Selling on Amazon - pros and cons please

FloFlo

I have only sold on Ebay so have no experience of selling on Amazon.

Is it worthwhile? I can't see a way to check current selling prices like Ebay so although I can see prices I can't see whether items are actually selling for that price.

FloFlo

75p listing fee and 15% selling fee for my category. Ouch

I_have_spoken

+ No listing fee on CD/books
+ There more active buyers/collectors (IMHO) for books and CDs than on Ebay
+ Items stays listed 'forever' with no action needed
+ You can check your selling price against the competition and adjust inventory with one-click 'Match price'
+ (IMHO) fewer numpty/dead-beat buyers than on Ebay
+ Quick to list items using a bar-code scanner

- Amazon is even more demanding than Ebay buyer protection on Marketplace sellers coming up to scratch with packaging, time to despatch, listing accuracy etc.
- Seller fees (although Ebay are probably now as greedy)

FloFlo

I suppose if the listing fee is a one time one it isn't so bad, can you list multiples of an item or is it 75p per every item in the listing?

Reading the t&cs on Amazon it seems payment is into a bank account, so no paypal fees.

I list mainly in toys and clothes on ebay so would just be toys I would probably be looking to list on Amazon right now.

F&L

I sell in a number of categories and don’t pay any listing fee. I’m not aware of any listing fee in toys? Depending on how much you plan to list/sell, you can either sell on a per item basis or have a pro-merchant account. With the former you pay a fee + commission per item, with the latter you pay a fixed amount per month + commission (it’s around £28 per month). Also with the latter you can set your own postage rates and win the buy box. If you plan to sell in toys then you need to start selling now. In the run up to Christmas Amazon require you to have made a certain number of sales by November and for your metrics to be in good order to sell in the toys category. This is to avoid customers being disappointed. Payments are dispersed to your bank account once a fortnight and take about a week to arrive – no instant transfer like with paypal. If your sales are large initially then you are likely to be subject to a review and they’ll hold onto your funds.

IMO Amazon buyers are far easier to deal with than ebayers and make substantially less claims for item not received/not as described. They rarely send messages or leave feedback. I also find items sell quicker if you’re price competitive and certainly the buy box helps sales. You can see if items are selling by watching the stock of sellers if the quantity they’re selling is less than 30. Longer term you could consider sending stock to Amazon for them to send out – this is called Fulfilled by Amazon. That though has its pros and cons.

RFW

FloFlo wrote: »

75p listing fee and 15% selling fee for my category. Ouch

Where are there listing fees? Haven't seen any, but may have missed something.

Fees are comparable to Ebay/Paypal and taken upfront. If you're a pro seller, the down side is only getting paid once a fortnight, can't withdraw whenever you like as with Paypal.

You would need to sell a good amount of toys, well and quickly to qualify to sell in the run up to Christmas. Toy sellers need to be pre approved in that period.

As for seeing what sells, about two thirds down an item page is the ranking for the item. Eg for a jigsaw "this item is ranked 12,340 in toys & games and #36 in jigsaws". Obviously the higher up the ranking the more sales there have been and more chance of getting sales, if there are no rankings then it hasn't sold ever.

FloFlo

From the Amazon Sell info pages: £ 0.75 + per-item seller fees (VAT-exclusive)

I assumed the 75p was up front when you listed but perhaps its at the end with the 15% which makes it quite expensive to sell on there will have to cost it out and see if it is worth it.

I assume they don't count the postage and take 15% of that so that might even it out a little.

FloFlo

RFW wrote: »

Where are there listing fees? Haven't seen any, but may have missed something.

Fees are comparable to Ebay/Paypal and taken upfront. If you're a pro seller, the down side is only getting paid once a fortnight, can't withdraw whenever you like as with Paypal.

You would need to sell a good amount of toys, well and quickly to qualify to sell in the run up to Christmas. Toy sellers need to be pre approved in that period.

As for seeing what sells, about two thirds down an item page is the ranking for the item. Eg for a jigsaw "this item is ranked 12,340 in toys & games and #36 in jigsaws". Obviously the higher up the ranking the more sales there have been and more chance of getting sales, if there are no rankings then it hasn't sold ever.

Thank you for the info about the ranking will look at that now.

RFW

FloFlo wrote: »

From the Amazon Sell info pages: £ 0.75 + per-item seller fees (VAT-exclusive)

I assumed the 75p was up front when you listed but perhaps its at the end with the 15% which makes it quite expensive to sell on there will have to cost it out and see if it is worth it.

I assume they don't count the postage and take 15% of that so that might even it out a little.

That's a private seller final value fee. For pro sellers the 75p isn't charged but there is a monthly fee of £28.75. There are no upfront listing fees on Amazon.
They do take the percentage on all the monies received, that includes postage. Unlike Ebay they take the fees from each sale so there are no end of the month fees to pay.
As I said it is comparable to Ebay in fees, some works out higher, some lower. I think overall my Amazon fees work out slightly lower but barely anything in it.

FloFlo

RFW wrote: »

That's a private seller final value fee. For pro sellers the 75p isn't charged but there is a monthly fee of £28.75. There are no upfront listing fees on Amazon.
They do take the percentage on all the monies received, that includes postage. Unlike Ebay they take the fees from each sale so there are no end of the month fees to pay.
As I said it is comparable to Ebay in fees, some works out higher, some lower. I think overall my Amazon fees work out slightly lower but barely anything in it.

Not keen on a £28.75 monthly fee if sales are slow. Can you start with the per item 75p first then change if it is worth it?

soolin

FloFlo wrote: »

Not keen on a £28.75 monthly fee if sales are slow. Can you start with the per item 75p first then change if it is worth it?

Yes you can

Also, you can do a test listing and go right to the final page where it will show the exact net amount you will receive , including postage element. I always find that useful.

One thing with toys though, you used to have to be an approved seller to list toys in the months leading up to Christmas, not sure if it is still the vase so you might want to check that.