The Ten Keywords That Could Tank Your Amazon Merch Account

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Selling t-shirts on Amazon Merch on Demand is a dream gig for creators—upload a design, let Amazon print and ship, and watch the royalties roll in. But there’s a catch: the platform’s rules are a confusing minefield, and certain words in your listings can trigger rejections, suppress visibility, or even jeopardize your account. Amazon doesn’t hand out a banned-word list, leaving sellers to navigate a murky landscape of trial and error. Some terms—like "gift," "fabric," or "Amazon Prime"—are notorious troublemakers, though their impact varies by context and Amazon’s ever-shifting scanning algorithms. Here’s a rundown of ten words that could land your Merch account in hot water, and why it’s safer to steer clear.

1. Gift

Mentioning “gift” might seem innocent—like calling your “Cat Dad T-Shirt” a perfect present—but it’s a red flag. Amazon’s guidelines push sellers to focus on the design, not its use, and “gift” can read as promotional fluff, risking a rejection from the bots.

2. Comfort

Who doesn’t love a comfy tee? Trouble is, “comfort” describes the shirt’s feel, not the artwork, and Amazon seemingly forbids straying from design talk. Sellers say it’s a quick way to get a listing flagged.

3. Fabric

Cotton, polyester, blend—whatever the shirt’s made of, don’t mention it. “Fabric” veers into product specs, not design territory, and Amazon’s automated systems often zap listings that cross that line.

4. Quality

Bragging about a “high-quality tee” might boost buyer confidence, but it’s a no-go. It’s a promotional claim about the shirt itself, not the graphic, and Amazon’s scanners might see it as misleading hype.

5. Neon

“Neon” sounds cool for a bright design, but it’s dicey. If it hints at the shirt’s color rather than the artwork—like a glowing “Neon Gamer Tee”—it could be misread as a product trait, landing you in rejection purgatory.

6. Glow

Similar to “neon,” “glow” raises eyebrows. Sellers pushing “Glow-in-the-Dark Skull Tees” might mean the design, but Amazon’s bots could interpret it as a shirt feature, triggering scrutiny or a takedown.

7. Ships / Shipping

“Ships fast” or “free shipping” might tempt buyers, but it’s a hard pass. Delivery details are Amazon’s domain, not yours, and Amazon looks unfavorably at such terms being used in listings.

8. Charity

Tugging heartstrings with “proceeds to charity” sounds noble, but it’s forbidden. Amazon sees it as a potentially problematic claim unrelated to the design, and sellers report instant flags for trying it.

9. Amazon Prime

Name-dropping “Amazon Prime” might seem like a savvy tie-in, but it’s off-limits. Referencing Amazon’s services in your listing is a compliance violation, and it’s a fast track to rejection or suppression.

10. Eco-friendly

Green vibes are hot, but claiming an “eco-friendly tee” can backfire. Without proof—and Amazon doesn’t let you prove it—it’s an unsubstantiated boast, and Amazon’s algorithms might bury or nix your listing.

The Gray Area

Here’s the kicker: some of these words aren’t always dealbreakers. Some listings with “neon” or “glow” slip through, especially if clearly tied to the design—like “Neon Cat Print Tee.” Others, like “shipping time” or “charity,” are more frequent headache-givers. Context matters, and Amazon’s automated scans aren’t foolproof—sometimes they miss, sometimes they overreach. Sellers on on social media swap war stories of listings killed by “gift” one day and ignored the next. But with competition heating up in 2025 and Amazon tightening its grip, why roll the dice?

Playing It Safe

MBA’s rules boil down to one mantra: describe the design, not the shirt or its perks. Skip these ten words, and you’re less likely to trip the algorithm’s alarm bells. In a game where one rejection can stall your momentum, avoiding these troublemakers might just keep your account in the green.

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