eBay Changes Manufacturer's Coupon Policy

Did you know you can sell grocery coupons on eBay? Well, technically, you aren't able to sell the actual coupon, you are selling your time to find, clip, and mail the coupon for the buyer. eBay has had a pretty liberal policy for selling coupons, but recently a few things have changed due to the growing problem of grocery coupon fraud. Here are the new rules:

You may sell up to $100 or 25 valid, unexpired, original coupons per month.

You can't sell more than 25 coupons in a single listing. The allowed 25 coupons per month include multi-quantity listings.

Make sure you clearly state in your description how many coupons you're selling. If eBay can't tell how many coupons are offered, the listing violates their policy.

Coupons for "free" products: You can't sell coupons for "free" items.

Electronic "scanned" coupons: All coupons sold through eBay must be physical coupons printed on paper, not coupons that can be sent electronically to the buyer to be printed. 

Read the full eBay policy here.

Now, if you aren't a coupon seller, maybe you are a coupon buyer? You don't have to be a black belt couponer to reap the benefits of using grocery coupons for either personal or business purposes. I have purchased grocery coupons online for years, and coupons were a big part of my eBay UK health and beauty business. Now, I sell a lot of groceries on Amazon, most of which are repeatable and I replenish every week. (Check out my Amazon Grocery Class here.)

Think about it - if you are buying the same items over and over again, and you know in advance what you will be buying because you know what sells, why not plan for those purchases by stocking up on coupons to cut your costs? I can save about $50-$100 a week on my Amazon grocery purchases by planning ahead and keeping a well-stocked coupon stash with me when I go shopping.

Let's say I sell this Jergen's Glow Moisturizer on Amazon, and I sell 10 a month. I can get the coupon below for 15 cents from the Coupon Clipper site, and it saves me $1.25 on each unit.

My net savings after I redeem the coupon is $1.10 per unit, or $11 a month. Now multiply that effect with 20-30 different items and you can see the reduction in your inventory cost. So, buy planning ahead and buying coupons for items I already know sell, I can reduce my cost.

I purchase grocery coupons from eBay or from coupon sites such as The Coupon Clippers or Select Coupon. Resources for finding inventory, and reducing inventory cost are all around you!


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Money Magazine Survey - Amazon Ranked Highest Overall by Online Sellers

In the May 2013 May issue of Money Magazine, there is an article titled "Getting the Best Price for Your Castoffs" that explains the differences between different online marketplaces. Choosing the right venue is the key to getting the best price for your item. Based on the 2013 Sellers Choice Survey provided by Ecommerce Bytes, Amazon scored the highest overall, and the highest for profitability and communication.

Many eBay sellers understand that eBay is limited in its capacity to help them sell items online. eBay is definitely the best venue to sell collectibles, one of a kind items, and items truly limited in number such as event tickets or autographed items. Also, since Amazon restricts some categories, and most sellers are not approved in those categories, items like clothing, shoes, jewelry, automotive items, and electronics will have to go on eBay. Amazon is best for used and new media (with the exception of rare, collectible, or very high priced items), retail items including health and beauty items, toys, groceries, office supplies, and other consumer goods new in the box or new in the package. Most sellers who sell on both sites will agree that Amazon's payment system has a lower "hassle factor," and the explosive growth of both the Amazon FBA System and the number of Prime Buyers are fueling their Amazon businesses nicely.

Understanding the different marketplaces and choosing the right one for your item will help you make more money and save time in the long run. In fact, Money Magazine quoted me on this (page 32):

Many of you reading this are striving to make online selling a significant income stream, or maybe your only source of income so that you can enjoy more freedom and flexibility in your own life. Knowing how to sell on both eBay and Amazon will help you reach that goal. Once you are proficient in selling on both sites, the world will open up to you and you will have more opportunities to sell items no matter where you find inventory. For example, I source items from just about everywhere including garage sales, thrift stores, retail stores, closeout stores, Craigslist, online retailers, eBay to sell on Amazon, Amazon to sell on eBay, etc. Selling online is a skill that you must develop and practice, and the more you know about how to sell online, the more successful you will be, and the more money you will make.

If you are an eBay seller and haven't tested the Amazon waters yet, here are a few FREE resources to get you started:

Podcast - Getting Started on Amazon

Free eBook - 90 Day Amazon Experiment

Amazon Help - How to List an Item on Amazon

If you are dabbling with Amazon and want to get more serious and take your business to the next level, you may want to enlist the help of an experienced seller to help you. Hiring an expert can save you time, money, frustration, and help you succeed faster than if you had to figure out the business on your own. I have been selling on Amazon since 2009, have sold over 25,000 items, and have learned a lot about this business by trial and error, experimentation, and spending time doing things that didn't work. I offer the following services to help you learn the Amazon business:

Amazon FBA Recipe for Success (downloadable course)

How to Make Money on Amazon Selling Toys (downloadable multimedia course)




The opportunities provided by ecommerce will only continue to grow as technology continues to advance and consumers continue to consume. Be prepared so you can seize this opportunity to make money from the comfort of home.

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Source for eBay and Amazon Inventory - Your Local Library Branch

Did you know that some library branches sell books all year long and not just for the regularly scheduled library sales? Many library systems have books for sale all the time as an ongoing fundraiser for the FOL (Friends of the Library). These can be ex-library books as well as donations made by patrons. Many of the books are like new and have never been on the library shelf as patrons like to support the FOL and make regular donations of gently used media items. The library system where I live sells used books for 25 cents and magazines for 10 cents. (The sign above is from one branch I visit.) I've noticed that donated books sold at the library are often in better condition than in thrift stores - maybe because there is less handling by fewer people? Libraries also might sell other media such as DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and VHS tapes. Here are a few books I've sold this month that were sourced for 25 cents at a library near me:

Vegan Cooking for Carnivores sold for $16.99 on Amazon.

 

The Primal Blueprint sold for $12.50.

You can also find gently used magazines for sale. You may not be aware that current (within 12 mos) magazines sell for a nice price on eBay. Magazines don't have to be vintage to have resale value. What is important here is the celebrity on the cover. If a celebrity is popular or in the news, the magazine will be more valuable. Here are some recent eBay sales to demonstrate:

Men's Health March 2013 - Adam Levine on Cover, sold for $9.95

Ladies Home Journal March 2013 - Mariska Hargitay on Cover, sold for $9.99

GQ February 2013- Beyonce on cover, sold for $19.99.

Now you won't make any money if you buy these off newstands and try to resell. But you can make money if you get these mags cheap at libraries, garage sales, or thrift stores, or free from other sources. You can also ask others who have magazine subscriptions to save these for you instead of tossing them in the recycling bin. (I've already recruited my chiropractor and naturopath to save theirs!) The key to making money on anything you resell is what you pay for it. You make your money when you buy, not when you sell. And you can't beat free inventory if you are willing to seek it out! If you aren't sure to research how much something sells for on eBay, check out this video on how to look up values on both a computer and the eBay Mobile App. You can easily figure this out while browsing garage sales, thrift stores, or media for sale at the library.

Also keep in mind that magazines cannot be shipped USPS Media Mail because they contain advertising. The most cost effective way to ship is in a USPS Flat Rate mailer. Also, make sure you are offering books and media internationally. Not sure how to ship an eBay item to worldwide customers? Check out my eBay International Shipping Tutorial.

If you have not started selling media on Amazon, it is a fairly easy process. Media, especially books, are consistent sellers, easy to find, cheap, and easy to pack and ship. Check the resources below to get started today!

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Niche Products – School Supplies

It’s June! That means graduation, end of the school year, and the start of summer vacation. It also means the start of the school supplies buying season. Many parents and teachers are beginning to prepare for the next school year…yes, already. This is the perfect time for sellers to start doing the same.

Is it too early? Not at all. There are many school systems throughout the country that will begin the new school year as early as July 9th. What will the students need? Take a look at the websites of your local schools. That will give you an idea of where to start. Many teachers will post the supply list of the class online. Some items that will be needed are:

• Notebooks (consider selling in bundles) 
• Lunch boxes or bags 
• Backpack or book bags (Looks for unusual prints and patterns) 
• Matching Backpack and Lunch box Set 
• Calculators (Used ones in great condition will do well) 
• Kleenex 
• Tupperware-like containers 
• Hand sanitizers 
• Tennis balls (Many schools use them on the legs of chairs to protect the floors) 
• Lysol wipes 
• Pet supplies and toys (We can’t forget about the class pet!) 
• Pencils and pens 
• Clothes 
• Shoes 
• Computers
• Box tops 

For smaller items like pencils and pencil cases, consider selling them in bundles. And let’s not forget that August is the beginning of college life for many students. Look for items that a student will need as he or she moves into a dorm for the first time. Items like bedding, extra long twin sheets, pouches that allow you to carry an ID card and other cards on a key chain or lanyard, laptop cases, items with college or mascot images, MP3 players, and textbooks will be needed.

August is also the beginning of tailgating season for college football fans everywhere. Look for items that can help the college football fan show which team they love. Car flags, grill covers, apparel, and tailgating supplies are items to consider. Watch stores like as Staples, Office Depot, and Best Buy for deals as they get ready for the back to school season.

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What Should I Sell on Amazon, and Where do I find It?

I receive this question daily from both readers and clients. There are infinite answers to this question depending on many different factors. I wanted to share a few items that I was successful selling on Amazon this holiday season, just to show how diverse your product line can be. Also keep in mind that I am a real person out there selling, just like you, every day.

K-Y Touch Massage Variety Pack. I found this on clearance at grocery stores last summer. My cost was between $5 and $9. This item sold on Amazon for between $29 and $32. I sold 50 of these between August 1 and December 31:


Here is the info on my last sale, so you can see the selling price:


I was also able to find this item online and bought out the seller. (Not on Amazon, another site.) This product is now discontinued. I was the only seller for most of the 4 months I offered this item for sale. Profit on this item averaged $13. Total profit $13 x 50 = $650. You can click here to see that this item is currently unavailable on Amazon.



Sonic Scrubber Power Cleaning Tool. I found these on clearance at grocery stores, hardware stores, and home improvement stores for between $6 and $13. Selling price was up to $44.95. I sold 45 of them between August 1 and October 31:


Here is the info on my last sale, so you can see the selling price:

My average profit on this item was $24. Total profit was $24 x 45 = $1,080. You can click here to see that this item is currently unavailable on Amazon. This product has been discontinued which explains the exorbitant price buyers paid.

Black and Decker Rechargeable Spotlight. I found these last fall at Tuesday Morning for $14.99. These were in the "boring automotive section," but because the brand is Black and Decker, I took a chance. Selling price was between $42 and $46. I sold 13 of them between September 1 and December 31:


Here is the info on my last sale, so you can see the selling price:


Average profit per item was $24. Total profit $24 x 13 = $312. This product has not been discontinued and you can find it on Amazon here.

So as you can see, selling on Amazon FBA is much more than just selling books or selling items from Big Lots and competing against other sellers for a few dollars profit. My profit on these 3 items alone was $2,042 over a 4 month period - and this is just 3 items! In fact, these 3 products paid my mortgage for 2 months. That is how exciting selling on Amazon can be!

Open your mind, experiment, and take some risks in 2012 - Amazon is waiting for you!

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