Here's why you should never forget what the C stands for in NECST

[Paul David]

It's written right there in the book. Black and white. CENTS. For anyone who's got a business that isn't "control" of itself then be worried, very worried, and rectify immediately.

I've just had 60% of my monthly business turnover wiped out with one email. Yes just one. That one email with the heading that simply states: Your Amazon.co.uk selling privileges have been removed. Followed by a standard description of why they've been removed which doesn't make any sense to me. Something to do with listing policies. There is nothing wrong with my listings. Probably a competitor complaint.

Here's what happens next, i submit an appeal, a plan of action as to why this issue won't happen again. Well that's absolutely fantastic considering they haven't really told me what the issue is. Just a pointer to a list of guideline links. So i've spent all morning writing my appeal, i get one chance, one chance only to save 60% of my business from collapsing in one miserable morning. Oh and guess what, the nice guys over at Amazon are going to keep the $15,000 of my money they are currently receiving interest on for 90 days. Just to cover any customer refunds.

So i've submitted my appeal and now the wait begins. It feels like waiting to hear if you've got a terminal illness or not, well maybe not that bad but it could be terminal for my business if this goes the wrong way.
All you people jumping on the importing bandwagon, yes it can be very lucrative but if you're selling solely on Amazon alone you need to start finding other baskets to put your eggs in.

Me? well i'm selling across Amazon Europe, Ebay UK and Amazon USA but all them combined are only around 30% of my business and i've got a website which does about 10%.

At least i might lose some weight whilst i'm waiting for my verdict due to the lack of appetite i have at the moment.

 

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[Vigilante]

If Amazon decided tomorrow to change their business model, it could be armageddon for marketplace sellers.

And they could.

It happened once in their history already due to a non-favorable tax situation with Minnesota.

Overnight, they terminated their affiliate relationships with everyone in Minnesota.

You're one executive decision away from zero Amazon sales.

Diversify.

 

[theag]

Another thing. I actually had an Adwords client until a few months ago, who was in exactly the same situation. He sold LED lightbulbs, had his own brand imported from china and warehouse full of stuff. Good pricing, good product quality, etc, He sold 6 figures monthly on amazon, but we couldnt make it work on Adwords, despite trying everything. He even had good organic rankings on top of that. But like others here mentioned, people werent even clicking the ads/organic listings, because they either went straight to amazon and searched there, or they clicked the amazon results on google. So from my experience, and yours too apparently, you cant really place your hopes for sales channel diversification on ppc/seo.

 

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[Paul David]

Well after 8 days of pain, i'm extremely pleased to say that my Amazon account has been reinstated. I've still got no idea what i did wrong but i'm back (for now at least). It will serve as a severe warning to not rely on Amazon, spread your eggs out everybody. It could happen to you.

Hello,

Based on the information provided, your Amazon selling privileges have been reinstated and the hold on the funds in your account has been removed.

This decision is subject to your Plan of Action to comply with our condition guidelines and detail page rules.

For information about our policies, visit the "Policies and Agreements" section of Seller Central Help. Future violations of our policies or a failure to adhere to your Plan of Action may result in the permanent removal of your selling privileges.

Welcome back to selling on Amazon; we wish you the best of luck.

Regards,

Seller Performance Team Amazon Services

 

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[Paul David]

You already know the hard parts, which are how to market, and how to source. You have the systems in place. You are light years ahead of most people.

Now, you plug in a winning product or two (doesn't have to be thousands of skus) and BOOM.

Spot on. I'm part of Amazing Selling Machine and there are people on there making a lot of money from Amazon (mainly USA) which i'm happily not suspended from. These people had never sold anything before online before they started also. I've imported and sold millions of pounds worth albeit from one product niche but i simply haven't taken action from what i've learned on the course and from reading this forum.

People say things happen for a reason. Maybe this is one of them. I'll let you all know how i get on with Amazon UK but in the meantime i'm off to source some new products.......

 

[Vigilante]

Here's a MUST READ story that came across my news feed :

http://www.webretailer.com/lean-commerce/amazon-suspension/

 

[Weaponize]

I've just had 60% of my monthly business turnover wiped out with one email. Yes just one.

I'm so sorry to hear that. Though, a very mature thought process tying it back into CENTS. That is what's going to make you succeed in the long term while others give up! Keep pushing!

I've taken some notes from TMF , on things that resonate with me and keep them on my desk for quick reference. As I stumble through my own failures/successes with all of this I keep reviewing them, daily. Trying to get into the habit of keeping these things front-of-mind. Here the CENTS notes I keep on my desk:

Keep grinding!

 

[theag]

I remember your other thread a few days ago. Maybe you should take this as a sign to let that business fade out. Get your account up and running, then outsource as much as possible and focus your energy and the profits from this business on building a new business that isnt a commodity, because even if you have your own brand, power supplies surely are a commodity that dont allow for much creative marketing.

 

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[amp0193]

The customer/consumer always has the upper hand when it comes to ebay and amazon. Treat the customers like gold, and you will still disappoint some.

My customer service is insanely ridiculous on Amazon for this reason. I will do almost anything to prevent a negative review or feedback. Instant refunds or replacements, no questions asked. My one product I even go a step further and have as part of my guarantee an offer to buy them a competitor's product after refunding them. When they have you by the balls, you gotta tread lightly.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Thanks David for sharing your story as it relates CONTROL. I feel bad for you as dealing with Amazon on the seller side is a nightmare I'd wish on no one.

I hope you get a favorable outcome, please let us know how it turns.

 

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[Vigilante]

You already know the hard parts, which are how to market, and how to source. You have the systems in place. You are light years ahead of most people.

Now, you plug in a winning product or two (doesn't have to be thousands of skus) and BOOM.

 

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[Paul David]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I sincerely appreciate your time to provide me with your opinions and advice.

I have received a further email from Amazon stating that they had received customer complaints regarding compatibility issues with products. However the customer complaint regarding a product 2 days ago is for an item that is one our best sellers and i know the product is compatible with the model in the title. Low and behold another seller is now listed against that product. I've sold 47 of the same product on Ebay without issues. Something fishy going on with that.

All it takes is a couple of "customers" to complain and that automatically triggers something with Amazon who immediately take the customers side before the sellers. Nothing new there. It's relatively easy to wipe out a competitor on Amazon. One of my competitors in the USA vanished from Amazon the other day. Their 30 day feedback was around 2500 a month so they were doing some serious volume. Haven't been able to find out whether they've been suspended but they are still selling on the Amazon.ca site.

Amazon have requested further information on the steps i will be take in order to prevent these type of issues occurring again and i have now sent that over. Back to waiting again. I've got $25,000 a month in sales currently riding on this.
Either way i will now be looking into other avenues as i or anyone else simply cannot work on a business for years and it can all be gone with a touch of a button.

 

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[Papillon]

Here's a MUST READ story that came across my news feed :

http://www.webretailer.com/lean-commerce/amazon-suspension/

Hey Vigilante, thanks for that link, which lead on to this equally amazing story...

http://www.webretailer.com/lean-commerce/fba-private-label-will-tjernlund/

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Hey Vigilante, thanks for that link, which lead on to this equally amazing story...

http://www.webretailer.com/lean-commerce/fba-private-label-will-tjernlund/

That's a great success story. However, I don't think I could sleep at night knowing Amazon held all the cards. Doesn't make it any less inspiring though.

Found this in the comment.... those darned GURUS!!

Thoroughly enjoyed your insight. I wish I had come across this article long before I got swindled out of $1000 to attend “Amzon Riches” seminar. The money was for a so-called 3day course on how to get started with selling on Amazon. What it turned out to be was a 3day long commercial sales pitch that, at the end, set the attendees up to cattled into purchasing a so-called “Amazon Boot Camp” course which costs $15,000! Since then, I have just been trying to find someone honest to help me get started selling my custom made items via FBA/Private label. I am now 3mnths paid Amazon seller with not even 1 itme listed because I dont know what the next step is. Im hoping that you will have some workshops or lectures for newbies like me. Any help that is honest is greatly appreciated.

Read more: http://www.webretailer.com/lean-commerce/fba-private-label-will-tjernlund/#ixzz3e5juStjx

 

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[ClaytonAlbright]

Another poster listed his ordeal and it took them about a week to re-instate it but he had to provide a lot of information and CC'd that earlier email I listed (managingdirector@amazon.co.uk). Here's the link, hope it helps. Good luck.

https://sellercentral-europe.amazon...a?threadID=97499&start=0&tstart=0&sortBy=date

 

[Vigilante]

The best diversification for United States sellers is if you can take the @Likwid24 path and get into traditional retail distribution. Hard to do on a commoditized product, though.

 

[Virus]

reinstated is one thing, being business safe in another...

 

[ClaytonAlbright]

Sounds like there's a need for a marketplace that gets lots of traffic that businesses can use with one minor change ; your store isn't removed until a more thorough review.

 

[ND88]

Paul - Totally agree.

I sell £20-30k P/M on Amazon - Split between UK,EU,USA,CA & now JP. - I've had a problem before with one of my products which resulted in an email, removal of the specified listing and ten's of thousand of pounds worth of stock sitting in my warehouse with my largest sales channel (responsible for 80% of my sales) down.

Although, as always, you can find positive in these moments. I removed the product in question and eliminated it from my business - This has now paid dividends in relation to where I put the capital allocated to this product to use.

I guess the only blessing in a situation like the one you mention is the separate accounts for these different Amazon sites. USA, UK - different accounts etc.

The key is diversify, diversify, diversify... Even though it's tempting to cruise along when the easy money is coming in on Amazon. Thank you for the stark reminder.

I sincerely wish you good luck, I'm sure you'll be reinstated

Simon

 

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[Vigilante]

Spot on. I'm part of Amazing Selling Machine and there are people on there making a lot of money from Amazon (mainly USA) which i'm happily not suspended from. These people had never sold anything before online before they started also. I've imported and sold millions of pounds worth albeit from one product niche but i simply haven't taken action from what i've learned on the course and from reading this forum.

People say things happen for a reason. Maybe this is one of them. I'll let you all know how i get on with Amazon UK but in the meantime i'm off to source some new products.......

I wish I could bottle your response and have newbies drink from it. This is how you win. I look forward to meeting you on a beach a few years from now. Go get 'em.

 

[jazb]

Its a shame how the biggest lessons are learnt the hard way, not only in business, but life in general.

Amazon by fullfillment and eBay are a great way to start the importing game. but fastlaners should always be looking to spread out to there own ecommerce sites and offline sources.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Here's a MUST READ story that came across my news feed :

http://www.webretailer.com/lean-commerce/amazon-suspension/

Written by our very own @James A peppered with a lot of FL language.

 

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[James Fake]

thanks guys.. the FL blood runs strong in me!

 

[AG356]

Best of luck for your future, hopefully everything will work out fine!

 

[Andy Black]

Good luck man. Try and see the silver lining and come out stronger.

 

[ClaytonAlbright]

Power related products like chargers and power supplies for laptops, tablets and electronic devices (routers, keyboards,) Basically anything that takes a power supply.

How would I find your website? You've done adwords but have you invested heavily in SEO? If you don't come up on the first page of google, no one knows were you are.

Why would I buy it from your website and not off Amazon? Amazon I can see competitors pricing and get free 2-day shipping if I have Prime (which I do) for many vendors. I rarely purchase items like this anywhere other than Amazon. I can only think of a few examples that I have a website Favorited that I get cables from instead of Amazon and that's because they're dirt cheap and high quality products and I've zero problems with their customer server (monoprice & newegg).

In the rare event someone stumbles onto your website and makes a purchase, what do you have to keep them coming back? What makes them want to add it to their favorites? Why would they go back there instead of Amazon or some other place that sells power supplies? What's your USP?

You can try some type of rewards/exchange program and email list. If I earned credit towards another purchase that sometimes gets me to come back, which is what I do for my motorcycle parts websites.

 

[DaRK9]

A few years ago I helped a friend with eBay sales. We made thank you cards with a link to his webstore and a discount code for 20% off any order. Worked out pretty good. He sold removable drives.

 

[amp0193]

Paul,

My Amazon business is beginning to reach significant profits. In the back of my mind I always fear this happening. I do have another business that I am running which is 100% in my control. I go after Amazon with the attitude of making as much money as fast as possible for as long as I can. Eventually, my other business will grow to the point of not needing the online sales. I am only now considering leaving my slowlane job now that I have two streams of income.


Good luck. Please let us know if you get this resolved, so we can learn how to handle this in the future.

 

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[Vigilante]

Not that this is happening in your case, but I don't think that Amazon would be beyond knocking out a product line that maybe competes directly with an Amazon product line, or even a strong vendor partnership with Amazon.

Meanwhile, I am sure you can get reinstated once you can isolate the issue.

 

[Weaponize]

The need is certainly there. I sell around £500,000 worth of power supplies and Laptop chargers each year. At that's with a lot of competition.
It's unfortunately not a product to get excited about and very difficult to market away from Ebay or Amazon.

You misunderstood. I have ZERO need to buy this from YOU. As per:

As you explained above there is no reason why you would purchase from my site instead of Amazon.

My only suggestion was to think about a different product, or even a better USP with the same product (maybe a bundle?), that has a need for me to buy it from YOU. Again...

If the need is big enough, I'll forego the warm and fuzzy I get with ordering from Amazon and get it from your independent site instead.

I posted my notes from CENTS, here's some from the "Need" section that resonate:

Solve needs massively and money attracts.

Offer the world value [needs] and money becomes magnetized to you.

Businesses that provide value [needs] win.

Again... What value do YOU provide that nobody else does? Why do I need to buy this product from YOU?