Merch By Amazon 2017
Merch by Amazon
Sell your designs on the world's largest marketplace with no upfront investment or costs.
Simply upload your artwork, choose a t-shirt type and color, set your price, and add a product description. We'll create a product page on Amazon.com and when customers buy your shirt, we'll handle production, shipping, and customer service — all with no upfront costs.
General Questions
Is Merch by Amazon only for app developers?
No, it is intended for all content creators. Merch by Amazon does offer an in-app promotion tool, but any content creator can leverage Merch by Amazon to create and sell branded t-shirts on Amazon.com.
Why is there a limit on the number of designs I can submit?In order to provide the best experience for customers of t-shirts created in Merch by Amazon, we are limiting the number of t-shirts a content creator can make based on tiers of designs. The Merch by Amazon team will be hand-selecting content creators who have sold the same amount of t-shirts as the number of the tier they are in. For example – to move up from the 10 tier, a content creator will need to sell at least 10 shirts from those they have created to move up to the 25 tier. Admission to these tiers are based not only on sales, but the quality of the products being sold by the content creator as well.
Tier levels include:
You have 120 days from your approval date to complete your tax and banking information and submit your first product. If you have not submitted your first product 120 days after being approved, your account will be deactivated due to inactivity.
Do I need to sell a product within 120 days in order for my account not to expire?
No, you do not need to sell a product in order to prevent your account from expiring. You need to submit your tax and banking information and first product within 120 days in order to keep your account from expiring.
How long do I have after submitting my first product to create another one before my account will expire due to inactivity?
Once you submit your tax and banking information,and your first product, your account will not expire.
How are royalties calculated?
Please visit this page for full details on how Amazon calculates your royalty.
How does sampling work? Where do I order a sample?
When you are about to publish your t-shirt you will have the option to make it accessible via a direct link only or public where customers can search and find it on Amazon.com. In either case, we encourage you to purchase a sample to make sure your design works with the selected t-shirt color/material.
My t-shirt just went live and certain sizes are missing, what's wrong?
We send an email out to you when at least one t-shirt size has been published to Amazon's product catalog. Each size/color/fit t-shirt is a separate product in Amazon's systems, which are created asynchronously. So for about an hour you may see certain sizes/colors/fits missing from your product page. But these will eventually populate.
I’d like to purchase a large order of t-shirts for an event, how do I do that?
Currently we do not offer a bulk ordering system. However, you can purchase as many shirts as you’d like directly from Amazon.com. You’ll receive a royalty on each sale.
What t-shirt sizes does Amazon support?
All t-shirts you design will be available in men’s, women’s, and kid’s sizes. Men’s sizes range from S-3XL, women’s S-XL, and kids k4-k12. All of these sizes will be available from a single Amazon product page, enabling you to easily direct traffic to a single URL.
Can I change the type of t-shirt blank after I publish my design?
Unfortunately, you can not. However, you can create another product with the same design and use the other t-shirt blank or you can choose to delete the t-shirt from the "Manage tab".
I noticed one of my kids Anvil t-shirts was printed on American Apparel, why is this?
At times we may not be able to stock certain kid sizes in Anvil, when this happens we will replace the Anvil kids t-shirt with an American Apparel t-shirt.
Can I change my artwork after I publish my design?
Unfortunately, you can not. However, you can choose to delete the t-shirt from the "Manage" tab.
Can I change the brand name of the product after I publish my design?Yes, you can change the brand name after the product is live from the “Manage” tab if you click “Edit.” After you change the brand name, you will be prompted to save the selection, then you can submit the design once more on the next page.
Can I run a sale on my t-shirt?
Unfortunately, we do not support the ability to show a discounted price on your product page. However, you can always change your t-shirt price through the "Manage" tab.
How is the main product image determined on my t-shirt page?
Initially the first product image customers see on your t-shirt page is randomly chosen by Amazon. However, as soon as customers start to purchase your design, the most popular variation will become the main product image.
What browsers does Merch by Amazon support?
We recommend using the latest versions of Firefox and Chrome.
I want to upload a t-shirt design to Merch by Amazon. Can I submit the same design to another website or t-shirt manufacturer?
Yes. Merch by Amazon is non-exclusive.
What characters can I use when setting up my product?Merch by Amazon only supports "printable" English ASCII characters, excluding <, >. Please do not use ASCII characters for other languages, as these will not work.
Can I use Merch by Amazon if I am a non-profit?
Yes. Non-profits can use Merch by Amazon to produce, sell, and market their items. However, you cannot make statements on the associated detail pages like “all proceeds will be donated” or that “purchases of these shirts will support” a particular non-profit. You may only include a description of your non-profit.
What policies should I review before publishing my design?
Each item that you submit to us must adhere to our Content Policy. If Amazon determines that your design violates one of our content policies, we may remove it without notice. Amazon reserves the right to make judgments about whether or not content is appropriate. Listing a design that violates our content policies may result in the cancellation of your listings, or the suspension or termination of your Merch by Amazon account.
Can I use images from the internet in my design?
You are ultimately responsible for ensuring that you hold all necessary intellectual property rights to submit a design through Merch by Amazon. You should not assume that just because you found an image on the internet that you can use it for commercial use without permission from the owner. Works can be protected by copyright, even if they do not have a copyright notice. Do not copy someone else's work without first obtaining their permission. If you are unsure if you own all necessary rights to use elements of a design, please consult an attorney.
Can I use someone else’s artwork in my design?
Designs with the same idea or concept are allowed, the artwork itself however cannot be copied without the owner’s permission. Copying other content creators’ original artwork without their permission is strictly prohibited. Failure to comply with this policy will result in the immediate suspension or termination of your account. Please submit any potential infringements to https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/reports/infringement.
What is a copycat design?
Copycat designs are strictly prohibited and defined as the following:
Designs submitted through the Merch by Amazon portal that violate our Services Agreement may result in your account being suspended for approximately 30 days. Accounts that continue to violate our Services Agreement after a suspension ends will result in termination.
What is Merch by Amazon’s Termination Policy?
We reserve the right to terminate any account with multiple violations of our Services Agreement at any time.
(11/16/15) Why is the portal moving to an invite-only system?
Merch by Amazon has received an overwhelming response from interested content creators. In order to provide Amazon.com customers with the best experience to buy branded t-shirts, we are moving to an invitation-only system. We will be reviewing the information submitted through our form to accept new accounts as we have resources.
(11/16/15) When do you plan to remove the invitation-only system and reopen Merch to all interested content creators?We have no scheduled date to move from an invitation-only system at this time, but will notify you when more space is available or the invite has been removed.
(11/16/15) I’ve submitted a request for an invitation. When will I hear back about my invitation?Invitations will be sent once space is available for new content creators. We will not contact you until we have an opening available to offer your company. You do not need to submit a second request and we will not be replying individually to account requestors until we have an opening that is right for you.
(10/18/16) What can I include on my detail page?
No, it is intended for all content creators. Merch by Amazon does offer an in-app promotion tool, but any content creator can leverage Merch by Amazon to create and sell branded t-shirts on Amazon.com.
Why is there a limit on the number of designs I can submit?In order to provide the best experience for customers of t-shirts created in Merch by Amazon, we are limiting the number of t-shirts a content creator can make based on tiers of designs. The Merch by Amazon team will be hand-selecting content creators who have sold the same amount of t-shirts as the number of the tier they are in. For example – to move up from the 10 tier, a content creator will need to sell at least 10 shirts from those they have created to move up to the 25 tier. Admission to these tiers are based not only on sales, but the quality of the products being sold by the content creator as well.
Tier levels include:
- 10
- 25
- 100
- 500
- Pro (by invitation)
You have 120 days from your approval date to complete your tax and banking information and submit your first product. If you have not submitted your first product 120 days after being approved, your account will be deactivated due to inactivity.
Do I need to sell a product within 120 days in order for my account not to expire?
No, you do not need to sell a product in order to prevent your account from expiring. You need to submit your tax and banking information and first product within 120 days in order to keep your account from expiring.
How long do I have after submitting my first product to create another one before my account will expire due to inactivity?
Once you submit your tax and banking information,and your first product, your account will not expire.
How are royalties calculated?
Please visit this page for full details on how Amazon calculates your royalty.
How does sampling work? Where do I order a sample?
When you are about to publish your t-shirt you will have the option to make it accessible via a direct link only or public where customers can search and find it on Amazon.com. In either case, we encourage you to purchase a sample to make sure your design works with the selected t-shirt color/material.
My t-shirt just went live and certain sizes are missing, what's wrong?
We send an email out to you when at least one t-shirt size has been published to Amazon's product catalog. Each size/color/fit t-shirt is a separate product in Amazon's systems, which are created asynchronously. So for about an hour you may see certain sizes/colors/fits missing from your product page. But these will eventually populate.
I’d like to purchase a large order of t-shirts for an event, how do I do that?
Currently we do not offer a bulk ordering system. However, you can purchase as many shirts as you’d like directly from Amazon.com. You’ll receive a royalty on each sale.
What t-shirt sizes does Amazon support?
All t-shirts you design will be available in men’s, women’s, and kid’s sizes. Men’s sizes range from S-3XL, women’s S-XL, and kids k4-k12. All of these sizes will be available from a single Amazon product page, enabling you to easily direct traffic to a single URL.
Can I change the type of t-shirt blank after I publish my design?
Unfortunately, you can not. However, you can create another product with the same design and use the other t-shirt blank or you can choose to delete the t-shirt from the "Manage tab".
I noticed one of my kids Anvil t-shirts was printed on American Apparel, why is this?
At times we may not be able to stock certain kid sizes in Anvil, when this happens we will replace the Anvil kids t-shirt with an American Apparel t-shirt.
Can I change my artwork after I publish my design?
Unfortunately, you can not. However, you can choose to delete the t-shirt from the "Manage" tab.
Can I change the brand name of the product after I publish my design?Yes, you can change the brand name after the product is live from the “Manage” tab if you click “Edit.” After you change the brand name, you will be prompted to save the selection, then you can submit the design once more on the next page.
Can I run a sale on my t-shirt?
Unfortunately, we do not support the ability to show a discounted price on your product page. However, you can always change your t-shirt price through the "Manage" tab.
How is the main product image determined on my t-shirt page?
Initially the first product image customers see on your t-shirt page is randomly chosen by Amazon. However, as soon as customers start to purchase your design, the most popular variation will become the main product image.
What browsers does Merch by Amazon support?
We recommend using the latest versions of Firefox and Chrome.
I want to upload a t-shirt design to Merch by Amazon. Can I submit the same design to another website or t-shirt manufacturer?
Yes. Merch by Amazon is non-exclusive.
What characters can I use when setting up my product?Merch by Amazon only supports "printable" English ASCII characters, excluding <, >. Please do not use ASCII characters for other languages, as these will not work.
Can I use Merch by Amazon if I am a non-profit?
Yes. Non-profits can use Merch by Amazon to produce, sell, and market their items. However, you cannot make statements on the associated detail pages like “all proceeds will be donated” or that “purchases of these shirts will support” a particular non-profit. You may only include a description of your non-profit.
What policies should I review before publishing my design?
Each item that you submit to us must adhere to our Content Policy. If Amazon determines that your design violates one of our content policies, we may remove it without notice. Amazon reserves the right to make judgments about whether or not content is appropriate. Listing a design that violates our content policies may result in the cancellation of your listings, or the suspension or termination of your Merch by Amazon account.
Can I use images from the internet in my design?
You are ultimately responsible for ensuring that you hold all necessary intellectual property rights to submit a design through Merch by Amazon. You should not assume that just because you found an image on the internet that you can use it for commercial use without permission from the owner. Works can be protected by copyright, even if they do not have a copyright notice. Do not copy someone else's work without first obtaining their permission. If you are unsure if you own all necessary rights to use elements of a design, please consult an attorney.
Can I use someone else’s artwork in my design?
Designs with the same idea or concept are allowed, the artwork itself however cannot be copied without the owner’s permission. Copying other content creators’ original artwork without their permission is strictly prohibited. Failure to comply with this policy will result in the immediate suspension or termination of your account. Please submit any potential infringements to https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/reports/infringement.
What is a copycat design?
Copycat designs are strictly prohibited and defined as the following:
- Exact reproductions of the entirety or a significant portion of original artwork
- Resized, recolored, or visually adjusted reproductions of original artwork
- Design reproductions containing distinct design elements
Designs submitted through the Merch by Amazon portal that violate our Services Agreement may result in your account being suspended for approximately 30 days. Accounts that continue to violate our Services Agreement after a suspension ends will result in termination.
What is Merch by Amazon’s Termination Policy?
We reserve the right to terminate any account with multiple violations of our Services Agreement at any time.
(11/16/15) Why is the portal moving to an invite-only system?
Merch by Amazon has received an overwhelming response from interested content creators. In order to provide Amazon.com customers with the best experience to buy branded t-shirts, we are moving to an invitation-only system. We will be reviewing the information submitted through our form to accept new accounts as we have resources.
(11/16/15) When do you plan to remove the invitation-only system and reopen Merch to all interested content creators?We have no scheduled date to move from an invitation-only system at this time, but will notify you when more space is available or the invite has been removed.
(11/16/15) I’ve submitted a request for an invitation. When will I hear back about my invitation?Invitations will be sent once space is available for new content creators. We will not contact you until we have an opening available to offer your company. You do not need to submit a second request and we will not be replying individually to account requestors until we have an opening that is right for you.
(3/23/16) Can I pick which genders/fits my design is available on?Yes,
during product creation, you can specify which fits (men's, women's,
and/or kids) to make available. Please note, once your product is live
you can not change which fits your design is available on.
(3/24/16) Does Merch by Amazon allow scripting for bulk upload of designs?No.
(4/1/16) Why does my brand name show up as "unknown"?This is typically caused by having a brand name that is too long. Please keep your brand name under 35 characters.
(5/19/16) Can I sell my Merch by Amazon account?
We do not support the sale of Merch by Amazon accounts.
(9/16/16) Can I use two accounts for Merch by Amazon; one for my business and one for personal use?
No. Merch by Amazon is limited to one account per user.
(9/16/16) Can I share a bank account with another content creator and both receive royalties to that account?
It’s
best practice to use separate bank accounts. If your account is
terminated due to a violation of our policies, other accounts using
identical bank information may be subject to immediate termination.(10/18/16) What can I include on my detail page?
Customers
learn about your designs on a product detail page which is created
after you publish your t-shirt(s). The detail page includes your brand
name, t-shirt title, and description that you enter during the product
creation workflow. All information on the product detail page must be
clearly written and relevant to your design.The following policy has
been established to ensure that each product detail page optimizes our
customers’ buying experience. The inclusion of any of the following
information in detail page titles, descriptions, or bullet points is
prohibited:
(10/21/16) Why is the ability to add and edit t-shirts sometimes unavailable?
During peak submission times, we may suspend the ability to submit additional products and edit existing products. This temporary pause allows us to complete current publishing jobs. Once complete, the Submit button will return to active status.
(12/15/16) What is my daily publishing limit and where do I see it?
Beginning December 15, 2016, Merch by Amazon will provide each Content Creator a maximum number of new t-shirts that can be submitted for publishing each day. Publishing limits are based on tier levels and may decrease when capacity is limited. When publishing is enabled you will be able to track your available publishes on the Dashboard and Manage pages.
(12/15/16) What is the difference between my tier and my daily publishing limit?
Your tier is the total number of live products available for upload. Your daily publishing limit is the number of new products you can submit per day. This number is based on your tier and the daily publish limit may decrease based on current capacity. To see your tier and publishing limit, log into your Merch by Amazon account when publishing is enabled and look for the banner on the Dashboard or Manage page.
- Any content that violates the Merch by Amazon Content Policy, including profanity, pornography, or illegal and infringing content.
- Phone numbers, physical mail addresses, e-mail addresses, or website URLs.
- Reviews, quotes or testimonials.
- Solicitations for positive customer reviews.
- Information related to fulfillment and shipping, including shipping times, where the t-shirts are manufactured and references to “Amazon Prime.”
- Promises that the revenue from sales will go to a specific place, including text that “all proceeds will be donated” or that “purchases of these shirts will support” a particular organization.
- Keywords and descriptions that do not relate to the design, aka "keyword stuffing."
- Inaccurate product descriptions, such as glow-in-the-dark and sparkling designs.
- Product descriptions attempting to circumvent our Content Policy, including the use of spaces and dashes ("Ama-zon" or "Kin dle").
- Artwork with a low design quality, including blurry images, low resolutions, or misspelled words.
(10/21/16) Why is the ability to add and edit t-shirts sometimes unavailable?
During peak submission times, we may suspend the ability to submit additional products and edit existing products. This temporary pause allows us to complete current publishing jobs. Once complete, the Submit button will return to active status.
(12/15/16) What is my daily publishing limit and where do I see it?
Beginning December 15, 2016, Merch by Amazon will provide each Content Creator a maximum number of new t-shirts that can be submitted for publishing each day. Publishing limits are based on tier levels and may decrease when capacity is limited. When publishing is enabled you will be able to track your available publishes on the Dashboard and Manage pages.
(12/15/16) What is the difference between my tier and my daily publishing limit?
Your tier is the total number of live products available for upload. Your daily publishing limit is the number of new products you can submit per day. This number is based on your tier and the daily publish limit may decrease based on current capacity. To see your tier and publishing limit, log into your Merch by Amazon account when publishing is enabled and look for the banner on the Dashboard or Manage page.
Artwork Questions
Questions around best practices?
Please see our best practices section.
I got an error while trying to upload my artwork, what happened?
Please make sure you are using the supplied Photoshop, Illustrator, and Gimp templates. To ensure that your design prints well, we require designs to match our exact requirements: 15x18in, 300DPI, transparent background, PNG, and no more than 25MB in size.
Do I have to use sRGB color space for my designs?
No. By default we assume your design is sRGB. So if you want to use another colors space (e.g. CYMK), please make sure you embed the color space into your PNG. Please note, you can not use indexed color space.
How does Amazon print t-shirts?
Amazon uses three different printing techniques to produce your t-shirts: digital, digital screen, and screen printing. For mass production of a t-shirt design we use screen printing, where your image will be color separated into 10 or fewer unique colors and then printed. This process is very similar to the way a magazine is printed, which only uses 4 colors. For one off prints we use digital printers, which print full color (CMYK) images. For medium scale production we use a digital screen process, where a base white layer of ink is placed down with a screen and then the color portion of the print is done with a digital printer.
How does a 15x18in template work on all shirt sizes?
To ensure that your t-shirt is screen printable, where a single set of screens are used for multiple t-shirt sizes, we have grouped our t-shirt sizes into 3 print sizes. Your image will be auto-resized to each of these three print sizes based on the t-shirt.
Please see our best practices section.
I got an error while trying to upload my artwork, what happened?
Please make sure you are using the supplied Photoshop, Illustrator, and Gimp templates. To ensure that your design prints well, we require designs to match our exact requirements: 15x18in, 300DPI, transparent background, PNG, and no more than 25MB in size.
Do I have to use sRGB color space for my designs?
No. By default we assume your design is sRGB. So if you want to use another colors space (e.g. CYMK), please make sure you embed the color space into your PNG. Please note, you can not use indexed color space.
How does Amazon print t-shirts?
Amazon uses three different printing techniques to produce your t-shirts: digital, digital screen, and screen printing. For mass production of a t-shirt design we use screen printing, where your image will be color separated into 10 or fewer unique colors and then printed. This process is very similar to the way a magazine is printed, which only uses 4 colors. For one off prints we use digital printers, which print full color (CMYK) images. For medium scale production we use a digital screen process, where a base white layer of ink is placed down with a screen and then the color portion of the print is done with a digital printer.
How does a 15x18in template work on all shirt sizes?
To ensure that your t-shirt is screen printable, where a single set of screens are used for multiple t-shirt sizes, we have grouped our t-shirt sizes into 3 print sizes. Your image will be auto-resized to each of these three print sizes based on the t-shirt.
| Size A: 15x18in (100%) | Size B: 10.8x13in (72%) | Size C: 8.3x9.9in (55%) |
| Men’s 3XL | Men’s Small | Kids 6 |
| Men’s 2XL | Women’s Medium | Kids 4 |
| Men’s XL | Women’s Small | |
| Men’s Large | Kids 12 | |
| Men’s Medium | Kids 10 | |
| Women’s XL | Kids 8 | |
| Women’s Large |
Product Deletion
How do I delete a t-shirt?
You can now delete live t-shirts directly from the Manage Products page of the portal. T-shirts that are in a “live” status or “pending your approval” will show the “delete” option under “edit.” Please allow several hours for the shirt to be deleted from Amazon.com. If your live t-shirt is still in draft status from unfinished edits, you will need to publish the changes to restore the design to live status before the delete option will be available. T-shirts that have not been published and are in a draft status cannot be deleted; you can re-purpose these drafts to make a different product with changes to the t-shirt type and image.
How do I restore a deleted t-shirt?
Unfortunately, you cannot restore a t-shirt after deleting it. The deletion process is permanent and users will see a 404 error when trying to access the previous product URL once the deletion process completes. If you have deleted a t-shirt and wish to restore it, please re-create the product as a new design.
Will deleting t-shirts remove them from my account tier limit?
Yes, any shirts you delete will be subtracted from your total live t-shirt count in your tier once the deletion process completes. Please note, this can take several hours to process.
You can now delete live t-shirts directly from the Manage Products page of the portal. T-shirts that are in a “live” status or “pending your approval” will show the “delete” option under “edit.” Please allow several hours for the shirt to be deleted from Amazon.com. If your live t-shirt is still in draft status from unfinished edits, you will need to publish the changes to restore the design to live status before the delete option will be available. T-shirts that have not been published and are in a draft status cannot be deleted; you can re-purpose these drafts to make a different product with changes to the t-shirt type and image.
How do I restore a deleted t-shirt?
Unfortunately, you cannot restore a t-shirt after deleting it. The deletion process is permanent and users will see a 404 error when trying to access the previous product URL once the deletion process completes. If you have deleted a t-shirt and wish to restore it, please re-create the product as a new design.
Will deleting t-shirts remove them from my account tier limit?
Yes, any shirts you delete will be subtracted from your total live t-shirt count in your tier once the deletion process completes. Please note, this can take several hours to process.
Publishing Policy
What is the policy?
Merch by Amazon will keep live those t-shirt designs that have received at least one order within the first 90 days of being published. Returned orders will not apply to this count. After the first sale, the design will no longer be removed as a result of this policy. All other designs will be removed, allowing you to publish new designs that have a greater chance of selling. Removed t-shirt designs will continue to be visible on the Merch by Amazon portal with a removed status.
Why does Merch have this policy?
Merch strives to offer its customers the best t-shirt catalog quality. Additionally, we want to help Content Creators generate more revenue from their designs. This policy supports these goals by encouraging Content Creators to curate their design portfolio to ensure quality and promote sales.
Under what conditions are designs removed?
Each day, Merch by Amazon will review t-shirts that haven’t sold within the first 90 days of being published. If a shirt has had at least one sale in the previous 90 days, it won’t be removed.
Does my t-shirt need to sell every 90 days to be kept live?
No, a t-shirt only needs to sell in the first 90 days of being published to be kept live.
How will I know if my t-shirt is scheduled to be removed?
We will remove any design that does not have at least one sale within the first 90 days of being published. For example, a design published on September 16, 2016 with no sales will be subject to removal on November 15, 2016. If your design goes 60 days without at least one sale, it will be marked as Pending Removal on the Merch by Amazon portal. The design will be subject to removal on the 90th day without a sale.
If I purchase my shirt to keep my design in the program, will that count as a sales order?
Content Creators can purchase any item offered for sale on Amazon.com. Self-purchases will count as a sales order as long as the product isn’t returned. However, if a design is not selling, we recommend that the Content Creator curate their design portfolio and product listings to increase their sales.
Can I view removed designs, even if they are not available for purchase?
Yes. You may continue to view a list of removed designs on the Merch by Amazon portal.
How will I be notified that one of my designs has been removed?
Content Creators can see all account actions by logging into their Merch by Amazon dashboard.
What will happen to product pages for removed designs?
Customers who visit a URL for a removed design will see a product unavailable page.
Will removal of a design impact my account standing?
No. However, we encourage all Content Creators to curate their portfolio to ensure quality and promote sales.
What guidance is available to help Content Creators generate sales of their designs?
Please refer to Merch by Amazon Best Practices for guidance on designs that typically sell well.
What if my t-shirt is in a Processing status?
The 90-day window begins when a t-shirt’s status first changes to Live or Pending Approval. Processing time does not count towards this window. Once a t-shirt moves to a Live of Pending Approval status, it will be eligible for removal if it has no sales in the next 90 days.
Can I re-upload a removed design?
Content Creators can choose to recreate any of their designs as a new product. However, we encourage all Content Creators to curate their portfolio to ensure quality and promote sales.
How soon is my available design count updated after removal?
Removed t-shirts won’t count against your tier level limit. These changes will be reflected in your dashboard once the removal process is complete.
Is there a policy exception for Content Creators whose designs are seasonal?
No. However, Content Creators with open submission slots may resubmit a design in advance of expected peak sales cycles.
Merch by Amazon will keep live those t-shirt designs that have received at least one order within the first 90 days of being published. Returned orders will not apply to this count. After the first sale, the design will no longer be removed as a result of this policy. All other designs will be removed, allowing you to publish new designs that have a greater chance of selling. Removed t-shirt designs will continue to be visible on the Merch by Amazon portal with a removed status.
Why does Merch have this policy?
Merch strives to offer its customers the best t-shirt catalog quality. Additionally, we want to help Content Creators generate more revenue from their designs. This policy supports these goals by encouraging Content Creators to curate their design portfolio to ensure quality and promote sales.
Under what conditions are designs removed?
Each day, Merch by Amazon will review t-shirts that haven’t sold within the first 90 days of being published. If a shirt has had at least one sale in the previous 90 days, it won’t be removed.
Does my t-shirt need to sell every 90 days to be kept live?
No, a t-shirt only needs to sell in the first 90 days of being published to be kept live.
How will I know if my t-shirt is scheduled to be removed?
We will remove any design that does not have at least one sale within the first 90 days of being published. For example, a design published on September 16, 2016 with no sales will be subject to removal on November 15, 2016. If your design goes 60 days without at least one sale, it will be marked as Pending Removal on the Merch by Amazon portal. The design will be subject to removal on the 90th day without a sale.
If I purchase my shirt to keep my design in the program, will that count as a sales order?
Content Creators can purchase any item offered for sale on Amazon.com. Self-purchases will count as a sales order as long as the product isn’t returned. However, if a design is not selling, we recommend that the Content Creator curate their design portfolio and product listings to increase their sales.
Can I view removed designs, even if they are not available for purchase?
Yes. You may continue to view a list of removed designs on the Merch by Amazon portal.
How will I be notified that one of my designs has been removed?
Content Creators can see all account actions by logging into their Merch by Amazon dashboard.
What will happen to product pages for removed designs?
Customers who visit a URL for a removed design will see a product unavailable page.
Will removal of a design impact my account standing?
No. However, we encourage all Content Creators to curate their portfolio to ensure quality and promote sales.
What guidance is available to help Content Creators generate sales of their designs?
Please refer to Merch by Amazon Best Practices for guidance on designs that typically sell well.
What if my t-shirt is in a Processing status?
The 90-day window begins when a t-shirt’s status first changes to Live or Pending Approval. Processing time does not count towards this window. Once a t-shirt moves to a Live of Pending Approval status, it will be eligible for removal if it has no sales in the next 90 days.
Can I re-upload a removed design?
Content Creators can choose to recreate any of their designs as a new product. However, we encourage all Content Creators to curate their portfolio to ensure quality and promote sales.
How soon is my available design count updated after removal?
Removed t-shirts won’t count against your tier level limit. These changes will be reflected in your dashboard once the removal process is complete.
Is there a policy exception for Content Creators whose designs are seasonal?
No. However, Content Creators with open submission slots may resubmit a design in advance of expected peak sales cycles.
Shipping Questions
What shipping options do my customers get?
Merch by Amazon t-shirts will have the same shipping options available as any other item sold by Amazon. Prime members receive free two-day shipping. If a customer spends more than $25 they receive free shipping. All other customers will have the option to purchase ground shipping or pay more for faster shipping.
What countries does Amazon ship to?
Currently Merch by Amazon only ships to customers in the United States.
When will my customers get their t-shirts?
Based on the shipping method a customer chooses, t-shirts are printed and shipped within 1 to 2 days of receiving an order.
Merch by Amazon t-shirts will have the same shipping options available as any other item sold by Amazon. Prime members receive free two-day shipping. If a customer spends more than $25 they receive free shipping. All other customers will have the option to purchase ground shipping or pay more for faster shipping.
What countries does Amazon ship to?
Currently Merch by Amazon only ships to customers in the United States.
When will my customers get their t-shirts?
Based on the shipping method a customer chooses, t-shirts are printed and shipped within 1 to 2 days of receiving an order.
Tax Interview Questions
What is the tax information interview?
The Tax information interview, located in the Merch by Amazon portal in the My Account section under Tax Information, is a self-service interview process designed to collect your required taxpayer information to complete an IRS tax form (e.g. IRS Forms W-9 or W-8) which will be used to certify your U.S. or non-U.S. status, determine if your payments are subject to IRS reporting, and the rate of U.S. tax withholding (if any) applicable to your payments..
You can find more information about the tax information interview in the Tax information interview Guide.
I am a U.S. taxpayer. What information do I need to provide to Amazon?
Amazon requires all U.S. content creators, including non-profit and tax-exempt organizations, to provide valid taxpayer identification information by taking the tax information interview in order to comply with U.S. tax reporting regulations before they can start selling t-shirts.
The interview guides you through a step-by-step process gathering all necessary information required to establish your tax identity and generates an IRS Form W-9 for U.S. Payees.
You will be required to provide your U.S. tax identification number (TIN). Your nine-digit federal tax identification number is your Social Security Number (SSN), Employer Identification Number (EIN), or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).
Please retake the interview if your information or circumstances change.
I am an international content creator. I pay taxes in my own country, not the United States. Do I need to provide any information to Amazon?
Yes, Amazon requires all international content creators to provide valid taxpayer identification information by taking the tax information interview in the Merch by Amazon portal. To complete an IRS Form W-8 to certify your non-U.S. status, determine if your payments are subject to U.S. tax reporting, and the rate of U.S. tax withholding (if any) applicable to your payments. A taxpayer identification number (TIN) is not required unless you wish to claim a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax.
Please retake the interview if your information or circumstances change.
What information will I need to provide in the tax information interview?
You will need to provide U.S. tax status (U.S. person or non-U.S. person), the name of the individual or organization that will report the income on an income tax return, permanent address, and U.S. and/or foreign (non-U.S.) taxpayer identification number (TIN), if applicable.
How do I know if I am a U.S. person?
In general, you are considered a U.S. person if you are a (1) U.S. citizen, (2) U.S. resident, or (3) entity organized under the laws of the U.S.
What name should I provide during the tax information interview?
You should provide the name of the individual or organization that will report the income on an income tax return.
If you are completing the information as an organization, use the name as it appears as follows:
Generally, “agent acting as an intermediary” refers to a business or individual that will receive income on behalf another person. Merely completing the tax interview on behalf of a company does not necessarily make you an agent.
If you are unsure if you are an “agent acting as an intermediary”, please contact your tax advisor.
What is a U.S. Tax Identification Number (TIN)?
A U.S. tax identification number (TIN) is issued by the U.S. tax authority (Internal Revenue Service “IRS”) and can be a social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), or employer identification number (EIN).
For U.S. persons, this is typically an SSN (generally for individuals) or EIN (generally for companies).
For non-U.S. persons, this is typically an ITIN (individuals) or EIN (generally for non-individual companies). A taxpayer identification number (TIN) is not required for non-U.S. persons unless you wish to claim a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax. If you are a non-U.S. person and wish to claim a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax and you do not have a foreign (non-U.S.) TIN issued for income tax purposes by the tax authority in your country of residence, you may apply for a U.S. TIN.
For more information on tax identification numbers, please consult your tax advisor.
I am not a U.S. content creator, and I don’t have a U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number. Can I provide my foreign (non-U.S.) tax identification number in the tax information interview?
To claim treaty benefits, you are required to provide a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). If you do not have a U.S. TIN, you may enter the income tax identification number issued by the tax authority in your country of residence. If you do not have a foreign (non-U.S.) TIN issued for income tax purposes by the tax authority in your country, you may apply for a U.S. TIN.
If your income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, you must provide a U.S. TIN.
What happens if I don’t provide the required information?
You must provide your taxpayer identification information to become eligible to sell t-shirts through Merch by Amazon.
If you already provided your taxpayer identification information and received notification that the information is invalid, you must retake the tax information interview with valid information within 30 days to avoid your t-shirts being made unavailable for customers to purchase.
I completed the tax information interview. When will I know if the information I have submitted is valid?
In most cases, your tax information will be validated within a few minutes of submission. In rare cases, the validation process can take 7-10 business days. Please note that you will be unable to make changes to your tax information during the validation process.
If we detect that your tax information does not match IRS records, you will be emailed with further instructions for updating your tax information. If you receive notification that the information you supplied is invalid, you will be required to retake the tax information interview with valid information within 30 days to avoid your t-shirts being made unavailable for customers to purchase.
Why might information that I supplied in the tax information interview be invalid?
The information you enter in the tax information interview is compared with IRS database records. We cannot detect why information is determined to be invalid, or advise you on the specific issue with the information you entered. However, here are some things to consider before retaking the tax information interview:
Check your records to confirm your tax information, and enter this information in the tax information interview.
Will you withhold any taxes from U.S. source payments made to international content creators?
U.S. source payments are subject to a statutory 30% rate of U.S. tax withholding. You may claim a reduced rate of withholding under an income tax treaty by completing an IRS tax form (e.g. Form W-8) in the tax information interview if your country of residence has an income tax treaty with the United States that permits a lower withholding rate for the type of income for which you are receiving payments. To check if your country of residence has an income tax treaty with the United States, please reference the IRS website. Royalty treaty rates can be found in IRS Publication 515. Please note: you must provide a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to claim treaty benefits. If you have a U.S. TIN, you must provide it. If you do not have a U.S. TIN, you may enter the income tax identification number issued by the tax authority in your country of residence. If the tax authority in your country of residence does not issue tax identification numbers for income tax purposes, you may apply for a U.S. TIN.
Please consult your tax advisor if you have questions.
Will I be subject to U.S. tax reporting by the U.S. tax authority (Internal Revenue Service, “IRS”)?
U.S. developers that receive royalty payments exceeding the IRS reporting thresholds during the calendar year will receive IRS Form 1099-MISC on or before January 31 of the year following payment. For example, calendar year 2015 payments will be reported on or before January 31, 2016. This form will also be reported to the U.S. tax authority (Internal Revenue Service “IRS”).
Non-U.S. providers that receive U.S. source royalty payments during the calendar year will receive IRS Form 1042-S on or before March 15 of the year following payment detailing payments received and any associated U.S. tax withholding. For example, calendar year 2015 payments will be reported on or before March 15, 2016. This form will also be reported to the U.S. tax authority (Internal Revenue Service “IRS”).
The Tax information interview, located in the Merch by Amazon portal in the My Account section under Tax Information, is a self-service interview process designed to collect your required taxpayer information to complete an IRS tax form (e.g. IRS Forms W-9 or W-8) which will be used to certify your U.S. or non-U.S. status, determine if your payments are subject to IRS reporting, and the rate of U.S. tax withholding (if any) applicable to your payments..
You can find more information about the tax information interview in the Tax information interview Guide.
I am a U.S. taxpayer. What information do I need to provide to Amazon?
Amazon requires all U.S. content creators, including non-profit and tax-exempt organizations, to provide valid taxpayer identification information by taking the tax information interview in order to comply with U.S. tax reporting regulations before they can start selling t-shirts.
The interview guides you through a step-by-step process gathering all necessary information required to establish your tax identity and generates an IRS Form W-9 for U.S. Payees.
You will be required to provide your U.S. tax identification number (TIN). Your nine-digit federal tax identification number is your Social Security Number (SSN), Employer Identification Number (EIN), or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).
Please retake the interview if your information or circumstances change.
I am an international content creator. I pay taxes in my own country, not the United States. Do I need to provide any information to Amazon?
Yes, Amazon requires all international content creators to provide valid taxpayer identification information by taking the tax information interview in the Merch by Amazon portal. To complete an IRS Form W-8 to certify your non-U.S. status, determine if your payments are subject to U.S. tax reporting, and the rate of U.S. tax withholding (if any) applicable to your payments. A taxpayer identification number (TIN) is not required unless you wish to claim a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax.
Please retake the interview if your information or circumstances change.
What information will I need to provide in the tax information interview?
You will need to provide U.S. tax status (U.S. person or non-U.S. person), the name of the individual or organization that will report the income on an income tax return, permanent address, and U.S. and/or foreign (non-U.S.) taxpayer identification number (TIN), if applicable.
How do I know if I am a U.S. person?
In general, you are considered a U.S. person if you are a (1) U.S. citizen, (2) U.S. resident, or (3) entity organized under the laws of the U.S.
What name should I provide during the tax information interview?
You should provide the name of the individual or organization that will report the income on an income tax return.
If you are completing the information as an organization, use the name as it appears as follows:
- Trust – The name as it appears on the trust deed
- Partnership – The name as it appears in the partnership agreement
- Corporation – The name as it appears in the certificate of incorporation, or other legal document that formed the corporation
- Other - The name as it appears on the legal document that formed the entity
Generally, “agent acting as an intermediary” refers to a business or individual that will receive income on behalf another person. Merely completing the tax interview on behalf of a company does not necessarily make you an agent.
If you are unsure if you are an “agent acting as an intermediary”, please contact your tax advisor.
What is a U.S. Tax Identification Number (TIN)?
A U.S. tax identification number (TIN) is issued by the U.S. tax authority (Internal Revenue Service “IRS”) and can be a social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), or employer identification number (EIN).
For U.S. persons, this is typically an SSN (generally for individuals) or EIN (generally for companies).
For non-U.S. persons, this is typically an ITIN (individuals) or EIN (generally for non-individual companies). A taxpayer identification number (TIN) is not required for non-U.S. persons unless you wish to claim a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax. If you are a non-U.S. person and wish to claim a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax and you do not have a foreign (non-U.S.) TIN issued for income tax purposes by the tax authority in your country of residence, you may apply for a U.S. TIN.
For more information on tax identification numbers, please consult your tax advisor.
I am not a U.S. content creator, and I don’t have a U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number. Can I provide my foreign (non-U.S.) tax identification number in the tax information interview?
To claim treaty benefits, you are required to provide a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). If you do not have a U.S. TIN, you may enter the income tax identification number issued by the tax authority in your country of residence. If you do not have a foreign (non-U.S.) TIN issued for income tax purposes by the tax authority in your country, you may apply for a U.S. TIN.
If your income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, you must provide a U.S. TIN.
What happens if I don’t provide the required information?
You must provide your taxpayer identification information to become eligible to sell t-shirts through Merch by Amazon.
If you already provided your taxpayer identification information and received notification that the information is invalid, you must retake the tax information interview with valid information within 30 days to avoid your t-shirts being made unavailable for customers to purchase.
I completed the tax information interview. When will I know if the information I have submitted is valid?
In most cases, your tax information will be validated within a few minutes of submission. In rare cases, the validation process can take 7-10 business days. Please note that you will be unable to make changes to your tax information during the validation process.
If we detect that your tax information does not match IRS records, you will be emailed with further instructions for updating your tax information. If you receive notification that the information you supplied is invalid, you will be required to retake the tax information interview with valid information within 30 days to avoid your t-shirts being made unavailable for customers to purchase.
Why might information that I supplied in the tax information interview be invalid?
The information you enter in the tax information interview is compared with IRS database records. We cannot detect why information is determined to be invalid, or advise you on the specific issue with the information you entered. However, here are some things to consider before retaking the tax information interview:
- Misspelling your name, not including your middle initial or middle name, or entering an incorrect Tax Identification Number (TIN) may cause tax information to not match IRS records.
- Use the name and TIN that appear on your Social Security card [SSN], CP565 notice [ITIN], or CP575A notice [EIN], if applicable.
- If you are providing an EIN, use the name that appears on the top line of the address header on your CP575A notice from the IRS if you are providing a business name.
Check your records to confirm your tax information, and enter this information in the tax information interview.
Will you withhold any taxes from U.S. source payments made to international content creators?
U.S. source payments are subject to a statutory 30% rate of U.S. tax withholding. You may claim a reduced rate of withholding under an income tax treaty by completing an IRS tax form (e.g. Form W-8) in the tax information interview if your country of residence has an income tax treaty with the United States that permits a lower withholding rate for the type of income for which you are receiving payments. To check if your country of residence has an income tax treaty with the United States, please reference the IRS website. Royalty treaty rates can be found in IRS Publication 515. Please note: you must provide a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to claim treaty benefits. If you have a U.S. TIN, you must provide it. If you do not have a U.S. TIN, you may enter the income tax identification number issued by the tax authority in your country of residence. If the tax authority in your country of residence does not issue tax identification numbers for income tax purposes, you may apply for a U.S. TIN.
Please consult your tax advisor if you have questions.
Will I be subject to U.S. tax reporting by the U.S. tax authority (Internal Revenue Service, “IRS”)?
U.S. developers that receive royalty payments exceeding the IRS reporting thresholds during the calendar year will receive IRS Form 1099-MISC on or before January 31 of the year following payment. For example, calendar year 2015 payments will be reported on or before January 31, 2016. This form will also be reported to the U.S. tax authority (Internal Revenue Service “IRS”).
Non-U.S. providers that receive U.S. source royalty payments during the calendar year will receive IRS Form 1042-S on or before March 15 of the year following payment detailing payments received and any associated U.S. tax withholding. For example, calendar year 2015 payments will be reported on or before March 15, 2016. This form will also be reported to the U.S. tax authority (Internal Revenue Service “IRS”).
Getting Paid
I’m an Appstore developer do I have to re-enter my tax and banking information?
We apologize for the inconvenience, but you will need to re-enter all of your information into the Merch by Amazon portal.
I am a U.S. content creator. How do I get paid for my Amazon sales?
We make monthly payments for Amazon sales. For electronic payments, the currency of your payment is determined by your bank’s location. Provided your balance due exceeds the payment threshold, we will remit payment approximately 30 days after the end of the calendar month in which the product was shipped. For example, we would remit payment for t-shirts that shipped in April at the end of May, which is approximately 30 days after the end of April.
In the U.S., we pay by using electronic funds transfer (EFT), and we make payment when your balance due is more than $0.00.
I am an international content creator. How do I get paid for my Amazon sales?
Content creators with banks in supported countries can receive electronic payments from Amazon. Depending on your bank’s location, you may be eligible for either direct deposit or wire payments. At this time we do not support sending checks. From the "My Account" tab in the upper right of this page you can visit the payment and banking section to see if the country your bank is located in is supported at this time.
Prior to Amazon issuing a payment, the payment must meet the applicable threshold based on your payment type:
My bank is not eligible for electronic payments. Can I still sell on Merch by Amazon?
Unfortunately at this time we do not support paying royalties through checks, so you will need to set up a bank account in a supported country.
Are there any payment thresholds when receiving payments?
Prior to Amazon issuing a payment, the payment must meet the applicable threshold based on your payment type:
You can find your payment information through the “Analyze” tab in the Merch by Amazon portal.
When is a sale recognized?
While we report near real time purchases in the Merch by Amazon portal, Amazon does not recognize a sale until the item is shipped to the end customer. We do this for several reasons including: we don't charge the customer until shipment, items can be canceled prior to shipment, and we may find a design that is not printable and will therefore have to cancel the customer's purchase. For example, if a product is ordered on April 30, but doesn’t ship until May 1, the sale will be recognized in May and the associated royalty will be paid in June. Each month the earnings tab inside of "Analyze" will show how many of your customers' purchases were shipped, and therefore counted as sales.
Will you withhold any taxes from payments made to international content creators for sales?
U.S. tax law requires us to report royalty payments made to entities and persons resident outside of the United States, and may require us to withhold and remit taxes on such royalty payments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Although you may also be required to report and pay taxes to your own government, we are not involved in that process. You should consult a tax advisor if you have any questions on these requirements.
Determining Tax Rates
The standard tax-withholding rate applied to royalty payments made to residents outside of the United States is 30%. If you are a non-U.S. developer and your country of residence has an existing income tax treaty with the U.S., provided you furnish us with a valid IRS Form W8-BEN (and/or other required documentation), you may be eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. tax withholding on the royalty payments you receive.
Please note that we will provide both you and the IRS with an IRS Form 1042-S each year, which will provide detail regarding U.S. taxes withheld and remitted to the IRS during that year.
Please refer to the "Tax Interview" section for additional details on how to provide your tax identity information to Amazon.
We apologize for the inconvenience, but you will need to re-enter all of your information into the Merch by Amazon portal.
I am a U.S. content creator. How do I get paid for my Amazon sales?
We make monthly payments for Amazon sales. For electronic payments, the currency of your payment is determined by your bank’s location. Provided your balance due exceeds the payment threshold, we will remit payment approximately 30 days after the end of the calendar month in which the product was shipped. For example, we would remit payment for t-shirts that shipped in April at the end of May, which is approximately 30 days after the end of April.
In the U.S., we pay by using electronic funds transfer (EFT), and we make payment when your balance due is more than $0.00.
I am an international content creator. How do I get paid for my Amazon sales?
Content creators with banks in supported countries can receive electronic payments from Amazon. Depending on your bank’s location, you may be eligible for either direct deposit or wire payments. At this time we do not support sending checks. From the "My Account" tab in the upper right of this page you can visit the payment and banking section to see if the country your bank is located in is supported at this time.
Prior to Amazon issuing a payment, the payment must meet the applicable threshold based on your payment type:
- Direct Deposit: $0 USD, €0 EUR, £0 GBP, ¥0 JPY, or $0 CAD
- Wire: $100 USD, €100 EUR, £100 GBP, ¥10,000 JPY, or $100 CAD
My bank is not eligible for electronic payments. Can I still sell on Merch by Amazon?
Unfortunately at this time we do not support paying royalties through checks, so you will need to set up a bank account in a supported country.
Are there any payment thresholds when receiving payments?
Prior to Amazon issuing a payment, the payment must meet the applicable threshold based on your payment type:
- Direct Deposit: $0 USD, €0 EUR, £0 GBP, ¥0 JPY, or $0 CAD
- Wire: $100 USD, €100 EUR, £100 GBP, ¥10,000 JPY, or $100 CAD
You can find your payment information through the “Analyze” tab in the Merch by Amazon portal.
When is a sale recognized?
While we report near real time purchases in the Merch by Amazon portal, Amazon does not recognize a sale until the item is shipped to the end customer. We do this for several reasons including: we don't charge the customer until shipment, items can be canceled prior to shipment, and we may find a design that is not printable and will therefore have to cancel the customer's purchase. For example, if a product is ordered on April 30, but doesn’t ship until May 1, the sale will be recognized in May and the associated royalty will be paid in June. Each month the earnings tab inside of "Analyze" will show how many of your customers' purchases were shipped, and therefore counted as sales.
Will you withhold any taxes from payments made to international content creators for sales?
U.S. tax law requires us to report royalty payments made to entities and persons resident outside of the United States, and may require us to withhold and remit taxes on such royalty payments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Although you may also be required to report and pay taxes to your own government, we are not involved in that process. You should consult a tax advisor if you have any questions on these requirements.
Determining Tax Rates
The standard tax-withholding rate applied to royalty payments made to residents outside of the United States is 30%. If you are a non-U.S. developer and your country of residence has an existing income tax treaty with the U.S., provided you furnish us with a valid IRS Form W8-BEN (and/or other required documentation), you may be eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. tax withholding on the royalty payments you receive.
Please note that we will provide both you and the IRS with an IRS Form 1042-S each year, which will provide detail regarding U.S. taxes withheld and remitted to the IRS during that year.
Please refer to the "Tax Interview" section for additional details on how to provide your tax identity information to Amazon.
COPPA Questions
This section covers questions regarding 'Serving Ads on Child-Directed Apps'
Why should I declare whether my app is directed primarily at children under 13?
Apps that are primarily directed at children under 13 are not eligible to participate in Merch by Amazon promotions. This is in part because of restrictions on advertising found in COPPA and in related regulations relating to online advertising.
How do I know whether my app is directed primarily at kids under 13?
An app may be considered child-directed based on a variety of factors:
Can you figure this out for me? As a developer, you are in the best position to know whether your app is directed primarily to kids under 13. We cannot make this determination for you.
What is COPPA? “COPPA” is the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, a United States federal law designed to give parents control over the information collected from their young children online. COPPA prohibits the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information from children under 13 unless you have provided notice and received verifiable parental consent. COPPA is enforced by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and the penalties for violating COPPA can be as high as $16,000 per violation. More Information about how to comply with COPPA, and the consequences for failing to do so, can be found here.
I don’t live in the United States. Does COPPA apply to me? If your app is directed to children in the United States, or if you knowingly collect personal information from children in the United States, you are subject to COPPA. If your app is based in the United States but you collect personal information from children outside the United States, you are also subject to COPPA. You are responsible for assessing if COPPA is applicable to you and for complying with COPPA when applicable. More Information about whether COPPA is applicable to you can be found here.
What if COPPA does not apply to me?
Even if COPPA does not apply to you, your app is still not eligible to participate in the Amazon Mobile Ad Network if it is primarily directed at children under 13.
My app is directed primarily at kids under 13. Can I obtain parental consent to run ads on my app? Apps that are directed at kids under 13 are not eligible to join the Amazon Mobile Ad Network. While COPPA allows you to run ads on your child-directed apps with parental consent, we do not support this option.
My app is directed at a mixed audience (over and under 13). Can I show your ads on my app?
You may not show ads from our mobile ad network to users you know are under 13, even on an app that is not child-directed. For example, if you ask a user for their age and they indicate they are under 13, you may not show an ad to them that you source from the Amazon Mobile Ad Network.
Why should I declare whether my app is directed primarily at children under 13?
Apps that are primarily directed at children under 13 are not eligible to participate in Merch by Amazon promotions. This is in part because of restrictions on advertising found in COPPA and in related regulations relating to online advertising.
How do I know whether my app is directed primarily at kids under 13?
An app may be considered child-directed based on a variety of factors:
- subject matter of the app (e.g., educational)
- visual content (e.g., unicorns)
- use of animated characters
- presence of child-oriented activities and incentives
- type of music or other audio content (e.g., songs sung by children, not just songs that kids like)
- age of models (e.g., babies, toddlers, tweens)
- presence of child celebrities or celebrities who appeal to children
- complexity of language used on the app
- whether advertising on the app is directed to children
Can you figure this out for me? As a developer, you are in the best position to know whether your app is directed primarily to kids under 13. We cannot make this determination for you.
What is COPPA? “COPPA” is the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, a United States federal law designed to give parents control over the information collected from their young children online. COPPA prohibits the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information from children under 13 unless you have provided notice and received verifiable parental consent. COPPA is enforced by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and the penalties for violating COPPA can be as high as $16,000 per violation. More Information about how to comply with COPPA, and the consequences for failing to do so, can be found here.
I don’t live in the United States. Does COPPA apply to me? If your app is directed to children in the United States, or if you knowingly collect personal information from children in the United States, you are subject to COPPA. If your app is based in the United States but you collect personal information from children outside the United States, you are also subject to COPPA. You are responsible for assessing if COPPA is applicable to you and for complying with COPPA when applicable. More Information about whether COPPA is applicable to you can be found here.
What if COPPA does not apply to me?
Even if COPPA does not apply to you, your app is still not eligible to participate in the Amazon Mobile Ad Network if it is primarily directed at children under 13.
My app is directed primarily at kids under 13. Can I obtain parental consent to run ads on my app? Apps that are directed at kids under 13 are not eligible to join the Amazon Mobile Ad Network. While COPPA allows you to run ads on your child-directed apps with parental consent, we do not support this option.
My app is directed at a mixed audience (over and under 13). Can I show your ads on my app?
You may not show ads from our mobile ad network to users you know are under 13, even on an app that is not child-directed. For example, if you ask a user for their age and they indicate they are under 13, you may not show an ad to them that you source from the Amazon Mobile Ad Network.
Promotions Questions
How do I promote my t-shirt?
You can create in-game promotions for your t-shirts that are published on Amazon. It may take up to 6 hours for new t-shirt design to be published.
No, Merch by Amazon promotions platform is offered at no cost to our content creators to promote branded merchandize in your games/apps. By using Merch by Amazon promotion you can leverage Amazon's advanced targeting, re-targeting, and sales attribution technologies to increase sales.
Do I get paid for the impressions in my App?
No, Merch by Amazon promotions are similar to house ads. They are used for promoting your products in your apps, no other Ads or product promotions are displayed in your apps.
What ad sizes and ad types are supported?
Merch by Amazon promotions supports full screen static interstitial Ad unit with outer dimensions 2560 x 2560, and Safe Zone of 1360 x 1360. Choose landscape or portrait creative depending on the orientation your app (see creative design specs).
Which countries can I promote my t-shirts in?
At this time you can promote your t-shirts in the United States only.
What devices can I promote my t-shirts on?
Merch by Amazon promotions are supported on iOS, Android and Fire OS devices.
I don’t see the t-shirt I created on the dashboard or promote page?
It may take up to 6 hours for your t-shirt design to be live on the Amazon catalog. Once your t-shirt is live on the Amazon catalog, you can create in-app promotions.
I use Amazon Mobile Ads API, do I need a new API for my Merch promotions?
No, you can use the your existing Amazon Mobile Ads API integration for Merch by Amazon promotions by following these steps:
Your t-shirt images are available from the Amazon Detail Page, here are the instructions to get high resolution images for your promotions:
You can create up to 3 ads per t-shirt, and 15 creatives per ad.
How do I change the start or end date for a live ad?
To change promotion schedule, 'Pause' the ad from the manage/promotions section. Once the ad is paused you can make changes to the start and end date.
How can I use keyword targeting?
You can use keyword targeting to request for a specific Merch by Amazon ad, e.g. 'Mud Dragon t-shirt ad'. Merch by Amazon promotions will return ads that match your ad keywords. You need to specify the keywords as targeting parameters. Use keyword targeting to create campaigns for specific customer segment, e.g. paying users, or engaged users.
How do I test my ad?
After creating the ad on the Merch by Amazon portal, create a sample application key [manage/apps - add new app], please ensure that you are set the right targeting (all devices) and frequency (70 per week). Use your app, and request the ad you want to test using the sample application key. Once you have tested the ad, target the ad to production application key used in your production App.
How do I test my ads if I'm based outside of the US?Merch by Amazon promotions are only available in the US, to test your ads outside the US, you should use an US IP address.
What platform does the Merch by Amazon promotions platform support?
Merch by Amazon promotions platform leverages Amazon Mobile Ads API, to integrate in-app ads. Merch by Amazon promotions support iOS, Android and Unity.
- Social promotions: you can reach out to your fans, friends, and followers by creating Facebook and Twitter posts directly from the Merch by Amazon portal promotions section. You can also pin your t-shirt design on Pinterest from Amazon product page. You will find your T-shirt's product URL on the Merch by Amazon dashboard and Promote section by selecting your T-shirt.
- In-app Ads using Merch by Amazon promotions platform: you can reach out to players in your game by integrating Merch by Amazon promotions. This is a simple way to create promotions, and increase sales conversions by leveraging Amazon's advanced ad targeting, retargeting, and sales attribution technologies. Merch by Amazon promotion platform is available to all partners for free, to integrate merch promotion in your game use mobile SDK.
- Blogs, YouTube, email campaigns, web campaigns - you can reach out to your audience on your blogs, YouTube channel, web site promotions, and direct them to your t-shirt product page on Amazon, you will find your t-shirt's product URL on Dashboard and Promote section on the portal.
- In-house Ads and Promotions: If you already have ads and promotions tools for your game, you can leverage these to promote your t-shirts.
You can create in-game promotions for your t-shirts that are published on Amazon. It may take up to 6 hours for new t-shirt design to be published.
- Create ads on Merch by Amazon portal, upload creatives.
- Select targeting options: Country - US only, Devices, and Frequency.
- Create a new Application Key - Manage/Apps, click on Add new App.
- Integrate Mobile Ads API in your App. SDK support available for iOS, Android and Unity.
- Test Merch by Amzon promotions in your App.
- Get detailed analytics to measure performance and sales attribution.
- Go to resources / tools / download promotion template. Download templates to design a creative for your promotion using Photoshop, Illustrator or GIMP. You can also design your own custom creative, by downloading the blank t-shirt samples (front and back).
- Design your creative as close to your game design using similar color themes, icons and game characters to ensure your Merch by Amazon ad looks like part of the game, and distinct from other third party ads.
- Choose landscape or portrait creative depending on the orientation of your game. If your game supports both orientations, design the creative to safe zone specs (see creative design specs).
- Use Amazon branding as part of the call to action, e.g. 'Shop Now' with Amazon logo. Please see Amazon brand guidelines - refer page 6, off-Amazon branding.
No, Merch by Amazon promotions platform is offered at no cost to our content creators to promote branded merchandize in your games/apps. By using Merch by Amazon promotion you can leverage Amazon's advanced targeting, re-targeting, and sales attribution technologies to increase sales.
Do I get paid for the impressions in my App?
No, Merch by Amazon promotions are similar to house ads. They are used for promoting your products in your apps, no other Ads or product promotions are displayed in your apps.
What ad sizes and ad types are supported?
Merch by Amazon promotions supports full screen static interstitial Ad unit with outer dimensions 2560 x 2560, and Safe Zone of 1360 x 1360. Choose landscape or portrait creative depending on the orientation your app (see creative design specs).
Which countries can I promote my t-shirts in?
At this time you can promote your t-shirts in the United States only.
What devices can I promote my t-shirts on?
Merch by Amazon promotions are supported on iOS, Android and Fire OS devices.
I don’t see the t-shirt I created on the dashboard or promote page?
It may take up to 6 hours for your t-shirt design to be live on the Amazon catalog. Once your t-shirt is live on the Amazon catalog, you can create in-app promotions.
I use Amazon Mobile Ads API, do I need a new API for my Merch promotions?
No, you can use the your existing Amazon Mobile Ads API integration for Merch by Amazon promotions by following these steps:
- Create a new Merch by Amazon promotions Application Key on the Merch by Amazon portal (Manage/Apps click on Add new App).
- Create ads on Merch by Amazon portal, and target ads to the app with Merch by Amazon application key.
- In your App use the Mobile Ads API to request Ads using the Merch application key.
- Based on your targeting and frequency settings, you will receive an ad, or get no ad alert.
Your t-shirt images are available from the Amazon Detail Page, here are the instructions to get high resolution images for your promotions:
- Go to your product page on Amazon.com
- Right click – ‘page info’ (on firefox browser) – ‘media tab’ on the top. This shows all the images on the page, browse the images and select the high res t-shirt image
- Open the URL on a browser, change the size to 1500 to get right sized image for the ad creative.
You can create up to 3 ads per t-shirt, and 15 creatives per ad.
How do I change the start or end date for a live ad?
To change promotion schedule, 'Pause' the ad from the manage/promotions section. Once the ad is paused you can make changes to the start and end date.
How can I use keyword targeting?
You can use keyword targeting to request for a specific Merch by Amazon ad, e.g. 'Mud Dragon t-shirt ad'. Merch by Amazon promotions will return ads that match your ad keywords. You need to specify the keywords as targeting parameters. Use keyword targeting to create campaigns for specific customer segment, e.g. paying users, or engaged users.
How do I test my ad?
After creating the ad on the Merch by Amazon portal, create a sample application key [manage/apps - add new app], please ensure that you are set the right targeting (all devices) and frequency (70 per week). Use your app, and request the ad you want to test using the sample application key. Once you have tested the ad, target the ad to production application key used in your production App.
How do I test my ads if I'm based outside of the US?Merch by Amazon promotions are only available in the US, to test your ads outside the US, you should use an US IP address.
What platform does the Merch by Amazon promotions platform support?
Merch by Amazon promotions platform leverages Amazon Mobile Ads API, to integrate in-app ads. Merch by Amazon promotions support iOS, Android and Unity.
Intellectual Property
These FAQs are provided to help you better understand intellectual property as it relates to your use of Merch by Amazon. These FAQs do not constitute legal advice.
If you have questions about intellectual property laws or whether or
not you have sufficient rights to a particular item to use it with Merch
by Amazon, you should consult with an attorney.
What restrictions apply to my use a third party’s intellectual property?In accordance with our Content Policy, Amazon cannot make, sell, distribute, or promote items that infringe the intellectual property rights (including copyright, trademark and publicity rights) of a third party. This means that you should either have obtained a license or otherwise received permission from any third party whose intellectual property you wish to use with Merch by Amazon. This applies to not only your design for a t-shirt, but also the product name, the product description, and the “brand” name you select.
If you believe that an item available for sale on Amazon.com contains content that is infringing your intellectual property, you can report it to Amazon using our online form.
What restrictions apply to my use a third party’s intellectual property?In accordance with our Content Policy, Amazon cannot make, sell, distribute, or promote items that infringe the intellectual property rights (including copyright, trademark and publicity rights) of a third party. This means that you should either have obtained a license or otherwise received permission from any third party whose intellectual property you wish to use with Merch by Amazon. This applies to not only your design for a t-shirt, but also the product name, the product description, and the “brand” name you select.
- You must have clear documented permission to use a person's name, likeness, or image in a Merch by Amazon design. This permission is important if the person is a celebrity, but is necessary for anyone. So don’t use Taylor Swift’s name, picture, or likeness on a Merch by Amazon design, product name, brand name, keyword, or product description unless you have express documented permission from Tay Tay.
- Similarly, you must have clear documented rights to use any intellectual property with Merch by Amazon. The Seattle Seahawks might be great (they are), but you can’t use their name, logo, or trademark on a Merch by Amazon design, product name, brand name, keyword, or product description without express documented permission from the Seahawks.
- You are ultimately responsible for ensuring that you hold all necessary intellectual property rights to submit a design through Merch by Amazon. You should not assume that just because you found an image on the internet that you can use it for commercial use without permission from the owner. Works can be protected by copyright, even if they do not have a copyright notice. Do not copy someone else's work without first obtaining their permission. If you are unsure if you own all necessary rights to use something in a design, please consult an attorney.
- For information about copyright law in the United States, please visit the United States Copyright Office’s website and FAQ’s. For information on Trademarks visit United States Patent and Trademark Office’s website.
If you believe that an item available for sale on Amazon.com contains content that is infringing your intellectual property, you can report it to Amazon using our online form.
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