If you're an Amazon seller, you've probably dealt with hijackers eating into your profits, undercutting you nonstop, or even sending junk to tank your listing. This past year, my team and I got absolutely crushed by hijackers, so I wanted to share what we learned.

A little background:

We're a newer store with a ™ pending trademark (still waiting for registration). Our product is easy to source on Alibaba or other B2B sourcing sites, and we started ranking well in our niche — top 30 in a small category. As soon as we gained traction, hijackers swarmed. One became ten, then twenty. They work in groups, undercut each other, and kill your buy box with no mercy.

Worst of all, there are now entire "courses" online teaching people how to hijack listings. It's shameless, and it's ruining legitimate sellers.

Why we were an easy target

  • New store, still on ™ pending (can't enroll in Transparency or Project Zero yet)

  • Low MOQs from suppliers, easy for others to source

  • Steady profitable sales = high visibility to hijackers

  • No design patent in the US

What we tried (and what worked)

1. Direct complaints to Amazon

Without solid evidence or a registered trademark, Amazon often flags us for potential abuse instead of removing hijackers. Especially without a design patent, complaints are hit or miss.

2. Escalations to Seller Performance

Helped with some obvious violators, but persistent hijackers just came back on new accounts.

3. Long-term solution we're pushing hard: UK Trademark + Transparency

US trademarks take 12–18+ months.

UK trademarks can register in 2–4 months.

Once approved, you can enroll in Transparency and effectively block hijackers from selling your product.

This is the only real permanent fix we've found.

4. Avoid generic products

If your item is widely available, you will get hijacked.

  • Work with factories with high MOQs

  • Use exclusive suppliers

  • Add real differentiation (not just a new logo or package)

  • Get design patents if possible

What actually stops hijackers long-term

  • Stop using generic, easy-to-source products

  • Work with exclusive factories with high MOQs

  • Add true product differentiation

  • Get a registered trademark + enroll in Transparency

  • File design patents when you can

To anyone currently dealing with hijackers:

I know how frustrating it is. You put in the work to rank a listing, only to get leeches draining your sales and ruining your reputation.

If you're a hijacker reading this: just stop. It's unethical, it hurts real businesses, and it's not a sustainable way to sell. There's no honor in undercutting people and sending garbage to customers.

Hope this helps someone else stuck in the same nightmare.