6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

newbie question, Amazon vs own site vs affiliate

by Sabes Ot
4 replies
  • ECOMMERCE
    • |
Hi all,

I have no ecommerce biz going on; just learning. I have come across a couple of travel products on Alibaba that are interesting and yes they are being sold on Amazon. So here is my thinking with all the questions:

-Wow this is a cool product---Well its already being sold on Amazon---What if I order it on Alibaba, set up my own site on Shopify and start selling that product on my site? (then I can add more related products down the road)----Or wait, what if I just do an affiliate to Amazon site, listing some of these niche products and having visitor buy on Amazon?

Yes, Im aware I would need to generate traffic to either my own store whether it be a direct sales store or as an affiliate. Affiliate.....does it need to have useful content besides just product listings? Affiliate would be "easier" I suppose.

Thanks!

S
#affiliate #amazon #newbie #question #site
Avatar of Unregistered
  • Profile picture of the author Kate H Smith
    Banned
    I'm not in this business, and don't know much about it, but my cousin and a client is following this exact business model too. I don't know whether it's allowed or not, but both of them are selling products as their own (not affiliate), and promoting them through PPC.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11222435].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Importexport
    Originally Posted by Sabes Ot View Post

    Hi all,

    I have no ecommerce biz going on; just learning. I have come across a couple of travel products on Alibaba that are interesting and yes they are being sold on Amazon. So here is my thinking with all the questions:

    -Wow this is a cool product---Well its already being sold on Amazon---What if I order it on Alibaba, set up my own site on Shopify and start selling that product on my site? (then I can add more related products down the road)----Or wait, what if I just do an affiliate to Amazon site, listing some of these niche products and having visitor buy on Amazon?

    Yes, Im aware I would need to generate traffic to either my own store whether it be a direct sales store or as an affiliate. Affiliate.....does it need to have useful content besides just product listings? Affiliate would be "easier" I suppose.

    Thanks!

    S
    Before you start - Do you know how to tell which of the thousands of suppliers on Alibaba claiming to be manufacturers really are, or are they like the great majority, just traders.

    If you want to buy at the best prices you must buy direct from the manufacturers, not from traders who buy from the manufacturers, add a big margin and sell to you. You can bank that extra margin yourself.

    Walter Hay
    Signature
    Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11223352].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author louisthechild
      Hey Walter, I do some FBA business so i have a general idea of how to spot a seller but would love to hear your input. I know that in general manufacturers are bad at marketing so its hard to find their listings. Would you recommend buying a directory or hiring a 3rd party?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11223361].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Importexport
        Originally Posted by louisthechild View Post

        Hey Walter, I do some FBA business so i have a general idea of how to spot a seller but would love to hear your input. I know that in general manufacturers are bad at marketing so its hard to find their listings. Would you recommend buying a directory or hiring a 3rd party?
        There are plenty of manufacturer selling on sites such as Alibaba, but the hard part is knowing who is who.

        Directories are pretty well useless, and although I have been asked countless times to supply lists of manufacturers I won't do so. People who follow the instructions in my book can do it for far less than you would pay for one of the fake directories.

        As for hiring a third party, the biggest problem is knowing who you can trust. In the majority of cases they are opportunists getting commissions from the sellers as well as from the buyers. That just adds to your cost, and you have no idea whether you have got the best price - usually you haven't.

        Have a look at my AMA thread: Ask Me Anything About Product Sourcing And Importing For Profit. ― Veteran Importer Here.

        Walter Hay
        Signature
        Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11223443].message }}
Avatar of Unregistered

Trending Topics