Podcast Episode 186 – Massive Amazon Updates You Must Know Right this moment

Click on right here to subscribe to
the Full-Time FBA Publication

Again to the primary web page for The Full-Time FBA Present

Extra Episodes from the Full-Time FBA Present podcast:

Don’t miss an upcoming episode! Subscribe, obtain episodes, and evaluation the Full-Time FBA Present:

Episode 186 Transcript:

[INTRODUCTION]

[0:00:01.8] ANNOUNCER: Welcome to The Full-Time FBA Present. In every episode, it’s our purpose that can assist you flip part-time hours right into a full-time earnings, promoting nearly something on Amazon. Now, your hosts of the present, Stephen and Rebecca Smotherman.

[WELCOME]

[00:00:21] REBECCA: Whats up and welcome to a different episode of The Full-time FBA Present. Right this moment, now we have for you episode quantity 186. We’re going to be speaking about some massive Amazon updates that you have to know right this moment. Right here to speak about this with me is Stephen, my co-host at The complete-Time FBA Present.

[00:00:38] STEPHEN: We’ve obtained some massive updates to share. You may need heard about them, however we’re additionally going to provide our takes. Or perhaps you’re clueless and also you haven’t heard of them, however you’re going to get to listen to about them on right this moment’s episode of The Full-Time FBA Present.

[00:00:50] REBECCA: When you’ve been promoting on Amazon for any period of time, that Amazon is all the time updating issues. From the shopper expertise to the vendor expertise, Amazon makes updates right here and there as a way to enhance each experiences. As sellers, it’s debatable typically whether or not the adjustments that they’re making really enhance our experiences. However I feel that really is their purpose.

[00:01:12] STEPHEN: They’re attempting.

[00:01:13] REBECCA: They’re attempting. So with that mentioned, we’re going to be speaking right this moment about a few of these updates to just remember to know what Amazon has just lately carried out or will quickly be releasing so far as updates go. So that you could be listening to this in Might of 2023 after we launch this episode, otherwise you could be listening in October of 2026. If that’s the case, hey from the previous. How’s the longer term?

[00:01:38] STEPHEN: We’re nonetheless right here, proper?

[00:01:39] REBECCA: Simply so , a few of these updates may nonetheless be in impact while you hear for those who’re listening far out sooner or later, and a few of them may not. In order all the time, you should definitely do your due diligence earlier than taking motion on any of those updates.

Okay, Stephen, what’s the primary massive replace occurring proper now?

[00:01:54] STEPHEN: So replace primary, Amazon is including to pick out Amazon gross sales pages if the merchandise is a continuously returned merchandise. It’s rolling out, but it surely’s beginning to be seen a bit bit an increasing number of right here and there. So that you may need seen it. You may need not. Now, Amazon has all the time taken satisfaction in being probably the most customer-centric enterprise on the planet, and I feel they’re. This positively helps their case.

So on the gadgets on Amazon gross sales pages, the place Amazon has deemed them to be a continuously returned merchandise, there might be a light-weight orange field someplace beneath the primary product bullet factors that has the textual content, “Incessantly returned merchandise. Examine the product particulars and buyer evaluations to study extra about this merchandise,” which is Amazon’s manner of telling clients, Many individuals return this merchandise and complain about it. So be certain you’ve learn the shopper evaluations and what everybody else is complaining about or what they’re confused about so that you simply make shopping for resolution.

Prospects could be complaining that “The merchandise was quite a bit larger than I believed it was,” or, “It was quite a bit smaller than I believed it was.” Does the gross sales web page even have the scale on it? Is there measurement markings on the image of the merchandise? Is there a manner that the shopper can really know what measurement it was? In order that they perceive that clients complain about issues, and so they need to guarantee that they’re studying by way of evaluations. They need to guarantee that what the shopper is getting is what the shopper thinks they’re getting.

Amazon not solely did these things, however clients even have a greater purchasing expertise. However, in fact, it is going to be an enormous cash saver for Amazon due to the less returns of these things. I imply, there’s a ton of cash misplaced by Amazon due to returns. Now, Amazon does have the perfect return coverage on the planet. In truth, we did an entire episode on episode 30, fulltimefba.com/30, all about why the return coverage is wonderful from a reseller perspective for those who actually give it some thought.

Anyway, Amazon additionally hopes that this can even encourage sellers to replace and repair the gross sales pages to convey extra readability, to repair these product points, since there’ll most likely be much less gross sales on these things as they’re famous as frequent returns.

So that is what I did once I noticed that this was going to go on. I went into Vendor Central. I checked out my returns report. I began to see, okay, which gadgets do I get returned probably the most? I type of already know, however I needed to have a look at the precise information to make sure. So I checked out that, I went to the gross sales pages of the gadgets that we continuously have returned, and I didn’t see a sticker on it warning people who it’s a continuously returned merchandise.

Now, perhaps that function simply hasn’t rolled out to these gadgets. Or perhaps it’s simply not continuously returned sufficient as a result of who is aware of what continuously really means in Amazon’s eyes. In order that’s what I did. You’ll be able to type of do the identical factor together with your returns report back to see for your self.

[00:04:35] REBECCA: The second replace we need to let about is that Amazon’s additionally including one other new piece of data on choose product web page. That’s the product’s latest gross sales velocity. On a few of Amazon’s finest sellers, Amazon will say one thing like, “100 purchased within the final week,” or regardless of the gross sales velocity that that product is experiencing. Amazon appears to be doing this as a type of social proof to assist clients who’re on the fence of shopping for and perhaps pull the set off and click on add to cart, just because 100 different individuals bought the identical merchandise within the final seven days. I ought to too.

I can see each a possible upside and a draw back to this. The upside is for those who’re sourcing, you’ll be able to know for certain in regards to the latest gross sales velocity. Simply realize it’s a latest gross sales velocity. Maybe it was a Lightning Deal and was offered for manner much less final week than it’s being offered for now. The gross sales velocity was solely due to this sale. Simply be certain you verify the Keepa graph as all the time to see if the merchandise was a quick vendor just lately as a result of merely that the value was decrease or if it’s all the time constantly a quick vendor.

That is one thing that I’ve type of seen myself. I’ve observed this transformation on some completely different gadgets developing. Even within the search outcomes, it would present the gross sales velocity of the merchandise. There are some that I used to be fairly skeptical about when it mentioned 100 of those had been purchased within the final week. I used to be like, “Actually?” As a result of I understand how many now we have in inventory, and I understand how many different individuals have in inventory, and I’ve been retaining tabs on it. So I’m not actual certain of the accuracy of it. However hold going again to Keepa. When you want a easy Keepa intro coaching video, you should definitely try fulltimefba.com/readkeepa, and that may get you updated on learn how to learn these graphs as a way to discover out probably the most correct data.

Now, I mentioned there was additionally a draw back. I don’t understand how a lot this can really come into play. However the draw back is it does make some type of gross sales velocity data a bit bit extra accessible to different sellers. Now, not each vendor makes use of Keepa the way in which that you simply do since you’re a sensible vendor, and never everyone else out there’s a sensible vendor.

So if the gross sales velocity data is extra simply attained by different sellers, it would imply that folks are available in on an merchandise as your competitors extra recurrently or quicker however not essentially. There’s simply no technique to know. As I mentioned, there’s no technique to understand how correct it’s and even how a lot individuals are going to be taking note of that. So [those are] the potentials that we will see from it. Once more, too early to know for certain, however we simply needed to let as a way to regulate it identical to we’re maintaining a tally of it.

[00:07:01] STEPHEN: Sure. If this transformation sticks, once more, as a result of it’s simply issues Amazon is testing, if it sticks, I’m certain there’ll be instruments like RevSeller or different instruments that may discover a technique to get into Amazon’s API and perhaps even make it searchable, the place you’ll be able to see which gadgets on Amazon are having the sorts of gross sales velocity they’re experiencing. Who is aware of what’s going to occur? Simply regulate that potential replace because it’s coming and getting, rolling out.

Replace quantity three just isn’t actually an replace that Amazon is testing. It’s simply one thing Amazon is doing now that you simply positively have to know. It’s positively an replace on how Amazon is dealing with pretend product evaluations. Now, some sellers may know this. However the extra evaluations an merchandise will get, the upper that merchandise will get within the product search outcomes. After all, the upper it will get, the extra gross sales and all that enjoyable stuff. Verified evaluations are much more essential in getting an merchandise to indicate up on the primary web page of search outcomes.

Amazon has just lately filed over 10,000 lawsuits in opposition to Fb group directors of teams centered on producing product evaluations. In order that’s a factor. I didn’t even know that was a factor on the market. A few of that is largely for personal label sellers attempting to get evaluations for their very own personal label gadgets.

[00:08:09] REBECCA: I can say that I knew this was a factor as a result of because the admin of our group, we get individuals requesting to affix our group as a result of they need evaluations. I’m like, “Did you not learn the outline of this Fb group? That’s not what we’re about.” In truth, it says very prominently in our group guidelines that we don’t do evaluations, and we persist with Amazon’s phrases of service. Pretend evaluations are the epitome of in opposition to Amazon’s phrases of service.

[00:08:32] STEPHEN: Proper. So Amazon desires to guarantee that verified evaluations are like actual verified evaluations. These Fb teams on the market which might be providing individuals like, “Right here’s a coupon for 90% off for those who purchase my merchandise and go away me a verified evaluation.” That’s simply breaking the principles. Amazon doesn’t need that in any respect. Amazon has their feelers in nearly every little thing. In order that they perceive how issues work with these Fb teams.

Simply so , concerning these 10,000 lawsuits which have gone to Fb admins of teams about producing false product evaluations, Amazon is attempting to cease that. So for those who occur to be in any of those teams, get out as quickly as attainable. I imply, Amazon may internally hold monitor of the individuals in these teams and will come again to chunk you for those who’re not cautious.

As a rule of thumb, don’t ever attempt to recreation the system. It’s Amazon’s sandbox. We have to play by their guidelines. Otherwise you’re going to get kicked out, and Amazon even has methods to ensure. You don’t even need to attempt. “I’m simply going to enroll with a brand new e-mail handle.” No, it doesn’t work that manner. They monitor you in such a manner that you simply don’t even get one other probability in any respect. So don’t mess up. Amazon is a good, wonderful alternative to make some cash. So don’t break the principles and lose your alternative without end.

[00:09:47] REBECCA: Sure. This isn’t the primary time that Amazon has had insurance policies that have an effect on your Fb connections for evaluations, so far as evaluations go. We’ve heard prior to now of individuals having their purchaser or vendor account shut down as a result of they’d connections to individuals on Fb, who had been then stepping into and shopping for their merchandise and giving them pretend evaluations. Like legit mates, like not even simply from these Fb teams of strangers. However like they had been capable of see like, “Oh, your aunt Sally purchased this product after which gave you a evaluation. We will see that it’s your Aunt Sally since you’re mates on Fb.”

That type of stuff has been occurring for some time. So that is actually severe. You need to take it very critically as a result of your livelihood is connected to that Amazon vendor account, which can be connected to your Amazon purchaser account. So don’t attempt to do issues together with your purchaser account, considering that it gained’t have an effect on your vendor account. Simply know that for those who’re dedicated to this enterprise for the long run, you actually need to be defending your account.

[00:10:51] STEPHEN: So for those who’ve occurred to expertise one in every of your dad and mom shopping for one in every of your gadgets or a buddy shopping for one in every of your gadgets, and also you’re freaking out proper now, don’t fear. Take a deep breath. It’s okay. Amazon understands that that occurs a handful of occasions. But when abruptly there are mass numbers of mates leaving you suggestions or product evaluations, then that’s breaking the system and gaming the system. Sport over, you’re going to get kicked out.

[00:11:18] REBECCA: On that comfortable observe, these are simply the newest of the Amazon latest updates that we needed you to find out about. Once more, a few of these updates may stick and be right here for the long run. A few of them could be gone tomorrow or subsequent week. We don’t know. We don’t understand how a lot of that is simply testing out, how a lot of it they’ve already been testing, and so they’re simply rolling out. This isn’t a beta-type factor. They’ve examined it in beta already, and so they’re rolling it out for actual now. However these are simply issues we needed you to find out about and make sure that you’re conscious of, and that you simply’re doing the perfect for your enterprise due to these completely different updates.

One little factor we needed to ask you about earlier than we wrap up is a majority of these time-sensitive podcast episodes or not how we are inclined to often schedule our podcast content material. This one’s a bit bit completely different. We often attempt to have podcast episodes that apply regardless of while you obtain it — that may be useful for your enterprise for those who take heed to it six months or a yr or two years from now. This one, although, is extra time-sensitive to what’s occurring in Might of 2023.

The suggestions we’re wanting from you is to know do you want these sorts of time-sensitive updates, or do you favor the sorts of episodes which might be extra evergreen. If you need to go away us some suggestions, that will be tremendous useful. You would go to the podcast present notes of this episode and go away us a remark within the remark part. Go to fulltimefba.com/186 and simply tell us. Are you curious about listening to this kind of time-sensitive content material on a extra common foundation? That may be superior for those who might try this for us.

When you’re there, make sure that you’re subscribed to our e-newsletter. Go to fulltimefba.com/186. Go away us a remark. Then additionally subscribe to the Full-Time FBA e-newsletter that goes out each week. A few times every week, you will get an e-mail. It’s going to have a lot of hyperlinks and ideas for enhancing your enterprise. You get hyperlinks to different podcast episodes, to YouTube movies, weblog articles, all kinds of nice data for serving to you to earn a full-time earnings together with your Amazon FBA enterprise.

[00:13:26] STEPHEN: When you’ve been following us for the final week or so, you then already know that we opened up our Full-time FBA teaching program. So the one factor is right this moment at midnight, it closes. So if this can be a shock to you, and also you’re listening to this on Might 1st of 2023 when this episode dropped, you then nonetheless have time to join it. You’ll be able to go to fulltimefba.com/teaching for extra data.

Guess what? When you didn’t get the possibility to take heed to this on Might 1st of 2023, that’s okay. There’s an possibility for you. Go to that very same hyperlink, fulltimefba.com/teaching. You’ll be able to join an e-mail checklist the place we’ll notify you, once more, when the door is open to our teaching program, and that might be an possibility for you.

[00:14:12] REBECCA: Thanks a lot for becoming a member of us for this episode of The Full-time FBA Present. As a reminder, the present notes, any of the hyperlinks that we talked about, and the transcript for this episode might be discovered at fulltimefba.com/186.

[00:14:25] STEPHEN: Subsequent week on the present, we’re going to speak about how one can take care of damaging vendor suggestions. There are proper methods and unsuitable methods we’ll let you know about subsequent week on The Full-time FBA Present.

[OUTRO]

[00:14:37] ANNOUNCER: That’s all for this episode of The Full-Time FBA Present. So head over to fulltimefba.com/podcast the place you’ll discover the present notes and hyperlinks from this episode. When you’re there, subscribe to our e-newsletter the place you’ll get a number of free downloads of our widespread and useful Amazon FBA sources. Now, take motion on what you’ve realized right this moment, so you will discover success at turning part-time hours right into a full-time earnings with Amazon FBA.

[END]