The Basic Elements of Online Selling: Guest Post, Part 5

Selling on Amazon

Amazon only offers fixed price listings. Amazon limits the items you can sell based on what is currently available on the Amazon website, unless you opt for a pro merchant account. Depending on the type of account you purchase, you may sell anything that is listed on the Amazon site with certain categories requiring approval or pro merchant status.

To list an item, search for it in the Amazon store. Once found, click on the link on the right to sell a similar item. This will take you to the listing page, where you can list the condition, description, price, and quantity and preselected shipping methods. Currently only USPS and UPS are available. Unlike eBay, you do not determine the shipping price unless a pro merchant, so adjust your selling price accordingly to account for this difference. Amazon assumes since you are selling an item already in their store, they have account for the shipping cost price which is not always true.

Once it is listed, it will show up under Amazon’s purchase price, where there are categories of new, used or refurbished based on your listing. Amazon is particularly subject to dynamic pricing, so price accordingly as Amazon list items based on price that merchants list. As all items are already listed on Amazon’s website, you do not have the ability to post pictures so be as accurate as possible when describing your item

Once an item is sold, log again into your seller account. Generally you will see pending orders on the left hand side of your seller account. Click on the pending order. From there you can include packaging slip, buy shipping, or cancel an order. Again like eBay, you can conveniently purchase shipping, which automatically confirms shipment of an item. If you choose, you may just purchase shipping at the post office or UPS and then manually enter a tracking number code/confirm shipment of the product.

Just as with eBay your seller account includes a messaging system where prospective buyers can message you about an item.

Once an item has shipped, the funds will be transferred to your seller account which appears as a balance on the right hand corner. From there you may request to withdraw to your back account. Withdrawals may only be made every 24 hours.

Unlike with eBay, you do not leave seller feedback and only buyers may leave you feedback. Amazon is tipped in the favor of buyers, so be sure to be as honest as possible when listing and provide excellent customer service to avoid receiving negative feedback.