How to use Amazon to sell

For some reason, a lot of people are scared to use Amazon. It’s actually very simple to use! You just need to be signed up for Amazon.

If you have something to sell there are two ways to sell it.

• Search for the item in the search bar. When the product page comes up, there should be a button on the right that says “Sell yours here.”
• Go through your seller page and do a bar code search to be more specific about your product.

You list it, someone buys it, you get notified, you ship it out, and you’re done! Simple as that. No disappointing auctions, mystery buyers, unfair fees, etc. This is why I prefer Amazon so much more than eBay.

Your money is then dispersed on a schedule. If at any time you need to pay bills and need that money faster, you just log in to your seller account and ask for it to be sent to you immediately. Amazon will then send your money at your request, though it takes about 3 business days to get to your bank account. There is a commission fee for Amazon every time you sell something, but it is a minimal fee that is already taken out when someone purchases your item. You’re always notified how much that commission is.

Selling faster on Amazon

There are a few things you can do to sell your items faster on Amazon. I recently recommended my sister sell her textbooks on Amazon, but she came back to me complaining that no one had bought it within two weeks while mine sold the same day I put it up for sale. Why did that happen?

• Price competitively: If everyone else is selling the same product in the same condition for less, no one will buy yours for an extra $5 or $10. Look at the lowest price and go a few cents above it.
• Build a reputation: The more positive feedback you get, the more stars you have in your seller rating. For some people, this makes a huge difference. People want to be assured an easy, effortless transaction.
• Describe your item: Many people skip the description of their item. The more descriptive you are, the more likely someone will purchase it! And of course, be honest. If you don’t mention that big scratch on the cover, your buyer will probably email you and complain once they see it and you’ll ruin your rating. Trust me, if you describe that scratch someone will still buy it and will not be unpleasantly surprised.
• Delivery Confirmation: Always, always, always ship with delivery confirmation. It’s an extra few cents, but so worth it. People like being able to track their items, and you should tell people in the item description that it is included with their order. Also, this protects you from scammers who claim their product never arrived, when in reality it did and they’re looking to get their money back anyway. If I ship out something worth over $50, I go an extra step to cover my money and require a Signature Confirmation which can better legally protect you if someone claims they never got their item.
• Use a logo: I didn’t know this for the longest time! You can actually have a tiny logo that appears next to your name on your item lists. You can set this up by going through your seller page and clicking on your store preferences. Logos capture people’s attention and make you look more professional.
• Update your prices: If it’s been a week and your items haven’t sold, go into your listings and check what the most recent lowest price is. It is very likely that the price has dropped on the item, and you’ll need to adjust your price. If you keep it as it is, it will sit on that page forever. Always update your prices!

Building your reputation