Newbies can begin with toys and (some) electronics! Hubby and I started just 3 weeks ago and have already sold 2 items (we sat on the resources given to us afraid to start for 2 weeks) and have 3 more shipments from this past weekent en-route to Amazon. It takes a few days to get to the Amazon warehouse(s), and then a couple days to get the items scanned into the system, but so far, it's been a fun ride!
136 Comments (page 2)
seller central.amazon.com will have a list of restrictions it does seem as if there are a lot of restrictions I guess that if I decide to do this that I would choose higher end stuff.
What happens when your account is suspended after receiving an inauthenticity claim and Amazon does not accept a Walmart receipt as proof of authenticity?
Thanks for the article it was really helpful and unintentionally I was doing the same thing going into clearance and searching by scanning in App. I have few questions: 1. What you exactly look into the app while searching. 2. Can I start with Merchant Fulfill/ Selling by myself instead of FBA? Thanks in Advance!!!
Hey Ramses, Good question I experienced the same thing while scanning on Amazon seller App
Hi Will, Great article. I have a question: If amazon for some reason ask you to prove the validity of the supply chain of your inventory bought at Walmart or target by requesting Invoice and Letter from supplier (for not brand owner), what will be the plan in this case? has this issue happened to you? they suspend accounts for inauthentic item, likely RA from Walmart or target. Thanks,
I want to try and start this, but I think Amazon does not allow selling branded items. Hope you can help correct me with this. Thank you
How do You get through the hurdles of having so many clearance products restricted while trying to sell arbitrage with amazon. Seems like a lot of people are having a problem with this. How do you break through this hurdle?
Hey Jennifer, what category of products did you find that are restricted? For most categories there are ways to get approval to sell. There is a difference between a restricted product and a gated product. We would love to help if we had more information :)
When purchasing items from Walmart, Target, etc. will Amazon accept the receipt I have for the purchase without any issues? Also, when I scan the item at the store will it tell me if the item is approved to sell before I make the purchase? I’m currently selling makeup bags black and pink on Amazon under the seller name SerenaRose. I purchased them from AliExpress for $0.80/per bag and currently selling it for $6.99. Made good profit so far, but would really love to purchase items myself close to home. Thanks in advance for the tips in this article.
Hey Benazeer, awesome to hear that you're taking action that's what's most important! Our experience is that they are okay with the receipt from the store. The Amazon seller app will tell you if a product is restricted or gated when you scan. I would recommend though since you're already selling on Amazon that you should increase the number of products in your category that way you have more to offer buyers of your bags :) Both are great ways to move forward.
what to do with the MRP marked on the item?
Hey Anne, you should try and take off any clearance stickers or markings. If the price is written on the box there is not much you can do. Stickers should be removed though!
I love your article and how detailed it is. I wrote a program that scans Amazon products and looks for similar items on Alibaba and other wholesalers. https://www.bestpricewinner.com/ I think anyone can easily find products to flip for profit. It's pretty accurate and you only wait half a second for the result. Curious to have your feedback. Cheers,
Hey Alex, thanks for the tip. We'll check it out!
If the price is written on the box in permanent marker, try using a little Endust, Pledge or Lysol sprays on a rag. A gentle rub should remove the ink.
Thanks for the tip Jeff!
Can you source inventory from websites of target big box sellers? I am from Canada and want to do retail arbitrage in the US. I do understand the financial aspects including banking, however not sure how to source products online in the US from my position in the Canada!
Hey Seemab, thanks for reaching out! What you're looking for specifically is called "Online Arbitrage" That's where you buy products from one online store like Target or Walmart and sell it on Amazon. Retail arbitrage is when you physically go to a store but Online Arbitrage is done completely online!
Very nice....
Thanks for checking out the article Fahad
This post is great. Very informative. I want to jump in and do the whole amazon fba but honestly I don’t think I know enough just yet. I know the basics. But I really need someone to explain in depth what I need to do. I would like to start out like you did tho. Thanks
Hey Tiffany the best way to start out is by starting small. Spend a few hours with the Amazon App and go to a store and start scanning. You would be surprised at what you can find. Especially with clearance pillows and candles. There is awesome margin on those!
Dear Mr. Will , how do yo know what products to buy when you're doing your retail arbitrage?/ trying to make money shopping in stores doing retail arbitrage ? ...... And do you know of any good courses in retail arbitrage or better yet, could you lead me to the same videos and articles on getting started in retail arbitrage by the startupbros that got you started experimenting with it. Thanks ! .... Sincerely, Clarence Houston
Hey Clarence, thank you so much for reaching out and for reading the article. I would absolutely love to help you out. In general you want to look at clearance sections of stores and look for products where the brands aren't as important and people would pay more than $15 for. Things in those categories tend to be decorative pillows and candles. Clearance sections at discount stores tend to have plenty of products that have a big enough discount where you can make great money. I would love to help you out more and send you some of the resources that helped me. Send me an email will@startupbros(dot)com
Sounds easy but you failed to mention about the many fees that Amazon charges that will eat up into your profits. Best to be transparent so that new sellers will know exactly what to expect.
When you find products and scan them using the Amazon seller app it tells you all the fees you're going to pay. And it tells you the amount you're going to profit so there is not way to be mislead.
A question about selling as new vs used. I have a plan to buy 2 bedspreads from Amazon (both new). I will then cut one of them and sew a patch (say 3 foot by 4 foot) from the second bedspread onto the top of first full size bedspread. The two amazon sellers will notice I was a buyer of theirs reselling. If they put in a complaint in to Amazon which requires my POA, what is my best strategy? Should I list as slightly used to avoid their complaints?
Skip walmart or target buy clearance at bed bath and beyond because you can use your 20 percent off coupon on top of that. Example skin hair remover retail $400 it was marked 100 off plus additional 75 percent off which brings it to 75 then I used my 20 percent off so now your looking at 60 then resold item for $250 so I made well over 100 bucks profit one item after all my fees and shipping costs on ebay not Amazon. Now that's how to make money Will.
That video of retail arbitrage is bad. Those spray bottles don’t sell for 30 dollars. You need to check keepa. You need to see if it actually SELLS for $30, or if it it just currently LISTED for $30 at the time you scanned it. The scanning price is just a snapshot in that exact moment in time. It’s not the price it sells for or the price it will sell for. I have been burnt by these and tour video is misleading.
Hi, Will! Thank you for this content. This is eye-opening to me. I am excited about the possibilities! I heard of the whole "retail arbitrage" idea earlier this week for the first time. Amazing! I'm so glad I found your article. In fact, I just signed up for a seller account on Amazon yesterday. As I'm sure you're used to hearing, money is tight right now. I want to be wise and strategic as I begin. I would like to source products with a quick turn around so I can hopefully use the income to buy more and scale quickly....but WISELY! What is your advice, given this specific scenario? I'm definitely asking for free advice...and once I can apply it, see a little payback, and make enough to pay for it, I would like to find educational training that would help me pursue this as a full time income. Now, back up to your article I go! Thanks, Will!
Dear Mr. Will Mitchell, I was on your website and was reading the posts where people asked you different questions and then you responded to them sometime later. Well, I just checked the post again 10 or so months later and found mine and your response. You had mentioned that you'd love to send me some of the resources that helped you get started in retail arbitrage. Can you email those resources to me ?
Amazing things you have explained and motivated the readers, its very simple when you start any business you have a plan, most demanding thing is capital, cost and risk factor so you told evetything is proper way, i have only one question if anyone in financial crisis and don't have finance so what did he do and where he start. I gave you an example a man get few things from wholsale on daily sale base start selling in town centre, in the end of day they sell something get some profit from cash and return the remaining things and daily sales to the whole seller, its a everyday routine so basically in this example, no investment needed so similarly can we do any opportunities on Amazon
Hi Will, do you have to take pictures and write descriptions, like on eBay? Thanks? Linda
How do you scan items at a store?
I have a seller account but still don't understand FBA do I send the products in one box for them to complete??