If you could give new business owners one piece of advice on maintaining work-life balance, what would it be?
Question for you, Sellers!
If you could give new business owners one piece of advice on maintaining work-life balance, what would it be? Share your tip in the replies of this thread.
Excited to see your answers!
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What's Engage with Amazon? I like to think of it as a section of the forums where we can connect and collaborate together as a community. Everyone is welcome to chime into the discussion and share their unique perspectives. There's really no pressure here, just a fun way to engage with each other. Looking forward to connecting with you all!
18 replies
Seller_tz5M9iHaTDZFk
My advice would be to avoid Amazon, focus on other sales channels if possible
Seller_KQwXr5kY5oIPO
That Amazon will not allow you any work life balance.
You will be expected to be available to answer customer queries and messages 24/7 365 and to fulfill customer orders 365 as well whether you physically can or not.
if you want a work life balance, you are in the wrong profession.
Seller_RAXEWLxQ2dbmN
Amazon has introduced a number of changes recently that have made life more difficult. Other than this forum (maybe?!), there doesn't seem to be any effective way for sellers to give their feedback.
Notably, the changes to 'manage inventory' appear not to have been thought through.
I am currently being bombarded with 'Amazon Listing Created' emails because the system sends a new one for every edit to existng SKUs.
I don't want to turn the listings notifications off but there should be a way to stop them coming for simply editing (and not creating) existing listings.
Also, the 'manage inventory' list repopulates itself as you scroll through it.
This makes it relatively slow and clunky and impossible to find keywords using browser search.
It previously loaded all current data on each page fully.
These might seem like minor quibbles but they have made listing and editing 'manually' extremely tedious.
Seller_i38MVIJDH23AY
Avoid Amazon. Their systems and processes have zero respect for work life balance.
Often things need to be actioned within 24 hours. If I take a week off all the cases I have with Seller Support get closed because I can not reopen them after the most recent nonsense answer.
Another example is the current requirement to input COO details. They could have designed a system that allowed us to enter the information at a product level and then should there be a difference by country we could override it. But no Amazon decided we need to enter the same information in every marketplace increasing the workload 8 fold. Good job they are not asking us to do it in Q4.
Oh.......
Seller_5BmbL9wJF7d3W
You'll have a much better work-life balance if you avoid seller support completely, it's not worth the stress.
Seller_RguKGMHvWFmo3
I used to think I worked for myself & could make my own business decision. Turns out that Amazon decides my working hours, if I'm allowed time off, they tell me when I have to send my packages, how I send my packages, what price I set my goods and often if they feel like it will amend or remove photos, descriptions, keywords etc
If you fail not only do you get an immediate banner stating account at risk of deactivation you also then you get an Amazon Seller equivalent of a PIP with no right of recourse. Could you tell us what banner SELLER SUPPORT have accross their platforms for there performance? or is performance something you only measure for those outside your business??
You can't even take a weekend off because Amazon states you have to respond to customers within 24 hours even if you are in hospital or taking some time out, NO NOT ALLOWED.
Seller_rdDHCgIIXbjBs
Hi @Spencer_Amazon , great question! If I could give one piece of advice to new business owners on maintaining work-life balance, it would be this: Set clear boundaries and prioritize time management. It's easy to let work consume all your time, but scheduling dedicated breaks and personal time will not only boost productivity but also keep you mentally and emotionally fresh. The better you manage your time, the better you can sustain both your business and personal life.
Moreover, I can see the above messages and how people are reacting, but it is true, amazon with every passing day is getting tougher on sellers. With the evolution of the platform, there are going to be challenges... But, I cannot hate Amazon with all its flaws. It's still the number one platform to sell goods...
Now, please do me a favor, I’m still waiting for your response on restoring the BuyBox for my ASINs—I'd appreciate assistance! Looking forward to hearing back from you!
https://sellercentral.amazon.co.uk/seller-forums/discussions/t/fef42466-78b7-489e-8969-016a1298fac5?postId=8eac1b5d-dc5f-40f7-b15a-c53174f09eb0
Seller_IQo80d99W2DzP
@Spencer_Amazon
I am very surprised that you are that daring enough to put your head above the parapit to ask such a question (I assume you lost a bet and had the short straw). Otherwise, I am guessing you do not know Amazon Sellers at all well. Or, were you wanting such a reaction, and if so, are you going to try to get things altered at Amazon.
If you work for Amazon, perhaps you are lucky enough not to get so many demands, and have time off. However, Amazon Sellers do not have that luxury, and it is due to Amazon's demands, not a Sellers choice.
As others have said, we are not really working for ourselves, we are working for Amazon, just without the benefits of being direct employees.
Amazon demands a lot, far more than what is legally required, and Sellers have no choice other than to do as they are told, or not sell on Amazon. Due to Amazon's size and virtual monopoly, that would mean a different job would need to be found. Although cleaning a sewer with no protective gear, may still sound more appealing!
Example, SFP, we have to work at least 6 out of 7 days a week.
Messages must be replied to within 24 hours and that is every day of the year including Christmas Day, New Year, etc.
Returns must be processed within 2 days, even if not received back as new, so now photos are mandatory and a lot of additional work involved.
It is more like a juggle to keep up with Amazon demands. Do you process orders the same day, or action a return, which do you do, so in the end you work longer and do both, so no evening out then in the end.
Then, as you are just about ok, Amazon find an item that was listed in 2009 is no longer ok (even though it was listed as per requirements at the time), and wants to close you down unless within 48 hours over a weekend that you can prove they were listed correctly. So, you have no choice, no weekend off either with the family, doing more to ensure the business continues to survive.
To try and do that you need SS help, so do you just give up, or giveup the whole weekend to get a basic alteration actioned by them. In the end you give up and close the listing, so Amazon loses and you lose as well, but the Account is still live.
So, no time off and it is the next week, and what will Amazon throw at you now to cause more issues?.....
Which Sellers actually like Amazon, oh yes, the ones locked up in the Assylum!
=
In conclusion, my advice to new Sellers, is do not sell on here, get any other job instead, as you will be happier.
Seller_ZVAz3d5lZuGid
@Spencer_Amazon These threads are all well and good, and can be very useful, but only if the issue is taken on board and the replies to the thread are acted upon, as ALL points raised are very valid,
Also, am sure you can't have failed to notice that almost daily there are questions, with you tagged in, about the loss of Buy Box, which you said you would look into months ago, yet, as far as I know, there was no follow up or feedback.
