"Is it true that Amazon requires a UPC for every item? How can I sell my one of a kind or antique item without a UPC?"
Amazon recently announced they would require UPC codes on products listed in their catalog:
Starting in August 2008, our systems will require a UPC for products listed in the Amazon.com Home and Garden store. Items without UPCs create challenges for both Amazon and our merchants, but more importantly, they degrade the shopping experience for our customers due to duplicate product listings and incorrect search matches. While we have always advised merchants to provide a UPC for each of their listings, we have not required it until now.
Items such as antiques, handmade items, or other items without a UPC can still be sold on Amazon.com. If you have such an item, and you have a Pro-Merchant account, you can still create a product description page using the Everything Else category. A word of caution though: If your item SHOULD have a UPC and there is a category specifically for it on Amazon, you may not use the Everything Else category as a work-around. In other words, don't try to cheat. Everything Else means "everything else" other than categorized items. Amazon is pretty strict about keeping the site well organized.
There are two things you can do to try to get around the UPC requirement. First, you can talk with a rep on the phone. If you've been frustrated with eBay phone support - you'll be happy with Amazon. From your Manage Your Inventory Page, in the upper right click "Seller Help" and have Amazon call you. Then ask them what you should do to be able to list your item.
Second, if you hit the UPC wall, you can email Amazon and ask for an exception to the rule for your product. There is a good chance you can get one if you make your case well. Be polite, and don't get nasty if you can't get an exception right now. They assure me they are working on a number of things to accommodate the large number of eBay sellers beginning to sell there. (I predict a "Collectibles" category in the future - you heard it here first.)
Here is some information directly from Amazon you should find helpful:
Currently, we require a Universal Product Code (UPC) or a European
Article Numbers (EAN) for many products submitted through our Create a
Product Detail Page feature. We require this identifying data for the
following products:
* Baby Products (UPC or EAN)
* Camera & Photo (UPC or EAN)
* Electronics (UPC or EAN)
* Home, Kitchen & Garden (UPC or EAN)
* Music CD or Cassette (UPC or EAN)
* Musical Instruments (UPC or EAN)
* Software (UPC or EAN)
* Tools & Hardware (UPC or EAN)
* Toys & Games (UPC or EAN)
* Video & DVD (UPC)
If the item you would like to sell falls under one of the categories
listed above and does not have the required product identifier, it
cannot be listed using the Create a Product Detail Page feature.
However, if the item being sold was manufactured or printed prior to
the establishment of UPC codes, you can write to our Seller
Performance group to request permission to create the catalog page
without the UPC. You can contact this department via email using the
following address:
seller-performance@amazon.com
For more information on obtaining a UPC or EAN, please contact:
Uniform Code Council Inc.
8163 Old Yankee Road, Suite J
Dayton, OH 45458 USA
Telephone: (937) 435-3870
http://www.gs1us.org
UPDATE: If you can find your item already listed by another seller, viola! You can piggy-back on their UPC. This may not help sellers of many one-of-a-kind items, but with so many items in the Amazon.com catalog, search for your product - even though unique - before giving up entirely.
Popularity: 57% [?]
eBay had the Q2 2008 earnings call yesterday. The first one with John Donahoe at the wheel. There were decreases. They were blamed on things such as removal of fakes (what?), the economy (shouldn't eBay do better when people are hunting for bargains?), and added supply, which lowers conversion rates (Buy.com?).
Do you suppose the fact that people are leaving for Amazon in droves may play a part? My eBook which teaches eBay sellers the basics of getting started on Amazon.com is called, "Selling on the River" and it's having great success. That tells me something.
Anyway, I got to thinking of all the talk of "taking the wheel," "roadmaps", and all that travel talk and imagined all the eBay executives on a road trip to Pittsburgh. I thought it'd be interesting to be a fly on the windshield (the inside) and listen to their conversations. It's all just below this cool graphic I made up just to help you imagine it too:
John Donahoe: See ya Meg! Thanks for everything!
(door slams - everyone giggles) "ROAD TRIP!" they all shout.
The car takes off with John, Lorrie, Rajiv, and Stephanie.
Lorrie Norrington: Pittsburgh here we come! John, you have the roadmap right?
John: Yep. Right here. Rajiv, you'll navigate okay?
Rajiv: I sure will. I have a new navigation system that will get us exactly where we want to go. It's called Best Match Navigation - I type in the city and it picks the right one every time! P-I-T-T-S...Hey! Got it already! Lets lock it in.
John: I'm pulling over for a minute, I should check under the hood.
Stephanie Tilenius: It seems like it's running fine. Are you a mechanic John?
John: No, but I've ridden in cars my whole life. - I'll be right back.
He lifts the hood, and comes back holding a couple of dirty, well-used parts between his index finger and thumb (as if they stink). He seems disgusted.
John: I don't know who left this stuff under the hood, look how dirty! Yuk. Lets toss them out.
Lorrie: Don't we need them? It seemed like the car was running fine.
John: Nawwww! Listen. The car is running, lets go. You know? I think I'm going to make some more changes to this old girl. It might slow us down a little for awhile, but just wait - you'll see. It's gonna be a LOT better once I'm done.
As they go further, they notice the car slowing down. A lot of noise starts coming from the engine. To make matters worse, they don't seem to be getting closer to Pittsburgh.
John: Well just like I said, we're slowing down. But it's going to speed up any time. Why are people waving and yelling at us? They seem mad...is that smoke? Lorrie do you smell anything?
Lorrie: Let's stop for a sec. Stephanie and I are going to look under the hood too. Rajiv, could you double-check the Best Match nav system? Something doesn't look right. Be right Back!
More noises and clunking under the hood. Lorrie comes back with more parts from the engine. Stephanie has masking tape, paint, and a fender.
Stephanie: That did some good. You won't recognize this car by the time we get to Pittsburgh. It's looking great!
Rajiv (annoyed, from the back seat): Didn't I type in Pittsburgh? Because we're heading to PittsFIELD! Crap. Let me try again... P-I-T-T-S...
Lorrie: John, look at all those people - they're waving and yelling at us. They're upset, oh we've driven over their lawns, ooops, I think we hit someone's store too. Well, we don't have time to stop and talk, they'll figure out what happened when they try to open for business tomorrow.
John: Yeah, it's just a lot of noise. Let's keep going. This car is really slowing down. Look at that boat right there on the River - it's passing us!
Rajiv: Grrr! I can't believe this thing! This nav system is not working right at all, we're gonna have to turn up here John, that sign says Pittsville not Pittsburgh. Gheez, this is frustrating! I'll try again...P-I-T-T-S...
John: Whew! It's getting hot in here - and what is that NOISE? Rajiv, where did you get that stupid navigation system? eBay? Hahaha!
(Everyone laughs - except Rajiv.)
Rajiv: No I bought it from you John, remember? You tried selling it on eBay and the buyer never paid. Don't you remember? They left you negative feedback.
(Now no one is laughing...)
John: Well, it seems like the noise is dying down. In fact - a bunch of those people are getting on that boat. Goooood riddance!! Troublemakers. What River is that by the way?...
(Cell phone rings)
Stephanie: Hey John, there is some kind of analyst on the phone - he wants to know why you're going so slow.
John: Tell him, uhhh, tell him we're going slow because of the weather. Things will be picking up very soon though, what we've been doing is working. Tell him that.
(She tells him.)
Stephanie: Ok, he said he thought this car was designed to do good in this weather.
John: Uhhmmmm, tell him we took some of the fake parts off the car, and now it's going a lot slower, it's going to get better. We'll just keep doing what we're doing.
(She tells him.)
Stephanie: He said it seems like the car would do better after removing the fakes. He wants to know if...
Suddenly, John grabs the phone from Stephanie and throws it out the window.
John: There. Too much noise. Lets just hold the course. This thing will pick up. Hey, if we tried getting on the River, maybe we could move a little faster. We need to be more like that boat. Can you even see that boat anymore?
Rajiv: (exasperated) You know what? This is ridiculous! This Best Match doesn't work. This isn't Pittsburgh, it's just the PITTS! I'm getting out. John, stop the car. Nevermind we weren't moving...
I'll see you guys, I'm walking.
As Rajiv walks into the sunset, and traffic increases on the River...John, Lorrie, and Stephanie can be seen asking a passing trucker for a lift. The big truck he's driving says Buy.com on the side...hmmmmm.
Find out more about "the River" - Learn to sell on Amazon.com at www.SellingOnTheRiver.com
Popularity: 79% [?]
Even with high gas prices people are still planning on taking a little time for themselves this summer. If you're an Amazon seller, you may not know you can give your listings a vacation too.
Amazon.com is very strict about sellers shipping within two business days of a sale. That will likely become a problem if you have sales while you're away this summer. Vacation settings can help ease your mind as you relax.
How to Set Your Amazon Vacation Settings
To set your Listing Status to "On Vacation," follow these steps in your Seller Account:
1. Click "Store Settings" in the Settings section.
2. In the Vacation Settings section, click the Edit button.
3. Click Start your Vacation.
NOTE: Allow 36 hours for the changes to take place. It's best to set your vacation settings 48 - 72 hours before you leave to be sure there are no outstanding orders. (It never fails that someone will order something as you're trying to get out the door. Plan ahead.)
To set your Listing Status to "Active," follow these steps in your Seller Account:
1. Click "Store Settings" in the Settings section.
2. In the Vacation Settings section, click the Edit button.
3. Click End your Vacation.
Expect the same delay of up to 36 hours to see all of your inventory again. If you are an Amazon Pro-Merchant, you will still be charged for your monthly subscription, even if you have your listings on vacation.
That's it. Now enjoy your hard-earned vacation.
If you'd like to learn more about getting started as a seller on Amazon, buy Selling on 'the River' here.
Popularity: 31% [?]
Since I'm an ex-printer, I like printed things. That's why I love books and posters. When I first became interested in Amazon.com I took a look at my own book collection and found I didn't have much in the way of valuable books. I received an email last week from a reader who had the same experience. He purchased Selling on 'the River' and was disappointed to find penny booksellers selling the same titles he wanted to sell. He said,
Hi Steve
As you can see, I bought your book, and found it a fascinating read - I got quite excited!
However... I got a shock when I checked out some of my treasured personal books on Amazon and found they were for sale for $0.01. The same books were on offer at ABE Books for $1.00.
Question?... How does anyone make any money at those prices?
You state in your book that professional sellers hate the 1cent sellers, but there are dozens, hundreds +++ of books being sold by large book sellers at that measly price. I'm totally at a loss as to whether it is worth the effort to locate and sell books.
Any suggestions Steve, as to the way to handle this situation of minuscule prices?
I replied with this, and I thought it could be helpful to you all,
Thanks for buying my book. I had the same reaction when I dug through my personal collection of books. It seems some of them are not as scarce as I’d thought.
I often buy books by the box at garage sales here. I find that the mass-produced books are the least likely to bring a profit. But often I find at least one or two that are a little less common. I just found two books yesterday (at $2 each) that are listed for over $25 on Amazon.
As for the penny booksellers – I have sold two books this week for over $5 with other sellers listing along side me at much less. I try to be funny or clever in the condition comments to catch the shopper’s eye and it seems to work. Price the books for what they’re really worth and they will still sell.
When choosing books to sell though, it’s generally best to look for non-fiction, and titles that deal with very specific subjects. For example, when I look through a bunch of cookbooks, I look for “vegetarian”, or “how to make sausage”, instead of general cookbooks. I never buy anything published by National Geographic, Readers Digest, or Time/Life because there are likely a ton of them out there already. In non-fiction I look for books written for specific niche markets, often the author is a PhD and is writing to other PhDs.
I made nearly $100 yesterday on Amazon with used books that I think I paid about $5 for. So they are out there. You might want to check a site called www.theAuctionRebel.com for some inspiration. He has done quite a bit with books and even has a couple of reports you can download.
After taking my advice, I received this reply the following day (which made me feel like a proud poppa):
I got your message loud and clear, Steve - thanks for taking the trouble.
This old guy has just got smarter. I went to a s/h dealer who sells books for $1 each and picked up five, and one at an Op shop for 50c.
Checking on Amazon gives me a reasonable sell for each of:-
$15; $10; $30; $60; $10 - not bad eh!
Thanks also for the link - I've had a quick look and will go into the site in more depth later.
There's a lot out there, learn to sell on Amazon and get to it!
Popularity: 16% [?]
