Ask me anything about eCommerce (Ongoing)

[The Alchemist]

Hey Bio,

Whats the down low on the keywords here:
View attachment 16588
Is it one keyword per line? Any tips?

Thanks

Here are a few tips on backend keywords:

https://www.sellerlabs.com/blog/amazons-250-character-indexing-maximum-means-merchants

Optimize Your Amazon FBA Seller Central Backend - AMZ Tracker

 

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[Mr_Maravish]

Hey guys,

So I need some help, I launched my website about a week and a half ago and got one sale so far, but I need to figure a way to get my shipping costs down in order to be profitable.

My landed costs are $7.51 and I have the product priced at 19.99, thing is when I shipped the goods they charged me $13 for shipping to Miami from NYC. The dimensions of the package were around 11 x 5 x 5 with 1.3 pounds.

After doing some research I found something that might work, if I can fit the product into a smaller box, I might be able to place it inside a padded envelope allowing the product to be secure.

For the sake of this, lets just say its a small bottle of shampoo.

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[VisionNN]

Hey @biophase ,

What can you recommend for getting reviews on Amazon in 2017? I know incentivized reviews are long gone unless you're registered brand with a trademark. What are small guys like me to do?

Two options i have in mind are

• Use Facebook groups that are niche specific and give a coupon code? Hopefully someone leaves a review?
• Use a service such a Rank Booster which gives you the ability to give a large group of people coupon codes?

I'm finding that my sales are fairly low right now. I launched my product 3 days ago. 2 sales in the first, 7 the next (anomaly) and 3 today. I currently have an automatic campaign set for 2 weeks so i can gather some keywords but i was wondering if my lack of reviews is hindering my ability to sell more.

 

[biophase]

Hey @biophase ,

What can you recommend for getting reviews on Amazon in 2017? I know incentivized reviews are long gone unless you're registered brand with a trademark. What are small guys like me to do?

Two options i have in mind are

• Use Facebook groups that are niche specific and give a coupon code? Hopefully someone leaves a review?
• Use a service such a Rank Booster which gives you the ability to give a large group of people coupon codes?

I'm finding that my sales are fairly low right now. I launched my product 3 days ago. 2 sales in the first, 7 the next (anomaly) and 3 today. I currently have an automatic campaign set for 2 weeks so i can gather some keywords but i was wondering if my lack of reviews is hindering my ability to sell more.

I don't know what you mean by incentivized reviews are long gone unless you're registered brand with a trademark. Are you saying that a registered brand can give incentive reviews and others cannot? If so, I haven't heard about this.

I would get some friends and family to get the ball rolling. Then I would just drop my price and get sales up and then send your customers a review/feedback email. This is the best way to get real reviews.

 

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[biophase]

Hey guys,

So I need some help, I launched my website about a week and a half ago and got one sale so far, but I need to figure a way to get my shipping costs down in order to be profitable.

My landed costs are $7.51 and I have the product priced at 19.99, thing is when I shipped the goods they charged me $13 for shipping to Miami from NYC. The dimensions of the package were around 11 x 5 x 5 with 1.3 pounds.

After doing some research I found something that might work, if I can fit the product into a smaller box, I might be able to place it inside a padded envelope allowing the product to be secure.

For the sake of this, lets just say its a small bottle of shampoo.

Thank you in advance for your help.

I'd ship USPS Priority mail. Should be under or close to $10 if it's not going too far away.

 

[VisionNN]

I don't know what you mean by incentivized reviews are long gone unless you're registered brand with a trademark. Are you saying that a registered brand can give incentive reviews and others cannot? If so, I haven't heard about this.

I would get some friends and family to get the ball rolling. Then I would just drop my price and get sales up and then send your customers a review/feedback email. This is the best way to get real reviews.

Legally, yes. Im referring to the post Amazon made in October of 2016 here where they ban giving a discount to a customer in return for a review and that the only incentivized reviews legally allowed are from brand registered owners through an Early Reviewers program here. People with a trademarked brand and who are registered as a brand on Amazon can pay to get reviews for their product if it is under 5 reviews.

Friends and family is out of the equation for me sadly, im in Canada selling on the US market. I was definitely thinking of sending a feedback email but i read a thread where a large portion of customers said they would rate you negatively if you send them that. What has your experience been like with asking for feedback?

 

[biophase]

Legally, yes. Im referring to the post Amazon made in October of 2016 here where they ban giving a discount to a customer in return for a review and that the only incentivized reviews legally allowed are from brand registered owners through an Early Reviewers program here. People with a trademarked brand and who are registered as a brand on Amazon can pay to get reviews for their product if it is under 5 reviews.

Friends and family is out of the equation for me sadly, im in Canada selling on the US market. I was definitely thinking of sending a feedback email but i read a thread where a large portion of customers said they would rate you negatively if you send them that. What has your experience been like with asking for feedback?

I send out feedback emails on every order. In fact, I send out 2 emails, a welcome email and an ask for a review email.

 

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[Denim Chicken]

Legally, yes. Im referring to the post Amazon made in October of 2016 here where they ban giving a discount to a customer in return for a review and that the only incentivized reviews legally allowed are from brand registered owners through an Early Reviewers program here. People with a trademarked brand and who are registered as a brand on Amazon can pay to get reviews for their product if it is under 5 reviews.

Friends and family is out of the equation for me sadly, im in Canada selling on the US market. I was definitely thinking of sending a feedback email but i read a thread where a large portion of customers said they would rate you negatively if you send them that. What has your experience been like with asking for feedback?

There are people who use review groups and purchases, especially if you are in a competitive niche like supplement you really cannot compete with it.

If you choose a low competition niche, its not as important.

I've been selling for 2.5 months now or so and I have 8 reviews organically.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Hey guys,

So I need some help, I launched my website about a week and a half ago and got one sale so far, but I need to figure a way to get my shipping costs down in order to be profitable.

My landed costs are $7.51 and I have the product priced at 19.99, thing is when I shipped the goods they charged me $13 for shipping to Miami from NYC. The dimensions of the package were around 11 x 5 x 5 with 1.3 pounds.

After doing some research I found something that might work, if I can fit the product into a smaller box, I might be able to place it inside a padded envelope allowing the product to be secure.

For the sake of this, lets just say its a small bottle of shampoo.

Thank you in advance for your help.

You're being charged $13 to ship the product out to someone or do you mean from port to your house?

My numbers are pretty close, it's about $7.4 landed. I price it between $21.50-24.50 seems to really make no difference in sales velocity on amazon.

Dimensions are longer though so it's oversized, weighs about 1/2 pound.

If you're shipping to customers, try USPS. I bought poly mailers, they have bubble versions also.

Poly Bubble Mailers, Poly Bubble in Stock - ULINE

Shipping my really long package it costs about $3.9 anywhere in the U.S.

 

[VisionNN]

I send out feedback emails on every order. In fact, I send out 2 emails, a welcome email and an ask for a review email.

Is there a software that you use to do this? I just read that Amazon automatically sends a feedback reminder after 3 weeks?

There are people who use review groups and purchases, especially if you are in a competitive niche like supplement you really cannot compete with it.

If you choose a low competition niche, its not as important.

I've been selling for 2.5 months now or so and I have 8 reviews organically.

That's pretty nice. Do you send any welcome or feedback emails or you just let Amazon do its thing?

 

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[Denim Chicken]

Is there a software that you use to do this? I just read that Amazon automatically sends a feedback reminder after 3 weeks?



That's pretty nice. Do you send any welcome or feedback emails or you just let Amazon do its thing?

I use feedbackz to send feedback emails to ask for reviews

 

[Mr_Maravish]

You're being charged $13 to ship the product out to someone or do you mean from port to your house?

My numbers are pretty close, it's about $7.4 landed. I price it between $21.50-24.50 seems to really make no difference in sales velocity on amazon.

Dimensions are longer though so it's oversized, weighs about 1/2 pound.

If you're shipping to customers, try USPS. I bought poly mailers, they have bubble versions also.

Poly Bubble Mailers, Poly Bubble in Stock - ULINE

Shipping my really long package it costs about $3.9 anywhere in the U.S.

Yes shipping to customers. I was charged around $11.5 to ship my first order to Miami plus around 1.50 for the box. I want to reduce the shipping costs so I offer client free shipping. I'm in the process of setting up FBA for my amazon listing, but it takes a few business days to get approved. Do you have an idea I might pay to get it fulfilled buy amazon?

 

[Olimac21]

Alot has changed since my Ask me about Ecommerce AMA from 2012, so I thought I'd do an updated AMA as some of the answers in the previous thread are now outdated. The online marketplace has shifted greatly in the past couple years. Some examples of what has changed:

• Google Shopping is now at the top of your search results, so ranking #1 for a specific term is not as valuable as before. I don't do anymore SEO.
  
• Big box stores like Amazon, Walmart and Target now dominate the results whereas before smaller niche stores did.
• Amazon is now the place to be in Ecommerce.
• A huge shift has happened from dropshipping to importing and branding.

So go ahead and ask away!

Which book would you recommend as an introduction to the world of Ecommerce?

 

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[Mr_Maravish]

Which book would you recommend as an introduction to the world of Ecommerce?

There are many threads like this one on the forum that has a ton of valuable information. Start there

 

[Denim Chicken]

Yes shipping to customers. I was charged around $11.5 to ship my first order to Miami plus around 1.50 for the box. I want to reduce the shipping costs so I offer client free shipping. I'm in the process of setting up FBA for my amazon listing, but it takes a few business days to get approved. Do you have an idea I might pay to get it fulfilled buy amazon?

You can use this its accurate. Fulfillment by Amazon Revenue Calculator

If your product isnt listed yet then use a competitors with the same dimensions.

My product is too long for a box and wouldn't really benefit from a box so I went with a poly bag and impulse sealer with a nicely designed insert for Amazon. Poly bags cost $.20 or less per unit. Amazon takes a pretty big cut I think $11 or so per unit sold but it's also including the FBA fees and commissions, etc.

For self fulfillment if your product is durable or doesn't require a box, wrap it in bubble wrap and/or use a bubble poly mailer I linked. It will almost always be cheaper than shipping a box.

 

[Striver]

If you're shipping to customers, try USPS. I bought poly mailers, they have bubble versions also.

Poly Bubble Mailers, Poly Bubble in Stock - ULINE

PRO TIP: From someone who used to ship 100-200 packages a day in bubble mailers... if you look around, you can easily get these for 1/2 or 1/3 the price that uline charges.

But if you don't ship much, I guess it doesn't make that big of a difference.

 

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[Alexo]

What is the process and cost like to ship from Asia to Amazon Fulfillment Center? Any tips?

ty, much appreciated

 

[DrkSide]

I was charged around $11.5 to ship my first order to Miami plus around 1.50 for the box.

Take a look at USPS flat rate packaging. I can ship a flat rate padded envelope for ~$6.50 anywhere in the US. Regional rate boxes can be anywhere from ~$6.50 to $9+. Since your products are over 1lb it makes cheap shipping a little tougher as under 16oz and it can go first class which can save $2-4 depending on weight. Plus with flat rate boxes you can get them free from the post office to eliminate that expense.

Earlier this year I redesigned a package for one of my products. Went from a nicer magnetic box to a basic printed cardboard box which saved me 3oz and put it just under 16oz. The $2.50 I save per package adds up over 100s of shipments and I have yet to have anyone say anything about the packaging.

 

[Mr_Maravish]

Take a look at USPS flat rate packaging. I can ship a flat rate padded envelope for ~$6.50 anywhere in the US. Regional rate boxes can be anywhere from ~$6.50 to $9+. Since your products are over 1lb it makes cheap shipping a little tougher as under 16oz and it can go first class which can save $2-4 depending on weight. Plus with flat rate boxes you can get them free from the post office to eliminate that expense.

Earlier this year I redesigned a package for one of my products. Went from a nicer magnetic box to a basic printed cardboard box which saved me 3oz and put it just under 16oz. The $2.50 I save per package adds up over 100s of shipments and I have yet to have anyone say anything about the packaging.

I shipped an order out today, and paid $9 dollars. $7.xx for the shipping and 1.xx for the padded envelope. I figured if I can't fit it into a 9x6x3 box, it fits in the flat rate envelope. I'm waiting for the padded flat rate envelopes from USPS which they provide for free, and then I just pay the flat rate which is 6.5, which frees up about $ 6-7 bucks!

 

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[MysticFenix]

Hey Bio, i have a question about prodcut improving/modification.
I found a supplier that does the product i'm looking for but i want the material of the procut to be different from the one that he sells. For example, exchaning plastic to alluminium or carbon fiber.
My question is: normally the factories do this type of materials changing or I have to find a especific factory that does alluminium prodcuts and ask if they can do the product?

 

[biophase]

Hey Bio, i have a question about prodcut improving/modification.
I found a supplier that does the product i'm looking for but i want the material of the procut to be different from the one that he sells. For example, exchaning plastic to alluminium or carbon fiber.
My question is: normally the factories do this type of materials changing or I have to find a especific factory that does alluminium prodcuts and ask if they can do the product?

I think that going from plastic to metal to carbon fiber is completely different. It's highly unlikely that a company that makes a plastic spoon would be able make it in metal. Just because the shape is the same doesn't mean anything. Materials are totally different.

These take different machines, labor, skill..

 

[hatzil]

hey @biophase
We create a private-label product.
The product is used for fans, and we need to a tool to research current products with need so we can just add the fans logo on it and resell.
Do you have any suggestions?

 

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[WebMedic]

Hi @biophase,

I am working on a service to help e-commerce businesses convert more visitors into customers without additional advertising.

I understand e-commerce businesses go through these stages:

1. Idea
2. Launch, no traffic
3. Launch, no sales
4. Launch, sales and want to grow

My questions:

1. Do you think being part of e-commerce communities can help in the different stages? if yes, which communities do you recommend?
2. In your experience, what are the top challenges e-commerce businesses face in the different stages?
3. It seems like majority of e-commerce sellers focus on selling on marketplaces such as Amazon - do you think it's a good or bad idea for them to aim to become independent by launching their own online store? why?
4. What do you wish someone would invent to improve your e-commerce journey?

If anyone else has answers to these questions or wants to discuss them feel free to reply

Thank you!

 

[Walter Hay]

Hey Bio, i have a question about prodcut improving/modification.
I found a supplier that does the product i'm looking for but i want the material of the procut to be different from the one that he sells. For example, exchaning plastic to alluminium or carbon fiber.
My question is: normally the factories do this type of materials changing or I have to find a especific factory that does alluminium prodcuts and ask if they can do the product?

@biophase is right about factories not usually being able to change materials, but it can be done in some cases. I have been involved as a supplier to a huge variety of manufacturing industries so I can possibly help.

If you are willing to give me the details via PM (completely confidential) I will be happy to assess the possibility of changing materials and I can probably point you in the right direction to find manufacturers that can do it for you.

Walter

 

[sparechange]

A short derailment here... alot of this talk is exactly why you CANNOT just blow your money once you start making it. Nothing is 100% safe and secure. You should treat your business as if you are an NBA player who can blow out a knee at anytime. We always look at athletes and say how stupid they are for not saving any money when we see that they are broke.

But, people making 6 figures also need to do the same thing. You don't want to be that high flying guy on Amazon for 3 years and then back at a job in year 4. Maybe I don't worry about this stuff that much because I've been saving my money.

extremely important advice boys and girls

 

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[MysticFenix]

@biophase is right about factories not usually being able to change materials, but it can be done in some cases. I have been involved as a supplier to a huge variety of manufacturing industries so I can possibly help.

If you are willing to give me the details via PM (completely confidential) I will be happy to assess the possibility of changing materials and I can probably point you in the right direction to find manufacturers that can do it for you.

Walter

Thank you so much Walter, pmed you!


Enviado do meu iPhone usando o Tapatalk

 

[Brethawy]

Forgive me if this is a simple question and I skipped over it somewhere already;
Where/what is the best way to find manufacturers for a product, especially one that is already made but you want to improve on?

Again sorry If I missed it, if I have then yell at me to do more reading so I know it's there and that I truly just missed it.
Thanks!

 

[Longinus]

Forgive me if this is a simple question and I skipped over it somewhere already;
Where/what is the best way to find manufacturers for a product, especially one that is already made but you want to improve on?

Again sorry If I missed it, if I have then yell at me to do more reading so I know it's there and that I truly just missed it.
Thanks!

You missed it.

 

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[secondhanddog]

Posted in another thread but thought I'd ask biophase too.

Any experience with Alibaba's Trade Assurance refunds? Had some samples made and one manufacturer didn't follow the details (shocking I know). Have negotiated a 40% refund on the sample cost ($100) by opening a dispute, before asking Alibaba to step in.

Do you bother with punishing manufacturers for not following spec for samples? Getting sick of places saying they'll fix the issues when you place a production order - not sure why I'd place a production order when you can't even get the sample right.

 

[IGP]

Posted in another thread but thought I'd ask biophase too.

Any experience with Alibaba's Trade Assurance refunds? Had some samples made and one manufacturer didn't follow the details (shocking I know). Have negotiated a 40% refund on the sample cost ($100) by opening a dispute, before asking Alibaba to step in.

Do you bother with punishing manufacturers for not following spec for samples? Getting sick of places saying they'll fix the issues when you place a production order - not sure why I'd place a production order when you can't even get the sample right.

For me it depends how much the fee was... If it's $40 and I have to haggle for weeks to get it, is it really worth it?

Typically, I just say: "I order $xx,xxx from China every month. If you want my business, you will redo the sample to my specs. If not, I will fond someone else."

Then, I move on.