Hey all… I’ve got a few questions for you.
This is all about you and how I can help you best/better.
I know I’m all about Selling On Amazon FBA and sharing all the tips I can… but I don’t know if I’m really helping you to get what you need to get where you want to go. (If that makes any sense at all).
Tiffany Dow asked her readers these questions and I thought “Hey – I’d like to know the same thing from those that read my blog”!
So here are my questions for you:
1. What do you like or dislike about me, or my business?
2. What do you trust or not trust about me?
3. If someone asked you who I was, what would your answer be?
4. What main thing do you think I offer as a product or service?
5. Compare me to other marketers in general – how do I stack up?
6. Do I affect your life for the better or worse?
I’m not afraid of your answers – I’m curious. I can’t help you if I don’t know what you need!
And… don’t hit me with just the “good” stuff. Be real in your answers.
I’m listening…
I purchased your eBook about your “My Journey Into Amazon Arbitrage”. I found it very inspiring. I like your style in that you tell it like it is with no holds barred. I’d like to get your opinion if I could concerning selling on Amazon FBA and just selling in general. This retailing products is very new to me. I’ve had the best success I’ve ever had with AZ FBA. But, I’m starting to get a little frustrated.
Maybe I’m pricing things wrong, I’m not sure. My usual method of pricing is to take the average of the 5 highest priced items + shipping + $2 for Non-FBA items and that will be my FBA price. That’s if I’m the only FBA seller. If there are other FBA items, I will average the lowest 5 items(Max. number) and that will be my FBA price.
I think my problem is that I only have 61 sku’s listed. What kind of sales to inventory ratio should I be looking at to consider things are going right?
I’m getting a shipment together now of 12 sku’s with 26 items.
Am I headed in the right direction and building up inventory? I only buy what is listed on FBAfinds. I don’t own a scanner or Smartphone yet.
Any suggestions?
Hi Clayton…. thanks so much for joining us here.
I’m sort of sticking with the 3 times what I paid for the product method right now. (Unless I got a really good deal).
I was getting frustrated when my sales sort of felt stagnant. They really have been ramping up since I sent in more “stuff’. LOL. This just makes sense in the big scheme of things. No one is going to walk into your store (if you had one) and buy one or more of everything you have. You need a large variety and appeal to a large audience. Then you get more sales every day.
I also started “re-pricing” (some up – some down – some stay the same) every day. It takes a bit of effort – but It keeps me in touch with each product.
I can’t really answer the sales to inventory ration… it depends on sooo many variables. I did read a startling “fact” today. (sort of set me back on my haunches).
If I (or anyone) wanted to “clear” $5,000 a month profit – I need to have about double (at least) that in inventory (at least) at all times. That would mean that I should have a ton of stuff in inventory – and all that inventory better be priced “right”.
If I spend $5k on inventory – I should be able to make $5k in profit after expenses. (That’s where the 3 times cost calculation comes into play) It’s not very scientific and I do know about ROI and Margins… but I don’t want to complicate anything for any of us.
Of course – I need to have shipped all that inventory – which is another whole ball of wax. I have inventory that needs to be shipped staked everywhere!
This is the same Rebecca (westfam11) on FBAfinds.com
1. What do you like or dislike about me, or my business? I like how helpful you are. I just met you on FBA finds and then clicked on your link and found your other stuff. I would love to know more about public domain and how it could help me in a business.
2. What do you trust or not trust about me? You seem very honest and I feel like I can trust you to tell it like it is which I like, good or bad.
3. If someone asked you who I was, what would your answer be? Someone who is very helpful. I really don’t associate you with any niche other than amazon FBA because that is how I became associated with you.
4. What main thing do you think I offer as a product or service? Not sure, but it seems like Public domain is a big part?
5. Compare me to other marketers in general – how do I stack up? I like your style and you don’t talk down to people even if you are in disagreement, you communicate very well.
6. Do I affect your life for the better or worse? For the better. You told me to calm down about FBA and I listened to you.
Hi Rebecca – thanks so much for sharing your thoughts here.
I’m here to help everyone “calm down’ – including myself. Sometime sharing my thoughts or problems right here just helps me gain clarity. 🙂
I did comment on your other site but I do want to say that the Amazon Arbritrage product that I purchased is fabulous and I do look forward to your updates. I do believe no one else has created a product such as this.
What I like is the fact that it makes me feel part of something, working online can be lonely and we all need to know that what we’re doing is OK and unless we get that feed back we sometimes lose interest. Forums are great for this, but so much of time people aren’t sharing and that can be for many reasons, number 1 probably being they are afraid to share their sources.
Your step by step sourcing is so helpful, it has helped me to think outside of the box.
You are here to share and to help and that is what makes your product and you trustworthy. Thanks, Billie
Thanks so much Billie – I’m here to help. When you fall – I’ll help pick up the pieces. When I fall – I’ll share it right here so everyone can learn. 🙂
1. What do you like or dislike about me, or my business?
I read your bio and it is quit impressive. I was struck by how much experience you have in marketing and running a business. I like that you are down to earth and say what you mean.
2. What do you trust or not trust about me?
I’ve come to trust you from reading your blogs and what you have written on FBAfinds.com
3. If someone asked you who I was, what would your answer be?
I would tell them that you are someone that practices what you teach and passes on the lessons that you have learned.
4. What main thing do you think I offer as a product or service?
The arbitrage knowledge that you have gained. All I’ve done is use FBAfinds.com’s information. Not haveing a scanner has prevented me from getting into the self-shopping mode.
5. Compare me to other marketers in general – how do I stack up?
That’s a toughy. The difference in you is that you are passing on information that you have been recently testing. Not that other marketers are behind the curve, but yours is fresh and new. What’s going on now kind of info.
6. Do I affect your life for the better or worse?
Deffinitely for the better.
I’m not afraid of your answers – I’m curious. I can’t help you if I don’t know what you need!
I just re-read what you wrote in the FBAfinds forum about sticking with your price and not getting sucked into the low-price war game. However, I did have to lower my price of a few items. They were just too far out of the ballpark for reality.
I think we are playing the numbers game in FBA. The more SKU’s you have listed the more you will sell. I don’t have the resources right now to get all the hi-tech gadgets to go scouting, so I’ve pretty much stayed with what I’m getting from FBAfinds and even then you have to do more research to make sure you will make any money.
I use the FBA calculator a lot. I have to wait on a deposit from Amazon between shopping sprees so building up inventory is slow.
I did get your eBook on Amazon Arbitrage and look forward for future updates. Your story on the wedding cake stands is funny and informative about what you go thru to find a steady product. So far I haven’t done that.
I’ve been on eBay off and on since 2006 with spotty success. Finding something that will sell on eBay is a difficult process in my opinion. I do have a 100+ 45 feedback responses. It should be higher, but not everyone leaves feedback even when you remind them. Amazon is still 0 feedback even with reminder emails.
One thing I thought about doing was to create a Facebook page pointing to my Amazon store. I have several hundred friends associated to me, so I thought I’d give it a try.
My philosophy is to ‘keep on keeping on’ and try to follow the leaders such as yourself.
I do have one question. Did you buy into Jim Cochran’s ‘Proven Amazon Course'(PAC)? I did, but don’t feel like I got my moneys worth out of it. It’s priced much better now. However, I did meet you and Jordan Malik out of it. So maybe it was worth it after all. 🙂 Maybe in time as new stuff is added it will get better.
Thanks for letting me vent.
P.S. The picture labeled ‘CommentLuv badge’ below the submit button is not showing.
Hey Clayton…
Thank you for all your thoughtfull comments.
I did review the PAC course here – http://www.publicdomaintreasurehunter.com/category/selling-product-online/the-proven-amazon-course-review/
Hi Deb: I love your stuff. I have made some money with it. I would like to hear more good tips from you instead of always trying to sell me something that I can’t afford. Of course you have no idea what any of us can afford. But,in these economic times all of us are looking for ways to make some money not spend it. If I were you and I wish I were, I would focus a little more on that aspect. I realize you have to make a living to but you are coming across just a little greedy as of late. (My opinion)
I also would like to hear more personal things about you like Tiff Dow does. I trust someone more who is my friend.And when yall talk bout your families you seem more like my friend then just someone who is trying to peddle something. Also, I’d like to know,sometimes, how much money you make. That would give me more incentive.
On apositive note. Thanks for noting haveing a potty mouth. And thanks for a lot of great info that you do give. You have helped me a lot. Doni
Doni… I will try to send out more tips for you! 🙂
And I promise to start sharing more “personal” stuff. I changed my “About” page today which gives a bit more personal history. http://debraconrad.com/who-is-debra-conrad/
I had to share your comment about “Potty Mouth” with Tiff today… if you only knew Doni.
Don’t know why I don’t get your blog or emails anymore???? I miss you
Deb: I am not receiving your blog or anything else from you. Please put me back on your list. I checked spam and trash mail and nothing there either. Please. I miss your emails. Thanks,Doni