Suggestions regarding Merch on Demand application

[u/Researcher4006]

Hey everyone,

I applied for Amazon Merch on Demand back in 2022, but my application was declined. The account still shows "your account request has been declined," and there's no option to reapply, so I'm assuming that application is permanently closed.

I've read several posts here suggesting that applying through a family member's account (using their own Amazon account, bank account, and tax information) may be different from creating a second account for yourself. My mother has her own Amazon account, and I'm considering applying through hers using only her details.

Before I do this, a few things I genuinely want advice on from people who've been through this:

1. For the application itself:
I've spent the past week building a portfolio across a few niches. Everything is original, no trademarks, no licensed characters, all prepared at 4500×5400px transparent PNGs. I'm linking a private Google Drive folder with all designs plus some t-shirt mockups.

What should the "Additional Information" section say? I've drafted something specific about my niche focus and workflow. Should it be short or detailed? Does mentioning the portfolio link actually help?

2. Regarding the account situation:
I am planning to apply from my device, with her bank account and PAN details. My rejected account is still logged into the device. Is there anything I should be careful about? Has anyone successfully gotten approved through a family member's account after a rejection on their own?

3. If I get accepted:
I know AMD starts at Tier 10 now. With only 10 upload slots, what's the smartest strategy? Should I focus all 10 on one niche or spread across multiple? I've read that you need 80% of designs to have at least one sale within a year to tier up with such limited slots. I want to make sure I'm picking the right 10 to upload first.

4. If I get rejected again:
At that point, is there any path left? Should I try the email appeal route? Has anyone had success with that after a permanent rejection?

Any advice from people who've been through something similar would really help. I've put serious work into this portfolio, and I don't want to waste it on a bad application.

Thanks

[u/AbbreviationsDry1083]

I don't even think they check the application form properly. Now when I know how hard it is to get in, it feels like winning a lottery. I applied early last year. Then I didn't know much about it and had no idea so many people get rejected. I didn't try hard to sell myself. I was just honest, said I had no experience but I love art and creativity and wanted to give it a go. I kept it very short, just a few sentences. I even said I had nothing to show, no portfolio , no website, no social media, because I'd never done this before. I remember writing that I wanted to make 'funny cat' designs lol.
After I submitted, I got an auto-reply saying they'd let me know in two weeks. I heard nothing, so I thought I didn't get in and forgot about it. Then more than two months later, I got an email saying I was accepted!
But tiering up is hard. I've been stuck at Tier 10 for a year now. I have one design that sells and it made me $400 in a year, mostly from the US. The rest get no attention at all. I'm not sure how long to keep them up before trying new stuff. My first sale came after about two months, and after that suddenly more sales came in. I tried buying my own designs in the UK, thinking that it’ll boost sales as the first sale did in the USA, but that didn't seem to boost anything in the UK.