Selling Lego on Amazon.com

[IronManDan]

56 minutes ago, sauromosis said:

I think most people who use FBA wonder, "Why didn't I do this day 1?"

After using the calculator, it seems the cost would be a wash in many cases.  Would you say that FBA usually allows you to sell at a premium vs FBM?

[Sauromosis]

I know that there are additional shipping costs and fees, but you can get a higher price when you are in the category of "Fulfilled by Amazon."  That's what justifies the whole thing.  Buyers don't want to mess around with sellers who list an additional shipping fee in FBM.

[IronManDan]

4 minutes ago, sauromosis said:

Send it in today.  On your first, try just one product, like a box with 5 or 6 medium sized lego.  It gets more complicated with like 20 different ASIN. 

Shipping will surprise you with how cheap it is. 

Have you had any issues with damage shipping to FBA or from Amazon to buyers?  How is that resolved in each case?

[biking_tiger]

2 minutes ago, IronManDan said:

 

Is it safe to say that it would be a best practice to hold items until the FBA prices are close to my sell range?

That's what I would do. I actually wait until prices are just a touch past my sell price (to account for undercutting). Otherwise, you'll find yourself paying extra fees for long term FBA storage. 

[Sauromosis]

From amazon to buyers they cover everything.  Getting to FBA, it's not a lot of problems but as you will see each package is different and can theoretically be damaged or stolen from.  Again, very low %.

[Sauromosis]

Don't operate from a position of storage fee fear...you can always just sell long term stuff and take a slight loss.  It means it wasn't a good investment anyway.

[Sauromosis]

With all this stuff, just do it.  Take your lumps and learn.  It's way better than theorizing on the sidelines.  Lego attracts the OCD person but we need to just act sometimes.

[biking_tiger]

8 minutes ago, sauromosis said:

Don't operate from a position of storage fee fear...you can always just sell long term stuff and take a slight loss.  It means it wasn't a good investment anyway.

I'd agree. I just don't like to pay more than needed, and FBA shouldn't be considered a storage solution. 

[Kenxxx]

9 minutes ago, IronManDan said:

Have you had any issues with damage shipping to FBA or from Amazon to buyers?  How is that resolved in each case?

I've never had any problem with goods damaged on arrival at Amazon, nor arrival at buyers home.  I've had a half-dozen items lost or damaged while in warehouse at Amazon, and I believe in most cases, got NO proactive report or payment from Amazon.  Usually going over my books, I would discover, "hey... I sent in 6 of those... they sold 2... now I have only 3?" I'd have to discover the problem, initiate the claim, and only then would get reimbursed... sometimes at a fair rate... sometimes a little less than fair (but whadaya gonna do?). So you definitely have to check and recheck your inventory at Amazon, keep track of what's sold, and what they should have... stay on top of things.

Do not ship in items before they reach the sell price you can accept. I usually find that when I see an FBA price point I like, I send my items in, and 3 more sellers move in at the same time, and the price drops 5%. As the holiday season approaches, more sellers will be moving merch into Amazon and you can expect more competition on some items.  I use Amazon principally for current or "just retired" sets. My Haunted Houses, Town Halls, etc, I sell on eBay (and Brickclassifieds). 

[exciter1]

I was amazed on my last shipment.  About 100 unique ASINs and 400 items and I only had to ship to two distribution centers, both on the East Coast.  That's the first time I remember being lucky enough to not have to ship anything to the West Coast.

[exciter1]

1 hour ago, Kenxxx said:

I've never had any problem with goods damaged on arrival at Amazon, nor arrival at buyers home.  I've had a half-dozen items lost or damaged while in warehouse at Amazon, and I believe in most cases, got NO proactive report or payment from Amazon.  Usually going over my books, I would discover, "hey... I sent in 6 of those... they sold 2... now I have only 3?" I'd have to discover the problem, initiate the claim, and only then would get reimbursed... sometimes at a fair rate... sometimes a little less than fair (but whadaya gonna do?). So you definitely have to check and recheck your inventory at Amazon, keep track of what's sold, and what they should have... stay on top of things.

Do not ship in items before they reach the sell price you can accept. I usually find that when I see an FBA price point I like, I send my items in, and 3 more sellers move in at the same time, and the price drops 5%. As the holiday season approaches, more sellers will be moving merch into Amazon and you can expect more competition on some items.  I use Amazon principally for current or "just retired" sets. My Haunted Houses, Town Halls, etc, I sell on eBay (and Brickclassifieds). 

I don't find long-term storage fees to be too exorbitant.  I like keeping some stock around for price spikes.

[brickelements]

Fairly new to selling on Amazon.  I have only sold Lego.  Started FBM in late April with great success.  Jumped headfirst into FBA late July.  Wow!  Product was flying out of my inventory.

I would consider myself small to maybe (pushing it) medium sales volume.  103 sales on Ebay last year. 

I am at 114 sales this year (12 ebay) 102 Amazon.   Much faster pace.  We haven't even hit the holiday yet....

 

The question is:  Is there anyway to speed up the distribution of funds process?  it is painfully slow. 14-20 days instead of 5-7 from Paypal.

Obvious advantages...more eyes, slightly higher prices and faster turnover.  Come time to collect proceeds is like watching paint dry.

Sorry for whining.

[Bold-Arrow]

Unless you are on the old platform you will get your payment every 14 days 

[REDUCE523]

Does anyone have any information on the Amazon restrictions on selling Lego?

[Sauromosis]

2 minutes ago, REDUCE523 said:

Does anyone have any information on the Amazon restrictions on selling Lego?

And boom goes the dynamite.

[asharerin]

29 minutes ago, REDUCE523 said:

Does anyone have any information on the Amazon restrictions on selling Lego?

Looks like Lego is gated now. Our non-lego selling account is restricted on most Lego now. Our lego selling account is grandfathered in. 

[ravenb99]

39 minutes ago, sauromosis said:

And boom goes the dynamite.

 

[asharerin]

You will need to provide the usual manufacturer invoices PLUS a non-refundable $1000 fee lol.

Well that should put a cap on the competition.

[amtrak23]

49 minutes ago, REDUCE523 said:

Does anyone have any information on the Amazon restrictions on selling Lego?

Yes. Most on this site are in for a bad weekend when they find out.

[Sauromosis]

6 minutes ago, asharerin said:

You will need to provide the usual manufacturer invoices PLUS a non-refundable $1000 fee lol.

Well that should put a cap on the competition.

Dont forget the authorization letter from Lego that they won't give us.

[ravenb99]

Bright side is Santa's workshop might drop down to like 200 sellers...

[asharerin]

I found a list of the new brands being gated as well as the application fees:

New Restricted Brands
Adidas ($1500)
Asics ($1500)
ErgoBaby
Brightz, LTD.
Cuisinart
Fabreware
Funko ($1000)
Hasbro ($1000)
Magformers
HP ($1000)
LG ($1000)
Kitchen Aid
Lego ($1000)
OXO Good Grips ($1000)
Microsoft ($1000)
Pokemon ($1000)
Nike ($1500)
Paw Patrol
NorPro
Procter Silex
RTIC
Shopkins ($1000)
Sony ($1000)
Anastasia Beverly
Under Armour ($1000)
WIltons
Star Wars ($1500)
Little Tikes

Keep that list in mind when you go scanning to resell for this shopping season. It appears if you have sold those brands before and your account is in good standing you should be grandfathered in.

Edited August 26, 2016 by asharerin

[BrickLegacy]

Yikes!  So if I never sold on Amazon before today and wanted to sell LEGO, it's a $1k fee?!  Good grief.

[exciter1]

[Sauromosis]

3 minutes ago, BrickLegacy said:

Yikes!  So if I never sold on Amazon before today and wanted to sell LEGO, it's a $1k fee?!  Good grief.

And a letter from Lego, provided you own a physical store and buy all their lines.