Power Sellers Unite

CC13 · Joined: 07 May 2009 Posts: 372

Wow after reading this I do not even want to deal with Amazon even if Auctiva is setting up to sell through them. NO WAY!!!

quicksrt · Joined: 26 Oct 2009 Posts: 401

CC13 wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")Wow after reading this I do not even want to deal with Amazon even if Auctiva is setting up to sell through them. NO WAY!!!

I didn't hear that, that Auctiva is setting gearing up to sell through them.

I thought Amazon always did their own thing, no outside anything.

Huhmmmm?

At any rate, I have been having the best summer in five years thanks to Amazon. I used to just accept that I would be poor every summer, but since I went to Amazon on June 11th, sales have been gaining each week.

Now that I have some feedback, even the bigger tickets are beginning to move. I think my feedback, a cool seller's name, and some decent items will keep the cash coming in for a few years. See - my low priced junk is what is mostly selling, and the higher end stuff is moving much slower. This points to a long long run on amazon. Because I can lower my big tickets if need be, but I can't raise the prices on the lower end junk.

200 units sold, 170 transactions since June 11th. 44 positive feedbacks, 100% pos.

I'm amazed at how well I am doing since I decided on amazon and fixed price rather than ebay.

But of course talk to me in 14 to 16 months when I am out of hot stocked items. Sales will sink once the prime merch has been unloaded.

CC13 · Joined: 07 May 2009 Posts: 372

quicksrt, why do you suppose all the negative press on here about Amazon then? Thanks.

quicksrt · Joined: 26 Oct 2009 Posts: 401

CC13 wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")quicksrt, why do you suppose all the negative press on here about Amazon then? Thanks.

a. Amazon does not work for everyone.

b. The fees at amazon are the highest in the industry (until you learn to scale them).

c. All online selling sites have their detractors, and their failure stories.

d. I don't read that much negative press on the subject of Amazon compared to ebay that is for sure.

Did I make any sense? Any at all?

CC13 · Joined: 07 May 2009 Posts: 372

quicksrt, thanks for that feedback. I was being sincere when I asked as I am planning on starting on Amazon myself. What do you mean scale the fees? Do you feel there is more higher quality buyers at Amazon? Thanks!

quicksrt · Joined: 26 Oct 2009 Posts: 401

CC13 wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")quicksrt, thanks for that feedback. I was being sincere when I asked as I am planning on starting on Amazon myself. What do you mean scale the fees? Do you feel there is more higher quality buyers at Amazon? Thanks!

Ok, by "scaling" the fees, this is how and where fees begin to drop when using amazon.

1. When you list an item at amazon you pay no listing fee, for every week or month you have that item up with no fee, you are getting value for free, where at ebay you'd be paying. The longer the item is up, the more you have scaled the fees, or reduced your fees, or added some value.

2. The higher the item, the less percentage it appears the fee it. For a $2.99 item, you could pay 75% fee. So if you can sell plenty of 14.99 and 19.99 items and up, the fees are not so high, bigger tickets = scaled fees.

3. Price your items higher than you normally would if you can by 1.50 to 1.99 or so, there again, you have scaled those fees by padding the item price.

4. Ship to Canada, you get a shipping payback that costs less in postage than it really costs.

5. Ship several items to same buyer, you get more shipping credits, one for each item, but you send them together, = scaled fees.

6. List a thousand items if you have them in stock, by having more items up, more will cross promote each other. This works the same on any site, but for thing listed on amazon, these items are staying up (for free) as advertisments (for other items listed ) even if they do not sell.

7. and finally, pay the 39.99 a month to get fees reduced by $1.00 per item. This only works out as a good deal if you are selling more then 40 items a month. I'm moving 100 items a month, = savings of $60.00, again quantity is enough to scale the fees.

By the time I have worked out all the math, I might not be paying higher fees than I would have at ebay. I sold at higher prices, paid no fees on unsold items, got $60 discount on fees, shipped items for $2.45 (2.05 shipping + .40 carton) when I got paid $2.98 to ship each item = aprox. .50 profit = less fees. Sometimes got paid nearly $7 to ship when it cost only $3.00. This depends on International rates, I lose a bit on Aust & Japan I think.

So basically, if you can get a little volume going, and price the items a tad on the high side, you scale the fees, and might bring them down lower than ebay's fee.

I was paying out 16% in ebay fees. I would guess when all is said and done it is about the same fees for me on amazon, except I am now moving more product weekly at amazon.

CC13 · Joined: 07 May 2009 Posts: 372

quicksrt, Thanks a lot that was very insightful. So between Ebay and Amazon one should be making decent sales again.

Digmen1 · Joined: 12 Feb 2010 Posts: 1007

Gee after reading their Q3 sales, I think I might have a go with Amazon.

I have only just realised that you do not need to pay their monthly sub, which may be a bit much for me with my products.