There are millions of active Amazon users across the world, and with that comes plenty of highs and lows. We all know that Amazon has revolutionized the way people shop, as it offers consumers the chance to purchase items from across the globe. With one tap of a finger, people are gaining access to products and brands that aren’t available anywhere else – which is why Amazon has managed to corner the market and successfully grow. With such a large market, it’s not uncommon to come across unreliable sellers or products that don’t match their descriptions.
With this in mind, it is really important to stay clued up on all the right tips to be a good seller and captivate the market as best you can. No matter if you’re an Amazon selling professional, or just joining the platform for the first time – knowing how to make sure that customers shop safely is more important than ever. You should also think about protecting your Amazon account when creating any brand store on Amazon – because the bigger a seller you become, the more likely people will want to tamper with it.
With all that being said, Amazon itself is a longstanding trustworthy marketplace, but the variety of sellers on the platform may occasionally let it down. In this blog, we’ll break down everything you need to know to stay clued up on being a great seller – and how you can stand out in the crowded selling market.
How To Be a Seller on Amazon That Others Can Trust
Amazon shopping is truly convenient; it lets you add to your cart in an instant, and checkout with next-day delivery. But while the process is as smooth as can be, you are dealing with millions of sellers who may not always have a customer's best interest in mind. Trustworthy sellers care about their customers by offering a reliable service, and in turn – a reliable product. Here’s what to do before becoming a seller, to make sure you enter the market at the right time and in the right way.
1) Read Reviews and Look For Ratings
The first thing you should do when you’re looking to sell an item on Amazon is to find a similar product to yours, and then read the reviews. A seller’s feedback and rating is the one-stop method of assessing their past reliability, and in most instances is the main factor of whether you should—or should not—buy from them. Sellers who have ratings of 90% or higher are more likely to deliver a positive shopping experience. Look for reviews that cover the quality of the product, not just the service – and make sure that your product does this (and more!).
A big tip is to ignore the positive reviews that are written by the Amazon review program – as the reviewers usually leave a positive note in response to their discounted item. If a product has a mix of positive and negative, we recommend searching out the verified buyer ones from the selection, and assessing how your item compares.
If you’re looking to put extra effort into the seller profile you are creating, try ordering a few similar items to the ones you are producing or selling, to really get a good idea of the way you are treated as a buyer. If you aren’t sure of the legitimacy of the seller, then always pay using a card that has your security in mind. You should always try to choose the safest payment method when buying online anyway, but it’s no less important on Amazon.
This form of payment is what protects your personal information and your financial details, too – so take note of this when it’s your turn to sell online. The payment security is only really needed when you choose to purchase from third-party sellers on Amazon, as they aren’t fulfilled by the Amazon warehouse. This means that you are dealing with the companies directly, and therefore you never know what could happen.
2) Look for the Fulfilled by Amazon Badge
Not all sellers are fulfilled with Amazon – which is what you’re probably trying to work out before becoming a verified seller. When customers are looking for products, they usually locate the “Fulfilled by Amazon” (FBA) banner on the product page. This means that Amazon then handles all the packing, shipping, and returns process of an item – so they are guaranteed to have the same experience with every purchase through the FBA. These FBA products also usually arrive much faster than items shipped by private sellers, meaning that the FBA is the way forward in Amazon shopping.
If you are thinking of going down this route, we really recommend trying out the service and working out the difference between verified and non-verified. Not only will it stand out in terms of service, it will help you calculate whether the extra cost is worth it or not (FYI: It can be rather expensive for first-time sellers).
3) Review Product Listings
Another telltale sign of a good seller on Amazon is that the listings are accurate and up to date. Trustworthy sellers always put effort into their listings, and this may be through their product imagery, their brand story, and their brand store. All of these assets contribute to a strong profile and help customers get a better idea of the product they are selling.
When creating a listing yourself, compare it with others to make sure you include:
- Key product USPs and specifications
- High-definition images of all angles
- Important details such as sizing, materials, or compatibility (where applicable)
Whenever there is a listing that is incomplete or has images of low quality, this could indicate a bad seller or counterfeit product. Stay alert when looking for a legitimate seller, and make sure your profile is up to par when it comes to your turn.
4) Watch Out for Red Flags
There are millions of sellers on Amazon, all of which have different pros and cons. While we’ve given our top tips to becoming or spotting a trustworthy seller, it is also important to look out for some big red flags on Amazon.
Here are some red flags to steer clear of as a seller:
- Unrealistic low prices: As the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true – it usually is. People will think that buying your products is a risk, as they could be low-quality or counterfeit because of the lower price tag.
- No reviews: Reviews are Amazon's backbone, so try and be a seller with a good track record. New sellers without any reviews look riskier, so it’s best to err on the side of caution and fortify your product pages.
5) Last, but by No Means Least – Returns
Clear returns policies are another huge aspect of Amazon's world, and contribute to the overall experience with a seller. We always recommend to buyers that they should review the returns information for every product prior to purchase. This is because some third-party sellers offer returns policies that differ from Amazon’s standard. This includes paid returns, shorter timeframes, or non-returnable products, which in turn are difficult to work with if any issues arise.
When selling on Amazon, you need to think about what your customers want, and not your own interests. If selling is too big of a task, then sign up for the FBA program, as it helps customers feel more confident in buying from you – and does all the hard work for you at the same time.
In summary, Amazon is one of the biggest marketplaces in the world, which also makes it very safe – and that will never change. Just remember that starting off as a seller is just as daunting as being a buyer, because there will always be people with the wrong agenda. Do your research and make sure that you stand out from the crowd when starting an Amazon business. The market is extremely crowded, and you have to make the best impression in order to get seen.
