may not lose access completely, but the number of calls you are able to make may be reduced. If access is revoked or reduced, you may have the opportunity to gain more calls, or regain access, if your sales volume increases.
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This is good for me because this is going to affect only my Amazon EU API access. I'm already doing well on Amazon US, so I don't need to worry about losing my .com API access.
Cheers to you all and Merry Christmas!
Recent Comments
5
Princila,
I keep praying myself because I need two more sales before
January sometime myself and I do not know anyone who
uses Amazon so I will just keep my fingers crossed it not
I will be in the same boat as you and changing all my links :)
Good luck wishing you get them!
Susan
Hi Susan!
So sorry to hear this. This business is becoming complicated. When I joined, I needed only a sale to have my account approved. Now, I'm at risk of losing access to the PA API after making hundreds of sales via Amazon US and one via Amazon UK.
Two more sales? That's doable. I'll PM you.
See more comments
Hi Princila,
I have just got emails from Amazon myself and really do not understand all this.
I think it is the stores in certain countries in Amazon that are not performing and these will be closed?
There must be a solution to this.
I have contacted Amazon about this but not holding my breath because from past experiences not sure.
I would hold on and see what can be done.
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
I'm confused too. I didn't really understand the message until this morning. It seems I have to get recurring sales via the UK and DE stores too, otherwise, I'll lose access to the PA API.
This is still not good for me because I use a plugin that makes use of the API.
I wonder whether they can just close the accounts associated with those stores instead of making me lose access to the API. That would be a disaster if I have to use SiteStripe to update +200 blog posts.
Yes I know
They need to clearer on what they actually mean.
I am so glad that I started to use SiteStripe when I had problems with the API one link.
But I still have to go through whole site to make sure everything works.
I hope they are going to make things easier in the future.
I hope that you can find a easier way to resolve this issue with 200 blog posts.
All the best
Merry Christmas and a happy and successful New Year
Jennifer