Is anyone trading on Amazon?

[outdoorman24]

I'm currently setting up an ecommerce site and I was recommended by a friend to set up an account with Amazon to sell products through as well.

Just after any views you have on trading through Amazon.

Thanks

[cycloneuk]

I did get approved to sell in the beauty category but have since changed my mind, 15% would eat to much into our profits since we sell discounted fragrances.

[MH1]

Although they sell some of my products I didn't find it so good, I think it's too early at the moment for my type of goods.

[edmondscommerce]

depending on what you are trying to sell, amazon can be VERY effective

if you need any help getting set up with let me know - its something i do a fair bit of work with

[consultant]

Amazon, ebay etc should be seen as alternte routes to market. They have a cost, which needs to be balanced against the customer base/exposure.

[Kwackers]

When i ran a Computing business a year or so, we were trading at around £2,000+ a week on Amazon from a handful of products.

Right products at the right prices, youll do well

[phil knight]

I think its important to way up the pro's and cons of using Amazon :

Lots of exposure, free website, easy systems and notification system

Relatively high charges, certain sectors over exposed (books etc hardly worth bothering with now as every man and his dog is listing)

Might be worth starting up part time but I'd switch to your own e-commerce capability as soon as you can.

[RJH Enterprises]

I would never sell on Amazon and eBay as a method of trading. What I would do however is utilise these as an advertising method.

Have your own ecommerce store set up and sell a selection of products via Amazon eBay etc. Ensure that it is obvious, but without breaching any T&Cs, that you have your own store. Image watermarks work well as does your email address in any contact details or listing!

The additional cost caused by using these sites should be seen as part of your advertising budget. In fact it will probable be the best spent money in your advertising budegt.

Cheers
Rob

[Kwackers]

Just remember that Amazon has set fees for Postage and packaging, where as ebay you set your own.

I was ending up making more profit on the postage than the products.

Example (very rough was a long time ago!)
Logitech Mouse £20
Postage £5
Mouse profit £2
Postage profit £3

As someone else mentioned, use it as a form of retaining customers, make it so their first purchase is on Amazon, their second is from your website.

You could use a simple flyer with your details and some offers to acheive this.

[ServersandSpares]

Hi,

We have never sold on Amazon, however we do use eBay as a shop window. As stated above, use it as an advertising tool, you'd be surprised what sort of companies use the site and we have pulled some major players from there. The key is to retain them as a customer after their initial purchase, and the fees you might think exorbitant in the first instance, are worth paying if it means you gain a new repeat customer who potentially might spend thousands with you.

Julie