Surprised how anyone makes it
As a new seller, here’s what I’ve learned so far…most categories are seller saturated so when you list your products, you’re indexed way way beyond page 10. This means no one will find you when they search, as page 1 to 7 are usually shown, and Amazon’s A9 algorithm is all about the top sellers with thousands of reviews. Also I’ve read the about the tricks that go on with the overseas oriental businesses on here with offers and repeated listings (I’m not saying it’s true, it’s what I’ve read). I’ve also had an error code on the system when trying to create global listings…it’s day 61 today since I asked for support…and nothing. This has really surprised me. Anyway after spending far too much money on advertising campaigns, I’m at the point now of wondering whether this was all a mistake. This is not me complaining, honest! just an account of my experiences so far. So as my title says, I’m surprised when you’re up against all of this, how anyone makes a reasonable business on here. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
0 replies
Seller_sFEUMUfeW5484
Amazon used to be simple. For me it’s all the rules and fear that Amazon promote. Amazon are absolutely terrified of sellers having any freedom at all when it comes to running a business.
Seller_64jziShTiTjOq
Well, indeed: 3 million sellers plus Amazon itself, 120+ million products. It’s the world’s biggest online marketplace, which is why you, I and everyone else joined it. What else did you expect? It’s like all these people who wannabe famous actors, singers, footballers, meeja personalities…: the supply far exceeds the demand and most people will just not make it
For probably/possibly the same reasons, Amazon’s seller support is admittedly poor. A combination of demand and the need to clear workloads, poor communication in both directions (outsourced staff in overseas locations and with English not their first language trying to understand sellers who can’t string a sentence together properly or make their points concisely and clearly - plenty of evidence of that on this forum) and ever more complex policies and procedures set by Amazon or imposed on them from outside (Brexit etc)
Evidently, many people are still making a decent income on here. I think it’s probably a matter of accepting the limitations and drawbacks, sticking to what you know and are good at, and not expecting to become a millionaire in a fortnight, or even in a lifetime
Seller_PUgTge8LPB8FY
It depends to some degree on (1) what you’re selling, (2) how much access you have to finance so that you can buy stock at low wholesale prices, and (3) how you use and interpret all the data available to you on Amazon.
We started from scratch four years ago with a moderate investment, and our business now pays several salaries and all its running costs, with profits being reinvested for future growth. The huge advantage of Amazon to us (and why we put up with all the nonsense) is the enormous potential global market the platform offers. In that sense, international sales are key.
We have never spent anything on advertising.
Seller_PUgTge8LPB8FY
As a matter of interest, what categories are you selling in?
Seller_94VWxluF6zYyI
Amazon used to be great. It’s now a cesspit of rubbish hoop jumping and constant worry you’ll be shut down for the most ridiculous infringement.
And if things go wrong there’s no one to talk to… Seller Support is the equivalent of asking your technophobe gran to help you with a technical issue on your phone.
The catalogue is a mess and the amount of duplicate listings selling the same naff WISH stuff is a joke. Plus there’s becoming a massive problem with bait and switch scams (something that’s been dogging Facebook for years and is now moving over to Amazon).
Amazon just don’t care. In the meantime Ebay (in our experience) has started to address a lot of the complaints of the past and is a much better market place to deal with. Even Etsy is better.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket though… If Amazon sorted themselves out they could be the best all rounder, but they’ve sat on their laurels for way too long just taking the money…
Seller_KZhPnqSRrvTv0
Welcome to Amazon!
If you calculate the amount of time you spend on trying to stay within Amazons rules / requirements, then you’d probably be far better off putting that effort getting your own site working for you, with about 1000 times less hassle or threats of expulsion. It’s a long way from the site we started selling on 10 years ago, far harder to make money and nothing but poor service and threats from Amazon on a weekly basis.
Seller_MVW0jD3ZJ0iOz
Been selling online since 2004 Amazon since 2009, as others have said back then it was “easy” enjoyable and profitable.
Now, especially Amazon, its a chore, frustrating and hard work. Back then there were fewer sellers but also fewer buyers. It takes time to build your business, unless you’re very good or very lucky, but with time and effort you can make decent money. Seller support is a joke and as for the brains at Amazon … well you can see why the USA is such a mess. Spread your eggs, think carefully about everything you do but stick at it… you just never know whats around the corner … another virus and this time next year…
Seller_Q37LYkGg0XfSU
Just our two cents as a new seller (18M)
A few tips we’ve learned:
Seller support is difficult to work with. Really absorb Seller University. Forums are great, but no situation is usually the same but it helps avoid making common mistakes. Escalations do work. You need to know the medium and how to ‘beat’ the system and a ton of patience.
Categories matter - we have 3 product lines, 2 of which are a ‘no go’ for us as we did not get there early enough and there are 500+ other products with several ratings more. To your point, after all fees and advertising, it was not making economical sense for us in these 2x categories. In the other category, we are consistently in the Top 3-5 in the UK on most hours of the day. This is as our offering is significantly different to others out there and we are building reviews - we also really know our market space well in that category. We’ve launched multiple price points and played with that to get volume which in turn brings ratings. It’s around 1.7% on average based on orders vs a rating / review. Tip: Choose categories where you have an actual product differentiator and know the line of products.
Bottom line: Make sure you really understand your financials. It’s easy to get caught up in volume driven by advertising and not see the storage, FBA, other costs and your own. It only makes sense when you are hitting a margin that actually works for you.
Diversification: Lastly, this is one option of several. We do not rely on Amazon but it is certainly helpful. If we got suspended tomorrow, we would be fine. We have our own direct avenues + other platforms. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket and no you won’t become a millionaire overnight. You can see from several veteran sellers on here, its real graft and it takes time.
Seller_KoyDfkwo4wrtG
It is much more time consuming than other sites and it is now very difficult to get new listings off the ground. It is a time-consuming process to create them if they have variations, and sooner or later they will become detached from their parent and you will have to do them all over again as it will be impossible to fix the original. You will then be back to square one trying to get the new listing seen by customers. However, if you manage to overcome the above, and get a decent ranking, you will get consistent sales from it … until of course the listing fails again. I think best to start gradually and build up time and money invested.
Seller_mKHCXYkXkqcAz
Honestly I have never been so frustrated in my life with amazon I did everything by the book but I am still not selling .I am still paying off over £1000 pounds in campaign adverts I sold a couple of products like 25 but I never saw the money because the adverts have swallowed everything.Despite me launching 3 months ago I have not made one pence.And the only time seller central e mails you is when they want you to go back to campaign some more.It is a shame that all they think about is how to take take take
