Amazon’s Listings Cleanup: You Need to Know

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Amazon’s Zombie Listings Cleanup: What Sellers Need to Know

By AMZ Sellers Attorney | Published June 10, 2025

Understanding Amazon’s Zombie Listings Cleanup

Amazon has launched an initiative to remove “zombie listings”—inactive or unproductive product listings that clutter its marketplace. This effort, highlighted in an X post by @nickselman on June 9, 2025, aligns with Amazon’s “Bend the Curve” project, which targets the removal of billions of underperforming ASINs to streamline the catalog and reduce AWS server costs. According to a Business Insider report, Amazon saved $22 million in 2024 and projects $36 million in cost avoidance in 2025 through this initiative. Source: Business Insider, June 2, 2025; X post by @nickselman, June 9, 2025

Zombie listings include products with no inventory, poor sales performance, or listings unupdated for over two years. While Amazon aims to refine its shopping experience, this cleanup poses challenges for sellers with dormant or low-performing products.

Impact on Amazon Sellers

The cleanup of zombie listings could significantly affect Amazon sellers, particularly those with inactive or underperforming products. Key impacts include:

• Listing Removal: Sellers may see low-performing or inactive listings removed, reducing catalog visibility and potentially impacting sales.
• Account Health Risks: Inactive listings on neglected marketplaces, even in Holiday Mode, can trigger violations, affecting account health. Source: Seller Central Europe, June 20, 2024
• Increased Optimization Needs: Sellers must proactively optimize listings to meet Amazon’s performance standards, requiring time and resources.
• Confusion and Communication Gaps: Some sellers have reported confusion over the scope of the cleanup, with fears that entire accounts could be restricted. Amazon is working to clarify policy enforcement. Source: Business Insider, June 2, 2025

Discussions on seller forums, such as Reddit’s r/FulfillmentByAmazon, highlight the need for sellers to monitor inventory and optimize listings to avoid unexpected removals. Source: Reddit, r/FulfillmentByAmazon, ongoing discussions

How Sellers Can Respond

To navigate the zombie listings cleanup and maintain a healthy Amazon account, sellers should take the following steps:

1. Audit Your Catalog: Regularly review your listings to identify inactive or low-performing ASINs. Use Amazon’s Business Reports to track sales, traffic, and conversion metrics. Source: Seller Central, April 24, 2023
2. Optimize Listings: Enhance titles, bullet points, descriptions, and images with high-performing keywords. Incorporate backend search terms and consider Spanish keywords for broader reach. Source: Seller Central, May 14, 2023
3. Manage Inventory: Ensure sufficient stock to avoid “out of stock” status, which can flag listings as inactive. Use tools like Amazon’s Product Opportunity Explorer to align inventory with demand. Source: Seller Central, ongoing
4. Remove Inactive Listings: Delete listings on inactive marketplaces or those with no sales potential to prevent violations. Enable Holiday Mode for marketplaces you don’t actively sell on. Source: Seller Central Europe, June 20, 2024
5. Leverage PPC and Promotions: Boost visibility for struggling listings with targeted Amazon PPC campaigns or promotions to improve sales velocity. Source: Seller Central, May 27, 2024
6. Monitor Seller Forums: Stay updated on policy changes through Amazon Seller Central forums, Reddit’s r/AmazonSellerTipsUSA, and Discord communities like the r/FulfillmentByAmazon server. Source: Jungle Scout, November 8, 2023
7. Seek Legal Support: If your account faces violations or suspensions due to the cleanup, consult an Amazon seller attorney to appeal and protect your business.

By taking these proactive measures, sellers can minimize the risk of listing removals and maintain a competitive presence on Amazon.

Conclusion

Amazon’s zombie listings cleanup, part of the “Bend the Curve” initiative, underscores the platform’s push for a streamlined, high-quality marketplace. While this benefits customers, it challenges sellers to maintain active, optimized catalogs. Sellers who audit their listings, optimize for performance, and stay informed through forums like Seller Central and Reddit can navigate this change effectively. For those facing account issues, AMZ Sellers Attorney offers expert guidance to resolve violations and protect your business.

Stay ahead of Amazon’s evolving policies by connecting with our team at AMZ Sellers Attorney for tailored legal support.