If you have been selling online and just set foot on the Amazon marketplace, you will likely notice that this platform provides a very different selling experience compared to other e-Commerce platforms. Amazon implements very strict policies and outlines in Amazon Seller Central the best practices new sellers and seasoned retailers should follow to avoid any mishaps in managing a store on Amazon.
If you are just starting out, we suggest that you steer clear from these common pitfalls to avoid possible account suspension.
Five most common Amazon seller mistakes
Amazon Seller Mistake 1: Weak Amazon Account Setup and Management
Setting up an account on Amazon is fairly easy – managing it properly and in accordance with Amazon’s policies might prove otherwise. Amazon aims to keep its focus on the customer shopping experience, and sad to say, sellers do not get that same level of attention the platform gives to potential buyers.
Usual Amazon seller mistakes in terms of account creation include: creating multiple seller accounts, linking your account to another seller account, forgoing the fundamental difference of Amazon to other platforms and managing it in the same manner as the others, and pointing Amazon shoppers to visit another online marketplace or website. With all that said, have a careful look at what you have been doing and ensure that you don’t commit any of these wrongdoings.
Amazon Seller Mistake 2: Poor Amazon Product Management
Having numerous products to sell at your disposal is a good thing for your business, but it can also lead to product mismanagement. This is especially true for cheap items you have purchased and wanted to sell at a much higher price. This manner of selling could potentially backfire because items sold at a very low price are usually made from cheap and substandard materials. They are practically a bunch of stuff waiting for negative reviews. Not to mention, you might be left with a huge inventory for any of these cheap items that won’t get sold.
In addition, product posting must comply with Amazon’s guidelines. Make sure that product titles, description, and bullet points include relevant information about the products, and do not contain any type of promo-related phrases.
Some of the product-related mistakes a seller can commit without realizing them involve: using false product information, selling counterfeit products, having too much inventory, indicating any kind of promotional offers or discounts in product titles and description, and using low quality or too small images.
Amazon Seller Mistake 3: Inadequate Logistics
Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) is Amazon’s very own logistics service, and not everyone makes use of this service. Some choose to handle their own fulfillment process and that is perfectly fine as sellers are welcome to choose which logistics service they prefer to use. However, merchant-fulfilled shipments are prone to slips such as high cost of shipping, missing inventory data and logistics details, and inaccurate delivery timeline. This doesn’t necessarily mean though that FBM (fulfilled by Merchant) is full of flaws nor is FBA without its cons. If you are wondering which fulfillment method is best for you, check out this blog post.
On the side note, wIth the outbreak of COVID-19, a lot of FBA sellers have shifted to the FBM program so they can adapt to Amazon’s non-stop policy changes and safeguard their business. Stay in the loop on what’s happening within the Amazon marketplace during the coronavirus pandemic through our weekly updates.
Amazon Seller Mistake 4: Ineffective Amazon Customer Service
Online shopping happens all the time – with or without COVID-19. Since your Amazon store is web-based and is also available for anyone in the world to see, you have no control or say of who’s going to visit or check out your product listing. Similarly, as an Amazon seller, it is impossible to be online 24/7 to answer all your customers’ and potential buyers’ inquiries. If you are an FBA seller, this should not be a problem as Amazon will handle the customer service for you.
In its mission to provide the best shopping experience for buyers, Amazon imposes its sellers to respond to customers’ inquiries within 24 hours. This same rule also applies on weekends and holidays, with no exceptions. Customer service-related lapses include slow response time to inquiries, customer disputes, lack of after-sales support, and not taking any advice from customers. If providing customer support seems challenging for you, you might want to consider selling through the FBA program.
Amazon Seller Mistake 5: Ignoring Amazon Feedback and Reviews
One of the best ways to check a seller’s legitimacy and the authenticity of the product is through the seller rating and product reviews. In fact, statistics show that the majority of online shoppers read reviews before making a purchase. Failure to collect reviews, be it positive or negative, is a wrong move when selling on Amazon.
Positive reviews will drive traffic to your product listing and increase your chances of turning casual onlookers to actual customers. On the other hand, negative reviews act as a mirror for your business and let you see how you can improve the way you handle your store, your products, and your customers. Just make sure positive reviews outshine the negative ones so you can be in a good position to turn leads into sales.
Email automation is the way to go if you want to boost your chances of getting rave reviews from your highly satisfied client base. SellerMobile has that tool to keep you connected with your customers and help you make a follow-up on your customer’s purchase to see if they could write you a review. Don’t ignore the opportunity to receive feedback for your listed products – let SellerMobile do the work for you. Contact us today or sign up for a 30-day free trial.
