The pandemic has not been easy for all of us. However, you cannot deny that it has also brought about opportunities. In a previous blog post, you read about How to Build Your eCommerce Business on Amazon. In this article, you will now read about what it takes to be an Amazon seller. Selling on Amazon is not all about profits, there are also challenges that you need to overcome.
Whether you are exclusively selling on Amazon or plan to build your own website, you should be aware of the pros and cons. Be prepared to address the issues that you may face and always have a back-up plan.
What Does it Take To Be an Amazon Seller
Not all online sellers should sign up for an Amazon account to sell their goods. There are a few factors to consider so that the money from your sales does not just go to fees. Before you start selling more products on Amazon, see if you meet these requirements:
- You have competitive prices so your products do not get lost among the other products.
- You can diligently comply with the rules, especially in responding to customer messages 24/7.
- As much as possible, sell unique items. Less competition is better.
- Your products do not compete with Amazon products, such as Amazon essentials.
If you meet all of the above, then you’re all set to start or sell more in the Amazon marketplace.
Pros and Cons of Selling on Amazon
Now that you have what it takes to be an Amazon seller, it’s time to balance out the negatives and positives. This will help you decide if you should just build your own website or sign up for an Amazon seller central account.
Here’s a table to list down the pros vs the cons to help you decide better:
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to get started because the interface is already available. | Your listings are prone to hijacking and sellers can steal your listings. |
| Good for unique products and for sellers with adequate margins. | Commissions are too high due to a lot of fees. |
| Low marketing costs because sellers have access to Amazon’s marketing tools. | Too much competition locally and international. |
| Amazon support for brand registered sellers. | Amazon’s algorithm keeps on changing. |
| One-stop shopping available to all consumers. | Too many Amazon restrictions. One of the main restrictions is the challenge of reaching out to customers who gave negative feedback or reviews. |
| More sales due to more traffic and visibility across the Amazon marketplace. | |
| Opportunity for global expansion without too much stress on setting up logistics. |
Based on the above table, you can see that the pros outweigh the cons. Probably the best benefit of being an Amazon seller is that you don’t need to build your marketplace from scratch. Since Amazon is the biggest eCommerce platform in the world, consumers already trust Amazon. Thus, they have the notion that if your brand is on Amazon, you can also be trusted.
Conclusion
So, are you ready to jump into Amazon’s bandwagon? Selling on Amazon is not as difficult as you think. You just have to be diligent in monitoring your account and avoid suspension. If you follow Amazon’s rules, you’ll reap the profits in no time.
Need help with your Amazon listings or selling your inventory? Connect with us and we’ll help you become an Amazon seller.
“There are two ways to extend a business. Take inventory of what you’re good at and extend out from your skills. Or determine what your customers need and work backward, even if it requires learning new skills. Kindle is an example of working backward.”
— Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon
2 Responses
I used to think that managing my own shop was cheaper and easier. I was wrong! Too many maintenance and logistic to worry about. Good thing I just decided to sell on Amazon!
Selling on Amazon has helped my small business a lot, especially during the pandemic. I have now decided to just sell on Amazon instead of in a physical store. Although I still have stocks stored in my garage so if people nearby want to buy, we can just send it out to them.