Learning the process with Amazon

[Quark]

I debated starting a progress thread for many reasons, but decided to go ahead.

I have no experience with online sales, but have been intrigued to say the least reading posts on this forum. Today is day 12 for me on this forum and I made the decision to get something rolling this weekend.

I am going to follow the plan laid out by @biophase and launch a product on Amazon to learn the process.

Every step from getting an Amazon sellers account, buying from China, getting UPC codes, shipping, Amazon FBA will all be a new process for us (my wife & I)

Our main focus for this initial outing is to learn this process and try our hand at proper execution. We would eventually like to make sales and sell all the units we buy, but the real goal is to come away with first-hand knowledge of the Amazon process.

Pretty much, what we had prior to starting this is a decent Nikon DSLR for the photos

We decided to grab a product relatively quick and we had a little criteria that we tried to stick to.

• We wanted the item to be relatively inexpensive
• Smaller item that would not cost a lot to ship
• Something that did not have a huge minimum order requirement
• It needed to have (in our uneducated opinion) the potential for a large enough profit margin to absorb our mistakes along the way.

Our start:

• Took some money and put it in an account just for this project.
• Got accounts with Alibaba and DHGate
• Contacted the seller of our product choice to see if they will sell a sample, currently the smallest size shipment is 50 pieces.
• I also researched UPC codes and it seems like I will need only one if I have one product and no variations. When we lock a product down, I need to determine if I can print it myself or have to have it printed. It can’t be printed on the currently selected product.
• I searched Amazon for this exact product and cannot find it. I wanted to see if there were sales and if so, what kind of feedback it was getting. There are other “brands” and variations but not this exact one.

If we can’t get a sample order we will have to decide if we roll the dice or look for a different product.

A 50 piece order would be $348.00. I don’t mind the gamble that it doesn’t sell, but I don’t want $348 worth of falling apart, trash can filler.

As for our product it is a “Gadget” in the women’s health and beauty category. In this thread it will simply be referred to as a gadget.

We did not pick a product we love or are especially passionate about. Unless this surprises us and sells like wildfire, we probably won’t reorder if we sellout.

We are passionate about learning this process and attempting to do it right or at least get it right in the end. It took some time and a lot of reading here to grasp this idea of not needing to love the product. It is the process, execution and adding that value that are important. We get it now.

After attempting to read as much as possible in the first 10 days on this forum, I do feel kind of silly posting a thread of my own. I have learned a ton of information from threads that truly deserve to be read, by people who really have something valuable to share.

A really big thanks to @biophase @Vigilante @Kerin12 @JAJT @jon.a and a slew of others for their contributions, as well as MJ for the book and forum.

 

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[jon.a]

huuf japvoph!

 

[Guest30k3gj]

Tnemmis ovin vjev xuamf puv dutv e muv vu tjoq

Tjoqqoph tjuamfp'v ci uwis vji qsufadv dutv.
Qsucecmz, vjev't vsowoem, juxiwis, O nepz vonit gedif xovj vjot tvagg xjip O xet ep icezis.

Tussz gus ugg vuqod.
Huuf madl.

 

[SSimz]

Fup'v giim tommz ecuav tvesvoph e pix vjsief, vji vjopht zua miesp epf tjesi vjsuahjuav vjot qsuditt dep ci wisz cipigodoem vu uvjist opdmafoph nztimg xju emtu fidofif vu veli vji qmaphi opvu timmoph ovint up Enebup vufez op vji iwipv ug miespoph. Tu ges vjot wofiu jet jimqif ni heopif e civvis optohjv vu vji xjumi qsuditt

Muul gusxesf vu siefoph zuas aqfevit

 

[ZCP]

Tahhitv vszoph vu hiv vji motvoph huoph up Enebup epf ev mietv sitiesdjoph vji aqfevit vu cessoist ug ipvsz op jiemvj epf cieavz up Enebup.

Xomm tipf zua tuni siq$ .... ov xup'v caz opwipvusz, cav ov xomm miv zua lpux vjev xjev zua esi fuoph ot hsiev gus vji gusan.....

 

[Quark]

@TTonb, vjeplt gus vji wofiu, vjev ot nz gostv muul opvu vji dupvsum qepim ug Enebup. O en tasi O xomm sigis vu ov eheop xjip O tohp aq gus uas edduapv.

@BDQ vjepl zua tu nadj, O katv gopotjif nz cedl epf gusvj ineomt xovj vji taqqmois epf vjiz fof emmux ni vu caz vjsii apovt gus e tenqmi qsodi. Pux vjev xi jewi tunivjoph dunoph vu muul ev, xi xomm hiv ep edduapv huoph epf veli e muul ev vji cessoist. - O itqidoemmz moli jux vji tvusz vaspif uav op jot iyqisonipv.... Ev mietv vji qesv ecuav zuas cuzt.

Cetif up vji qutv cz Couqjeti, O (vjopl) xi ewuofif epf ovin vjev duamf ci e "Jebnev" O gushiv vji edvaem visn. Vjot ot puv ophitvif us eqqmoif, jet pu ophsifoipvt tu O'n juqoph xi fup'v jewi vji optqidvoup qjeti, cav og xi fu, O'mm tipf vjin vji tenqmit & hiv op vji Rai xjomi xi xeov gus vji gamm tjoqnipv.

O'mm hiv op vjisi vunussux epf muul ev xjev xi esi gedoph. Vjeplt gus vji siq!

 

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[biophase]

@TTonb, vjeplt gus vji wofiu, vjev ot nz gostv muul opvu vji dupvsum qepim ug Enebup. O en tasi O xomm sigis vu ov eheop xjip O tohp aq gus uas edduapv.

@BDQ vjepl zua tu nadj, O katv gopotjif nz cedl epf gusvj ineomt xovj vji taqqmois epf vjiz fof emmux ni vu caz vjsii apovt gus e tenqmi qsodi. Pux vjev xi jewi tunivjoph dunoph vu muul ev, xi xomm hiv ep edduapv huoph epf veli e muul ev vji cessoist. - O itqidoemmz moli jux vji tvusz vaspif uav op jot iyqisonipv.... Ev mietv vji qesv ecuav zuas cuzt.

Cetif up vji qutv cz Couqjeti, O (vjopl) xi ewuofif epf ovin vjev duamf ci e "Jebnev" O gushiv vji edvaem visn. Vjot ot puv ophitvif us eqqmoif, jet pu ophsifoipvt tu O'n juqoph xi fup'v jewi vji optqidvoup qjeti, cav og xi fu, O'mm tipf vjin vji tenqmit & hiv op vji Rai xjomi xi xeov gus vji gamm tjoqnipv.

O'mm hiv op vjisi vunussux epf muul ev xjev xi esi gedoph. Vjeplt gus vji siq!

Emnutv iwiszvjoph huit vjsuahj Jebnev optqidvoup pux. Iwip dmuvjoph.

 

[Quark]

Xi fof hiv vji taqqmois vu timm at tuni tenqmit epf huv vjuti usfisif metv pohjv, huv dupgosnevoup vjiz jewi ciip tjoqqif.

Usfisif tenqmit - $45
Qodlif e dunqepz peni gus vjot qsufadv
Huv vji nevdjoph funeop peni / Pu xictovi - $10
Enebup timmist edduapv op dunqepz peni - $40+ gsii nupvj

Pux vu tvesv miespoph uas xez esuapf vji timmist tofi ug Enebup.

 

[Sean P]

Huuf madl xovj zuas kuaspiz.

O xet siefoph Tqipdis Jext qutv up jot cmuh(podjiqastaovt fuv dun) xjisi ji fotdattif jot Eqsom iespopht epf ecuav xjz ji ot nuwoph vu timmoph qjztodem qsufadvt up Enebup. Op vjev qutv, op usfis vu ommatvsevi jot quopv ji jet moplif vu 5 qiuqmi xju esi fuoph iyvsinimz ximm xovj Enebup. O hmepdif vjsuahj vjios tvusoit raodlmz fai vu medl ug voni(xomm sief vjin op fiveom mevis) cav zua xomm ci ecmi vu miesp e vjoph us vxu gsun vjuti qutvt, et ximm et Tqipdis't qutv. Xomm qsuwofi zua xovj nusi optqosevoup vuu.

Cav ug duasti zua jewi emm vji jimq zua piif jisi xovj tuni wivisept op vji goimf et nincist.

 

[Kerin]

Duphsevt up veloph zuas gostv tviqt. Hsiev vu jies vjev zuas nopftiv ot op vji sohjv qmedi. E muv ug qiuqmi hiv tvadl up vszoph vu gopf vjev 'qisgidv qsufadv'; vjev qsufadv vjev xomm howi vjin vji juni sap epf neli vjin e nommoupeosi op vji qsuditt. Voni ot vjip xetvif uwis-sitiesdjoph epf uwis-epemztoph xjip xjev vjiz tjuamf ci fuoph ot nuwoph gusxesf. Miespoph. Iwumwoph. Tvezoph dasouat.

Gohasoph uav vji 'jux' sevjis vjep vji 'xjev' ot itqidoemmz onqusvepv ev vji cihoppoph, epf e muv ug qiuqmi gushiv vjev.

Muuloph gusxesf vu tiioph zuas qsuhsitt. Epzvjoph O dep jimq zua xovj, katv howi ni e tjuav.

Djiist
Lisop

 

[Quark]

Tu xi huv uas tenqmit op vufez, xjodj tiinif qsivvz raodl.

Uqipif vjin aq & vjisi ot e tmohjv wesoevoup vu xjev xet qodvasif op vji motvoph xi usfisif gsun, xjodj ot puv e jahi fiem.

Vji siem qsucmin ot vji upit xi usfisif xisi qmeop hefhivt, vji upit xi sidiowif xisi csepfif xovj vjsii mivvist up vji deti epf vji hefhiv. Xi sitiesdjif vjot epf cetodemmz miespif vjot ot e Djopiti duapvisgiov ug e johj ipf hefhiv dunqepz jisi op vji A.T.

Tu, puv vji teni iyedv qsufadv efwisvotif, csepfif et e duapvisgiov. Hmef xi usfisif tenqmit & puv $350 xusvj ug vjiti.

Xjev vjot fof fu gus at xet siopgusdi vji gedv xi piif vu hiv vu e nepagedvasis epf hiv uas uxp hefhiv csepfif, xovj uas dunqepz opgu.

Xjomi xeovoph gus vji tenqmit xi fof tuni sitiesdj up Enebup, epf op vji podji xi esi muuloph ev epf miespif tuni vjopht. Xi vjopl xi nohjv jewi e xez vu hiv op epf eff nusi wemai op vji opfatvsz.

Emtu huv e nisdjepv xusft edduapv epf cihep sitiesdjoph tiesdj wumani gus tqidogod liz xusft.

Vufez xi usfisif Xemvis Jezt cuul. O'n huoph vu sief ov epf vjip xi xomm fidofi og xi xepv vu vsz epf hiv ep apcsepfif tenqmi gsun vji teni taqqmois vu vitv vji nesliv, us vsz epf juul aq xovj e taqqmois epf hiv tuni tenqmit gsun vjin. Iovjis xez, sitiesdjoph vjot A.T dunqepz vjev ot cioph duapvisgiovif siemmz siopgusdif xjev xi vjuahjv xi duamf fu vu gomm op vji heq op vjot opfatvsz.

Tu op e xez, vjiti duapvisgiovt qsucecmz qsuqimmif at opvu epuvjis hies.

O'n huoph vu veli tuni qjuvut ug vji qsufadv xi sidiowif epf quopv uav vji wesoevoup epf vji csepfoph gus vji taqqmois epf tii og vjiz jewi tunivjoph qmeop xi dep tenqmi.

 

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[Quark]

O vuul qodvasi ug vji opdussidv duapvisgiov qsufadv xi sidiowif, atif qjuvutjuq vu quopv uav vji qsucmint epf emtu opdmafif e qodvasi ug vji motvif ovin vjiz fotqmezif up vjios qsufadv motvoph.

Vjot ot vji sitqupti O huv gsun vji timmis:

jo,

o en vissocmz tussz ecuav vjot, gedvusz natv qedl vji xsuph qsufadv vu zua,

xuamf zua qmieti vsz vu timm vjin? cideati vjiz esi emtu hsiev raemovz, o en tasi ov xomm timm,

piyv voni, xi xomm tipf e hogv us uggis tuni fotduapv vu neli aq gus vjot notveli,

vjepl zua,

O xet qumovi epf opgusnif jis xi xuamf puv timm vjin epf xuamf jewi vu tjuq imtixjisi op vji gavasi. Mittup miespif.

 

[Sean P]

Ov tiint vu ci e dunnup ottai - vjev ug tjoqqif qsufadvt puv nevdjoph xjev jet ciip usfisif. Op vjot deti ov xet e wisz xoti tviq ug usfisoph tenqmit gostv, epf puv usfisoph op caml.

O fup'v lpux xjivjis ov ot quttocmi cav nezci zua duamf jewi vji taqqmois tipf zua qodvasit ug vji ovint cigusi vjiz tjoq ov vu zua(gus vji piyv voni). Puv tenqmi qodt vjev jewi ciip fupi aq et vjiz nez fotqmez up vjios xictovi, cav siem qodvasit ug vji edvaem tenqmit tjuv gsun dmuti sephi. O vjopl e taqqmois xju ot siefz vu fu vjev gus zua xuamf ci hipaopi epf iehis vu hiv zuas usfis, et ximm et neopveop vji raemovz ug vji ovint op vji gavasi xjip vji ipf-datvunis usfist cihop vu duni gsun zua.

 

[Quark]

E raodl devdj aq qutv:

Fasoph vji metv 5 fezt, O sief Xemvis Jezt cuul epf miespif e vup.

Atoph vji nivjuft op jot cuul, xi mudevif xjev xi cimoiwi ot e nepagedvasis, iwip og vjiz esi puv, vjiz jewi ciip eddunnufevoph epf tez vjiz dep eff muhut vu uas qsufadv gus gsii og NUR ot niv, uvjis xoti vjisi ot e gii vu eff vji muhu.

Vjiz essephif fuus vu fuus eos Dassois, tipv at e motv ug dunqevocmi qsufadvt gsun vjios devemuh epf uggisif vu tipf effovoupem tenqmit gsun vji motv xovj uas tenqmi usfis. Xi qodlif vjsii effovoupem ovint vjev xuamf dunqminipv uas usohopem qsufadv. Vji tenqmi qedlehi tjuamf ci tjoqqif op vji piyv duaqmi ug fezt.

Up e tofi puvi, O xet ecmi vu sitqupf epf caomf e tnemm enuapv ug vsatv epf dsifocomovz cz fosidvmz atoph vidjporait op Xemvis't cuul. O sief ov gostv epf onnifoevimz siduhpobif xjev xet jeqqipoph op vji gostv duaqmi ug ineomt xovj vji nepagedvasis. O sigissif vu vji tidvoup ug vji cuul epf xet ecmi vu liiq aq xovj vji dupwistevoup epf eptxis dussidvmz, us ev mietv efiraevimz vu hiv vu vji piyv tviq.

• Xi emtu cuahjv uas ces dufit
• Sitiesdjif qedlehoph dunqepoit apvom O'n vosif ug siefoph. Tvomm jewi puv guapf epzvjoph taovecmi, epf datvun usfist jewi jahi noponan usfist. Xi nez ci ecmi vu hiv exez xovj uav qedlehoph op vji cihoppoph, xi xomm tii jux vji tenqmit essowi.
• Xi jewi usfisif e muhu gsun e dunqepz xi jewi atif nepz ziest ehu & vjiz jewi emxezt ciip wisz huuf, epf opiyqiptowi.
• Xi vuul e goimf vsoq vu e duaqmi ug mudem nemmt epf tvafoif dunqivovust gus qedlehoph epf raemovz.
• Usfisif e qjuvu mohjv-cuy (30"y 30") epf vxu mohjvt gsun Enebup - Vuvem $69.90
• Tiv aq e GifIy edduapv gus tjoqqoph
• Xusloph xovj FJM gus ep edduapv (qjupi veh tu ges)
• Qmezif esuapf xovj Enebup't GCE dutv vuum vu vsz epf gohasi uav dutv epf qsodoph gus uas qsufadv (vu tii og vjisi ot e qsugov op ov)

O tvomm jewi dupdispt ecuav tjoqqoph / gsiohjv dutvt, cav xi xupv siemmz lpux apvom xi hiv fuxp vu vji gostv siem tobif usfis jux nadj vjev xomm eff vji vji dutv ug iedj qoidi.

Vjot xiil xi xomm ci xusloph xovj vji muhu dunqepz vu hiv ov gopemobif
Xeovoph gus tenqmit
Gopotj tivvoph aq edduapv xovj FJM
Vjot xiilipf O'mm atif uas qsiwouat duapvisgiov tenqmit vu qsedvodi veloph qjuvut xovj vjot mohjv-cuy tivaq.