Struggling with product listings on OZON while watching competitors' sales skyrocket? Many sellers find themselves stuck in endless loops of product approvals, logistics issues, and inventory management challenges. This comprehensive guide addresses the nine most frequent obstacles OZON sellers encounter, along with exclusive warehouse transfer techniques to streamline your operations.
1. Product Type Selection: Less is More
When manually listing products, resist the temptation to overload your product type selections. OZON maintains strict approval standards for product categorization. For optimal results, select only the most relevant product types that precisely match your item. Including irrelevant or excessive types significantly increases rejection risks. Precision trumps quantity for first-time approval success.
2. Understanding "Moderation" Status
A "Moderation" status doesn't indicate rejection—it simply means your product is undergoing standard platform review. Products in moderation typically have high approval rates. During this period, content rating data remains hidden until approval completes. Maintain patience and avoid unnecessary changes during this process.
3. Approval Timelines Demystified
- New Listings: Initial product approvals typically require 1-3 business days. Products won't display publicly until approved, after which you may ship to OZON warehouses or set self-operated inventory.
- Edited Listings: Modifications to approved products usually process within one business day. Products remain visible during review but may delist if changes violate guidelines.
- Post-Rejection Edits: Correct rejected listings promptly using platform feedback. Resubmissions require one business day for review, during which products remain invisible and unavailable for shipping.
4. Title Optimization: Your Approval Linchpin
Product titles significantly impact approval outcomes. Many rejections stem from inaccurate Russian translations. For optimal results, switch your product information page to Russian (via the profile icon dropdown) and reference native-language product details when crafting titles. Precise, professional translations dramatically improve approval rates.
5. Spreadsheet Merging: Category-Specific Variations
Don't be alarmed by differing spreadsheet formats across product categories—this is standard OZON practice. While terminology may vary (e.g., "Merge Product Cards" vs. "Model Name"), the fundamental process remains consistent. Focus on accurate PDP code entry when merging listings. Identical titles won't trigger issues, though adding color/size descriptors can improve customer differentiation.
6. Dimension Compliance: Non-Negotiable Requirements
OZON enforces strict dimensional limitations (refer to platform specifications). Non-compliant products face rejection or logistical blocks. Carefully measure all items before listing and verify against current guidelines.
7. Logistics Options: Labeling Protocols
Among OZON's logistics partners, only Unitrade provides label printing services. Other carriers require seller-applied labels. Unitrade offers two services: Unitrade Economy (surface shipping for bulky items) and Unitrade Express (air shipping for smaller parcels). Select based on your product characteristics and delivery timelines.
8. Handling Missing Buyer Information
When customers omit passport details (required for Russian shipments), navigate to Warehouse Orders > "Awaiting Packaging" and select "Tracking Number." Two scenarios may occur:
- Email Available: Contact the buyer directly requesting passport information.
- No Email: Use the "Contact Buyer" button to send a polite Russian message. Suggested template: "Dear Customer, thank for your purchase! To complete shipment, please provide passport details at your earliest convenience. We appreciate your cooperation."
9. Bulk Listing Strategies
For efficient mass uploads of similar products, utilize OZON's product card duplication feature. After creating your initial listing, duplicate and modify subsequent entries rather than building each from scratch. This maintains consistency while saving significant time.
10. Warehouse Transfers: Strategic Inventory Management
OZON's virtual warehouse system enables seamless inventory transfers between locations. To move stock from Warehouse A to B: first set Warehouse B's inventory to 999 (or sufficient quantity), then reduce Warehouse A's stock to 0. Reversing this sequence may temporarily gray out listings for approximately three hours—plan transfers strategically to maintain visibility.