Power Sellers Unite

CC13 · Joined: 07 May 2009 Posts: 372

Hi everyone, Just wondering if Amazon is a good alternative to sell on instead of ebay? I do not want to go with a site that doesn't have the traffic that ebay has and it seems to me Amazon is the only other site that would compare. I have even heard Amazon gets similar volumes of traffic that ebay gets as well as Amazon buyers are not as cheap as ebay buyers. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17239 Location: Texas

Here's a topic about selling on amazon.com:
http://www.powersellersunite.com/viewtopic.php?t=31979

CC13 · Joined: 07 May 2009 Posts: 372

Thanks!

Angelsong777 · Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 2309

I would recommend making use of both sites. There are differences, and the only way you can learn how to best utilize both sites for yourself is to use them.

sciencefare · Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Amazon vs. Ebay

Angelsong777 wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")I would recommend making use of both sites. There are differences, and the only way you can learn how to best utilize both sites for yourself is to use them.Angelsong777 makes a very good recommendation when she says to use both sites. It will be eye opening.

-- Hi Angelsong! :)

Angelsong777 · Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 2309

Hi Sciencefare!

And yes, I think that most sellers can benefit from having roots established on both sites. Even if you don't feel like using both sites heavily all the time, it's great to have feet planted there so that either site can be put to work whenever wanted or needed. :)

Example: During the last holiday season, Amazon became HUGE. Any online seller who didn't have a fishing pole in that pond really missed out on some opportunity!!

CC13 · Joined: 07 May 2009 Posts: 372

Angelsong777 thanks! So you would say it is at least as good as ebay?

Angelsong777 · Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 2309

CC13 wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")Angelsong777 thanks! So you would say it is at least as good as ebay?

Personally, I prefer it to eBay. But I would not use it as an alternative, I would use it to expand your business if you are already having some success on eBay. Amazon has it's challenges, and they can be pretty major at times. It would be unsafe and unwise to rely on either site as your sole source of income.

CC13 · Joined: 07 May 2009 Posts: 372

Great thanks!

itsover4ebaysellers · Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Posts: 12

Both sites are money pits,personally I wouldn't use amazon if it were free. Amazon charges 60-100 dollars a month for a store and if you go the free route you can only list items already listed on the site which means lots of competition,you can not use your own photo's on amazon if using free store adds.

Amazon pays you every 2 weeks and does not allow enough to cover shipping fee's,example it cost 3.75 to ship a record media mail with tracking,but amazon only allows 1.99 for shipping fees on lp's. Amazon won't allow you to sell clothing and certain items without permission and has no auctions like ebay.

Your best bet online is have your own professional website made up that accepts credit cards. Of course if you sell audio items all the smart sellers are on audiogon.com !

Angelsong777 · Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 2309

itsover4ebaysellers wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")Both sites are money pits,personally I wouldn't use amazon if it were free.

It sounds like you need to work on your product selection.

Quote: › docWrite("quote")Amazon charges 60-100 dollars a month for a store

Mine is either $0.00 or $40.00 depending on whether I'm on or off the Pro Merchant subscription. You can switch back and forth depending on what best suits your needs in any given month.

Quote: › docWrite("quote")Amazon pays you every 2 weeks and does not allow enough to cover shipping fee's

You can request a payout as often as every 24 hours. The shipping fees are screwy, but sometimes I'm way overcompensated too. Amazon isn't a perfect site, but it can be an extremely profitable site.

itsover4ebaysellers · Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Posts: 12

been on ebay 12years with 20,000 feeds on 3 ids,it's a dying quail, I currently have well over 3,000 feeds on audiogon and in the past 2 weeks out sold ebay using the classifieds and auctions about 1300.00 to 200.00 ,sorry it's not my product selection ,it's ebay!

CC13 · Joined: 07 May 2009 Posts: 372

itsover4ebaysellers thanks for your insights. I was wondering though will my website get traffic from RSS feeds or my meta tags? I mean lets face it you are paying ebay and amazon for their traffic right? You can't just get that with your own website. What are you thoughts? Thanks!

Angelsong777 · Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 2309

CC13 wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")I mean lets face it you are paying ebay and amazon for their traffic right?

Their traffic, name recognition, buyer appeal, etc. etc.

Quote: › docWrite("quote")You can't just get that with your own website.

That depends on a number of different factors including how much you know about attracting buyers to a site, and how much time and effort you are willing and able to devote to that. Regardless, many sellers who run their own website still find Amazon and eBay to be valuable as well.

itsover4ebaysellers · Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Posts: 12

When I sell an item anywhere I always send the buyer a link of my items and what winds up happening is they add to their purchase or tell friends of my listings,recently i picked up 2 customers that each spent nearly a grand,1 bought over 300 records after i sent him a link of my audiogon classifieds and he's still going. You can use googlebase as well to list as each add gives you a link to your other items. Over time just like a store,your customers will keep coming back for more.

Amazon also has the highest com fees on the net 7-15percent and most of the people i know have little luck selling their. I don't believe you can list lots on amazon either,like say if you wanted to list a lot of 20cds. One good idea also is to use a free site to list hundeds of items and kinda use it as a storage bin,when you make a sale on ebay or anywhere send the customer your link to the site you listed all your items on. Take advantage of the flea markets in your area as well,sell at them regularly you can make hundreds a day.