Packaging manufacturer

If your manufacturer cant make the packaging that you need where else do can you do it ?

You can also try and find a trading company they usually have links with packaging companies and so on and can arrange putting packaging and products together so do all the footwork for you, they take a fee but overall can save you lot of money. I found they have better communication and can get same products from the same supplier a lot cheaper than what the supplier gives to us. Also can arrange on shipping and save another headache lol and possibly money on that as well. PM me if you want info on the company I used.

Running out of stock

One of my items on amazon is about to go out of stock 1 left, what’s the best thing to do while I wait for stock?

Answer: Leave it at zero until I have new stock. You will lose some orders but its better than having orders waiting in the hope you’ll receive your stock and get it to the centre quickly. What if there’s some sort of delay, a headache with the possibility of buyers moaning at you, A to Z cases opened etc

Gift boxes

In products that you use gift boxes on, do any of you get your supplier to use shrink wrap over the box, sealed clear plastic bag over the box even? to protect the gift box from being scratched/damaged

Answer: Shrink wrap and other plastics should really be phased out, customers are looking for more eco friendly options. This was one of the reasons we ruled it out in initial order. but then i started seeing other products with it on and consumers on amazon commenting on how well the items were being packed in re to the shrink wrapped boxes and my mind got swayed a bit.

Product versus seller reviews

 I keep getting product reviews on my seller profile, Is there any way to change that?

Answer:

Many customers don’t understand the difference between seller feedback and product reviews!

Though if they leave a 5 star seller feedback I still would leave it there and send them a follow up email asking for a product review and leave the link to the product. Since you already know they liked the product, you’ll be sure to receive a 5 start product review too 

Logistics to Mexico

If any one here is sending goods to Mexico directly ?
Just wanted to know what is required to send shipments from China to Mexico? Like in USA we need EIN.
Or can we use same USA company information?

Answer: We send products to Mexico no problem, from our westbound China business (we’ve not been involved in that so much from the UK like we are for China to USA).

Whilst I know we do it, I don’t know what an importer needs in regards to local tax regulations. I do believe you need to register again for a Mexican EIN but don’t hold me to it

FBA Small & Light

I am using FBA small and light (S&L) scheme could please clarify a few points.

Does an S&L product get a prime badge on the listing?
Answer: Yes

2. Is delivery longer than a day?
Answer: 2-3 Days


3. How does the £9 price limit work, once enrolled you get an error if you try to change price to over £9?
Answer: They can disenroll it to normal FBA

4. Can some child asins be S&L and some not while under the same parent listing?
Answer: Yes

5. Would you get away with a product that is 2.4cm or less when at the right angle?
Answer: If they are ok to fold it, you need to mark the item to say so.

6. Would you get away with a product that when lightly compressed is under 2.4cm?
Answer: Possibly, but their cubi-can is rubbish. Wiser to vaccum pack.

Brand for FBA

I have some unit of a product at home and ready to sell for my first attempt at FBA. How do you get past the part where you need to add a brand? My limited company is not a brand, does everything need to be a brand to sell?

Answer:  If the product has a brand name use that, if not (and choose carefully as you may want to register it later) choose one and use that.
You dont need brand registry to list a product.you can bypass this section and go straight to inventory to list an item, there are drop down menus on seller central that walk you through it all. or in the search bar on here put in listing a product.

FBA and FBM listings

If you were to have to offerings on 1 listing, for example FBM & FBA offering – would this decrease your chances of getting the buybox? Any tips and tricks around this?

Answer:  Nope! Your FBA offering will take the buybox as long as there’s no other seller on their to compete with. Just don’t price your FBM lower than the FBA offering as then this will take the buybox. Buyers love to see prime items!

UK VAT registered

In the UK we don’t have to be VAT registered unless our vat deductible incomes go over a set threshold (85K). Can I register for that though voluntarily so that I get a VAT number I can provide Amazon with in order for them not to charge me taxes on PPC, monthly subscription etc as these are taxes they should pay for me, not me having to pay them to pay for me, if that makes sense. Also, if I voluntarily register for VAT in the UK and I do not reach the threshold, do I need to pay HMRC any taxes?

Answer: If you register for VAT you can claim back vat on expenses – but your product sale price is now inclusive of VAT – so you have to collect and remit vat on every sale at 20%.
I’d suggest if you choose to register then assuming you’re UK based you can opt for the flat rate VAT scheme, this means you pay 7.5% of total sales cost (and get a 1% discount in your first year). You can’t claim back VAT paid out but you’ll save VAT on Amazon sales fees but not PPC costs as they come from Amazon UK. Simple maths to work out of 6.5% VAT on your product is more or less than the 20% on your fees you’ll save.

SKU barcode stickers

How do you get the SKU barcode stickers for your parcels… do amazon send you these?

Answer: you download & print when creating a shipment. Then order A4 sticker sheets from amazon that fit the barcode pdf.