abc's of selling on amazon
TRANSCRIPT
abc’s.. of selling on
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Steve Prager / Jill Fahnestock-Samp
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Selling On Amazon
• Sell to Better Buyers• World’s Biggest Marketplace• Higher Prices• Easy to Do• Almost Anything is Already in
Thir Inventory• Amazon is What eBay Wants to
Be• FBA !
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WHY SELL ON AMAZON?
It’s So-o-o-o-o Easy• If You Can Buy on Amazon,…You Can Sell!!
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AMAZON VS. EBAYAMAZON
• Free Listing• Higher Prices• Better Customers• Amazon Handles $$• Feedback less of an
Issue• Amazon’s Reputation• FBA• Inventory and Reach is
IMMENSE
EBAY
• Pay to List• High Fees• Feedback Problems• You set Shipping• Crooked Customers• Garage Sale Prices• Good Place to Source
for Amazon Selling!
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New in a BOX !
• Scan able product • Discontinued isle• Long Tail • A shopping life style
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What Can You Sell On Amazon?
MEDIA
• Books (more on this)• Niche Magazines• Cassettes• VHS• DVDs• CDs• Computer Games• Textbooks• Bibles
MEDIA #2
• Auto Manuals (Brand)• Yearbooks• Craft Pamphlets• Exercise/Diet Systems• Rich Dad stuff• Instructional Materials• Popular Christian
teaching• Books on Tape
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Amazon the Bookstore
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Books That Still = ProfitsYearbooksNiche Non-FictionHow ToNiche w/in a NicheChildren’s BooksBibles/Unusual TranslationsCraft Magazines
Vegan CookbooksFake BooksMusic InstructionManufacturer Auto/Motorcycle ManualsCraft PamphletsThe treasure hunt is on… what else can you think of?
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What Can You Sell on Amazon?
Toys and Games
• Board Games $$$$$$$$• New Puzzles• Electronic Toys• Vintage Games- Sell as
‘Collectible’• NOTE: All pieces and
instructions must be included. Condition of box and game/toy is Important
Electronics
• New floppy disks• DVR Recorders• Cables• Chargers• Remotes• Zip Drives• Vintage Computer Gear• Note: Check it out-It
must work!!
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What Can You Sell on Amazon?
New Stuff $$$$$$$$$$$$
• Office Supplies• Curtains• Kitchen wares• New Baby Products• Small Appliances• Hardware $$$$$$$$$• Power Tools• Pencil Sets• Linens
Miscellaneous
• Supplements• Food Stuffs• Pregnancy Test Kits• Filters• Hallmark Ornaments• Weight Loss Products• Toilet Lid Art• Your Own Products – w/
an UPC or ISBN
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Prohibited Categories & Items (W/out Amazon Approval)
Categories
• Automotive Parts• Clothing & Accessories• Jewelry• Shoes• Gift Cards• Watches• Motorcycle & ATV• Industrial and Scientific
Items
• Promotional Media• Pornography• Copied Media• Broken or Non-Working• NOTE: Read the Amazon
Guides for Every Category You Sell In. Amazon Does Not Suffer Fools Gladly. They will Shut You Down.
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4 Kinds of Sellers• An Individual Selling Account (can start right from your buyer’s
account)• Pro-Merchant Subscribers ($40 a month. Allows you to add
new listings to Amazon inventory, use online postage. No .99 closing fee)
• FBA (Fulfillment By Amazon) Sellers • Merchants Program
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What is FBA???• Fulfillment by Amazon• Only for Pro-Merchant accounts• Identify high profit item/quick sale items during listing
process, choose “I want Amazon to ship and provide customer service..”
• Box up, ship via UPS to Amazon fulfillment center. Amazon does the rest!!
• Wait for email…Amazon has shipped the item you sold.
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Amazon’s Basic Fees
• Pay Fees after Item Sells and Buyer Pays….• Referral fees range from 6% -15% (books 15%)• .99 cent Closing Fee (waived Pro-Merchant)• Variable Closing Fees (Books- $1.35)
(Don’t Forget to Factor In Your Own Costs When Doing Business Analysis- Initial Cost, Tape, Labels, Envelopes, Gas to PO etc)
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Fees Example - Book• Sold For……………………………..20.00• Referral Fee 15%................... 3.00• Variable Closing Fee……………. 1.85• .99 cent fee………………………99 cents *• Initial Cost…………………………50 cents
*Waived w/ Pro MerchantProfit = 13.66
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Where to Find Stuff to SELL• Thrift Stores• Garage Sales• Free Boxes• Craig’s List• College Dumpsters• Free Stuff From
Friends
• Auctions• Buy Lots on eBay• Scoop up poorly
listed eBay Items• Retail Arbitrage• Sell Other’s Stuff
for a Commission (often 30%)
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WHAT IS RETAIL ARBITRAGE?• Retail Flipping- Buying close-out New retail items and selling
them for a higher profit on Amazon via FBA• Most use a smart phone or scanner w/ PDA to identify items
and Margins• Amazon Price Check- free phone app• Many sellers use FbaFinds.com or ScoutBandit to identify sales
ranking and FBA competition
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The Best PLACE To Start
YOUR HOUSE…………..
SELL YOUR OWN STUFF!
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GETTING STARTED SELLING
• Start with a Basic Buyer’s Account•New? Buy some Stuff! •Get Used to the Emails, Leaving
Feedback, Searching for Products• Find Something in Your House to SELL• Search for it on Amazon-it has to be
EXACT
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BASIC SELLING STEPS1. Create an account2. Click Sell Your Stuff3. Search for an item to sell4. Click the Sell Yours button5. After Condition/Quantity, You will Select Shipping Options-
Think Big!6. 1st Time Buyers Create a Sellers Account
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Creating A Seller’s Account
•Pick a Good Display Name- Your Brand•Enter Financial Information-Have a Check and Credit Card Ready•Verify Identity
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I Found Something To Sell??
• Is It Easy To Ship?• Good Margins?• Lightweight?• Can it Ship Media
Mail?• First Class
Package? (under 13 ounces)
• Decent Sales Ranking?• Like New-Good
Condition?• Any Stains, Tears,
Smells?• Original
Box/Instructions?
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Use Amazon Search
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The Sandwich Technique for Describing Your Item
•Good-BAD-Good•Be Honest•Describe All Faults• State Your Guarantee•Describe Your Shipping•Always Lead w/ the Best Feature•Don’t Overstate-Don’t be too Humble
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A Quick Look At Pricing2 schools of thought
Chasing the lowest price
•Common technique•Good for items
that you need to sell•Can be counter-
productive
Value Pricing
• Never price above Amazon• How else can you Stand
Out?• Use something besides
price to drive sales- Feedback, Descriptions, Guarantee • FBA increases price!!
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