If posting a review fails on Amazon, you likely don’t meet spend rules, hit a limit, or tripped policy checks—fix eligibility and content to post.
Running into a “not eligible” message or a grayed-out review button is frustrating. This guide explains why Amazon blocks review submissions and what you can do right now to get your voice published. You’ll see the most common triggers, how to verify your account meets the baseline spend rule, what content flags stop a post, and the exact steps that clear the roadblock.
Reasons You’re Blocked From Posting An Amazon Review
Most roadblocks fall into a few buckets: account eligibility, rate limits, content violations, listing quirks, or account health actions. Start with eligibility, then work down the list.
Quick Reference: Common Blockers And Fast Fixes
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Not eligible to review” message | Spend rule not met in the past 12 months | Place orders with a valid card until you pass the spend threshold |
| Review button missing or disabled | New account or low purchase history | Build a normal purchase pattern; wait up to a few days after delivery |
| Review rejected after submit | Content breaks site rules | Remove links, promos, profanity, or private data; resubmit |
| Review link shows an error | Weekly caps or system checks | Wait, then try again; prioritize verified-purchase items |
| Can’t rate a brand-new listing | Item not eligible yet or listing changed | Use “Report an issue with this product” and try again after a short delay |
| Review disappeared later | Post-publication moderation | Trim policy-risky lines and repost; keep it about your use of the item |
Meet Amazon’s Eligibility Rule First
Amazon requires real shoppers to share feedback. If your account hasn’t reached the baseline spend with a valid debit or credit card in the last year, the system blocks reviews and ratings sitewide. Once you meet the spend rule, the review button and star-rating box reappear across product pages.
How To Check Your Standing
Sign in, open Your Orders, and scan the last 12 months. If you mostly used promotional credits or gift balances, place a small order with a card to refresh eligibility. After the order ships, the block usually lifts.
What Purchases Count Toward Eligibility
Orders paid with a valid debit or credit card count. Some digital-only transactions and gift balances may not move the needle. A steady pattern of normal shopping is the safest way to keep review access open.
Stay Within Rate And System Limits
Amazon uses automated defenses to curb spam bursts. Posting many non-purchase reviews in a short window can trigger a temporary block. If you hit a wall, slow down. Space out posts, and start with items marked as verified purchases. Caps reset over time, and normal activity restores access.
Write Content That Passes The Filters
Review text must be about your use of the product. Promotional lines, links, requests for contact, and personal data get filtered. Keep it clean and useful to other shoppers.
Content Patterns That Trigger Removal
- Asking readers to visit a site, message you, or buy from a specific seller
- Copy-pasted marketing text, coupon codes, or order details
- Profanity, slurs, harassment, or private information
- Images of children without a guardian present, unsafe use of products, or medical claims
- Writing about shipping speed or the seller (use the separate seller feedback tool for that)
How To Rephrase Risky Lines
Keep it product-first. Swap “Message me for a discount” with “Price felt fair for the build.” Replace “Visit my blog for photos” with “Photos show the fit on a medium frame.” If you mention defects, stick to what you saw and what you tried.
Understand Listing And Timing Quirks
Some pages temporarily block new posts right after launch, during merges, or when a product variation changes. If your item moved to a new page, your review may sit in limbo. Wait for the catalog to settle, then try again from the order detail link.
Posting From The Right Place
Use the Write a product review link in your shipped order. That path ties your post to the exact item and reduces mismatches across color or size variations.
Keep Account Health In Good Shape
Accounts with sudden spikes of activity, shared logins, or payment issues can land in a temporary hold. Fix open payment problems, change your password, and turn on two-step verification. Avoid shared devices that sign in to many accounts in a short span.
What Triggers A Hold
- Unusual posting bursts (many ratings in minutes)
- Repeat removals for policy violations
- Refund abuse or chargeback disputes
- Multiple accounts on the same device
Write A Review That Sticks
Use clear, firsthand details. Mention what you bought, how you used it, and any measurements. Add two or three sharp photos that you took. Keep brand names and competitor claims out of the text unless you made a direct comparison during normal use.
Simple Structure That Works
- Setup: What you ordered and your use case
- Build & Fit: Materials, sizing, or specs you handled
- Performance: What worked and what didn’t
- Longevity: Any wear after days or weeks
- Verdict: Who will like it and why
Link To The Right Help Pages
Rules and eligibility live on Amazon’s help pages. The customer reviews and ratings page explains the spend requirement and submission checks. The guidelines for reviews list content you shouldn’t post and the lines that cause removals.
Troubleshooting Steps That Solve Most Cases
Work through this list from top to bottom. If a step doesn’t apply, move to the next one.
Step-By-Step Fix List
- Confirm spend status: Place an order with a valid card if you haven’t reached the threshold this year.
- Wait for delivery: Reviews post smoothly after the item arrives and scans as delivered.
- Use the order path: Start from Your Orders → Write a product review to attach the right ASIN.
- Trim policy flags: Remove links, contact info, coupons, profanity, or medical claims.
- Post verified items first: If you’ve posted many non-purchase reviews recently, slow down.
- Switch device and network: Use your own phone on mobile data to rule out shared IP issues.
- Update account info: Fix payment holds, enable two-step verification, and refresh your password.
- Try later: Short-term caps lift with time; try again the next day.
Second Table: Pre-Post Checklist
Run this final check before you hit submit. It prevents most removals and keeps your feedback live.
| Step | What To Do | Where In Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Confirm card-paid orders in the last year | Your Orders & Payment |
| Correct Item | Open the order’s review link (not a saved bookmark) | Your Orders |
| Photo Safety | Only your own photos; no kids’ faces | Review composer |
| Clean Text | No links, promos, or private data | Review composer |
| Tone | Direct, shopper-helpful wording | Review composer |
| Cool-down | Space out multiple posts | — |
Edge Cases By Marketplace
Policies are aligned across regions, yet timing and error text can vary. If you shop in more than one storefront, eligibility checks run per account in that region. A spend that meets the rule on one site may not carry to a different region. If you split orders between the US and another country site, build card-paid history in the place where you want to post.
Household And Shared Devices
Many accounts signing in on the same phone or laptop can look suspicious. Keep one account per person, and log out fully before someone else signs in. Public Wi-Fi with heavy account churn can also set off alarms, so test on mobile data if blocks keep popping up.
Business, Student, And Kid Profiles
Business accounts and teen profiles have different controls. If you’re posting from a profile with limited permissions, switch to the main account to submit. Kid profiles cannot post product reviews. If a parent account is blocked, clear the hold there first.
Safer Photos And Video
Media helps other shoppers and raises trust. Keep images focused on the product in normal use. Blur serial numbers and any mail labels. Skip faces of minors and avoid dangerous use scenes. Short clips that show setup or fit often do more than a long paragraph.
Myths Versus Facts
- Myth: “Any order counts for eligibility.” Fact: Card-paid shopping across the last year is what the system checks.
- Myth: “If the seller asks me to edit the post, it’s fine.” Fact: Outside coordination risks removal. Keep the review independent.
- Myth: “Once published, a review is permanent.” Fact: Posts can be pulled if later sweeps find issues.
- Myth: “Links are helpful.” Fact: Links often trigger filters. Keep them out.
Clear Answers To Common Questions
Can You Review Items You Didn’t Buy On Amazon?
Yes, many pages accept posts from people who bought elsewhere, but non-purchase posts hit caps sooner. If you run into a limit, move to items you purchased on the site.
Why Did My Post Disappear?
Moderation runs after submission too. Edits, merges, or a later policy sweep can remove a post. Tighten the text and try again from the order page.
Who Reviews Are For
Write for shoppers who are about to buy. Mention the one thing you wish you’d known earlier and any measurements that changed your mind. That single detail often helps more than a long rant.
Short Template You Can Copy
Paste this into the box and fill in the blanks. It reads clean and clears filters.
Use case: __________ Time with item: ___ days Pros: __________ Cons: __________ Would I buy again? Yes/No — because __________
Customer Service Route
If you’ve met the spend rule, trimmed the text, tried from the order path, and waited a day, reach out through Customer Service → Something else → Prime or Your orders → Other review issues. Share the product link and the exact message you see. The agent can confirm whether a hold is in place.
Examples Of What Passes Versus What Fails
Passing Lines
- “Fits a 6-foot frame; seat post needed a 2 mm shim.”
- “Boiled two liters in 6 minutes; lid rattles at full steam.”
- “Noise at 55 dB from one meter; fine for a small office.”
Failing Lines
- “DM me for a discount code.”
- “Buy from seller XYZ; they ship faster.”
- “Here’s my email if you have questions.”
Bottom Line
Most posting blocks come down to eligibility, caps, content, or account health. Meet the spend requirement, post from your order, write a clean product-first review, and pace your activity. That combo clears the vast majority of cases.