Steve, I love your honesty. Your content is well structured and easy to follow. You are also brutally honest Amazon and it's substandard seller support. I am only a starter in this space, but thanks to presenters and educators like yourself, people like me are saved in time from significant losses. You are also an advocate of great branding, that's obvious, but even you admit that unless most of the Amazon boxes are ticked, one is likely to lose money. I would like to thank you for all the time, energy and cost of course, you spend helping people like me make better decisions. Thank you kindly - Vaughan
I have been selling on the amazon (note the small "a" due to lack of respect for the monopoly) since August 2015, started off like most people with arbitrage, then "white label" and now have my own brand and manufacture my own products. It's so damn hard and frustrating and only getting worse. I completely understand why you have thrown the towel in and I look forward to selling up in the next few years. For me closely monitoring all costs is key to maintaining any kind of margin in a very price sensitive market. Thank you for your openness and education.
I am going at it with two more items this year. If at the end of this year, i see no money, it could be a break for me. I am just one guy who is trying to get out of the rat race. God speed Steve
Great video. Thanks for being so honest. I'm a few years into my journey and I've had some ups and downs for sure. I think the biggest thing about your videos, especially this one, is it's ok to make mistakes and it's part of the process. It's a shame that Amazon really has a monopoly on online shopping. You can't compete with a store front that gets over 1 Billion visitors/ month. You almost have to be on there if you are trying to build a brand. Thanks again for this honest video. Very refreshing.
You have no idea how much you've helped me. In fact, my Amazon advisor I had when I was in incorporate learned from you. It's a ripple effect. I can't wait to dig further into your teachings to tighten up my company's Amazon business. This video in particular is very helpful because my husband and I manufacture our own products. Thank you for all that you do!
A new seller here: I am just wondering after 6 month into FBA, how crazy it is to be in a business owned not by you, where customers (Competitors) abuse and return your product without you being able to speak with them to know their problems, giving you negative voices (NCX) and then Amazon shut down your listing which you paid tons of money on it. How crazier this can be?
Great video and I appreciate you being open and honest about both your success and failures. Very helpful!! I'm dealing with my own glass break issue at the moment, although the bottles are much smaller. Bubblewrapping myself now because Amazon keeps shipping in padded envelopes.
@@MyAmazonGuy My understanding is that Amazon catalogs certain items based on size and weight, which assigns a certain packaging to it. The warehouse staff then just follows directions and there's not really a way to change that. Talked to somebody working for Amazon Europe a long time ago and that was pretty much what he said back then. Has to do with cost optimization and efficiency on Amazon's end of the deal (of course).
Hi Steven. One of the most important things I learned from you is improving your main image CTR. I hired your company to do this for me. Thanks for sharing! 👍
I work for one of those "Amazon gurus" and his orange bars are so high, even he's still on the game. Like, that's how you can tell a person is legit if they're teaching u the strategies that worked for them.
The packaging alone costs more than the product itself, and the shipping costs are even higher especially for items under $35, it’s very tough for e-commerce now
Optimizing your packaging to be cost-effective is key, and using Amazon’s FBA or adjusting your shipping strategy can help lower those shipping costs. Focus on reducing product dimensions and weight to minimize both packaging and shipping expenses
Steven, you're teaching Amazon best practices but you prefer not to sell Amazon products anymore. If Amazon was a great place to make money why are you leaving? And why should we learn from someone who ain't gonna do it anymore? I know you've been through the gauntlet etc but now you're out? Questions on questions my friend.
He already explained it. He is focused more on his Agency because that's his strength. But Amazon is still good for people who are good at product sourcing and expert with the operations and branding.
For years I've always said Amazon is not passive income. I am far more skilled as a marketer than I am as a product sourcer and I've made that clear abundantly for years. It is now impossible to sell an Amazon unless you can Source products better.
@MyAmazonGuy I feel that. With your resources though you could outsource the sourcing and product research. You are in a position to do whatever you want because of your FBA skills. I'm a fan of your work.
There are so many things you've helped me with I almost don't know where to start... Adding your main keywords in the actual images to help with conversion.
Would you say, based on your experience, that "Made in the USA'' is not as good of a selling point as most sellers might want to think? Was your holster brand relying on this key selling point, ultimately contributing to lackluster sales and performance? Lastly, could the "Made in the USA" conclusion (of it being a positive/negative selling factor) be applied the same to all categories or was China simply too much to compete with in this category? Just curious for other sellers who might think of making/manufacturing in the USA and all of the bandwidth to be used in marketing & assets.
One more question/request for feedback- for sellers who are migrating away from an FBA/FBM model to a predominantly FBM model, do you have any advice going forward? I.e. spreading out removal orders, leaving promotion eligible inventory last, Vine inventory, fees, etc.? Just trying to avoid the otherwise inevitable road bumps..
Thanks for your honesty. The ad that says 90% of people who start an Amazon business fail seems to be true. Wondering how many people are struggling to keep up with this Amazon thing.
Hi Steven thanks for the sincere video. Although I was a little bit surprised about the hot-sauce event. With all your knowledge how did you choose a glass bottle product? Even in a box, there would have been breakage due to the shipping/handling we all know.
Hi Steve, We're one of your clients. I'm curious if you have tips on your efforts to market your holsters, when any mention of guns can derail ads and listings. We have a product that is well suited for gun owners - a device that texts you when your kids pick up your gun, or get into your gun safe, or discover your other hiding spots - but we have a hard time getting our marketing not get flagged on Amazon, or our advertising rejected, because they automatically infer that we are selling firearms and weapons! Any thoughts?
What we need to question is how valuable it is to stay on Amazon. I am now officially downgrading my involvement with Amazon and trying to get on all the other platforms. I do not believe that they can be trusted at all. They're too fat too. Rich too incompetent. And the proof of this and competence can be seen in just the way they have the seller area set up. They don't even have extra comments or descriptions on all the things they want
i switched from Amazon to retail locations. 2650 retail locations now. better margins, good forecasts and an overal healthier business.
Steve, I love your honesty. Your content is well structured and easy to follow. You are also brutally honest Amazon and it's substandard seller support.
I am only a starter in this space, but thanks to presenters and educators like yourself, people like me are saved in time from significant losses. You are also an advocate of great branding, that's obvious, but even you admit that unless most of the Amazon boxes are ticked, one is likely to lose money.
I would like to thank you for all the time, energy and cost of course, you spend helping people like me make better decisions.
Thank you kindly - Vaughan
I have been selling on the amazon (note the small "a" due to lack of respect for the monopoly) since August 2015, started off like most people with arbitrage, then "white label" and now have my own brand and manufacture my own products. It's so damn hard and frustrating and only getting worse. I completely understand why you have thrown the towel in and I look forward to selling up in the next few years. For me closely monitoring all costs is key to maintaining any kind of margin in a very price sensitive market. Thank you for your openness and education.
I am going at it with two more items this year. If at the end of this year, i see no money, it could be a break for me. I am just one guy who is trying to get out of the rat race. God speed Steve
The problem is I don't know the alternative
Great video. Thanks for being so honest. I'm a few years into my journey and I've had some ups and downs for sure. I think the biggest thing about your videos, especially this one, is it's ok to make mistakes and it's part of the process. It's a shame that Amazon really has a monopoly on online shopping. You can't compete with a store front that gets over 1 Billion visitors/ month. You almost have to be on there if you are trying to build a brand. Thanks again for this honest video. Very refreshing.
Really appreciated your note Bill.
It's scary to be vulnerable but I believe in doing it
You have no idea how much you've helped me. In fact, my Amazon advisor I had when I was in incorporate learned from you. It's a ripple effect. I can't wait to dig further into your teachings to tighten up my company's Amazon business. This video in particular is very helpful because my husband and I manufacture our own products. Thank you for all that you do!
I'm so glad! Let me know how else I can help?
A new seller here: I am just wondering after 6 month into FBA, how crazy it is to be in a business owned not by you, where customers (Competitors) abuse and return your product without you being able to speak with them to know their problems, giving you negative voices (NCX) and then Amazon shut down your listing which you paid tons of money on it. How crazier this can be?
That is 'normal' unfortunately on Amazon.
You are an honest inspiration Steve 👌 this video is so so helpful . Keep up your great work but also look after yourself
very good to realise our own mistakes and take full ownership
Great video and I appreciate you being open and honest about both your success and failures. Very helpful!! I'm dealing with my own glass break issue at the moment, although the bottles are much smaller. Bubblewrapping myself now because Amazon keeps shipping in padded envelopes.
I just don't get how FBA functions putting glass in padded envelopes
@@MyAmazonGuy My understanding is that Amazon catalogs certain items based on size and weight, which assigns a certain packaging to it. The warehouse staff then just follows directions and there's not really a way to change that. Talked to somebody working for Amazon Europe a long time ago and that was pretty much what he said back then. Has to do with cost optimization and efficiency on Amazon's end of the deal (of course).
Hi Steven. One of the most important things I learned from you is improving your main image CTR. I hired your company to do this for me. Thanks for sharing! 👍
I work for one of those "Amazon gurus" and his orange bars are so high, even he's still on the game. Like, that's how you can tell a person is legit if they're teaching u the strategies that worked for them.
The packaging alone costs more than the product itself, and the shipping costs are even higher especially for items under $35, it’s very tough for e-commerce now
Optimizing your packaging to be cost-effective is key, and using Amazon’s FBA or adjusting your shipping strategy can help lower those shipping costs. Focus on reducing product dimensions and weight to minimize both packaging and shipping expenses
Thank you for sharing your experiences and valuable advice with such transparency.
You are so welcome!
Steven, you're teaching Amazon best practices but you prefer not to sell Amazon products anymore. If Amazon was a great place to make money why are you leaving? And why should we learn from someone who ain't gonna do it anymore? I know you've been through the gauntlet etc but now you're out? Questions on questions my friend.
Amazon has been nothing but major changes since the beginning. It's difficult for everyone.
He already explained it. He is focused more on his Agency because that's his strength. But Amazon is still good for people who are good at product sourcing and expert with the operations and branding.
For years I've always said Amazon is not passive income. I am far more skilled as a marketer than I am as a product sourcer and I've made that clear abundantly for years. It is now impossible to sell an Amazon unless you can Source products better.
@MyAmazonGuy I feel that. With your resources though you could outsource the sourcing and product research. You are in a position to do whatever you want because of your FBA skills. I'm a fan of your work.
Thank you for sharing ,,,,the new comers will learn a lot from your experience !!!!
I hope so!
If you are failing on Amazon, it sure makes you think to even start on the platform as a newbie
There are so many things you've helped me with I almost don't know where to start... Adding your main keywords in the actual images to help with conversion.
The CTR Main image hack is my favorite! MyAmazonGuy.com/IMG
Super insightful steve
Would you say, based on your experience, that "Made in the USA'' is not as good of a selling point as most sellers might want to think?
Was your holster brand relying on this key selling point, ultimately contributing to lackluster sales and performance?
Lastly, could the "Made in the USA" conclusion (of it being a positive/negative selling factor) be applied the same to all categories or was China simply too much to compete with in this category?
Just curious for other sellers who might think of making/manufacturing in the USA and all of the bandwidth to be used in marketing & assets.
I really want made in USA to work - but consumers DGAF about it imo
@@MyAmazonGuy that's what I figured
One more question/request for feedback- for sellers who are migrating away from an FBA/FBM model to a predominantly FBM model, do you have any advice going forward? I.e. spreading out removal orders, leaving promotion eligible inventory last, Vine inventory, fees, etc.? Just trying to avoid the otherwise inevitable road bumps..
Thanks for your honesty. The ad that says 90% of people who start an Amazon business fail seems to be true. Wondering how many people are struggling to keep up with this Amazon thing.
This is true
A lot of us are. We're sellers that are pulling almost entirely out of FBA and migrating towards a predominantly FBM model.
I’ve contemplated suing them so many times…
You'd have to have big pockets to tangle
Im definitely staying away from fragile Private Label
Did you ever try to use Shopify with FB / TikTok Ads to shift the stock that stopped selling on Amazon?
Hi Steven thanks for the sincere video. Although I was a little bit surprised about the hot-sauce event. With all your knowledge how did you choose a glass bottle product? Even in a box, there would have been breakage due to the shipping/handling we all know.
Most of my product selections were emotional picks. Thus the results...
Hi Steve, We're one of your clients. I'm curious if you have tips on your efforts to market your holsters, when any mention of guns can derail ads and listings. We have a product that is well suited for gun owners - a device that texts you when your kids pick up your gun, or get into your gun safe, or discover your other hiding spots - but we have a hard time getting our marketing not get flagged on Amazon, or our advertising rejected, because they automatically infer that we are selling firearms and weapons!
Any thoughts?
This is a question I love to ask Gurus and would love to ask you. What Gurus do you follow and watch content from? Thanks!
I follow none. I make all my info from personal observations and work with my clients and staff.
Thankyou
Hear you, Steve. Thanks.
Thanks for listening
Amazon really sux eh. They just sidelined one of my products to FC processing right during peak season. I smell a stink dutty rat!
I got hit on black Friday....
Awesome vid Steven
thank you
What we need to question is how valuable it is to stay on Amazon. I am now officially downgrading my involvement with Amazon and trying to get on all the other platforms. I do not believe that they can be trusted at all. They're too fat too. Rich too incompetent. And the proof of this and competence can be seen in just the way they have the seller area set up. They don't even have extra comments or descriptions on all the things they want
I don't think there is a better alterative at this time
This is sad video... Considering i might soon be in the 47% quitters group. Impossible to compete with sellers that have vendor central accounts.
I hear you. Explore all options
Love this video! Much respect!
So that's mean amazon is very hectic and difficult @Stevenpope
Always has been.
Steven pope 😔😔😔😔 very very hurt in my heart