Selling through Amazon FBA

[Kenxxx]

17 minutes ago, zak001 said:

No, to do FBM over the holiday period, you need a qualifying number of FBM orders during the evaluation window. ...

Though that would make the most sense, I believe you are incorrect.  This question is raised every year. Other sellers here on brickpicker have confirmed it: sellers who exclusively sell via FBA and NEVER ship FBM are approved every year for FBM toy selling during the holiday period. It's crazy. I know. But I'm pretty sure it's true*. (I have also asked this question in the Amazon.com help community and have found the same answers).

Edited February 22, 2016 by Kenxxx
*Actually, I KNOW it is true. I myself qualified last year with less than 25 FBM sales during the qualification period.

[glucapg]

But is also leaving a lot of money on the table.

Why? Explain this, please

[zak001]

On February 21, 2016 at 8:00 PM, Loghamel said:

I've seen a few related questions, but I don't think any matches my exact situation.  Say I have 200 polybags I want to send in.  These are 4 groups of 50 polybags.  That is, I have 4 polybag sets x 50 that I want to send in.   First question I guess is would you guys do co-mingled given that it's hard to 'damage' a polybag.  Secondly, if I do co-mingle, do I just toss all 200 polybags in the shipping box with other sets I'm sending in?  Do I put them all in a box instead?  Do I separate each 50 polybags into ziplock bags and then put them in a box?  What variation of those would you guys do for this situation?

One more thing: unless you're paying Amazon an extra fifty cents a unit or whatever it is now (which you should not be; it's a sucker bet), you may end up sending your 200 units to 4 or 8 or 12 different fulfillment centers at the whim of their inventory distribution sorting hat algorithm. I've had 100+ item shipping plans that ended up generating a shipment for a lone one-off polybag to a random center.

[zak001]

1 minute ago, glucapg said:

Why? Explain this, please

Lack of teleporters. Suppose I find an item on a retail shelf that costs $25 but is currently selling for $80 on Amazon. But it's December 14th. If I'm FBA-only, it's unlikely I'll be able to get it into Amazon's warehouse for shipment in time to get it out the door for Christmas. If I can do FBM, I can list and sell it before I even leave the store. (Which has happened.)

[zak001]

8 minutes ago, Kenxxx said:

Though that would make the most sense, I believe you are incorrect.  This question is raised every year. Other sellers here on brickpicker have confirmed it: sellers who exclusively sell via FBA and NEVER ship FBM are approved every year for FBM toy selling during the holiday period. It's crazy. I know. But I'm pretty sure it's true. (I have also asked this question in the Amazon.com help community and have found the same answers).

Hmm. I dunno, I just checked emails and cross-checked sales reports and got the following results:

excerpt from AMZ email on 10/8/15 telling me I'm not yet approved: "You must have processed and shipped at least 25 orders between September 1 and October 31, 2015 (orders do not need to be specific to the Toys & Games store): Not Yet" (at this point, I have many multiples of the qualifying number if you count FBA orders, but less than the qualifying number of FBM orders)

excerpt from AMZ email on 10/21/15 telling me I am now approved: "You must have processed and shipped at least 25 orders between September 1 and October 31, 2015 (orders do not need to be specific to the Toys & Games store): Yes" (a week after I hit the qualifying number of FBM orders)

All other metrics were perfect and had been for at least six months. Could be some Amazon secret sauce at work, could be they boilerplate everyone with slightly vague language so it's obvious how liberal they'll be with the banhammer, but provisionally approve everyone who does volume.

[Kenxxx]

I am not a high volume seller. Last year, I received my "you're qualified" notice from Amazon on 09/25/15.  From 09/01/15 thru 09/25/15, I had sold only 10 items via FBM. I had sold 25 items via FBA over the same period.

Checkout this help thread from amazon.com

[Loghamel]

So I've got my shipment plans.  They want me to send to 3 different FCs.  I've seen people on this and other forums talk about leaving shipments open until they can fill the box with other stuff and then ship it.  My question is this;  if I have 3 different items, but only two are going to a FC, how can I add the 3rd item to that box?   For example, I want to ship 10 sets of A, 10 sets of B and 10 sets of C to Amazon.  Amazon wants me to send 5 sets of A and 5 sets of C to Chicago.  How do I add 2 sets of B to that shipment?

[Bold-Arrow]

U are allowed to change up to 5% of totally quantity .

[Loghamel]

16 minutes ago, Bold-Arrow said:

U are allowed to change up to 5% of totally quantity .

Right, but how do I add a set that isn't on the shipment list for a specific location?  If They want me to send sets A and C to Chicago, sets B and C to New York, and sets A and B to Denver, how do I add 2 sets of B to the Chicago shipment?  

[Bold-Arrow]

26 minutes ago, Loghamel said:

Right, but how do I add a set that isn't on the shipment list for a specific location?  If They want me to send sets A and C to Chicago, sets B and C to New York, and sets A and B to Denver, how do I add 2 sets of B to the Chicago shipment?  

I don't think that is possible as far as I know .  

[Loghamel]

7 minutes ago, Bold-Arrow said:

I don't think that is possible as far as I know .  

I certainly can't find the option, but I've see tons of posts on Amazon from people who have 'open' shipments that they keep open until they find other items to add to it.  

[Bold-Arrow]

U can keep a shipment open and they may or may not add it to it. Usually for regular size they all go to same redistro center so that usually works. Not so much for oversize 

[redcell]

5 hours ago, Kenxxx said:

I am not a high volume seller. Last year, I received my "you're qualified" notice from Amazon on 09/25/15.  From 09/01/15 thru 09/25/15, I had sold only 10 items via FBM. I had sold 25 items via FBA over the same period.

Checkout this help thread from amazon.com

They count FBA sales towards the 25 threshold.  I didn't have 25 FBM sales during the measurement period last year, but was qualified based on my FBA sales.

[redcell]

4 hours ago, Loghamel said:

Right, but how do I add a set that isn't on the shipment list for a specific location?  If They want me to send sets A and C to Chicago, sets B and C to New York, and sets A and B to Denver, how do I add 2 sets of B to the Chicago shipment?  

Well, the easy answer is you don't.  Or you can put them into the Chicago shipment.  Amazon will receive them and, as long as you have an active listing for them, they will show up in your inventory...however, under Amazon's unexpected items policy (that may not be the right name), Amazon can substitute an unexpected item in a shipment for an item that is expected, but not received.  So if you toss a polybag in a shipment that is only supposed to contain 20 Death Stars and one of the Death Stars doesn't show up, Amazon can theoretically substitute the polybag for the Death Star.  I'm not sure how often they actually apply that, but I know it is in their policies. 

 

[Loghamel]

2 hours ago, redcell said:

Well, the easy answer is you don't.  Or you can put them into the Chicago shipment.  Amazon will receive them and, as long as you have an active listing for them, they will show up in your inventory...however, under Amazon's unexpected items policy (that may not be the right name), Amazon can substitute an unexpected item in a shipment for an item that is expected, but not received.  So if you toss a polybag in a shipment that is only supposed to contain 20 Death Stars and one of the Death Stars doesn't show up, Amazon can theoretically substitute the polybag for the Death Star.  I'm not sure how often they actually apply that, but I know it is in their policies. 

 

So they'll sell my polybag for $500?  I'm in!

[deathofsuperman]

How do you guys send in your polybags and CMF as FBA?

I have been putting Lego polybags in another clear polybag and slapped on the FNSKU label on that. And with CMF, do you guys open the bag to confirm or just send it in sealed?

[exciter1]

8 minutes ago, deathofsuperman said:

How do you guys send in your polybags and CMF as FBA?

I have been putting Lego polybags in another clear polybag and slapped on the FNSKU label on that. And with CMF, do you guys open the bag to confirm or just send it in sealed?

Slap the sticker on the barcode and throw them in the box.

[colossus]

Question on FBA:

I have 17 of the SW Jedi Interceptor and 20 of The Phantom.  I went through the motions and they want me to ship to 3 distro sites I guess (Phoenix, SC, PA). I plan on labeling mine since they're all in great condition and don't want to deal with comingled.  I have a Dymo labeler I bought - haven't used it yet.  The question is - do I slap the exact same sticker onto each of the same type item (ie 17 of one sticker on the Interceptor and 20 of the other sticker onto the Phantom) or does Amazon produce 37 different stickers (ie a special code for every single item I send in)?

Also I have noticed the prices have come down a bit from where they were at the end of January.  I assumed January was the dead month and these sets recently retired.  Opinions on if I should sit on them until Christmas or just try selling them now.  My main motivation for selling now would be to learn how to use FBA so I understand all the logistics before I have my blowout this Christmas.

I have sold about 400 items over 10 years (mostly computer hardware) through FBM but haven't done FBA at all.  I also have not sold a single Lego set yet and my kids are ripping into my profits

[thoroakenfelder]

3 minutes ago, colossus said:

Question on FBA:

I have 17 of the SW Jedi Interceptor and 20 of The Phantom.  I went through the motions and they want me to ship to 3 distro sites I guess (Phoenix, SC, PA). I plan on labeling mine since they're all in great condition and don't want to deal with comingled.  I have a Dymo labeler I bought - haven't used it yet.  The question is - do I slap the exact same sticker onto each of the same type item (ie 17 of one sticker on the Interceptor and 20 of the other sticker onto the Phantom) or does Amazon produce 37 different stickers (ie a special code for every single item I send in)?

Also I have noticed the prices have come down a bit from where they were at the end of January.  I assumed January was the dead month and these sets recently retired.  Opinions on if I should sit on them until Christmas or just try selling them now.  My main motivation for selling now would be to learn how to use FBA so I understand all the logistics before I have my blowout this Christmas.

I have sold about 400 items over 10 years (mostly computer hardware) through FBM but haven't done FBA at all.  I also have not sold a single Lego set yet and my kids are ripping into my profits

I don't think I would ever recommend putting additional labels onto them. If Amazon doesn't have a problem with them, the end user may. They might consider it to be an alteration, or even something that causes damage to their item. You have to remember that if someone is paying over retail for an item, they are more than likely a collector, and collectors don't like having stickers stuck to the items.

[Yellowtot]

I'm pretty sure I'm the only UK Lego boy here using FBA, so I would like to say 'high five' keep that money rolling. Emazers your still a legend don't worry
.

[belljohn]

27 minutes ago, colossus said:

Question on FBA:

I have 17 of the SW Jedi Interceptor and 20 of The Phantom.  I went through the motions and they want me to ship to 3 distro sites I guess (Phoenix, SC, PA). I plan on labeling mine since they're all in great condition and don't want to deal with comingled.  I have a Dymo labeler I bought - haven't used it yet.  The question is - do I slap the exact same sticker onto each of the same type item (ie 17 of one sticker on the Interceptor and 20 of the other sticker onto the Phantom) or does Amazon produce 37 different stickers (ie a special code for every single item I send in)?

Also I have noticed the prices have come down a bit from where they were at the end of January.  I assumed January was the dead month and these sets recently retired.  Opinions on if I should sit on them until Christmas or just try selling them now.  My main motivation for selling now would be to learn how to use FBA so I understand all the logistics before I have my blowout this Christmas.

I have sold about 400 items over 10 years (mostly computer hardware) through FBM but haven't done FBA at all.  I also have not sold a single Lego set yet and my kids are ripping into my profits

I personally label everything because I have had too much trouble with being stuck with poor merchandise that wasn't mine after it was returned.  I feel most collectors know what they are getting if they order an FBA item, and they are not surprised by a label.  I have never had a return or bad review because of a label.  I am concerned about labels tearing boxes too, so I stick the labels to my shirt before I put them on the boxes to make them less sticky.  Seems to work.

It doesn't matter which the of the 17 Interceptor labels go on each Intercepter.  Just don't put a Phantom label on an Intercepter.

If you are just starting out on FBA, I wouldn't send in 20 of a single item.  I would send it at most 5 of each item.  Here is why.  Selling is slower than in Nov-Dec, and it might take awhile to sell through 20 of one item.  In the meantime, other sellers may undercut your price, and then you will undercut them, ect...  I also don't like to commit a lot of inventory of 1 item incase sales are slow because then you have higher storage fees as you wait for everything to sell.  Every day an item sits in a warehouse, you are charged a small fee, but you won't see it until billing long after you have incurred the fee.  Two different items get 2 sets of eyes and twice the chance to sell, but 2 of 1 item only get 1 set of eyes.

[colossus]

1 minute ago, thoroakenfelder said:

I don't think I would ever recommend putting additional labels onto them. If Amazon doesn't have a problem with them, the end user may. They might consider it to be an alteration, or even something that causes damage to their item. You have to remember that if someone is paying over retail for an item, they are more than likely a collector, and collectors don't like having stickers stuck to the items.

Even if these are the FBA labels that simply cover up the barcode?  They're pretty easy to peel off with a hair dryer I believe. Since the boxes I have are mint I don't want them mixed in with crushed boxes others may have to avoid that very issue (collectors/box snobs).

[Bold-Arrow]

Fwiw: I have never had any complaint regarding a FBA sticker , ever . And I've sold a lot of items . 

[thoroakenfelder]

24 minutes ago, colossus said:

Even if these are the FBA labels that simply cover up the barcode?  They're pretty easy to peel off with a hair dryer I believe. Since the boxes I have are mint I don't want them mixed in with crushed boxes others may have to avoid that very issue (collectors/box snobs).

everyone else says that they haven't had a problem. maybe I overthink it.

[Bold-Arrow]

8 minutes ago, thoroakenfelder said:

everyone else says that they haven't had a problem. maybe I overthink it.

My experience is that eBay buyers are way more concerned with  box condition than Amazon's.