Tesco Marketplace...

[SebMartley]

Just wanted to see how other sellers were getting on with Tesco Marketplace? Was quite a lot of work getting skus listed and aren't seeing anywhere near the sales we see across other marketplaces, perhaps we are missing a trick? Hoping to hear from people who currently sell on Tesco Marketplace and there direct experience. Thank you!

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Who knows Tesco has a market place?

I buy my groceries and don't look for anything else.

When googling for non food/consumables, Tesco never shows as a supplier!

It could be a platform as powerful as Amazon, however, it doesn't appear on my buying radar.

 

[Newchodge]

Just wanted to see how other sellers were getting on with Tesco Marketplace? Was quite a lot of work getting skus listed and aren't seeing anywhere near the sales we see across other marketplaces, perhaps we are missing a trick? Hoping to hear from people who currently sell on Tesco Marketplace and there direct experience. Thank you!

I am a Tesco online customer. I always select the Tesco only option, ignoring all marketplace listings. I use the site to buy my groceries, not for anything else.

 

[DontAsk]

Same silly game B&Q started some time ago.

 

[AlanJ1]

Same silly game B&Q started some time ago.

Unsure "silly" is the right word.

There's tonnes of them out there you probably just didn't know.

Next has a marketplace, so does ASOS as two which not that many actually know about.

I was on one a while back before I moved companies and we were doing seriously good revenue.

Not saying Tesco is the right one (side note, Tesco used to have a marketplace about 10 years ago, it was run by "cleverbox" before the marketplace got shut down.

 

[AmazonGeek]

I suspect this is part of the Mirakyl system - where websites can be turned into marketplace-style sites with 3rd party sellers.

It has worked well for B&Q - I know loads of Amazon sellers that also do reasonably well on B&Q's site - but they are all selling DIY products. As a customer, you would have to be looking on the site for that kind of product and then see the non-B&Q DIY stuff as a consequence. You wouldn't think "I need a set of steak knives - let's look on DIY.com"

And the same for other sites - if you sell food, groceries or the other items you expect to find in Tesco, then listing on tesco.com as a third-party seller could be ok. But it isn't Amazon.

 

[SebMartley]

I suspect this is part of the Mirakyl system - where websites can be turned into marketplace-style sites with 3rd party sellers.

It has worked well for B&Q - I know loads of Amazon sellers that also do reasonably well on B&Q's site - but they are all selling DIY products. As a customer, you would have to be looking on the site for that kind of product and then see the non-B&Q DIY stuff as a consequence. You wouldn't think "I need a set of steak knives - let's look on DIY.com"

And the same for other sites - if you sell food, groceries or the other items you expect to find in Tesco, then listing on tesco.com as a third-party seller could be ok. But it isn't Amazon.

Thank you! I'd never thought about it like this and it makes total sense.

 

[thetiger2015]

It has worked well for B&Q - I know loads of Amazon sellers that also do reasonably well on B&Q's site - but they are all selling DIY products. As a customer, you would have to be looking on the site for that kind of product and then see the non-B&Q DIY stuff as a consequence. You wouldn't think "I need a set of steak knives - let's look on DIY.com"

Not sure I agree, from a customer perspective.

If I want to get a pack of screws, I used to check the B&Q app, find the aisle they're in and check the stock before setting off, as it's a 30 minute round trip. Now, they've added all the marketplace sellers to the app, so half the stock I'm looking for says 'Online Only' or 'Not available for delivery in your postcode'.

Also, I don't see why they've gone away from the DIY thing and started trying to sell cushions and bed sheets. Dunelm, Next, B&M do all that stuff. If I'm on DIY.com, I want DIY stuff, not a curtain.

 

[DontAsk]

Also, I don't see why they've gone away from the DIY thing and started trying to sell cushions and bed sheets. Dunelm, Next, B&M do all that stuff. If I'm on DIY.com, I want DIY stuff, not a curtain.

Probably because Homebase have gone. Ever since they introduced Laura Ashley concessions, years ago, they have been very much "lifestyle", and tat more recently, rather than DIY.

B&Q must have sensed an opportunity to pick up some extra footfall that may convert into sales.

 

[UKSBD]

Not sure I agree, from a customer perspective.

If I want to get a pack of screws, I used to check the B&Q app, find the aisle they're in and check the stock before setting off, as it's a 30 minute round trip. Now, they've added all the marketplace sellers to the app, so half the stock I'm looking for says 'Online Only' or 'Not available for delivery in your postcode'.

Also, I don't see why they've gone away from the DIY thing and started trying to sell cushions and bed sheets. Dunelm, Next, B&M do all that stuff. If I'm on DIY.com, I want DIY stuff, not a curtain.

Don't know if their Ap is the same as their website, but on the website you can set it to "Sold by B&Q" which then shows the instore, click and collect, available for home delivery, products.

 

[Graeme Roebuck]

I suspect this is part of the Mirakyl system - where websites can be turned into marketplace-style sites with 3rd party sellers.

It has worked well for B&Q - I know loads of Amazon sellers that also do reasonably well on B&Q's site - but they are all selling DIY products. As a customer, you would have to be looking on the site for that kind of product and then see the non-B&Q DIY stuff as a consequence. You wouldn't think "I need a set of steak knives - let's look on DIY.com"

And the same for other sites - if you sell food, groceries or the other items you expect to find in Tesco, then listing on tesco.com as a third-party seller could be ok. But it isn't Amazon.

People who buy from B&Q aren't typing in DIY.com, they are typing what they want and finding the product through google shopping. amazon is different, people tend to go to amazon to then search for what they're looking for. A sign on a good marketplace is how often their listings appear on google shopping - you tend to see BnQ before seeing Tesco , Range or Next for example. BnQ are expensive but they obviously spend a lot more of your fees on marketing than the others do.

 

[DontAsk]

People who buy from B&Q aren't typing in DIY.com, they are typing what they want and finding the product through google shopping.

Yes they are, at least some of them.

 

[AmazonGeek]

People who buy from B&Q aren't typing in DIY.com, they are typing what they want and finding the product through google shopping. amazon is different, people tend to go to amazon to then search for what they're looking for. A sign on a good marketplace is how often their listings appear on google shopping - you tend to see BnQ before seeing Tesco , Range or Next for example. BnQ are expensive but they obviously spend a lot more of your fees on marketing than the others do.

I agree to an extent but the outcome is the same. Companies like B&Q have realised that they can earn a commission selling other people's inventory without B&Q having to purchase anything. If they have any sense they won't try to be a jack of all trades and they will limit what they offer to the kind of stuff you go into B&Q for. Mirakl is the platform that allows them and others to do this.

Amazon is going the same way. They have terminated thousands of Vendor accounts (where Amazon buys and owns the inventory) in the last 12 months and are only keeping the really big ones. After all, it is far easier to earn a commission on someone else's products than to go out and buy your own.

A lot of people go directly to these websites themselves. If I trust the B&Q brand and am a regular customer, I will go directly to DIY.com or I will google B&Q and get to the site from there. I am less likely to google generic terms and buy from people I've never heard of just because they appear on Google Shopping.

And as a shopping tool, where people are looking for something specific and have their wallets ready, Amazon is now more popular than Google.

 

[DontAsk]

If I want something from B&Q, I want something from B&Q, i.e., check stock, maybe reserve it, and pick up from the local store, usually because I want it for a job, now. I don't want it form a marketplace seller who might deliver it next week.

I will go to the B&Q website. If they don't have what I want I will go to the Wickes website, etc. For some items I will start at Screwfix and try Toolstation, etc. I can't remember when I ever had to resort to google for these sorts of items.

 

[fisicx]

Same here. Start with the screwfix app, then go to other sites that sell what I want.

A google search often gives me a load of untrustworthy sites.

If I’m in no rush, for small items (like the door plate I recently brought) eBay is still the best place to go.

 

[AmazonGeek]

If I want something from B&Q, I want something from B&Q, i.e., check stock, maybe reserve it, and pick up from the local store, usually because I want it for a job, now. I don't want it form a marketplace seller who might deliver it next week.

I will go to the B&Q website. If they don't have what I want I will go to the Wickes website, etc. For some items I will start at Screwfix and try Toolstation, etc. I can't remember when I ever had to resort to google for these sorts of items.

It must be working for Mirakl and people like B&Q who use their system. Mirakl is growing fast and turns over hundreds of millions each year. Some of my DIY-niche clients have also signed up (on B&Q) and are getting good results.

 

[Newchodge]

Same here. Start with the screwfix app, then go to other sites that sell what I want.

A google search often gives me a load of untrustworthy sites.

If I’m in no rush, for small items (like the door plate I recently brought) eBay is still the best place to go.

Me too.

 

[Porky]

My wife is regular user of Tesco.com but NEVER uses marketplace. I think if Tesco had an FBA type facility so the product could be picked and go out same day with the shopping order it would probably get a lot more traction. People want convenience, if they pay for it with the shopping, they want it delivered with the shopping. Not have to monitor if a third party ships to them or not.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Tesco is a logical challenger to Amazon, however, I am not sure now, but most of their extended/non core-store range was supplied by large third party companies who offer breadth of choice.

 

[DontAsk]

Tesco is a logical challenger to Amazon, however, I am not sure now, but most of their extended/non core-store range was supplied by large third party companies who offer breadth of choice.

And not so large companies. I was quite surprised to find some items being fulfilled by small companies that I know.

 

[AmazonGeek]

This used to be via a platform called Rangespan. A bit like Mirakl - a way of expanding a website so that it offers 3rd-party products as well as the host products. I can't see Tesco setting up an FC network to deal with this though - it is a major undertaking. Until then, the service will be down to how good each individual seller is