Key points
- Violations of Amazon’s guidelines are reported using the “Report abuse” link directly below the review.
- Content that breaks the law, such as false claims or insults, can be reported as illegal content. Under the Digital Services Act, Amazon has to examine such reports.
- The more precise, the better: one review per report, a verbatim quote, a clear reason, and supporting evidence.
“Report abuse” for guideline violations
Below every review on amazon.de, there is a “Report abuse” link. Customers who are logged in can use it to report a review that violates the Community Guidelines. This is the right route if, for example, the review only rates the shipping, contains advertising or links, discloses personal data, or is insulting.
This route is quick, but it leaves hardly any room for a detailed explanation. It is therefore best suited to clear-cut cases.
Reporting illegal content
If a review is not just against the rules but unlawful, there is a second route. Under the Digital Services Act (DSA), online platforms must provide a procedure that anyone can use to report illegal content. The platform must examine such reports promptly and carefully and tell the person who submitted the report what it has decided.
Here, the reasoning is what counts: Which statement exactly is unlawful, and why? For a false statement of fact, this includes what is true instead and how it can be proven. A law firm can put the report in the form of a removal request, setting a deadline and acting on the seller’s behalf.
As a brand owner
Brand owners enrolled in Amazon Brand Registry have additional tools for reporting violations. For individual reviews, however, the same standards apply: Amazon only removes what violates its guidelines or the law.
How to give your report the best chance
- One review per report. Bulk reports are hard to assess.
- State the exact reason. “Only rates the delivery” is better than “unfair.”
- Quote verbatim. Reproduce the statement you are objecting to exactly as it appears in the review.
- Back it up. What is true instead? A test report, a certificate, a cross-check against your orders.
- Keep a record first. Save a screenshot and the link to the review, with the date.
- Stay factual. No speculation about the author, only points that can be verified.
What happens after the report
Amazon examines the report and makes its own decision. You can see on the product page whether a review has been removed. For reports of illegal content, Amazon must inform you of its decision. If a report is rejected, it is worth taking a close look at the reason: sometimes all that is missing is a piece of evidence. What you can do if nothing happens after a report is explained in the guide Reported, but nothing happened.
Reporting with AMZDelete
AMZDelete reads the 1- and 2-star reviews of your products and shows flags for possible violations. Our partner law firm checks whether a report is worthwhile. It reports guideline violations through the channel intended for this purpose and legal violations with a reasoned removal request. You only pay for reviews that are actually removed afterward.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an Amazon account to report a review?
You need to be logged in to Amazon to use the “Report abuse” link. With AMZDelete, our partner law firm reports the review for you.
What can I do if Amazon rejects the report?
That depends on the reason for the rejection. Better evidence or a more suitable reason often helps. If the review is a permissible opinion, it stays up.
Is it worth reporting all negative reviews?
No. Only report reviews that involve a real violation. Legitimate criticism stays up, and unfounded reports only cost time.
This guide gives a general overview and does not replace a legal review of your individual case. At AMZDelete, our partner law firm checks whether a review can be challenged.