Sell on Amazon and eBay: HonestOnlineSelling.com

Podcast Here: Your Questions, Answered.

2012-01-25T15:21:00.001-05:00

Last week I invited your questions about making money in 2012.

I made a podcast (with the answers to your questions), below (totally free for you, about 72 minutes long). Press 'Play' or download it (mp3) directly to your computer/device via this link).

In some parts I mention web addresses, I listed the corresponding time they are mentioned (hh:mm:ss) below the podcast (scroll down)

Please post your feedback (click the 'Comment' link below this post) and let me know what you think.

Thanks to everyone who contributed...

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00:00:01 to 00:03:15 Introduction - Jordan's background

URLs mentioned:
FBAFinds.com
HonestOnlineSelling.com
FBADeals.com
ResellToys.com
ResellBlackFriday.com

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00:06:35 to 00:08:30 - Providing local marketing services ('offline' marketing)
URLs mentioned:
OfflineBiz.com (free to sign up.)

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00:06:35 to 00:08:30 - Selling Clothes on ebay

URLs mentioned:
http://www.eBay.com
http://www.etsy.com

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00:08:35 to 00:10:20 - MLM (Multi-level- Marketing)

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00:10:30 to 00:11:30 - Selling Jewelry
URLs mentioned:
Etsy.com

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00:11:30 to 00:14:45 - Selling Books on Amazon

URLs mentioned:

Neatsocan.com (subscription with Amazon pricing data, requires PDA Setup (next link):

Jordan's Recommended PDA/Scanner setup for Neatoscan
FBAScout.com

http://www.FBAFinds.com
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00:14:50 to 00:19:20 - Amazon buyer feedback

URLs Mentioned:
http://www.FeedbackFive.com (use code 'JBMALIK' to extend the free trial from 14 days to 28 days)

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00:25:38 to 00:33:20 - Building a residual income

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00:23:35 to 00:25:35 - Simple/Easy ways to get started selling on eBay/Amazon

URLs Mentioned:
www.WhatCanIsellNow.com - Sell on eBay:(If you are already selling on eBay, buy this guide to figure out what to sell)) - get 50% off with coupon code JBMALIK through February 28, 2012

www.SellFBA.com/jm.html (Free) - Sell on Amazon (if you are just starting selling on Amazon.com)

www.FBADeals.com (Free) - Sell on Amazon (if you have already read the previous free guide).

http://www.officialgeezerguide.com/ - If you're starting from 'Zero', Skip McGrath's Geezer series.

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00:25:38 to 00:33:20: Feedback on Amazon lacking; How do you grow/expand Amazon selling business?

URLs Mentioned:

http://www.Feedbackfive.com - Get more Feedback (use coupon JBMALIK) for an extended trial period

http://paydotcom.net/r/93810/jbmalik/26795322/ - My #1 resource for finding very inexpensive used books, CDs, DVDs, etc, to resell on Amazon for 300%+ Return on Investment (ROI).

http://www.booksalesfound.net/ - My #1 resource for finding libraries that sell books

http://www.craigslist.org - list free 'wanted' ads for merchandise

http://www.freecycle.org - list free 'wanted' ads for merchandise

Listtee.com - Amazon.com product Listing programs (used to quickly list items on Amazon)

FBAPower.com - Like Listtee.com, Amazon.com product listing program (see above).

ResellToys.com: Contains list of toys you can find locally to resell on Amazon; also gives you 'how to' steps to creating a Craigslist and/or Freecycle.org WANTED ad (to get inventory 'coming to you')

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00:33:30 to 00:36:00 - What to do when Amazon damages your inventory (FBA)

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00:36:00 to 00:40:30 - Why FBAFinds.com focuses mostly on Toys; what other categories work

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00:40:45 to 00:42:00 - What quantities to buy when FBAFinds.com recommends a product to resell on Amazon; why Diversification is key

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00:42:00 to 00:45:00 - Price changes on Amazon, how to handle; how to use a repricer

URLs mentioned:
Repriceit.com
FBAFinds.com

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00:45:20 to 00:47:30 - Why FBAFinds.com recommends toys for reselling - Why not Automotive? Clothing?

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00:48:00 to 00:49:00 - Should I ever have an item sent back to me (from Amazon.com FBA warehouse)
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00:49:05 to 00:51:30 - What about dropshipping?

URLs mentioned:
http://www.mysilentteam.com/public/ECommerce_Site_Training_with_Mark_Mathis.cfm

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00:51:45 to 00:54:00 - fulfilling/shipping sold merchandise from home (amazon)

URLs mentioned:
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/fbacalc/fba-calculator.html

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00:54:00 - 00:55:00 - Self-fulfilling beauty products/Hazmat
URLs mentioned:
biglots.com (brick-and-mortar stores, not online purchases).

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00:55:00 - 01:01:00 - How to distinguish yourself among other Amazon sellers

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01:00:00 - 01:00:52 - Does a blog help with Amazon.com product sales?

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01:00:52 - 01:06:00 If I had to recommend one - EITHER FBAScout (tool to see Amazon selling data for items when you are scouting) OR Pro Merchant (Amazon.com selling subscription), which one would I pick?

URLs mentioned:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=1161306 (Amazon.com pro merchant description/comparison)
FBAScout.com

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01:06:05 to 01:07:45 - What to do with books that are sitting on Amazon's FBA warehouses (inventory) that have not sold in a long time)

URL Mentioned (Amazon.com fees for removing your inventory):
Here.

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01:07:50 to 01:10:00 - How to find items to Sell on Amazon.

URLs mentioned:
Neatsocan.com (subscription with Amazon pricing data, requires PDA Setup (next link):

Jordan's Recommended PDA/Scanner setup for Neatoscan

FBAScout.com

http://www.FBAFinds.com

Totally Free (for Amazon Prime Customers): My Highly-Recommended e-Book on Selling on Ebay and Amazon

2012-01-20T10:20:00.000-05:00

100% FREE Today (if you have Amazon Prime) and Highly recommended e-book (I've read it and it's one of the best books covering the subject of selling stuff on Amazon and eBay) .This free e-book is for the Kindle. No Kindle? No problem - you can view it right in your web browser - see this video (NO SOUND) that shows you how I did it.

How to Earn Income in 2012: Your Questions, My Answers

2012-01-16T11:51:00.004-05:00

Hi Online Sellers - Do you have a question about Earning an income or growing your online business in 2012? Submit them to me at HonestOnlineSelling @ gmail . com (remove all spaces). In a few days I'll post a podcast here answering the best questions.If you want to pick my brain about what I think is going to work well in 2012, or how to get started with virtually anything related to making money online, now's your chance!-Jordan

How to Use Amazon FBA To Fulfill Your eBay Orders

2012-01-13T18:03:00.000-05:00

eBay Brings the Fluffy Bun, It's Just Missing Something...

2012-01-11T11:52:00.003-05:00

eBay did a fluffy, "Ain't Life Grand!" video about an eBay Seller. It's heartwarming and fuzzy and all, but there's something glaringly missing (I'll tell you below the video).

Did you see what's missing?

If you answered "WHAT are they selling to make money?", you're right!

eBay won't tell you but I have the answer: my personal favorite resource for finding eBay Items to sell. It's a HUGE (400+-page) e-guide that tells you exactly what high-profit items you can find in your neighborhood, to sell on eBay. You can get 50% off this e-guide (for a limited time) when you enter coupon code 'JBMALIK' (without the quotation marks) at checkout.

I'm also double-backing the 100% money back guarantee - if you ever have problems with the guarantee (you won't because the author is credible), contact me via this blog and I'll refund you personally.

I brought the Bison Burgers and the blowtorch....

-Jordan Malik
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com & FBAFinds.com

About Customer Returns, What to Do

2012-01-10T12:02:00.000-05:00

If you look close at this screen shot of my 2011 Holiday sales on Amazon.com, you'll see a 6% return rate in December.

Remember those returns do not include returns Amazon will receive in January (for my buyers' Nov-Dec purchases). I'm expecting my return rate overall to be about 8%.

I don't know if that's high or not compared to other sellers. Anyway I can explain why mine isn't a 'perfect zero':

> The buyer had remorse or the recipient returned it for something else;

> At least 50% of the inventory I sell is 'not new' (i.e. Amazon makes sellers choose conditions like 'Collectible - Very Good' for Toys; or 'Used-Very Good' for books/CDs/DVDs.)

The problem with selling 'not new' items is that buyers' expectations can be different from my selection of condition.

So for Amazon sellers - When you're listing your 'not new' inventory, the safest way is to select the item condition that is one level 'lower': So if I have an item I think is 'Like New' I'll usually select 'Collectible-Very Good' instead.

For eBay sellers - certainly don't try to pass off a used item as 'New', and include lots of pictures so the buyer knows exactly what to expect.

My Tips for Dealing with Returns

I've seen many sellers completely freak out over returns and they end up haggling with the customer.

My advice:

> For any item under $50, don't haggle or ask the customer to ship it back - just give them their money back. It's just not worth it (more on that below). The customer will be delighted and will likely leave you positive feedback (and/or remove his/her negative feedback left for you).

> For items priced $50 to $100, offer a partial refund (50-75%) if they're unhappy. Of course if the item is broken or defective, you should refund them promptly (don't wait for them to return it to you, but definitely ask them to return it)

> For items priced over $100, you should offer a partial refund (50-75%) if they're unhappy. Use your discrection but I would wait for the item to be returned first if they want a full refund.

My Reasoning for "Don't Haggle, Just Refund Them"

The reasons why I refund a customer right away if they are unhappy with a $50-or-under item:

> In most cases, the buyer is honest and truly dissatisfied, I don't think they're out for a freebie (and I really want to please the customer - shouldn't we all?); AND

>I think sellers' time is too valuable to have to negotiate (for instance): who's paying the return shipping; what to do with the item when it's returned; take time to inspect/repair/relist the item; decide how much to refund the customer; etc. If you add up all the time invested in dealing with a return, we (sellers) could be using that time to scouting for new products to sell.

There are some exceptions, of course, but in general, it's better to refund the customer and tell them to keep the item. Anything else is just not worth the time investment.

Do you agree/disagree? I want to hear from you! Click 'Comments' below.

My Crazy Amazon & eBay Selling Predictions for 2012

2011-12-30T12:50:00.002-05:00

Disclaimer: My predictions are pretty much 50/50% hit miss. You may have predictions of your own, so feel free to click 'Comment' at the end of this post.

Whatever happens, I think 2012 is going to be another exciting year for online sellers.

> Tens of thouands more legitimate sellers will join Amazon, but more Amazon shoppers will also join Amazon Prime. (The influx of Amazon Prime customers means more customers 'buy more stuff' on Amazon because 2-day shipping is free with the membership). This will keep seller competition marginally better or worse vs 2011.

> eBay will continue to dwarf Amazon in overall sales, but they will lead in sales made from mobile devices. Thus, eBay sellers of clothes, shoes, collectibles, and cell phones/PDAs will witness steady or stronger sales (vs. 2011), as those categories comprised the top mobile purchases made on eBay AND (more importantly) Amazon restricts or disallows most mom-and-pop sellers from selling nin those same categories.

> eBay sales of most small appliances, kitchen items, and housewares will be almost nonexistant (as I saw steep declines during the holidays of 2011), especially when compared to Walmart.com, JCPenny.com, BestBuy.com and Amazon.com.

> eBay will continue to be a boon for sellers of vintage items, collectibles, and antiques (get 50% OFF my #1 Resource e-guide for these items, when you use code JBMALIK at checkout). I say 'boon' because many eBay sellers have migrated to Amazon, Etsy, or have just plain given up. That leaves plenty of room for savvy sellers who know what to buy and sell on eBay. eBay is still my #1 choice for selling collectibles, vintage items and 1-of-a-kind items that are PLENTIFUL in this 'world of stuff' (and Amazon.com is NO place to sell those).

> Amazon.com seller commission fees will inch up a little again, by the end of the year. Although Amazon is seemingly always deliberately careful not to upset its sellers, it will find tiny, incremental ways to increase revenue via its 3rd party seller/marketplace channel, and I see some fees increasing nominally (in addition to their scheduled 2012 fulillment fee increase).

> A major online retailer will compete against Amazon FBA (your guess is as good as mine, but it will likely be someone like eBay, Walmart or Google). That's good for us because there will be (finally) another viable selling channel that gives online merchants access to lots of buyers.

> More seller tools will crop up, and all will become easier to use. When I compared FBAPower to Listtee.com, I got really blasted by a well-respected online marketer (whom I can't name, sorry). But I critqued FBAPower becase it had some glitches (that were still there the last I checked) which a.) made my Amazon inventory disappear, and b.) incorrectly priced items at $0.00 (which were ultimatedly sold on Amazon for $0.00). I know Chris Green (FBAPower/Scout founder) is very smart and he provides generally helpful tools for Amazon sellers, but as another seller said in an online help forum (I'm paraphrasing): "we have to stop thinking that FBAPower and FBAScout are the be-all and end-all of Amazon selling tools."

Listtee.com and other inexpensive applications are cropping up that continue to make selling on Amazon even easier.

> More Amazon sellers during Holiday 2012 season means their prices will be pushed downward for products if their products are sourced online. Alternately, the sellers who use elbow grease to locate the harder-to-find merchandise locally will be in a better position to gain higher margins. That's just a simple fact of reselling retail merchandise: Sellers can experience slimmer margins when they source their goods online, because the 'barrier to entry' is low - any seller can whip out their credit card and buy qty: 24 of a single item, get them shipped to their door, and package it for reselling on Amazon. But 'getting out in the trenches' and sourcing harder-to-get deals in stores usually means less competition for those sellers and, thus, higher profit margins.

>Major online retailers will try (and fail) to control large quantity purchases from resellers. Shoprunner (a service similar to Amazon Prime) did it by banning buyers whom they suspected were reselling the items they purchased; and ToysRus, Walmart.com and Disneystore.com sometimes make some quantity limits on their hotter items (to discourage resellers). But these restrictions are generally hard to enforce because the occasional Aunt Gertrude, who really needs to buy 12 Toy Story Talking Jessie Dolls for all her nieces, is going to go right on Facebook and blast any retailer who restricts her. Any company (like Shoprunner) that gets enough angry customers is going to have a public relations nightmare on its hands.
...

What do you think of my predictions? Am I crazy? Post by clicking 'Comments' below.

Amazon Reveals its Holiday Hits; FBA Success

2011-12-29T09:59:00.000-05:00

Amazon just sent out a press release with some revealing info for 3rd party sellers like us, including:

> "Billions of dollars" of merchandise was sold by Amazon.com 3rd party seller, worldwide, during the holiday season.

>The # of sellers selling more than $5,000 worth of merchandise increased by 44% (versus last year's season)

I witnessed first-hand other FBA sellers 'making bank'. I received emails from FBAFinds.com (my other site) like these (members' names removed but exact quotes):

"Jordan, I just wanted to thank you! I made over $40,000 selling on Amazon, a minimum 1/2 of which is pure freaking profit...That's going into it totally blind. NO experience. Thanks again!!!"

"My final profits are over $16,000 in just over 2 months. A large majority of that success can be attributed to you, Jordan!"

Now that the Holiday season is over, it's a great time to start selling via Amazon FBA (if you aren't already) by finding used books, CDs, and DVDs locally (although toys and other merchandise still sells great year 'round)

Here's a FREE GUIDE that shows you step-by-step how to get started (it's the same one I used when I started 2 years ago).

Talk soon,

Jordan Malik

Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com & FBAFinds.com

I Reveal My Holiday Sales $. Plus: Hits & Misses on Amazon and eBay

2011-12-28T15:22:00.001-05:00

Hi, online sellers.

After every Holiday, I give readers a glimpse of which toys were profitable for Amazon/eBay merchants, and which toys were flops. I did pretty well this year, with Nov 1 -December 27 Amazon total sales of $30,000+

The below 'hits' and 'misses' are based on how most Amazon sellers (like me) make sales: by buying discounted products online or in stores (before the Holiday shopping craze) and then selling them for their retail price (or higher) when demand picks up.

Before I continue, I should say that eBay has become, by comparison, nowhere nearly as profitable for sellers of 'mass-appeal' toys. However Amazon can't match eBay for selling one-of-a-kind, vintage and collectible items.

Here we go...

Hits: Traditional Brands (i.e., Barbie, Toy Story, Disney Princes, Batman, Fisher Price) were almost bulletproof (as they are every year). If you sourced such toys at up to 50% off, you likely enjoyed a 50% to 150% ROI during the Holiday buying rush, like I did.

My examples of profitable items (click on each for Profit Proof):

Fisher Price Imaginext Transforming Batmobile
Imaginext Batcycle
Toy Story Plush Bullseye Horse

Disney Princess Doll Set (Ballerina)
Disney Pullback Cars (3-pack), McQueen

Disney Princess Doll Set #2 (Ballerina #2)

Disney Princess Figurine (set of 7 figurines)

Muppets Whatnot Build A Muppet Set (blue)

Hit: Magna-Tiles - This really small company got a runaway hit on its hands that turned an under-$50 toy into a 'must have' trinket that commanded $300 to $500 on eBay and Amazon: Huge shortage around the holidays = big profit potential for eBay Sellers and Amazon if you were lucky to get some. By the way, there was absolutely NO WAY to predict something like this in advance. (No, I didn't sell them).

(Note: Magna tiles sales are further proof that some of the toys that sell well every year are simple 'building'-type toys that allow children to use their imagination).

Miss: Air Swimmers. Their retail prices were way too high for Amazon merchants like me to profit; plus I believe they had limited appeal for the end consumer. Why? They required too much messing around with helium tanks (for more $). ToysRus' CEO claims they were a hit, but certainly demand wasn't as hot as hyped.

Miss: My Keepon - I 'drank the Kool aid' and believed the media pre-hype about this intelligent 'robot' toy, but it ultimately got lukewarm reviews and it appears that ToysRus stores had plenty in stock.

Miss: The Kindle Fire (Amazon.com's 1st ballyhooed new e-reader). Both Skip Mcgrath and I predicted this would be like the earlier Kindles from previous Holidays, and become ultra-hard-to-find. Alas, Amazon did a great job anticipating demand and kept manufacturing them, without missing a step. Thus, margins for resellers like you and me were slim to none.

Miss: LaLaLoopsy dolls: The reason these dolls were a boon for eBay and Amazon sellers last year (2010) is because last year, there were only 8 different dolls, all one size. This year, however, store shelves were full of LaLaloopsy merchandise, from Dolls to figurines to backpacks to accessories. Some consumers paid double or triple the retail price on Amazon or eBay when the craze started earlier in the season, but that was a mere flash in the pan as stock was generally plentiful and prices came back down to earth.

See the common theme for all the 'Misses' above? They were generally 'brand new to the marketplace' items AND manufacturers released them far ahead of the Xmas season so they could guage demand and control manufacturing accordingly. Lots of Amazon and eBay sellers were hoping for the next 'Zhu Zhu' craze but that was a very unique scenario (in 2009) because they started out very small and grew to epic proportions almost overnight, creating a perceived - and real - shortage that drove prices up to $60.

So for 2012 Holiday Season, stick to finding traditional 'known' brands and characters (see my list of 'hits' above) and purchase that merchandise when it goes on sale for 50% or more (start looking in late October 2012, right through the 2nd week in December).

I am sure you have a lot to add to this (be sure to click 'Comments' below this post and contribute your story.

-Jordan Malik, Founder

HonestOnlineSelling.com & FBAFinds.com

Amazon Sellers: Why You Should Avoid Price Wars

2011-12-13T10:36:00.000-05:00

Avoid price wars on your Amazon Merchandise

Another reason why Amazon sellers don't need to 'race to the bottom' with their prices:
Amazon goes after last-minute shoppers (eCommerceBytes.com).

(In other words: Last minute shoppers LOVE shopping on Amazon because of their free shipping deals. Those shoppers are LESS price-sensivitive when they just 'gotta have it' in time for the Holidays .... This gives you, as an Amazon FBA Seller, more time to keep your prices higher and avoid the potential catastrophe of missing out on profit margins by getting into a price war with other sellers).

(FREE: Even MORE ways you can avoid the price wars now).

How are your holiday sales going? (Comment below)

Live Long and Profit,
-Jordan 'J.B.' Malik
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com & FBAFinds.com

My Worthless MBA (and what I did about it).

2011-12-12T09:11:00.001-05:00

If I'm not banned from my alma mater by now, I will be after posting this.

(Note: You're only going to find this post useful IF:
- You're considering pursuing an MBA ($$$) in marketing, and/or
- You provide, or want to provide, mobile/social marketing services for your/other companies, and/or
- You want to get a loyal customer/reader following)

I have always said my MBA has contributed ZERO to my success as an Amazon seller and as an Amazon 'expert.'

That's because most MBA programs are way, way out of touch with giving you truly robust skills to 'win' at marketing today.

Today I get my 'real world' marketing knowledge and skills (my 'mojo') from online experts like Mike Koenigs (I'm a customer of his). And I pay a fraction (or nothing at all) versus the $40,000 I paid for an MBA.

He has a quick, FREE and FUN video series I want you to check out here.

Remember, if you just 'straight sell' products online and you're not interested truly marketing your business, this is probably not for you.

For the rest of you, that link again is here.

Talk soon,
-Jordan

Amazon Pays Buyers to Leave Stores

2011-12-06T14:07:00.001-05:00

Amazon is giving consumers an incentive to compare in-store prices with Amazon's via its iPhone/Android app. If you do, you'll get 5% (up to $5) off the product if it is purchased on Amazon.

This tells me a few things:

1.) When Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said he wants consumers to get everything at Amazon, he meant it.

2.) Amazon can never have enough 3rd-party sellers, whom ultimately are major 'stock' sources for Amazon's inventory (which ranges from the quirky to the commonplace).

3.) Brick-and-mortar stores have gotta really step it up if they want to remain in business. That may mean even lower prices, superior customer service (i.e. as extreme as LandsEnd and/or LLBean's 'return your item anytime in any condition and we'll refund you in full'), and/or or hiring more specialized, more friendly (and more $$$) help; and/or giving greater cash-back incentives (not the sucky ones).

So if you're not selling on Amazon, don't miss out on what is one of the greatest 'work at home' opportunities today: TO LEARN for FREE: Download this step-by-step guide showing you how to sell used and new media (Books, CDs, and DVDs) via Amazon FBA.

Sound off with 'Comments', below!

-Jordan
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling & FBAFinds.com

I have a face for radio!

2011-11-29T13:23:00.001-05:00

(My gradeschool teachers always told me that, anyway).

On WSRadio tonight (11/29) 6PM EST/3PM Pacific, I'll be spilling the 'secrets' about finding used toys and reselling them on Amazon/eBay with the legendary Queen of Online Retail, Janelle Elms (founder of OSIRockstars and another dozen online seller resources).

(This will be useful to you whether or not you've purchased ResellToys.com).

I promise to make this entertaining AND helpful to you. Be there....(Go to this link and then click on 'Radio > Listen' at the top dark blue menu bar).

8 Ways to Profit with Dollar Store Toys on Amazon

2011-11-17T07:36:00.001-05:00

My latest free report reveals the strategies I've used to profit from Dollar Store items (it's not what you're thinking). You can get it here (no registration required).

Happy Profitable Holidaze...

-Jordan

101 Used Toys To Sell on Amazon (+video)

2011-11-07T10:20:00.002-05:00

I love selling used toys (year round, not just the Holidays).

Why? You can find used toys locally (your own house, your neighbors, your family, thrift stores, yard sales etc.) and they're sold or given away to you for practically nothing.

The 'phenomena' is that many used toys are 'OOP' (out-of-production) and thus demand remains high, but buyers can't find them.

So toy buyers turn to Amazon to find them, and Amazon merchants sellers like us can cash in with exponentially high returns. I mean $15, $20, and up to $100+ profits on items you can find locally for $0 to $5.

My video explains it (below). And I'm practically giving away info on 101 toys that are rather easy to find locally but bring in very high profits on Amazon.

It's never too late to sell Toys on Amazon, as long as you register as an FBA seller. Why not start today? Holiday shopping season is upon us, and customers go berzerk over used toys as well as new.

Happy profiting with my guide!

-Jordan

This saves me over $200/month in Accountant fees

2011-11-04T12:23:00.001-04:00

I am thrilled to share with you this killer eSales Bookkeeping Spreadsheet, it is going to make tracking my eBay and/or Amazon sales and expenses a LOT easier. (See it in action in the video below)

If you haven't done it already, NOW is the time to get this system - or ANY excel-based tracking system - in place.

2 reasons I am promoting the eSales Tracking Spreadsheet:

It makes tracking your sales and expenses 'hand-holding' easy with video tutorials;
The way Amazon and Paypal each 'lump' your sales reports into one dreaded .csv file is a HUGE pain-in-the-rear. My Amazon.com transactions alone made up 400 Excel pages and I had to pay a freelancer and my CPA big $$$ to go 'massage' all 400 pages so my expenses and sales could be properly categorized.

If I had this spreadsheet (it's really a 'system') a year ago, I would have saved WAY over $200/month in accountant fees. The cost? A measly one-time charge of $29.97 with free lifetime updates.

ALSO: Remember that Amazon will be reporting your income to the IRS (for the 2011 calendar year) *IF* you have $20,000 or more in annual sales AND 200 or more transactions.

Paypal is doing the same.

Regardless, you can get audited by the IRS if you are misreporting income far less than $20,000. I'm not trying to scare you, but audits to happen occasionally, and you don't want to have messy financials if it happens.

So start tracking your sales and inventory NOW...your CPA/Accountant will THANK YOU come tax-reporting time.

(If your total sales are over $500/month, I highly recommend (in addition to using the eSales) hiring an Accountant/CPA because things get MIGHTY complicated if you are going to report your income and expenses. (They'll get WORSE if you get audited).

I am double-backing this system's 100% Money-Back Guarantee! If for any reason the founder (Vickie) doesn't honor a refund to you (I know she will), I will refund you from my own pocket, personally.

You Profit When you BUY (for Halloween 2012)

2011-10-31T19:12:00.001-04:00

Just a quick note for those of you who are lucky enough to have some extra space in your home/business.

Now is the time to start stocking up on massively-discounted Halloween costumes for NEXT year.

You can buy NEW:
-Local stores (think: Party City, WalMart, seasonal Halloween stores, Kmart, Target, etc) - Pay no more than 20% of the full retail price (i.e. look for signs 80% off an more).

-Major online retailers (buycostumes.com, costumeexpress.com, etc) - Pay no more than 20% of the full retail price (i.e. look for stuff 80% or more and free shipping).

You can buy USED:
Post a free craigslist 'wanted' ad with the title "We Pay CASH for Your Kids' Costumes" or whatever. Tell them the costumes have to be in very good to excellent condition - no tears, rips, etc., and offer to pay $3 to $5 depending on the condition and type (know what you'll pay before you go in - see below).

Which costumes to buy (New or Used):

-'Evergreen' characters that do great year after year: Batman, Toy Story, Disney Princess, Mickey Mouse (and other characters), Flinstones, GhostBusters, Spider-man, Captain America, SpongeBob, Disney Tinkerbell, Pirates of the Carribean, Star Wars, Transformers, etc.

-Stick to Kids' costumes (Boy and Girl Toddler up through teen or so), where demand every year is the highest.

-Don't forget accessories! Gloves and magic wands and hats and sunglasses of 'major characters' sell well every year too. (For used offer $1 each).

If you want an indication of what did well this year (and thus will likely do well NEXT year), see this snapshot of most popular boys bestsellers on Amazon (disregard prices because they've likely come down off their 'peak'), girls bestsellers on Amazon, (disregard prices because they've likely come down off their 'peak'), and best-selling costume 'themes' via eBay Pulse.

-Jordan

Founder, FBAFinds.com and HonestOnlineSelling.com

I Got in BIG Trouble by Winning Jim Cockrum's Contest

2011-10-28T19:16:00.001-04:00

Renowned Internet Marketer Jim Cockrum recently held a contest to see who could sell the most copies of his fantastic new book, 100% of the proceeds of which goes to Hope Village in Detroit.

I won 1st place in the contest (I sold over 100 copies, and here's the proof). So a BIG 'thank you' to my subscribers here and at my other site, FBAFinds.com.

I won because I made a RIDICULOUS offer to my FBAFinds.com subscribers, if they bought the book. I mean OVER THE TOP ridiculous. (I offered a refund of 1 month's subscription to FBAFinds.com, and a couple of other perks).

The refunds are what got me in trouble. BIG Trouble.

See, I processed WAY over 70 credit card refunds in about 2 weeks' time, and the ~~stuffed shirts~~ nice guys and gals at my payment processor (PowerPay) threw a huge hissy fit and shut down my site's (FBAFinds.com) ability to take credit cards. All with 1 week's notice, no negotiating. The worst part is, they were really sneaky about it. (They avoided my phone calls and gave me veiled answers to a lot of questions). To make it worse, PowerPay knows NOTHING about e-commerce (In 2011? What's wrong with them. Oh, that's right, they're in Maine).

Anyway, I was able to find another payment processor (which was a nightmare too), but I learned a few things I want to share with you, if you decide to take credit cards on your web site.

> Most payment processors haven't the slightest idea about ecommerce. They think everything sold online is a scam. Prepare to have them be very skeptical of your operation. They lump legitimate sites (like FBAFinds.com) with stuff like SellYourCarToZimbabwe.com

> Don't dole out credit card refunds like they're candy, like I did. Refunds are called 'chargebacks' and in the world of payment processors, that's a dirty word. Payment processors completely wig out. I should have given the equivalent of 1 months' access instead by just extending my members' renewal date for another month. I don't why I didn't think of that when I did my promotion. Duh.

> The payment processing industry is due a major shakeup. It's a stalwart business. Payment processors are stalwart companies, who have to partner with stalwart 'payment clearing houses', which process payments from stalwart credit card companies. Everyone managing the payment 'food chain' is watching you like a hawk. Thank God Paypal (by comparison) is progressive. This industry needs 100 more Paypals.

> It's easier to just take Paypal. In fact, I would have just used Paypal for FBAFinds.com memberships instead, but Paypal isn't fully 'inegrate-able' with my membership site's ecommerce platform. But Paypal is fine in most cases. Some e-commerce purists will balk at only accepting Paypal, but the benefits for smaller e-commerce outfits far outweigh the potential headaches.

Ok I'm done sounding off. Do you have a similar experience with a payment processor? Or PayPal? Post by clicking on 'Comments' below.

-Jordan 'J.B.' Malik
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com and FBAFinds.com

Holiday Spending to Jump - Your Questions Answered!

2011-10-21T09:15:00.000-04:00

E-commerce forecasts predict higher spending this year (need proof? see here and here and here)

I'm expecting my Amazon.com sales to double from previous months (they did last year).

Are you ready, too? If you sell on eBay or Amazon or both, your inventory selection is going to be critical (EVERY seller is asking themselves 'What can I sell for big profits?')

And we all know TOYS are among the biggest holiday sellers.

Here are the Questions I hear most from online sellers like you:

Do you have some predictions of hot-selling toys? Yes. Stuff I've already shared with you for free, here and here.

What other Toys can I sell this Holiday? I HIGHLY recommend you purchase either Jenni Hunt's Holiday Toy Guide OR a GOLD subscription to FBAFinds.com (our VIP subscriptions are temporarily sold out, but you can get on the waiting list for free, here). If these are a little out of your price range, you can get my Amazon Inventory Secrets Bundle here.

Do I HAVE to spend any money to research which toys will be hot? Absolutely NOT. See my FREE TIPS #1 through #5, and #9, here.

Is it too late for me to sell toys on Amazon? Nope. Amazon's holiday restriction does NOT apply to sellers who sell via Amazon.com's FBA Program. Here's all the info you need: Sign up to Sell on Amazon; Add FBA to your existing Amazon seller account; 2011 Holiday Toy selling restrictions.

Do you have questions about selling online this Holiday? Post your questions by clicking 'Comment' below, or email me at honestonlineselling @ gmail . com (remove all spaces).

-Jordan 'J.B.' Malik, Founder
HonestOnlineSelling.com & FBAFinds.com

Another Free Report - Hot Toys for Sellers - Holidays 2011

2011-10-14T10:33:00.001-04:00

Hi Online Sellers.

FREE Report, Grab this!

I get the question all the time: What toys can I resell for big profits this Holiday?

I've given away LOTS of free info to you (here, here and here).

Now I have even MORE free information, from renowned eBay Selling expert Jenni Hunt (Hint: scroll down that long sales page to the section that says 'Get All Three Free Reports Immediately', to get the FREE Guides).

Jenni's free report unveils HOT holiday toy trends and sure-fire 'winning' types of toys that can make resellers huge profits every year (for proof, check out my Amazon.com Nov-Dec 2010 sales here).

(Although Jenni and I do differ a bit on the 'trendy' toys - I tend to steer away and stick to classic brands....But Jenni has a better, proven pulse on what new fads/trends will be truly 'hot' this Holiday season.)

When you combine Jenni's free report with my blog posts (above), you get an ARSENAL of 'what to sell' ideas, absolutely free!

Please comment below, I want to know what you think. Here's the link to Jenni's free report again.
(Hint: scroll down that long sales page to the section that says 'Get All Three Free Reports Immediately', to get the FREE Guides).

-Jordan
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com and FBAFinds.com

Who is Bob Willey and Why is he Threatening Me?

2011-10-05T08:04:00.000-04:00

Hi Online Sellers,

Bob Willey

I got an interesting email late last night from someone named Bob Willey. Click here to read it. ( Or copy and paste this into your browser: http://screencast.com/t/IWNV93YQjjMd )

I have no idea what Bob is talking about here, but it looks like some sort of threatening ultimatum. Hmmm.

Any ideas? Comment below.

(if you don't want to post a comment, you can email me privately at jordanmalik@gmail.com.)

-Jordan

FBAPower.com vs. Listtee.com (Amazon Seller Listing Tools)

2011-09-23T16:26:00.002-04:00

If you're selling more than 50 items per week on Amazon, you'll need a listing software program that will save you boatloads of time.

Two of the more affordable listing tools are FBAPower.com and Listtee.com.

I've been using FBAPower.com now for over a year and I just switched over to Listtee.com.

(FBAPower is not affiliated with our site FBAFinds.com, by the way)

Check out my video review/comparison (click Video below; double-click for larger version.). (Time alert: this video is 20+ minutes long.)

FBAPower Review - Why I'm Switching to Listtee

Can Audiocassettes with a 'Lousy' Sales Rank Sell on Amazon?

2011-09-16T21:46:00.000-04:00

Yep.

GOLD in *audiotapes*?

Remember my post about snobbish Amazon sellers turning away books and other media just because they had 'abysmal' bestseller rankings on Amazon?

I proved them wrong (again).

(By the way, by 'media' I mean books, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, audio tapes)

See, all those 'remnants' still have nuggets of gold in them, and they're not so hard to come by.

Example: This bundle of a few audio cassettes (wow, remember those?) on the uber-boring topic of human development. I scanned it and picked it up at a library sale for $2. My scanner said the sales rank was 3.8 Million, with just a few competing sellers.

So I put it on Amazon about 2 weeks ago and it just sold (well, the sale is actually pending) for $28. That's a net ROI (return on investment) of over 1,000% and the bestseller rank, from just my sale jumped dramatically, to 199,000!

So the lesson here is, don't rely on bestseller rank alone; and don't ignore 'boring' media items when you're out scouting.

Do you want to uncover your own little nuggets of gold? Used media is probably the cheapest inventory you can find to sell on Amazon. Here's how:

1.) Download this free guide that shows exactly how to sell media on Amazon.com, as well as what scanner/scouting service to buy that will make it a lot easier for you.

2.) To find 'hidden' sources of used media, get this must-have S.W.A.T. guide and/or this locator of popular and relatively unknown library book sales

3.) Get out and start scouting!

-Jordan
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com and FBAFinds.com.

What Toys Will Sell for Big Profits this Christmas?

2011-09-15T17:08:00.001-04:00

How can you predict what toys will likely be in high demand this Xmas?

I say 'likely' because predicting with any accuracy can be difficult (remember the hype over the Singamajigs last Xmas? That fizzled out fast).

But if you've been selling on Amazon for a few years, like I have, you learn some 'tricks' along the way that make it a lot easier to figure out which toys may do better than others.

I've been 'buying low' and 'selling high' with the same products on Amazon, for a profit, for several years now (The 'fancy' term is 'retail arbitrage').

This 7-minute video shows you how (double click the video image below if you want to see a larger version)

Some free web tools I mention in the video are:

> Camelcamelcamel.com (Amazon.com price tracker) and
> TheFind.com (product engine that searches almost all major online stores)
> A FREE guide that can help you get started selling on Amazon is here. (this e-book covers selling CDs, DVDs, and books on Amazon, but the method for selling toys is almost identical).

> FBAFinds.com is The web site that tells you 'exactly what to sell on Amazon, and exactly where to find it' year-round, not just Christmas. (FBAFinds.com membership is currently $27/month and $227/annually, but the price goes up October 1.

Disclaimer: Some information in this post, video, and this blog, is forward-looking. Past performance of prices is not necessarily a guide to future performance. HonestOnlineSelling.com, its owners and its subsidiaries disclaim any liability for errors, inaccuracies or omissions on this website and for any loss (whether direct or indirect) or damage resulting from its use, whether caused by negligence or otherwise. Visitors who choose to access this website do so on their own initiative and agree to assume responsibility for their selling results.

Overwhelming Support against 'Amazon Bully Sellers'

2011-09-14T12:16:00.001-04:00

On Monday I wrote about an online Amazon seller 'help' forum that was getting incredibly nasty and condescending toward its members, including me. The forum is this one, by the way.

Well, the feedback from my readers has been heartwarming and outstandingly supportive. Excerpts from just some of them them are below (the first 5 were edited to protect the writers, as they were emailed to me. The rest are by my subscribers in the original post's comments section.)

FYI, I have recommended that 'bully' forum in a free help guide I wrote, but we're in the process of removing them from the guide and replacing it with another' help source.

P.S. - Thank you for all your emails, posts and support!

-Jordan
...

"Hi Jordan.

I'm a member of one of those seller help forums that you posted about on your blog, it could be the same one because there are several of those "amazon bullies" members on there.

Personally I think they (the bullies) on that forum went way to far with their attack on you just because you follow your own path and not theirs.

Anyway I liked your post and think you hit the nail on the head, or should I say the "amazon bullies" on the head! Man, I bet their really steaming now! Great Post" - Writer's name removed by editor.

...

"I remember when I signed up to the Yahoo Group about a year ago.

In that forum, one of its 'senior' members thought the other forum members wanted to 'steal' her intelligence (ha!) to write a book or somehow capitalize on "her" knowledge about selling on Amazon.

When someone commented that she was being greedy or selfish, she was offended by that! It didn't bother her that she offended the new people coming in, though.

I think the forum moderator puts up with her crap because she is a "know-it-all". It's good to have the knowledge but not so good to be a bee-otch about it to everyone.

I enjoy your postings an kindness to share." - Writer's name removed by editor.

...

"Your post about the critics and complainers was spot on! As a member of my church's administration, let me say this, "Those people are complete assholes!" - Writer's name removed by editor

...

"I too was kicked out of the ToySellersFBA program because I opposed the moderators' [initial desire to engage members into] price fixing. (Ed: Companies (including Amazon.com 3rd party sellers) agreeing to set a universal fixed price for a product is called 'collusion' and it's illegal in the U.S. However, we have no proof or indication that the forum's moderators were successful in getting some or all of its members to engage in collusion.)

I strongly objected. That's the only time I have ever spoke out in that forum. But one day I log in and find that my access has been taken away." - Writer's name removed by editor

...

"Hey Jordan,...[I got kicked out too], too 'exclusive' for me I guess....You are awesome, fearless and I am sure much more highly successful than those farkers--I know you have more education so screw them...My 2cents is this, I have to please AMAZON to keep my selling privileges and my customers--who needs a bunch of bullies and braggarts to cast a negative shadow on me?I am glad I am on your email list, blog posts and joining FBAFinds. I do not need those forums to help me out!"- Writer's name removed by editor

...

"I know what forum your referring to and I thought the whole conversation was quite ridiculous. No one seems to share because they are afraid of the "competition." FBA Finds, on the other hand, is quite the opposite, we share and help one another. You set the tone for a very positive and caring forum, you should be proud. P.S. I hardly look at feedback! " - blkeeslar

...

"The bullies are everywhere! Online I have really noticed it lately. These are the people that feel threatened or just like to start doo-doo... I don't bother to post on the Amazon seller forums anymore, many nasty people and too much negativity for me. I'll just learn the normal way - experience, trial and error, gut feeling, etc. Love this blog, keep up the good work!!!!!!" - Rhonda*in*MI

...

"Ouch Jordan... stop hanging out on those forums. Spend more time posting here and on FBAFinds.com (My "secret" weapon of choice). Gasp - you share your Amazon selling strategies??? You mean you actually help others gain success? How could you? ROFLOL "Thou Shall Not Pay Attention To The Bully" - ... I'm assuming the "Bully" isn't very successful on Amazon - and/or just doesn't see the + side of sharing and being a happy camper." - Debra Conrad

...

Bully Sellers on Amazon; and PROOF that Amazon likes me!

2011-09-12T15:19:00.000-04:00

You've only got a few years left, lady: lighten up!

Sheesh. You'd think, with all the bad economic news floating around, Amazon sellers - with such a successful selling plaftorm - would be a positive, happy bunch. Nope - I'm afraid there are some nasty bullies among us.
Have you had bullies in your life? I have: abusive relatives, schoolyard bullies, corporate bullies, and now -- yes, it's true -- bully Amazon sellers.
Who is a bully Amazon seller? Typically:

Someone who believes EVERYONE's a competitor and thus they "don't deserve" to sell on Amazon....
Or someone who may be jealous of your sales volume....
Or someone paranoid of sellers -- like me -- who share our Amazon selling strategies with folks (like you) and thus (gasp!) the bullies' 'own' secrets are now being 'stolen' by (oh no!) more competition!

These bullies are also folks who ~~poison~~ hang out in online seller help forums all day to:

talk down to others...
scold them...
insult them on with forum posts (but without the gall to confront them in 'real life'), where they safe within the anonymous confines of their own homes; and
with airs of braggadocio, trumpet their own accomplishments - however trite - instead of spending their time doing, um, oh, I dunno, something constructive like growing their business.

But lately, these bully Amazon sellers are reaching for straws - by ~~poisoning~~ telling other sellers that my current Amazon seller feedback score (92% for the past 30 days) is increduously disgraceful.

Should I be scared? Should YOU be scared? NO. I'll explain:

Selling on Amazon is relatively new for most of us. So I, like plenty of other folks, have made some mistakes in product sourcing (i.e. inadvertently listing some items as 'New' when they should have been 'Like New'; listing a game that had missing pieces, etc.). Thus I have received an occasional negative feedback from an Amazon buyer, and hey, I admit that I deserve it. I also received some negative feedback from customers - whose product was fine - but they're the types that just can't be pleased (you know: "the picture showed a different shade of red on Elmo. I want a refund". That type).

But these bully Amazon sellers - who INSIST their feedback 'never' falls below 99% (yet they refuse to openly share their feedback score, as I do), emphatically wag their fingers at sellers like me and come just short of calling us 'the devil' for not having 'stellar' feedback.

So how am I doing? Out of my 63 feedbacks from customers in the past 30 days:

58 were positive
1 was 'neutral'
4 were 'negative'

Is that 'Bad', disgraceful, and worthy-of-seller-suspension performance? According to the bullies, YES! ... WOW!

But I'm brushing off their negativity. Despite all the paranoia these bullies are spreading to other sellers (maybe even you), I've found that Amazon is pretty forgiving! See, It's AMAZON who thinks I haven't done anything wrong. And aren't they -- not the bully Amazon sellers - the ones who determine my fate? Here's my PROOF:

This is my "Customer Experience Performance" email I just got from Amazon, where they give me 'insight into how you're doing with respect to customer satisfaction'.

So how's MY performance, according to Amazon? Just fine, thank you. Amazon judges you NOT on your feedback score (like my 92% that the Bullies are having heart palpitations over), but your 'Order Defect Rate', "Pre-fulfillment cancel rate', and 'Late shipment rate'.

And if you see my performance metrics, all my scores meet Amazon's requirements, with 'room to spare!'

Now don't get me wrong - if you're constantly getting negative feedbacks from buyers, you're probably doing something wrong and you need to address it. But there's certainly no reason for a seller with a score of 92% to hang up his hat and stop selling. (Hey, wait, wouldn't the bully Amazon sellers just LOVE it if I did!)

Geez, I hope those bullies don't see this video, or they might send an angry email to PETA or something.

"Don't throw stones at your neighbors', if your own windows are glass" - Benjamin Franklin, 1961

"Judge not, lest ye not be judged.” (Matthew 7:1)

"You stick your head above the crowd and attract attention and sometimes somebody will throw a rock at you. That's the territory. You buy the land, you get the Indians." - David Lee Roth

How about you? Does your happiness get interrupted by bully sellers? I want to hear from you!

-Jordan
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com & FBAFinds.com

P.S. For help with improving your Amazon seller feedback (maybe yours is less than my 'disgraceful' 92%), read my free guide here.

Anyone Can (Still) Use eBay to Boost Sales

2011-09-09T14:03:00.000-04:00

You've received a lot of info from me about selling on Amazon. But I can't emphasize enough the power of eBay and how it remains and outstanding selling tool for certain items. (I recently noted that bundled cell phone accessories are still a good money-maker for eBay sellers).

Skip McGrath (an early online selling 'pioneer' who has mastered the art of selling on eBay) sums this up in his latest newsletter (To read his newsletter for free, Click here, then scroll down to the right and select 'Current Month').

Both Skip and I agree that eBay is best for unique items (i.e. collectibles) that you can't normally sell on Amazon; AND for real estate, and cars, and other motor vehicles like my father-in-law's RV (which gets 1,000 page views every time I post it). You'd be hard pressed to reach a larger body of potential buyers for such items.

There are some tips in Skip McGrath's current newsletter of how easy it can be to find things to sell on eBay for a profit. Click on the image above to go to Skip's page, and then click on 'Current Month' to get right to today's newsletter with the eBay info.

Also, now eBay lets you put longer titles for the products you sell: 55 characters to 80.TIP: add extra keywords that shoppers for your item, or similar item. will use. For instance, the title for my current listing for a custom LED light kit I make for the 1966 diecast Hot Wheels Batmobile is "LED Light Kit Upgrade 1/18 Hot Wheels Batmobile Barris" , but now I can add other keywords I couldn't fit before, so my new title might be something like "LED Light Kit Upgrade 1/18 Hot Wheels Batmobile Barris 1966 Adam West" (Batmobile enthusiasts refer to the same model Batmobile as the '1966 Batmobile' and/or 'Adam West Batmobile').

Let me know what you think about selling on eBay today!

My Guest Post on Shoemoney - Have a Laugh

2011-08-24T12:09:00.001-04:00

I just wrote a guest blog post (and got a free Verizon mifi card for doing so) on the world-renowned internet marketing site Shoemoney.com

Jeremy Shoemaker and his first big Adsense Check for $130K

If you don't know who Shoemoney (Jeremy Shoemaker) is, he's probably one the brightest (and most trusted) Internet marketers in the industry. A few years ago (right before he became a multi-millionaire), he practically tripped over Google Adsense (in the early days, when Google Adsense made folks lots of money) and got at least one check for $130,000 in Adsense earnings. (By comparison, I think my highest Adsense check was $100).

(I'm not endorsing anything that Shoemoney.com offers here because he primarily teaches Internet Marketing (not selling on eBay or Amazon) - his programs do work, though)

Anyway, Hope you can get a laugh by reading my post (especially my 'bio' at the bottom).

-J.B. Malik, Founder of FBAFinds.com and HonestOnlineSelling.com

Why Selling Toys Online Won't Suck This Xmas

2011-08-21T23:31:00.002-04:00

Despite the fits and starts of the economic recession, it is a good time to be an online retailer. Why?

- A recent Wall Street Journal article states that higher fuel bills are forcing customers to reconsider driving to the big box stores (i.e. Walmart) to buy stuff; and they are even buying more of their consumable goods (goods they would normally buy at those stores) on online sites like Amazon.

- Another recent Wall Street Journal article confirms that if a double-dip recession occurs, "online-only stores shouldn't fret as much as their brick-and-mortar counterparts"; and finally

- (You knew this already) Online sales year-over-year growth continues to beat the daylights out of brick-and-mortar retail growth.

So if you want to cash in this Christmas like I did (by selling mostly Toys on Amazon), here are some tips:

TACTIC: SIGN UP TO SELL on AMAZON or EBAY NOW (If you haven't already)
Sign up to sell on Amazon soon because their Toy and Games restrictions will kick in if you don't start selling toys, like, now. You can loophole (for the most part) these restrictions when you sign up for Fulfillment by Amazon, or 'FBA' (Where Amazon does all the shipping directly to your customers). I recommend signing up for FBA whether you sell Toys/games or not. The cost for selling via Amazon FBA versus shipping the item to the customer yourself is pretty minimal, and FBA frees you up from the grunt work (i.e. boxing individual items and haggling over customer service issues). (If you need to get up to speed quickly to learn how to "sell like a champ" on Amazon, take this course (it has a 100% Money Back Guarantee if you're not satisfied for any reason). Or learn the basics, FREE, on your own with this guide).

TACTICS: GET YOUR INVENTORY EARLY
Preparedness pays:

FREE TIP #1: When you see local (or online) toy store sales and/or clearance, snap up toys from some of the more traditional brands - Legos, Barbie, Toy Story 3, Disney Pixar Cars, Bratz dolls. etc. These almost always sell for 2x to 3x (or more) their 'off-Season Sale' prices when Xmas draws near close. Stay away from faddish-toys with no brand history.

FREE TIP #2: Hang out in the online sales forums like Slickdeals.net and bookmark sites to learn what other folks are trying to get their hands on this Christmas.

FREE TIP #3: Talk to your friends who have little kids and take notes of what Toys the kids think are 'hot' right now. If you find a common product (i.e., if every boy mentions the Hot Wheels Video Racers, out this Fall), well chances are that toy will be a hot pick - and very hard to find - this Christmas (which mean you should find those products now, preferably on sale, and plan to sell the 2x to 3x their current retail price).

FREE TIP #4: Talk to your local mom-and-pop Toy store. Tell them you want to 'surprise your niece' this Christmas with a toy that is predicted to be a winner, but you have no idea what to buy. These toy stores have already ordered their inventory and they know what's in predicted to be hot and in demand.

FREE TIP #5: Hang out in the local 'big' Toy Stores (i.e. ToysRUS) a couple times a week and see what they're sold out of. Again, chances are those hard-to-keep-in-stock toys will be even hotter this Christmas. So take note what's sold out and buy it online or at the same store when it's back in stock.

TACTICS: PREPARE to "STAND OUT" FROM OTHER ONLINE RETAILERS
Whether you sell on Amazon, ebay, or anywhere else - do you have a strategy to stand out? You can take my ideas:

FREE TIP #6: include brand new batteries for every toy that requires them, and make sure you say that in the product description or title.

FREE TIP #7: IF YOU SHIP your products (versus Fulfillment), promise your customers a "Get it by December 20th or IT's FREE" Guarantee, like I do. (You can pick a date other than the 20th if you wish, of course). I've never had a problem promising this. Some customers are PRAYING they get the gift late so they can get it free, but I had a late delivery maybe once or twice in the past 3 years. Just make sure you ship your packages out well ahead of the 'Get it By' date.

FREE TIP #8: IF YOU SHIP your products (versus Fulfillment), give your customers a free upgrade to USPS PRIORITY shipping. (I have found that, for most average-sized packages weighing between 13 ounces and 3 lbs, that Priority shipping is frequently just a little more $ than parcel post.)

FREE TIP #9: Pre-owned Toys (as long as they're clean and neat) sell extremely well, too, year round - and for even more profit during the Holidays. So hit your local thrift stores/yard sales NOW and find some complete toys and/or games for $1 or $2 (Make sure they have all the pieces/parts, and get batteries if they're needed). NOTE: If you want the extra assurance to know EXACTLY what pre-owned toys to look for, you can buy this guide. (Note: subscribers to FBAFinds.com get that guide for free) Stick the games/toys in the closet so you can sell them in November/December on eBay or Amazon.

So I hope that helps you - let's get ready to CRUSH IT this Xmas! Questions? Post away....

J.B. Malik, Founder
HonestOnlineSelling.com and FBAFinds.com

Peek at my Amazon Sales; and a New Secret to Book Selling

2011-08-18T10:41:00.006-04:00

I've shown you some screen shots of some of the ridiculous profits I get for selling used books on Amazon - books that cost me $1 and sell for $20 to $30 and up (= a return on investment - or ROI - of 2000+%).

Here's more proof - Click here, here, and here. I bought these books at a local library and a couple book sales.

I know 2,000% and 14,000% Return on Investment (ROI) sounds like I'm on crack, but the numbers are real. Walk into your local bank and tell the manager you want your CD to earn more than 3% ROI and call me when he's done laughing at you.

So you're convinced (I hope) that selling used books can be 'big business', as it is for me. But it can be hard to find enough places to buy profitable books. You'll remember that I addressed that by referencing Frank Florence's Creative Sourcing for Books e-book ($27, and still a steal).

I called Frank's book the 'S.W.A.T.' guide to used book inventory. And I didn't think Frank could top that.

But he just did, with BookSalesFound.

BookSalesFound lists the little-known upcoming book sales in your area, including ones that are not advertised on free sites like BookSaleFinder. The problem with BookSaleFinder.com (unrelated to Frank's BookSalesFound) is that it all the booksellers access this free site to find the major book sales only - thus you'll likely get 50 other sellers like you showing up with their scanners at those sales.

So BookSalesFound is my new secret weapon for finding those 'under-advertised' book sales. 'Under-advertised' book sales mean lesser (or no) seller competition, which means more 'book gold' for me!

There's more. BookSalesFound also lists library book stores in each state. See, many libraries have their own store where they're selling books year-round! Not many other book sellers know about that.

I'm embarrased - because Last year, it took me a couple months to find and document the local, little-known libraries that regularly sold books. And that's just in my area (Long Island, NY). If BookSalesFound were around then, I would have saved a TON of time.

Frank's BookSalesFound comes with a 7-day free trial, and its introductory rate is $19.99/mo. That's incredibly cheap and delivers a lot of book sale intelligence to your fingertips. $19.99/mo is all you'll ever pay (you'll be locked-in, forever). For people who don't sign up, the price will go up to $67 after the introductory period is over.

Do you need to subscribe to BookSalesFound? Absolutely not! Just go to all your local libraries in the region, sign up for their 'Friends of Library' mailing list (which costs about $5 to $15 per library, per year) so you are 'in the know' before every one else. But if you have a lot of libraries in the area, like me, that's a lot to keep track of. Instead, BookSalesFound tells me when and where all the local library sales and library stores are.

- Remember, there is a 7-day FREE Trial of BookSalesFound. If you try it and don't like it, cancel within 7 days and pay nothing.

I'm personally adding MY OWN GUARANTEE to the offer. If you try BookSalesFound and, within 30 days, you decide to cancel, contact me via this blog, and I will refund you via paypal for the entire month's billing. That's how much I believe in BookSalesFound! (Disclosure - This guarantee is MY OWN - it is not offered by the owners of BookSalesFound.)

Have fun!

-J.B., Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com

My Prediction - a Hot Toy to Resell This Christmas

2011-08-13T23:03:00.006-04:00

I get the question all the time from online sellers: "What will be the hot toys that I can sell on eBay/Amazon this Xmas?"

And my answer is "Avoid the new fads, stick with toys in the traditional brands/franchises - Disney Cars, Barbie, Batman, Disney Princess, Marvel Spiderman, Disney Toy Story, etc."

That's because fads are unpredictable: last Xmas. the much-hyped Sing-a-ma-jigs and Squinkies were lousy toys to resell (=no or little profit to buy and then resell online). But the predictable franchises (i.e. Batman, Disney, etc.) do well every year because, quite simply, kids' demand for the toys frequently outstrips supply and/or the perception of buyers is that the toy will not be in stock if they wait too long.

But I think I *may* have a predicted winner here - the My Keepon - *IF* you're able to get your hands on it (it will only be available this October - you can't get it now). There are 4 reasons why I'm predicting this will be a boon for online resellers:

-- Exclusivity. ToysRUs will be the only official retailer. That means scarcity. Scarcity mean low supply, and low supply drives up price for resellers like you.

-- Truly dynamic technology in the toy. Sing-a-ma-jigs and Zhu Zhu pets lost their appeal - and their price premiums - quickly because the novelty wore off. They were essentially 1-trick-pony toys. My Keepon has advanced software in it that makes the toy more 'human' and random in its movements and 'communication.'

-- Personalization - creators of the toy intend to make it customizable by other 'programmers' (not sure if that is everyday folk who can program it, or software geeks), and any product that can be sold and then personalized can command big bucks.

The price point is supposed to be around $50. My suggestion: Keep your eyes peeled for this at your local ToysRus in October and snap a few up. Then list them on Amazon or eBay for $150 each and watch the competitive pricing closely. Adjust pricing accordingly - the worst thing that could happen is you break even or sell them at a slight loss - or return them if they're a total flop.

Again, I can't guarantee what's going to happen with this toy, but all indications point to a truly robust 'winner' that will be very hard to find as Christmas draws closer. So if you can get your hands on them in October (expect Toys R Us to limit you to (say) '2 per person'), you may be able to profit really nicely from them.

Do Great Stuff!
-J.B.

How to Dominate Smart Phone Accessories Sales on eBay

2011-08-12T13:57:00.005-04:00

Hello, Online Sellers.

A few years back I worked at Nextworth.com, an iPhone/iPod trade-in company where customers can trade in their gadgets for cash. (Great concept, but a terribly-managed company).

At Nextworth, I learned the ins and outs of the iPhone/Smart phone accessories market on eBay.

What I found:

> If you can get accessories from the right supplier, your selling margins on eBay can bring you a 200% to 400% ROI (Return on Investment);

> Being a U.S.-based seller means customers will pay you much more than buying direct from overseas (i.e. China), thus you don't have to compete with sellers' prices there.

> Bundling products (i.e. selling an iPhone with a charger, case and screen protector) means a higher profit margin than selling each component individually.

> Overall, the smart phone accessories market is silly-lucrative. For instance, those 'Otterboxes' (protective cases for iPhones) selling for $80 on eBay. WHAT? It's a plastic case. But the sellers are selling consumers more than a box - it's a sense of security and style that they're buying.

Is selling accessories very competitive on eBay? Yes, but NOT NEARLY as much as it was a couple years ago since sellers have left eBay in droves -- now it's easy to stand out from the competition and get more sales than the next guy.

Is there still a nice part-time income potential? YES. And I found a step-by-step e-book that will show you how to do it. (More details in a moment).

Do you need to buy an e-book to show you how? No! But the book nearly eliminates the guessing for you (and the guessing will SERIOUSLY handicap you if you want to make a serious business of selling accessories online).

In short, you can get a steady, profitable revenue stream by:

1.) Snapping up accessories from poorly-represented items (i.e. blurry or wrong photo, misspelled or inaccurate title) on eBay, for as little as $.01 ea accessory; then receiving and re-selling them on eBay and/or Amazon.

2.) Finding a reliable Chinese supplier (use AliExpress.com, not Alibaba. I used Alibaba or a $500 purchase and the seller on Alibaba was a scam artist - he took my money and ran. AliExpress is a much safer source of suppliers).

3.) Focusing on accessories from the latest 'hot' phones i.e. the iPhone 4 or Blackberry Torch 2 (accessories for most 'yesterday' models lose demand quickly).

4.) Bundling your accessories into an 'Accessory Package' containing (say) a case, a charger, a car charger, a screen protector, or some similar combination;

5.) Emphasizing your 'U.S.A.' location when posting your Packages on eBay (buyers don't want their item shipped from China, they want it trackable, and from the U.S.);

and

6.) OPTIONAL, IF you also sell stuff on Amazon via FBA - Using Amazon's FBA center to fulfill your eBay orders. In other words, your accessory packages would be sitting in Amazon's Fulfillment center. When your accessory package sells on eBay, you can quickly have Amazon ship the item to your eBay buyer (Amazon does NOT take a comission from sales of this type). By using Amazon to fulfill your order, you can offer 2-day shipping or $9.95 overnight shipping (just increase the price of your eBay's accessory package accordingly). In other words, you're 'using' Amazon's fast shipping infrastructure for your eBay shipping. (This concept is explained in depth by Skip McGrath and FBAPower.com's Chris Green here).

Now about that e-book, "Auction Profits Formula" ($19), that shows you how to dominate the accessories market:

> It's a steal at $19. I think the author is crazy for offering it this low (I would have priced it at $27 or higher, because it's worth much more)

> It shows you, step-by-step, how to dominate the iPhone/Smart Phone accessories market on eBay

> It's written by Pete Bruckhsaw, a trusted and reliable provider of 'how-to' eBay strategies

> I am personally DOUBLE-BACKING Pete's 60-day money back guarantee. In other words, if you request a refund and Pete doesn't honor it (he will, he's reliable), I will personally refund you immediately.

At the very least, watch the video on the sales page because if you thought the iPod/iPhone accessory market is saturated (like I did), you'll be surprised.

Have fun!

-J.B.
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com and FBAFinds.com

Amazon Reports Fulfillment Sellers, Sales Up in Q2-2011

2011-07-28T09:47:00.000-04:00

If you sell on Amazon now (or you're considering it), you'll want to read Auctionbytes' summary of Amazon's latest earnings report, most notably:

"[Of key interest to online sellers:] active customer accounts exceeded 144 million; worldwide active seller accounts were more than 2 million; seller units as a percentage of paid units was 36% (up from 34% of paid units in Q2-2010); and worldwide paid unit growth was 56%.

Amazon added 13 fulfillment centers last year, and will build more than 15 globally this year ("we've announced 15, and you should expect a few more" by the end of the year)."

This means two things:

1. Amazon is committing its money - not just words (like eBay does sometimes) to sellers like us; and

2. Their business model (Fulfillment by Amazon, or FBA) is a 3-way 'win' for everyone involved:

Amazon makes money and can expand its product offering via us independent sellers who send our products to their warehouses;
Sellers like us can make money ore easily than other online venues (i.e. eBay); and
Buyers can a wider selection of products and better prices when they shop on Amazon.

If you haven't started selling on Amazon yet, you should start today. It is, hands-down, one of the least-expensive, easiest and fastest ways to start earning a part- or full-time income.

Here are a few ways you can begin:

> To learn for free: Download this step-by-step guide showing you how to sell used and new media (Books, CDs, and DVDs) via Amazon FBA.

> For 'Held-by-the-Hand' assistance, take the Proven Amazon Course by Jim Cockrum ($189 is all you'll pay for lifetime access - and it's worth every penny)

> If you already sell books on Amazon, but you want to expand your offerings to toys and games, Get my 'Amazon Inventory Secrets' Bundle ($37 with a 60-day, 'No Hassles' 100% Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee).

See you on the other side,
-J.B. Malik

My Self-Employed Healthcare Coverage Adventure

2011-07-21T12:45:00.000-04:00

Many of you probably have 'real' full-time jobs and are thus receiving health care coverage through their current employer.

But I am sure there are a few of you, like me, who are self-employed and thus have to pay out of pocket.

I am about to sign up for health insurance directly (=pay for it all myself) because my COBRA coverage (a generously subsidized 15-month run of $350 per month for health, Dental, and vision - one of the things Obama did right) expires by this August 31.'

So for those of you who are seeking out purchasing health coverage directly (because you're considering quitting your job, or starting your own buiness, etc.) this post might help you a little.

Please don't regard this post as an official health insurance resource. Contact a local health insurance broker (just do a search for 'health insurance broker' and the name of your city/town, on Google.com. Be sure to check your local broker out on the BBB.org site, before you contact them, to make sure they're legit.)

I am not endorsing or promoting the Health Care organizations mentioned in this article.

Some things I discovered:

> Basic health care coverage is 'decently' affordable (not super cheap, not super expensive. Lots of room for improvement re: affordability, but not an impossible dream for many folks)... I had quite a few choices:

New York state has a program for individuals in lower income brackets, called Healthy NY , 'Health insurance for small businesses and working individuals'. Basically it's state-mandated discounted coverage by the major NY providers. I didn't qualify, though, because of their income restrictions - for me and a spouse, we have to show proof of total income less than $36K. Had we qualified, 'Couple' (husband-and-wife or partner) coverage would have been bout $850 a month with some restrictions and deductibles. Overall, not exactly a bargain, but not through-the-roof expensive either.

Separately, Empire/Blue Cross Blue Shield sent me a pamphlet on TraditionPlus Hospital Program (NY ONLY). Let's say you're extremely healthy but you can't qualify for subsidized health care or Cobra, or Medicaid or group health care coverage or whatever, and you need some coverage in the short-term. Empire's TraditionPlus is full emergency/hospital/child birth coverage only, and, a husband and wife/partner rate would have been around $400/month. That's one-step above 'going without', but with zero coverage for physician visits, routine care, specialist care, etc.

Then I used the U.S.-wide resource set up by the White House, healthcare.gov. This was a very easy-to-use website that explained all my options - Government-subsidized, State-subsidized, and regular private insurers - how much they cost, what their plans looked like compared to one another, etc. For me, the site was missing some information on some private insurers, but overall it was very good.

Then I used ehealthinsurance.com, which is a private company that compares rates and profits from all the major insurers in your state. I actually spoke with an ehealthinsurance rep on the phone and, expecting to be connected to someone in India, she was a U.S.-based rep (who was, in my discussion, not biased toward any one provider) and I got lots of questions answered. eHealthInsurance.com DOES get paid a commission from the health insurer company if the subscriber signs up through them. So they're not a 'provider-neutral' company, but I did find them useful, comprehensive and trustworthy.

My income level put me in a rather sticky spot - I earn too much (whether I apply as an individual or as a sole-proprietor) to qualify for subsidized/government-aided coverage; but I earn too little to be ok with paying Empire/Blue Cross Blue Shield $2500 to $3500 a month to continue my current coverage after Cobra expires.

I did find that, as a business owner (which many healthcare organizations refer to as a 'Sole Proprietor', even if your business is an S-Corp or LLC or whatever), I could join a local organization (like a local chamber of commerce) and thus be entitled to their 'Group' Rate, if they offer health insurance to their members.

Thus, via ehealthinsurance.com, I discovered Emblem Health, which offered me comprehensive health coverage, and very basic dental coverage, for $1100 a month. Again, not exactly a bargain, but it's manageable. (Realize that I live in Long Island, NY, which is like the 2nd-highest region in the U.S. in terms of cost of living. Everything's high here.) Emblem connected me to a local insurance broker. I'm in the process of signing up now. I have to prove (=provide tax records via my CPA) that I'm a business owner. I don't have to show proof of income (there are no income requirements). All I have to do is prove my business is in NY state and that I'm a NY State resident).

Here are some resources you should use:

NAIC - Official Directory of every State's health insurance regulations site, regardless of where you live.

healthcare.gov. U.S. Government's site to healthcare info. Very comprehensive and a good place you should start.

ehealthinsurance.com - A comparison site that lets you shop among different health care providers, regardless of where you live in the U.S.

Some tips:

> Prepare to do lots of calling, surfing the web, and digging around for info. None of this was 'easy'. I had to REALLY dig around, and talking to some of these Insurance companies is like talking to a prison warden who doesn't want to give you any info.

> Don't be afraid to use your state's resources to see if you qualify for subsidized care. Actually that should be your first stop. If you were fired recently and your household income dropped significantly, you may very well be able to get state or federal-subsidized health care.

> Even if you were just terminated, apply for Cobra anyway.Your employer by law has to give you the COBRA insurance application paperwork within 30 days of terminating your employment. COBRA is federal-mandated coverage that you're entitled to receive if you've been terminated (there are some exceptions, i.e. if you quit voluntarily you're not eligible - but make sure you apply anyway.) Official U.S. Cobra site here: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html. Getting Cobra was the best thing that came out of my last job with the dummies that fired me. With the money I saved by paying the 'COBRA' rate, I poured into my business. And here I am.

>Get a reliable accountant or CPA, if you own a 'real business'. Ask him/her if your health insurance costs can be a form of tax-deductible expense. Also, if you are applying for health insurance (like I did) as a 'sole proprietor', you may have to have your CPA involved by providing proof of income to the insurer IF you are a brand new business for 2011 and thus don't have any recent tax records that legitimize your business.

Good luck! And please post your comments below, I would love to hear your feedback.

-J.B.

Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com and FBAFinds.com

Survey: 60% of Booksellers Sell on Amazon

2011-06-28T21:55:00.002-04:00

I recently expressed how used book selling has been extremely profitable for me because of the very low cost of inventory (used books) and the exponentially high return on investment (ROI) that I have made.

Well, BookSalefinder.com (a web site that can alert you, via email, to local Book Sales) just released its survey results. (They recently surveyed thousands of used book sellers and used book buyers to examine their business performance and strategies).

I found the results very interesting. Some highlights:

> About half of the respondents sold books as their 'Full Time Job'
> The majority of book sellers get their books primarily from Book Sales; and 'runner-up' sources of books for them is thrift stores and estate sales.
> Most of the book sellers store their books at home and ship them from home (a comparatively very small segment use fulfillment by Amazon)

Here is the link to all the survey results. It's a quick read.

Remember if you want to dominate book selling like I did, you can. This guide by Frank Florence is my 'S.W.A.T' tactical bible I have used to generate a steady stream of profits from used books. The guide was priced at $97 (and it was a steal at that price). Frank lowered the price to $19.99 - I think that he's crazy - the value is WAY too high), and on July 4th the price will drop to $10 for that day only.

I'm not singing all this praise to drum up sales. I don't know Frank personally (although I am one of his affiliates). But he's one of the VERY few book selling experts who just spills his guts on the topic - and now everything he knows is yours for the taking.

Also, he offers a FULL YEAR if you want your money back. No questions asked. And I am double-backing his guarantee. If for any reason he doesn't pay you back (he will - he's trustworthy), I will, from my own pocket.

If you want to contribute to your revenue stream by selling books on Amazon (or any other site), you need this book. Don't pass it up.

Till next time,
-J.B. Malik
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com & FBAFinds.com

'Fulfillment by eBay' Is Coming! (Wall Street Journal)

2011-06-22T19:34:00.000-04:00

Wow. This would actually be pretty awesome, should eBay pull it off with the same grace and precision that Amazon has with FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon):

EBay Plans Fulfillment Service for Sellers

-J.B. Malik

See Founder J.B. In a Video (Off-topic, Just for Fun)

2011-06-20T14:39:00.000-04:00

Hi Online Sellers.

I want to share with you a local TV news story that contains some footage of me and our 2 dogs (my wife was in a leg cast and did not want to appear in the story). The story was about our House-Call veterinarian.

I'm just showing this to you because I have read that subscribers to blogs like to familiarize themselves with the blog owner/writer, and see who is 'behind' all the postings. So here you go!

(At the very least, you can poke fun of my extra large forehead and uber-geeky voice).

Talk soon,
-Jordan "J.B." Malik
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com and FBAFinds.com

Amazon 'Sales Rank' Myths - Brush 'em off Your Shoulder.

2011-06-17T20:11:00.001-04:00


Amazon Sellers like this guy EXIST?

Hi Online Sellers -

I'm observing - on some Amazon seller help forums - some 'experts' who are turning their noses up at the prospect of selling high-ranking products on Amazon -------------------------->

By 'high ranking' I mean 'slower-selling'. On Amazon, high rank of (say) 6,000,000 is clearly a sales dud - a pretty low chance of getting sold. Alternatively, an item with a low sales rank (i.e. 1,050 ) - is a hot item on Amazon with a fast sell-through rate.

But these 'experts' - who, like me, don't know what Amazon's 'secret formula' is in assigning its bestseller ranks - strike me as being pretty snobbish. Let me explain.

Personally, I will sell any legitimate product on Amazon, within a pretty wide sales rank range. I don't turn much down, even if it ranks as high as 1,000,000 (as long as I can make a decent profit, of course).

On my new membership site, FBAFinds.com (which advises you exactly what to sell on Amazon, and exactly where to find it) you'll see that I won't recommend a product to you unless it has a sales rank between 1 and *150,000* - and I think we're being TOO careful!

But would you believe that some sellers are even scoffing at that? I had one guy recently tell me that I was crazy to recommend a toy with a sales rank of 36,000 - he said it's not going to sell!

Well, I will show you something that no other seller will - items with high sales ranks that, according to ALL those Amazon Seller 'experts', has NO CHANCE in Hell to sell!

Well, I just proved them wrong:

For instance: I bought this at a local Marshalls, for $5, in April 2011 (you can tell by my Seller SKU - it includes the date I sent it to Amazon - 040211). It just sold for $17.94. (Full disclosure - mine was the lowest price among the competing sellers - but my gross profit margin was over 175%) The sales rank WHEN I POSTED it was 450,000. Right after my item sold, the sales rank JUMPED to 53,000. If I were a betting man, I'd bet you that plenty of other sellers turned down buying that item to resell on Amazon, because of the sales rank.

Here's another example: I listed this audio book on Amazon a few days ago (I paid $3 for it). I just sold it on Amazon for $14.99 (over 275% Gross Profit Margin). Again, mine was the lowest price - but my profit margin was over 350% on that one. This item's sales rank when I posted it was 650,000! After my sale: The sales rank got worse: 885,000. But my item sold at a big profit within just a few days of listing it! Unnecessary 'Sales Rank Nervousness' debunked again!

(Side Note: You might be asking "J.B., How do you ensure you're always at the lowest price?" I use a repricer service - repriceit.com - for my Amazon FBA listings. I recommend a repricer (but it's not required) if you have a large # of items on Amazon (i.e. 100+ different ASINs). MOST of my items are repriced automatically - daily - to ensure they are the lowest price. You don't need a repricer to compete with other sellers effectively, but it does save you a boatload of time)

Now, is this high sales rank 'success' common? Nope. I have lower - and higher - ranking items that take 6 months to sell, 12 months to sell, 1 month to sell, etc. But I'd rather do that (think about my investment 'long term') than chasing the same hot products along with a ton of snooty, competing sellers, whom would thrust me into a price war. I won't follow that mentality.

If they all run West, I'll run East. You comin' with me? Good. Like the inimitable David Lee Roth once said, "We may be lost, but we're WAY ahead of schedule."

See Ya in the Forums,
-J.B. Malik
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com and FBAFinds.com

The Free Education Amazon Gave Me

2011-06-14T14:59:00.002-04:00

Hi readers.

Nothing to sell to you in this post. Just some inspiration.

Most of you know that I've been pretty successful selling on Amazon. (Just about anyone can sell on Amazon too.) This screen shot shows what I earn on a very 'part time' basis (I run a couple other ventures, as you know.)

In a previous post, I explained to you how I paid $40,000+ for a Boston University MBA, and how I feel I learned more - and earned more - from my ventures online (I'm probably banned from the B.U. campus, now, for saying that).

I'm a fan of education, but not so much when education doesn't teach you how to make money in the 'real world'.

So aside from my 'selling success; on Amazon, I am ecstatic that I also got a free 'real world' education from it, too, in many different 'disciplines'. How?

> I got a free education in retail merchandising by competing with other Amazon sellers pitching the same products; and by learning about UPC Codes (required when you sell your own product or create your own bundle of products to sell on Amazon)

> I got a free education in pricing dynamics. Because of Amazon's extremely large audience, the price of a product can be influenced almost immediately by supply and demand from the consumer, and that phenomena can influence 3rd party merchandisers to compete on price. What you end up with is an economist's dream: product pricing that is very closely aligned with supply and demand.

> I got a free education in customer service. Amazon.com's customer service 'rules' for sellers like me are pretty strict. Sellers have to be very careful how they represent the products they're selling. If you call an item 'new' you'd better mean it. And if you ship the product from home, it had better arrive to the customer on time. And if you tell an aggravating customer to jump in a lake, well, you get the picture.

> I got a free education in social media. I hate the buzzword 'social media' because it's WAY overused. But Amazon (unlike everyone else) isn't 'buzzing' about Social Media at all. It's because they (arguably) invented it with their site's powerful software and algorithms that, among other things:
     > recommend products to customers based on their interests and past purchases;
     > influence supply and demand of a product based on customers' posted reviews of that product;
     > allow customers to create and share wish lists, etc.

> I got a free education in 'eco-friendly' initiatives. One of my e-books explains the tremendous profit potential in selling pre-owned toys and games on Amazon for big profits. Many sellers don't realize that by 'recycling' the product that way, it's one less toy in a landfill, one less new toy packaging to be tossed away.

So, how about you? What did selling on Amazon teach you?

How I Make 2000%+ Profit on Used Books

2011-06-02T17:30:00.000-04:00

Do you know what I love to sell the most?

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you'd guess 'Toys'. Wrong. I love toys, but I love books, better. Why? Because I earn MUCH MORE PROFIT per dollar spent.

I'll Explain:

I have found *new* Toys that I buy for $10 and sell for (say) $50. That's a gross profit margin (GPM) of 400% (which is phenomenal). BUT I buy used (and new) books and media for UNDER $1 ea and sell them on Amazon for $20 and up. That's a GPM of 2000% (yes, TWO THOUSAND), and I'd say 'that's a miracle' but it's not - because ANYONE can do the same thing.

Need some proof? Ok. WARNING: The $ value of each of my orders MAY SHOCK you:

This screen shot is one of my recent orders. I bought the item at a thrift store for $1.

Here's another one. I bought that item at a Library's used book rack for $1.

Here's another one; and another one. (a used DVD movie about Anorexia is worth $100+?)

I know what you're saying: "Yeah but these are only some of J.B. Sales. I'll bet his other sales are a lot less." Well, that's true. My average 'media' item (CD, Book, DVD, etc.) nets me about $8 profit. That's from an average purchase price of $1 each. So, yes - my average GPM per media item is $700, or 700%. Which is still higher than most of my toy sales, and is still phenomenal.

Like I said, anyone can do this. But you need a roadmap. I have just the e-book for you, and it's 50% off until June 6, 2011.

It's Frank Florence's 'Creative Book Sourcing' ON SALE NOW for ~~$97~~ $47. Get this: You get ONE FULL YEAR to get your 100% of your money back if you're not satisfied. And I'm backing his guarantee with my own - If for any reason he doesn't refund you (I know he will), *I* will refund you the full amount you paid.

I have read Frank's ebook. It will SURPRISE you how easy it can be to source books and other media to create a solid revenue stream (just like I have done with the examples I showed you).

Remember: ANYONE can sell books and other media online. But if you want to WIN at it, you need a road map like Frank Florence's book. Again, the link for the e-book at 50% off is here, but the 50% off deal is ONLY good for a few days.

Till next time,

-J.B. Malik

Amazon.com CEO's Commitment to Sellers like Us

2011-05-22T22:11:00.003-04:00

If you sell on Amazon now (or you're considering it), you'll want to read this:

Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com's CEO, recently spoke with AuctionBytes.com and said:

"'[Amazon.com's] goal is to have every single product that you might want to buy, not necessarily directly, but including through third-party sellers, available for very fast delivery."

This is why Amazon.com treats its sellers so well (especially compared to eBay), because Amazon.com wants to make virtually every product imaginable to its customers. This includes the products that 3rd party sellers like me (and others) find 'out there' in your neighborhood stores, thrift stores, yard sales, and libraries.

If you haven't started selling on Amazon yet, you should start today. It's hands-down one of the easiest and fastest ways to start earning a part- or full-time income.

Here are few ways you can begin learning (I posted this on my last post, so forgive me if this sounds redundant):

TO LEARN for FREE: Download this step-by-step guide showing you how to sell used and new media (Books, CDs, and DVDs) via Amazon FBA.

For 'Everything you Need to Know, and 'hand-held' assistance, take the Proven Amazon Course by Jim Cockrum ($189 is all you'll pay for lifetime access - and it's worth every penny)

If you already sell books/cds, etc. but you want to expand your offerings to TOYS and GAMES, Get my 'Amazon Inventory Secrets' Bundle ($37 with a 60-day Full Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee).

See you on the other side,
-J.B. Malik

Explosive Growth of Amazon Marketplace

2011-04-29T13:12:00.004-04:00

Happy Friday, Online Sellers:

Selling on Amazon continues to be remarkably appealing for a variety of reasons. If you are still considering whether or not to start selling on Amazon, now is the time.

First I'll show you 'why' now is the time. Then I'll show you a variety of ways you can get started - some ways are free, some cost just a little bit but are worth the big investment.

Why 'now' is the time:

The image above is from the ChannelAdvisor.com blog. (ChannelAdvisor is an ecommerce industry analyst site/software provider).

The first picture, above, shows the growth of Amazon versus eBay , and versus all other e-commerce sites. Just look at the difference in space between the blue line (Amazon) versus the other lines (e-Bay and E-Commerce). That shows you Amazon is growing in leaps and bounds over everyone else. I'm not saying selling on eBay isn't good. It's just mostly good if you sell one-of-a-kind products, collectibles, and large items like cars.

The second image (just above) shows the growth of 3rd party sellers (3rd party sellers are people like me who sells stuff on Amazon, a.k.a. FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) sellers and/or Amazon Pro Merchants). The red line is the 3rd party sellers on Amazon, the blue shows the growth of Amazon's 'own' stuff they sell. Not only is the 3rd party seller growth bigger than Amazon's 'own' growth, but it also DOUBLED from 1 year ago. That means that selling on Amazon is becoming very popular for sellers like me. It's popular for a reason - it just works.

I have made 300% or more profit margins by buying new and used toys, books, CDs, DVDs etc. in my region, and shipping them all to Amazon's fulfillment (FBA) center. Amazon does the rest of the work, and I get the major share of the sales revenue from my items. It's that simple. (Note: When I say "300% or more profit margins", I mean (by example), I find a new toy for $5 on clearance at my local Walmart, and I sell it on Amazon for $20. My Gross Profit Margin (GPM) is $15, or 300% of my purchase price ($5). It's that simple.)

Now, how can you get in on this? I'm going to show you 4 different ways you can get started. (Remember, just about anyone can sell stuff on Amazon. You just need an Amazon seller account)

TO LEARN HOW TO SELL on AMAZON for FREE: Download this FREE step-by-step guide showing you how to sell used and new media (Books, CDs, and DVDs) via Amazon FBA.

TO TALK WITH OTHER AMAZON SELLERS for FREE: Download my FREE guide, "Best Sources for Free Online Help for Amazon Sellers"

TO BE 'HELD BY THE HAND' and Learn EVERYTHING about Selling on Amazon, Take the Proven Amazon Course by Jim Cockrum ($189 and worth every penny)

IF YOU ALREADY SELL on AMAZON but you want to expand your offerings to TOYS and GAMES, Get my 'Amazon Inventory Secrets' Bundle ($27 with a 60-day Full Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee).

So there you go. Make today 'The Day' you get started selling on Amazon.

I'll see you on the other side!

-J.B. Malik, Founder
http://www.honestonlineselling.com/
http://www.fbadeals.com/
http://www.fbafinds.com/
"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun." - Katharine Hepburn

Deals that Suck, Part II

2011-04-10T11:45:00.001-04:00

Hi, online sellers.

Last December I wrote 'Deals that Suck', about how major retailers are consistently underwhelming consumers with also-ran sales and specials that really provide little or no value to us.

I think Sears topped the cake, though.

A few days ago I was in Sears and signed up for their Rewards program, without paying much attention to the fine print. I got my flashy new Sears Rewards card to slip on my keychain. I was cool.

Yesterday I went back into Sears and bought my wife a $200 vacuum, an extended warranty, and some vacuum bags. It totaled up to about $280.

I proudly gave the clerk my Sears Rewards card and after she rung everything up, she told me I received about twenty-eight HUNDRED points - or 10 points for every dollar I spent. Wow that must be worth something then, huh? Total DOLLAR Value? $3.01.

Let me rephrase that: My reward for a $260 purchase was $3.01, or a smidge over 1% of my total purchase price.

WOW.

I'd have liked to be a fly on the wall at the Sears Executive Meeting when they dreamed up this one:

     Clueless Sears Executive #1: "BJs and Target and Wal-mart are eating up our market share."

     Clueless Sears Executive #2: "What can we do to get buyers in our stores more often?"

    Clueless Sears Executive #3: "I've got an idea: Give them a penny in Sears Rewards for every dollar they spend, but call the penny '10 points' to give them the illusion that they're getting a lot back."

     Clueless Sears Executive #4: "Wow. Are our customers really that dumb?"

You probably already know Sears is a wet, limping laggard in the retail world. They need a damn near miracle if they're going to survive the long haul.

So what does Sears' leadership do? They flip customers the bird with truly insulting incentives like the "rewards" program.

The message for us online sellers? Outlive Sears. Don't be like them. You don't have to give your customers margin-cutting discounts. Just do things that make them really smile, and mean it:

-Throw in something special that doesn't cost much. If a toy takes 4AA batteries, send them some. You don't have to buy duracell, but go to the $1 store and get the generics.

-Provide a generous return policy, like 60 days or even a full year (or, like one of my products, a LIFETIME replacement guarantee. IF you're selling a quality item, you rarely ever have to worry about a return, trust me. You can charge a bigger price (=bigger profit for you) than your competition by offering a generous return policy.

-Offer free shipping for all/most of your products. Increase the price of your item if you have to. If you don't offer free shipping, make it cheap enough so they don't balk.

But don't - please don't - give incentives that seem clever to you but clearly have no value to your buyer. You're not Sears, a big dinosaur that might take many mishaps and stumbles to crumble. You're probably a mom-and-pop shop, or a 1-person operation, like me.

Overwhelm your customers with goodness, and keep 'em coming back.

Do Great Stuff!

-J.B. Malik

14 Cups of Coffee OR My Brain?

2011-04-06T08:46:00.000-04:00

Hi Readers,

How much is a cup of Starbucks Coffee these days? I'm a brew-it-at-home guy, so I'm guessing a cup is about $2. So if you u drink one cup a day, that's $28 for two weeks' worth, right?

Well, for LESS than that $28, you could have my 'Amazon Selling Secrets Bundle', instead, here: http://www.FBADeals.com.

This bundle contains my 2 e-books that I contributed to the $189 Proven Amazon Course. So if the course was too rich for your blood, try my e-books instead. Plus I threw in $34 worth of bonuses you can't get with the Course. AND it's all backed with my 60-day 'No Questions Asked' 100% Money Back Guarantee.

Selling products on Amazon.com has been a huge money-maker for me for the past year. And it can be for you, too. It doesn't take a lot of know-how, and you can really do it on a shoestring budget.

So, if you'd like - drop the coffee for two weeks, and get inside my Brain instead!

To your success,
-J.B. Malik
P.S. Here's that link again: http://www.FBADeals.com

Review: Proven Amazon Course

2011-03-25T10:30:00.001-04:00

Hi, gang.

The Proven Amazon Course I've been talking about has been selling VERY briskly, but the price WILL go up soon.

Selling goods on Amazon can be INCREDIBLY profitable for you. Simply described, you find inventory locally for cheap (the course shows you how) and sell it on Amazon, usually for very big profit margins (80% to 600%). You can ship the sold items to customers from your home/office or ship ALL your inventory to Amazon, and they handle the sales and customer service.

Some readers have asked me to post a review (I did, see below). DISCLOSURE: I'm an affiliate for the course, AND I'm a Content Editor for the company behind it (MySilentTeam.com). So you will probably assume I'm biased, but I'm not - I'm pointing out the good and the bad here.

REVIEW of The Proven Amazon Course:

PROS:

- The course covers almost EVERY aspect of selling on Amazon. If you're a newbie or an intermediate, or even an 'expert' seller, there is something in there for everyone.

-Selling on Amazon can be EXTREMELY profitable and it's a LOT LESS work than blogging or doing SEO and even selling on eBay. If you are going to spend any money this year, spend it on a program that shows you almost 'bullet-proof' ways to make money, like this one.

- The course contains all the knowledge and strategies that took me (without the course) about a year to learn. I wish I had this course when I started because I would have made LESS mistakes and MORE profitable decisions (i.e. what to sell, where to get inventory, etc.)

- The course contains advice, input and one-on-one dialogue from Amazon selling experts like Chris Green
(founder of FBAScout and FBAPower, two tools that many Amazon sellers use), Skip McGrath, Nathan Holmquist, and others.

- The course solves (among other things) the #1 question I get from other Amazon sellers: "What do I Sell" or "Where do I find stuff to sell". This course tells you EXACTLY what to buy and where to buy it (but you have so many choices in products and locations anyway)

- The cost for the course is $149 (and it will go up to $189 soon, without notice). I paid $40,000 for a Boston University MBA 10+ years ago, and this course (unlike the MBA) is
an almost 'fail-proof' way to make income (if you follow the advice).

-Jim Cockrum (course leader) always offers a generous time period for a FULL money back refund if you're
not satisfied, and he ALWAYS honors his refund policy. Remember I am also BACKING Jim's guarantee (if you purchase the course via this link).

CONS:

-It's not really a step-by-step course in that it doesn't 'hold your hand' and put all the steps in order This is more of a 'dive in' course. If you're not well-organized and/or you don't ask for help from the course contributors (the help is included in the course fee), you might get overwhelmed

-Aside from the 2 guides I contributed to the course (which focused on what games and toys you can buy as inventory to sell, and where to find them), it is a *little* too heavy on the 'books and media' side of selling on Amazon. That's ok for folks who are newbies/intermediate, but experts who want to branch into more product offerings MAY be disappointed. (However, the course is a 'how to', so the principles and tactics you learn with the course can be applied to virtually any type of product you're selling on Amazon.)

>>>>>>> Check out the course here

I'd LOVE to hear your feedback, Good AND Bad. Click "Post a Comment' Below.

Stay Classy, Internet folks

-J.B. Malik, Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com

Why I LOVE eBay's Seller Fee Increase!

2011-03-18T20:12:00.001-04:00

I LOVE it when eBay increases their fees (I'm being serious!). Think I'm crazy? View my latest video (below) and I'll tell you why. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. Click on 'POST a COMMENT' at the end of this post.

(double-click on the video for a larger version)

The TOP 10 Reasons You Can't Ignore Selling on eBay (intended for U.S.-based Sellers):

1. No other site has the GLOBAL reach and MASSIVE audience for products that you CAN'T Sell on Amazon (Think: Cars, Boats, RVs, motorcycles, Houses, Vintage/Used Clothing, Vintage memorabilia, and more).

2. eBay is the ONLY site (aside from Amazon) with a MASSIVE audience AND built-in buyer and seller protection (buyer and seller ratings, Paypal payment verification and seller protection, etc.)

3. eBay is the ONLY MASSIVE e-Commerce site that has 'built-in' search engine optimization for your own listing. For instance, go to http://shopping.google.com and type in "Batmobile LED Kit". See the first listing? It's on eBay and that's my product! I didn't have to do anything to get it on Google!

4. eBay is the ONLY site where you can TEST product PRICING (via an auction) with a LARGE audience.You can change prices as much as you want until you hit the 'sweet spot' where your customers are the most apt to buy from you.

5. eBay is the ONLY MASSIVE site (other than Amazon) that gives you exposure to MILLIONS of INTERNATIONAL buyers.

6. Amazon CAN Shut you down, and permanently ban you from selling. This has happened to other sellers. If you look at my video above, you'll see the only other site with TENS of MILLIONS of visitors monthly is eBay. (The reverse can happen too, if you sell only on eBay and not on Amazon. So, DIVERSIFY and sell actively on both eBay and Amazon

7. eBay is the ONLY MASSIVE e-commerce site where you can pay (a ridiculously low $39.95) to get the vehicle you're selling at the TOP of the search results.

8. eBay is the ONLY MASSIVE e-commerce site where you can list an auction item for FREE (beg. 4/19/11) and pay a commission only if it sells.

9. Fickle Sellers peeved at eBay's Latest Fee Changes are going to leave. That's GREAT because it means LESS competition for you!

10. eBay is STILL a RIPE SOURCE of goods you can snap up and 'flip' on Amazon for HUGE Profits.

11. (sorry, one more). eBay is still one of the CHEAPEST marketing methods to promote your goods to a HUGE audience. Direct mail, TV, radio, Google Adwords can be (or already are) expensive; and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) can be a long, arduous process. I will GLADLY pay eBay's seller fees and commissions because I know I can't market my stuff any cheaper.

MORE:

> For eBay's upcoming Fee Changes, click here.
> To see eBay Fee Change Examples, click here.
> To view some Seller Backlash on this latest fee hike, click here.

Another FREE Amazon Seller Guide

2011-03-15T10:00:00.005-04:00

I just published another Amazon Seller Help guide, and it's FREE for you (for a limited time).

If you are selling on Amazon already, you know that getting a NEGATIVE Feedback Rating can destroy your seller reputation. If you get enough NEGATIVE ratings, Amazon can and will shut down your seller account. Click on the below link and find out how you can keep your Rating high....

How to Improve Your Amazon Seller Feedback Score

These 2 Images Make me BLUSH!

2011-03-14T13:25:00.002-04:00

Online Sellers:

Two things to share with you:

1: Amazon.com just awarded me for being a TOP AMAZON SELLER for the Holiday Season (2010). Click here to see it!

2: I just posted my 2011 Amazon Sales TO DATE. My net profit margin (not shown) is 65% of my sales. Click here to see it!

Now if I can easily source and sell products on Amazon for a 65% profit margin, YOU can, too! The Proven Amazon Course (PAC) shows you MORE than everything I already know! Remember I am DOUBLE-BACKING the PAC's No-Questions-Asked 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.

Stay Classy, Online Sellers.

-J.B. Malik
Founder, http://www.HonestOnlineSelling.com

FREE Help for Amazon Sellers

2011-03-09T12:26:00.001-05:00

I hope you've checked out the Proven Amazon Course - Cashing in on FBA.

The Course is $149 (it goes up to $189 in a few days). It's a steal for what you get. But if it's still too rich for your blood, and you need help selling on Amazon, then please view my FREE guide (below). It shows you EXACTLY where to get FREE Amazon Seller Help online. I think you'll find it very helpful.

Be sure to leave me a comment below, I want to know what you think!
Amazon Sellers Guide to FREE HELP Resources

Do Great Stuff!
-J.B. Malik
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com

Peek Inside the Amazon FBA Course

2011-03-08T09:53:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I showed you how I made $2500 profit in two weeks by selling products on Amazon via their FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) program.

It is truly very easy to make money online by selling on Amazon. The concept is simple: you find used or new goods locally, ship them to Amazon, and Amazon sells them for you.

If you want to sell on Amazon, or you're new to selling on Amazon, don't pass up this course: http://fba.my-silent-team.net

You can take a FREE peek inside the course via my video below.

Do Great Stuff!

-J.B. Malik

Here's that course link again: http://fba.my-silent-team.net

My 2 BIG Amazon FBA Announcements

2011-03-07T16:15:00.000-05:00

Two BIG Announcements today:

1: I made a $2500 PROFIT in TWO weeks by selling on Amazon FBA. Click on the video below to see PROOF.

2: The first-ever Amazon FBA Online Course is available NOW. You know I rarely pitch offers to you, but this one is too good to pass by if you are new or a beginner with FBA.

Click on the video below for more (double-click on it for a bigger version).

The course I mentioned in the video is here: http://fba.my-silent-team.net

Do Great Stuff!
-J.B. Malik
P.S. Please post your comments below, I'd love to know what you think about Amazon FBA!

Fighting FBA Competition; and Finding FBA Inventory

2011-02-22T10:44:00.002-05:00

An FBA Seller over at MySilentTeam.com (disclosure: I'm a content editor there) was having some bad luck with finding inventory, and he was nervous about competition. So I gave him the same truthful pep talk I give other FBA sellers.

I think you'll find it inspirational and helpful (it was edited for clarity). Please post some feedback, I really want to hear from you!

----

RE: TROUBLE FINDING BOOK INVENTORY?

Here are some tips:

1. Go outside your comfort zone re: the usual locations you scout for books (i.e. libraries). You might have to go 'direct' to the consumer via craigslist.org (posting an 'items wanted' ad) and freecycle.org. In your ads, tell folks you can take their used books off their hands (make sure you let them know the books you don't accept, i.e. encyclopedia volumes, romance novels, magazines, damaged books, etc.) Offer to pick up the books for free (that way you don't have to spend any $). Some folks will be happy just to get rid of them.

2. Go outside your comfort zone re: products. Do the above (direct to consumers) but also try your hand at sourcing games and toys (new and used) and unopened puzzles. Before scouting, sure your scanner gives pricing data for games and toys (I use neatoscan.com's monthly subscription on my scanner, for $50/month). Also, I get about 10% of my toy and games inventory from my eBay arbitrage method (See my video and post on Arbitrage here: http://bit.ly/hUbvSV)

3. Go outside your comfort zone re: geography. Plan a whole day (or more) and drive to another region in the state (do a little research online to ensure the area is populated with at least 5 libraries and 5 thrift stores). This sounds a little silly but there are people doing this for other 'locally-sourced' products. They place craigslist ads in different parts of their region in the country, respond to ads, and stop at homes along the way.

4. Don't fall into the 'buy from a book wholesaler' trap, that's a surefire way to get a measly 10% (or less) profit margin on your wholesale purchase.

RE: COMPETITION

All in all, yes there is increased competition for you but there is TONS of product out there that's just not being 'claimed'. You have to think creatively now to get to the inventory.

Re: LONG TERM VIABILITY of SELLING BOOKS (my view):

Well by 'long term' I think book selling will be viable as one of several income stream for a few years (2 to 6 years max; more for toys and games because those markets seem to be 'less invaded' by competing sellers.) The reason for this (aside from the increasing popularity of AMZ FBA) is because the technology needed (i.e. scanners and their data applications) are briskly decreasing in price, and getting easier to use.

Now anyone with an iPhone or Android can see competitive pricing on their iphone by taking a picture of the product in a store, or scanning the item's UPC code (not as quick as a scanner but it's free and the speed will only improve over time).

TIPS TO BEAT YOUR COMPETITION:

Where sellers like you and me will excel (i.e. beat our competition in the next 2 to 6 years) will be the folks who:

> know how to creatively get new inventory (see above)

> use the latest technology/web apps to manage our business effectively and grow it (FBAPower for processing our inventory; repriceit.com for auto-repricing our FBA listed items daily so we stay competitive; etc.)

> Get our 'hands dirty' without fear (i.e., when I started with FBA, I was willing to drive 1 hour to pick up 10 boxes of library books (for $30), and spend a whole day throwing out 95% of those books, and sending the rest to FBA. It's a lot of work but my profit margin on that kind of inventory is way above 300%. It is a relationship I struck by calling all the libraries in my area and asking if they had any remnants they get rid of).

> Don't rely on Amazon FBA ALONE for income. Make sure you're diversifying your risk by selling on other platforms (eBay, Half.com, Alibris, etc.), and consider writing and selling an info-product about a niche you might specialize in, i.e. (if you know all about golf clubs), "How to Source and Sell Golf Clubs on Amazon and eBay". Remember the people who got rich during the Gold Rush way back when were the people that sold the tools (i.e. shovels and such) to the rabid, hungry gold seekers. Ensure the knowledge you are building today becomes a sellable guide to someone else 'tomorrow'.

Get the BEST help selling on Amazon from the U.S.' TOP Amazon selling experts with this Course.
Do Great Stuff!

-J.B. Malik
Founder, http://www.HonestOnlineSelling.com
Content Editor, MySilentTeam.com

Peek at my Amazon FBA Profits

2011-02-06T09:57:00.002-05:00

Hey gang, hope you've been well!

No hard selling here, just something to show you for some inspiration.

For those of you who are considering selling online via Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), you're probably wondering 'can I make any real money with it'? And my answer is a wholehearted YES.

The snapshot to the above-right (Click here for a bigger view) shows my profit ($1590) for the past two weeks (this translates to $41K+ year). (The numbers are not fake, trust me)

This is my gross profit AFTER Amazon deducts their fees, commissions, and my shipping charges.

My NET profit is approx. $1100 every two weeks, AFTER I deduct my general expenses (approx. 30% of my profit.) General expenses = cost of inventory (i.e. the goods I'm buying to ship to Amazon FBA), my subscription fees to my scanner's subscription, FBAPower, and other online tools I use to manage my FBA business.

That $1100 every two weeks translates to $28,600 per year net profit (before taxes). (My average annual profit is much higher - it's been a slow couple months because I've been busy renovating my new home)

Remember I do Amazon FBA VERY Part time now. I have a good 3 or 4 solid revenue streams, and FBA is just one of them.

BONUS: My Amazon FBA business is VERY 'part time'. (recently it's been as low as 15 hours per week).

> Amazon.com's Link to sign up as an Amazon FBA Seller
Happy Selling!

Stay Classy, Internet folks.

-J.B. Malik

"Where Can I Sell Online, Besides eBay & Amazon?"

2011-01-28T21:28:00.000-05:00

I get this question all the time. Sellers who don't like's eBay and Amazon's selling fees are always looking for other web sites to post their items.

But Amazon.com and eBay each have a tremendous amount of exposure to millions of buyers - and that makes their selling fees very much worth it, in my opinion. Other than Amazon, eBay, Overstock.com, and a couple others - there aren't many online marketplaces that a.) allow you to sell goods AND b.) have a huge volume of buyers

That's starting to change with at least three smaller marketplaces - which charge sellers up to 90% LESS than eBay and Amazon (and some let you sell stuff for free): eCrater, iOffer, and Bonanza (formerly Bonanzle).

I have used each of these marketplaces with some decent success, although Bonanza booted me - and some other sellers - off for reasons they're not disclosing. However, all of them are 100% legit and with plenty of buyers.

The cool thing about these smaller marketplaces is that they're Google-friendly. That means that if your item is posted to them properly, you should get some visitors/buyers directly from people searching for the item on Google. (Your success will vary of course, based on the # of people searching for your item, and the # of competitors also selling the item on the same marketplace, etc.)

For more on these marketplaces, you can view AuctionBytes; results of its second annual Seller's Choice ratings in the January 23rd issue of its AuctionBytes Update email newsletter.

One final note about these online marketplaces - sell some goods on at least one of them. I am a proponent of 'diversification': Diversify your product types AND diversify your selling venues. If you are only selling toys on eBay and someday eBay shuts down our account for whatever reason (it's happened), you will be able to jump to at least one other marketplace. This will keep some revenue coming in until you remedy the eBay situation.

Until next time,

-Do Great Stuff!
J.B. Malik, Founder
HonestOnlineSelling.com

The 3 C's You Should NEVER Do.

2010-12-22T10:42:00.001-05:00

The "Query Matrix", designed to Confuse the Crap out of you.

You've heard of the 3 C's of marketing, right? Contact, Connect, Communicate?

How about the 3 C's you should AVOID? I call it: Confuse the Crap out of the Customer. Your company or current employer is likely guilty of the 3C's.

Example: My previous employer (we'll call them RBA - Really Big Agency) shows this diagram (above/right) during client negotiations.

The diagram even has the uber-friendly name 'QueryMatrix'. Sounds like a game in the new TRON Movie.

If that wasn't enough, here's what accompanies the diagram:

"RBA provides innovative solutions within the areas of Digital Content Optimization and Consumer-Initiated Advertising. Our holistic Search Marketing methodology leverages four key strategies to connect your brand to your audience through queries. Each of these strategies corresponds with the intersection of Advertising and Content at the Point-of-Search and Post-Search. The RBA QueryMatrix helps marketers drive more profit from each Search Query by closing the loop from awareness to consideration to engagement to conversion. Click on each arrow to learn more about our Query Marketing Solutions.

Congratulations, You’ve Found RBA."

No: Congratulations, You've Confused the Crap Out of me.

What's wrong here?

Any agency - any company - must communicate the value of their service to their customer clearly and concisely.

Since I've left the agency world (last February), I've seen how ridiculous companies like RBA must look. They try too hard to be 'classy' (there's another 'C' word) when describing what they do. Their executives spend weeks huddled in their conference rooms, pontificating and blowing a lot of hot air around deciding what THEY THINK their customer thinks about them.

The end result? Lots of gobbledy-gook and 4-color diagrams. And a Customer Confused as Crap. Do customers REALLY want to "close the loop from awareness to consideration to engagment." Or do they just need to, um, I dunno, MAKE MORE MONEY?

So what can YOU do that's different?

Whether you sell widgets or marketing programs, DO THE OPPOSITE to your clients: Express your value to customers in 1 sentence, 2 maximum.

Here's an example:

"Tell me what you want to do. I'll automate it so you can make more money." - Mike Koenigs' Social Media Marketing Machines (Not an agency per se, but Mike provides marketing services to people like Tony Robbins and Paula Abdul).

Clear? Yes. Concise? Yes. Confusing crap? No.

Here's another one:

"Skills to the Pay The Bills." Jeremy Schoemaker's Shoemoney.com. Schoemaker is one of the most sought-after and revered Internet marketers today. His company trains people to earn a living by building robust websites and blogs and monetizing them, honestly and effectively.

Clear? Yes. Concise? Yes. Confusing crap? No.

So what about you? Can you say what your company does in 1-2 sentences? Tell me, maybe I can help you refine it.

Stay Classy, Internet.

-J.B. Malik, Founder
http://www.HonestOnlineSelling.com

Hot Sellers This Xmas, and Some Duds

2010-12-21T12:55:00.001-05:00

Hello, online sellers.

I hope you're wrapping up (literally) your Xmas shipments to customers and getting ready for at least one day off.

Today, I'd like to share my online retail hits and misses of the season/year with you. What was hotter than the camera flashes behind Rachel Uchitel? What fizzled out like Michael Vick's season performance?

(Keep in mind that these are from the view of a reseller (like us folks). What was a dud for us to resell still may have been hot in the retail-to-consumer market)

1. DUD: Sing-a-ma-Jigs. Remember the press was ALL OVER this product and it was predicted to be a hit? As of press time, some of these were being sold on Amazon for as little as $6. Nothing like the Zhu-Zhu sensation of 2009 (I remember my Amazon merchant price point of the brown Zhu Zhu's peaking at $60 each last year).

2. HOT (Every Year!). Talking Buzz Lightyear. Every year around Thanksgiving, Disneystore.com hocks their talking Buzz Lightyears for a super-cheap sale price of $14.99 to $19.99. I always pick up about 20 of the Ultimate Buzz Lightyears. Little boys DRIVE THEIR PARENTS CRAZY for the talking Buzz Lightyear and It's a hit every year. I sold all 20 for between $45 and $50 each (via Amazon FBA) and I just sold out (This is about a 100% profit margin after all expenses). MAKE SURE (next year) you buy the Talking Buzz Lightyear WITH the pop-out wings that light up on both tips (this seems to be a prerequisite for the die-hard boy fans of the doll).

3. HOT (Every Year Since 2008): The Dark Knight Stealth Launch Batmobile. This was released in 2008 only and it's a hard find. I buy these (new and used) throughout the year on eBay (via my arbitrage method) for $20 to $50 each. Every Xmas, mine sell for $50 to $150 each via Amazon FBA. Profit margin of 100 to 200% after expenses.

4. HOT: Used and/or New, Out-of-Production Board Games. Make sure these are 100% complete before you ship them to Amazon FBA and/or your customer. Yes, USED games can be hot sellers. I pay $3 to $10 for each of these at thrift stores, yard sales, and/or via online arbitrage, throughout the year. They're actually hot sellers regardless of the time of year. Examples:
Mall Madness: Used prices via FBA peaked for me at $80.
Acquire (very HTF) sold by me via Amazon FBA for $177.95 (it was new and sealed)
Cranium Cariboo (and other various used out-of-print games by Cranium) peak at about $40 to $90 used.

...Remember, these were picked up by me for $3 to $10 each!

5. HOT: Wisecracking (talking) Spiderman. I bought an armload of these from ToysRUs.com about a month ago for $14.99 each. They've been selling via Amazon FBA for $34.99 to $49.99 (profit margin of 100%-200% after all expenses/commissions). With the NYC Broadway Show of Spiderman in, ahem, full swing, some Spiderman toys will continue to be hot and I suspect this will be one of them, as it's sold out practically everywhere.

6. DUD: Wow Wee Paper Jamz. I REALLY expected this to take off, but it didn't (I'm lucky I didn't buy any for reselling). Brilliant product, but trying to compete with Guitar Hero, et. al. is difficult. Great execution, but tepid buyer's market.

7. DUD: Squinkies. Another one the press was all over in Oct./Nov. You can still find these on Amazon for $3.99 a pack and up. Not sure why this didn't explode either, but much like the Sing-a-ma-jigs there was a ton of hype and just not explosive demand.

Do you see a pattern above? My hottest sellers were from time-honored brands with a lot of heritage: Disney (Buzz), Batman/DC (Batmobile) and Marvel/Spiderman (Wisecracking). I call these toys 'evergreens' because I can count on them yearly to bring me in a profit.

What were your HOT Sellers? Duds? Post away (below)!

Stay Classy, Internet.

-J.B. Malik
Founder, HonestOnlineSelling.com

Deals that Suck, and Going 'Crazy.'

2010-12-09T09:11:00.000-05:00

Hi, online sellers.

Some retail giants have warped ideas about providing value these days. There's a lesson for us Internet marketers here, so bear with me:

- Borders.com offers $10 off their e-readers (priced $119 and up).

- HomeDepot.com offers Free Shipping on 'Most Orders Over $249'.

- BestBuy.com offers a free BestBuy $50 gift card when you buy a Denon Receiver (which are priced $800 and up).

These 'deals' are underwhelming. They suck. There's VERY little/no value to the consumer. I call them 'Nomotions': Promotions worth nothing.

Rarely do these companies - and thousands others - 'wow' customers into making a purchase.

This is precisely one of the reasons I left the 'real' working world earlier this year: most of the companies I worked for just don't get it.

What does this mean to you?

It means this: If you want to stand out from other sellers, you've got to 'get crazy'.

Example:

Last Halloween, I offered all buyers a promise that I'd deliver their item by Halloween or their item would be FREE. And I meant it. I had an almost 100% sell through rate on all my items.

Am I crazy? No. Why?

-I actually did deliver all orders by Halloween. It costs only a few pennnies more for U.S. Postal service delivery confirmation, so I had proof.

-I 'padded' by eBay/Amazon listing schedules with enough days in advance of Halloween so I could ensure orders were indeed delivered on time.

-The risk for me was pretty low. Most of my costume items were $20, not $1000. So if I did miss my "Get it or its Free" deadline, I didn't have to sell a kidney to make up for it.

Oh, I also offer (on most items) a 'NO QUESTIONS ASKED' 30-day return policy. Other sellers offer 7 days, or deduct a restocking fee from the refund. But , I RARELY get a return. Most retailers' return percentages are very, very low - so the risk to them - and us - is incredibly small (provided they're selling quality, reliable goods).

But last Halloween, I didn't see ANY OTHER COMPANY offering the same deal.

Why?

They're uncomfortable with taking a risk. They stick to the 'plain vanilla' approach: Don't rock the boat. Don't do anything out of the ordinary. Sellers, that's not good business sense - it's just bad, novice-level marketing.

Still skeptical? The companies below go to great lengths to WOW their customers with "CRAZINESS". Check it:

Zappos.com:
-Free shipping for shoes, free shipping for returns if you don't like the shoes. And a 365-day return policy. That's ONE YEAR. IS ZAPPOS CRAZY? Yes, and it works: Amazon bought the company last year for $850 Million. Oh, and Zappos has a cult-like HUGE following of dedicated customers because of their craziness.

Hyundai:
A few years ago, Hyundai introduced the first-of-its-kind TEN YEAR, 100,000 Mile Warranty when their competition offered 3-year/36,000 miles. And when the economy tanked, Hyundai said if you lease or finance their cars and you lose your job, return the car and owe nothing. IS HYUNDAI CRAZY? Yes, and their cars are now renowned for oustanding quality, style and value.

So how can YOU get a little 'crazy' and stand out from the competition?

-Offer free shipping, regardless of how much the customer spends.
-Guarantee delivery in time for the holidays.
-Provide 'nutty' return policies on goods you know are extra-durable. I have a TWO YEAR exchange policy on one of the $30 toys I sell because I know it never breaks, and if it does, I can send one to the customer because it costs me under $6.

Your competitors will call you crazy. But your customers will be crazy in love with you.
Stay classy, Internet.

-J.B. Malik, Founder, http://www.HonestOnlineSelling.com

How I Make 100%+ Profit With (Fancy Term Alert) 'ARBITRAGE'

2010-12-03T21:23:00.001-05:00

About 10% of my revenue comes from inventory I buy on eBay and then sell for a HUGE profit on Amazon.com. It's easier than you think, and a whole lot of fun. Click the video for more.

Two links you'll find useful:
1.) Setting up an Amazon Seller account (FREE)
2.) The complete guide ($27) on how to buy low and sell high with eBay 'Arbitrage'

Oh, and if you've never sold on Amazon before, you want to ignore the above video and links and start here instead.

Stay Classy, Internet Sellers...
-J.B. Malik

What Can I Sell Online - TONS of Free Info

2010-06-06T13:36:00.000-04:00

Hi readers!

Last month I gave you some FREE ideas about what to start selling "right now", if you're just getting started and need some inventory right away.

Well I've pooled together some of my best additional resources, ALL FREE, so you can pick from a wide range of items that sell GREAT on eBay and Amazon.com. All you gotta do is hunt them down in your local neighborhood (I've included HOW to get these items).

BUT FIRST: Before you buy any inventory for your eBay/Amazon business, be sure to check what the ITEM IS REALLY WORTH by viewing the completed listings for an identical item on eBay. DON'T BUY before you know you can sell it for a profit.

So Bookmark this page for future reference. Ready?

1. SELL USED CHILDREN'S BOOKS. Powerseller Julie Anna Schultz is offering her list of *300 Titles* of Children's books that sell well.

GET HER LIST by subscribing HERE (look for the white and red subscription box on the right of the page.)

YOU CAN FIND these items by going to your local libraries (most of whom sell their out-of-circulation books every day), and/or by going to their annual book sales, and/or by posting a free 'items wanted' ad on your local Craigslist.org site.

...

2. SELL USED ITEMS from ESTATE SALES. Estate sales are run by liquidation companies that go into peoples' homes to liquidate all their contents. You can find some goodies in there. I typically go right for the CDs, VHS tapes, DVDs, and Books but you have to know what to look for so you can resell them for higher profits.

YOU CAN FIND ESTATE SALES local to you here.

...

3. SELL YOUR EXPERTISE. Do you have an expertise in something? Do you knit well? Are you an expert in restoring old Chevy Camaros? Did you win 1st prize for your apple pie in a baking contest. Well if you haven't yet, you REALLY need to take pictures or a video of you knitting/restoring/baking the product to completion, have your son/daughter/neighbor's kid burn the video to a CD, and sell the CD on eBay. Buyers LOVE How-to demonstrations in little 'niche' markets. These "how-to" CDs are called "Infoproducts" or 'e-Books"

YOU CAN FIND FREE INFORMATION on making Infoproducts/e-Books HERE.

...

4. SELL PRODUCTS FROM WHOLESALERS. Yes, this can be done, you don't need to buy 1000 of the same item. Many wholesalers work with small sellers like you and me. (I'm not talking about dropshipping here, there's no money in that. What I recommend is that you buy items in bulk from a wholesaler, have those items shipped to YOUR home/business, and you sell the items on Amazon, eBay, etc.) WARNING: There are many crooks and gimmicks among wholesalers. That's why my ONLY TRUSTED SOURCE of RELIABLE wholesale information is WorldWide Brands.

YOU CAN FIND FREE 'HOW TO' information on buying wholesale here.

...

5. SELL RETIRED YANKEE CANDLES. Believe it or not, this is a lucrative niche market. Say that a customer buys Yankee's Leather Scent candle, and then Yankee Candle stops production of that scent. That's where you come in. Leather-scent Yankee candles have fetched upwards of $200 on eBay. Other retired and 'seasonal-only' Yankee candles increasing in value are: White Christmas, Vanilla sandlewood, Vineyard, Dark Roasted Coffee, Spa Fresh.

YOU CAN FIND Retired/'Seasonal' Yankee Candles at: Your local Yankee Candle store, Your nearest Yankee Candle Outlet, your nearest Bed Bath and Beyond, and by placing a a free 'items wanted' ad on your local Craigslist.org site.

...

6. SELL PRE-OWNED HOT FASHION BRANDS. Suzanne Wells is giving away her FREE e-book here. It provides the hot-selling brands of apperal, house goods, etc., that are hot ebay sellers.

YOU CAN FIND pre-owned hot fashion brands at local estate sales, local thrift stores, and yard sales posted on your local Craigslist.org site. Or get folks to contact you if they have the items, by placing a free 'items wanted' ad on your local Craigslist.org site.

7. SELL PRE-OWNED GYMNASTIC LEOTARDS. Ok this sounds silly, but you Moms out there know how ridiculously expensive it is to get gymnastic apparel for you kids. And you also know how quickly they outgrow it! Well they sell like hotcakes, typically in lots, on eBay. Don't pay more than $2 per leotard, and make sure they're in good condition before buying! (No stains, rips, heavy wear, etc.)

YOU CAN FIND pre-owned gymnastic leotards at local thrift stores and yard sales posted on your local Craigslist.org site . Or get folks to contact you if they have them, by placing a free 'items wanted' ad on your local Craigslist.org site.

...

So those are 7 more ideas to get you started right away. If this intrigues you and you want to know what else you can "Find Locally and Sell Globally" RIGHT NOW, check out this e-book from my colleague Skip McGrath. It has a lot more ideas and comes with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee or Your Money Back.

Happy Hunting!

What Can I Start Selling Online RIGHT NOW?

2010-05-07T15:48:00.000-04:00

Every new online seller I bump into is searching for the answer to "What can I sell RIGHT NOW"? Hey, we're all anxious to sell more and make money, right? So I'm going to let you in on some of my secret items, 100% Free for you. This in a moment.

The follow-up question I get is 'Great, but how do I find those items'? To start, I suggest people either look at ads on Craigslist.org, where people might be unloading those items. But more reliable is if you place an 'ITEMS WANTED' ad in your local Craigslist (which is free).

So here are items you can get locally in your town/neighborhoods (or maybe in your own home), and start selling the items on Amazon.com and/or Ebay.com right away.

1. Used Books. One category of used books that continuously sells very well is Owner's manuals and Repair Manuals for Cars (and motorcycles and trucks). The reason is everyone owns a used car or two (or more) in their lifetime, and they need repair manuals to fix them. So these books are in demand. You can find these manuals at your local garage sales or thrift stores and buy them for a buck each. I recently purchased a Ford Taurus repair manual and a Chevy Camaro repair manual for $1 each and they sold for $15 and $25 on Amazon. Or place a 'WANTED' ad on Craigslist asking people to let you buy their used car manuals. For more on selling books online, you can see my previous posts here.

2. Used Toy Batmobiles and Lego Batmobiles. This is my expertise (and I can't believe I'm giving this secret away). It's actually not just Batmobiles, you could do this with any other highly-collectible toy. I place local Craigslist ads saying 'Toy Batmobiles wanted', and I pay up to $5 each depending on type, condition. Toy batmobiles from the 1980s and 1990s, and even from the past couple years, can fetch up to $100. Do a search on Amazon.com for 'Batmobile' or a 'Completed Items' Search on eBay for 'Batmobile' and you'll see what I mean when you check their selling prices. USED lego Batmobiles from the 2000s fetch up to $135+; and USED Kenner Batmobile Toys from the 1980s and 1990s can fetch up to $100+. See more of my Batmobile selling success on my post here.

3. Used Thomas Train Sets. Same concept as above. View the completed listings on eBay and get a load of those selling prices. You just have to place a 'WANTED' ad in Craigslist, buy the toys, and post them on eBay. USED Thomas trains can fetch up to $200 and more.

4. Vintage Griswold Skillets. Yes, the iron skillets your grandmother used for cooking. Be sure they are of the 'Griswold' brand. I personally do not have experience in this but the selling prices on eBay, up to $800+, speak for themselves.

5. Name Brand, Seasonal Big Lots of Baby Clothing. By 'Name Brand', I mean Gap, Ralph Lauren, OshKoshB'gosh, etc. By 'Seasona'l I mean stuff that parents are buying for their kids now. By 'Big Lots' I mean you should sell them in lots of 30 to 50 pieces. Your best bet for this is to place an ad on Craigslist asking for clothing donations, and that you'll pick them up. Or go to garage sales and wait for the end of the sale to offer $5 to $10 per garbage bag full of clothing. Some people will be happy to just give it to you. You shouldn't pay more than $1.00 per clothing item, because you need to make a healthy profit (50-piece lots of USED baby clothing on eBay have sold for up to about $200). When listing your lots on eBay, you don't have to take a picture of every piece individually, but you should have a few pictures showing several pieces in detail, and one picture showing the entire lot. Also watch your shipping fees, as clothes in bundles are heavy, so your shipping cost can add up and you should build that into your pricing, as Buyers will probably balk if you try to charge them $25 for shipping.

So there are five ideas to get you started right away. If this intrigues you and you want to know what else you can "Find Locally and Sell Globally" RIGHT NOW, check out this e-book from my colleague Skip McGrath. It has a lot more ideas and comes with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee or Your Money Back.

Do Great Stuff, and Have Fun!

Wholesaler Information from a Trusted Source

2010-04-27T12:38:00.000-04:00

What to Sell on eBay,

I get loads of inquiries from eBay and Amazon.com sellers about where they can find reliable wholesalers that will work with them (i.e., will sell small quantities of products to us online sellers). Although I don't buy much wholesale products myself, fellow eBay Powerseller Skip McGrath does. And he has put together a wonderful resource that I wholeheartedly endorse, The eBay Wholesale Buying System. This shows you how to find reputable wholesalers, how to deal with them, etc. While you're at it, check out Skip's FREE List of 44 Wholesale Resources. Skip has been in the online selling business for a while now, and he's one of the best.

Are You a Local Business? Get on Google, FREE

2010-04-27T09:50:00.002-04:00

Hi, readers.

I published a How-To guide that shows you how to get listed in Google's Local Business search results. The guide is FREE, just go HERE to get your copy. No registration required!

That's it - no catch, just good ol' fashioned marketing help, absolutely free!

-J.B. Malik

My eBay Secret Exposed - The item that ALWAYS Sells for a profit

2010-04-19T16:51:00.000-04:00

This item gets me 100% TO 200% profits YEAR-ROUND. Watch the video (below) to see what it is and where to get it!

Video #10: How I Got 300+% Profit Margin (in Just 20 days) Selling Used Books

2010-04-01T14:21:00.000-04:00

I've posted several videos in the past 2 weeks or so documenting my progress selling used books on Amazon.com. My profit margin is huge - can you think of another product (aside from e-books) that gets you a 300+% profit margin? Check out the video below.

The 3 things you need to start SUCCESSFULLY selling on Amazon are here (and mentioned in the video):
> Adam Bertram's "Used Books - Big Business" How-To e-book ($27)
> Amazon.com's Link to sign up as an Amazon.com merchant (Free)
> Neatoscan.com 's PDA Scanners (starting at $397 (refurb) plus $50/month)
Yes, I'm making a profit selling used books online, and yes, YOU CAN TOO!
Happy Selling!

How to Buy Merchandise and Sell it for Big Profits

2010-03-23T13:00:00.000-04:00

Many eBay sellers ask me "How can I quickly get my hands on some merchandise and sell it for a profit online?". Well my friend John Bullard Jr. has it all figured out. This guy is amazing - he scours the web and local stores for great deals he knows will sell for high profits online -- and then he posts about it!

You can buy his video series of how to do this - or just subscribe to his free newsletter where he gives away a lot of his ideas. Both can be found here.

Amazon.com Selling Expert Spills the Beans!

2010-03-22T14:17:00.000-04:00

Last month I posted this video that encourages eBay sellers to 'diversify' by selling on Amazon.com. The author of my #1 recommended How-To book on Selling on Amazon, Steve Lindhorst, recently discussed the differences in selling on eBay and Amazon in this podcast (source: Auctionbytes.com). Listen to the free mp3 recording here.

Video #9: How I made a Profit my 1st Week selling Used books on Amazon.com

2010-03-17T14:33:00.001-04:00

Selling used books on Amazon.com can be HUGELY Profitable,. My previous videos showed you how to get started selling used books on Amazon, this one (below) shows you my profits after the 1st week of selling.

The 3 things you need to start SUCCESSFULLY selling on Amazon are here: > Skip McGraths's "Sell Used Books on eBay, Amazon.com and the Internet for Profit" How-To e-book ($27)

> Amazon.com's Link to sign up as an Amazon.com merchant (Free)

> Neatoscan.com 's PDA Scanners (starting at $397 (refurb) plus $50/month)

Yes, I'm making a profit selling used books online, and yes, YOU CAN TOO!

Happy Selling!

Video #8 (Part II): Need Products to Sell Online? Used Books Get BIG Profit Margins

2010-03-07T15:41:00.000-05:00

Part II. Includes my 'secret weapon' so I can choose the RIGHT type of products to buy, no matter where I am! (For Part II, go here)

The links I mention in the video are:
Neatoscan: http://www.neatoscan.com/
Used Books- Big Business: http://books.honestonlineselling.com/

Video #8 (Part I): Need Products to Sell Online? Used Books Get BIG Profit Margins

2010-03-02T15:10:00.000-05:00

If you're selling online, you don't need whiz-bang products to make a nice profit. Finding and Selling used books is fun and can generate profit margins of 700% and up (as I found out by doing it myself). Check out the video below. Part II tomorrow!

This book is just $27 and gives you all the info you need to get started.

Video #7: Make Money with Storage Auctions

2010-03-01T16:00:00.000-05:00

Looking for deals that you can turn around and sell on eBay for BIG Profits? You can find high-profit items right in your own town with Storage Auctions. Their inventory is cheaper and easier to get than you think. Check out my video below. Then get my mini e-book about Storage Auctions here.

Video #6: This can MAKE you go BOOM or BUST on eBay

2010-02-18T15:52:00.000-05:00

The video below demonstrates that if you get this one tactic wrong on your eBay listing, you can lose a LOT of TRAFFIC and PROFIT.

Video #5: Are you selling on Amazon.com yet?

2010-02-15T17:09:00.001-05:00

If you're selling on eBay already, chances are you have also heard about Amazon.com's merchant program. It's FREE to join, and my video (below) tells you all about it. In the video, I mention 2 resources. The links are:

Amazon merchant sign-up page:
http://www.tinyurl.com/amazon-selling (Amazon Merchant sign-up page)
and
The Proven Amazon Course shows you everything you need to know to sell on Amazon:
http://amz.HonestOnlineSelling.com

Please leave a comment after the video, I really want your feedback!

Video #4: GREAT Wholesale Deal for eBay Sellers

2010-02-15T10:45:00.000-05:00

Looking for a great wholesale deal that you can sell on eBay? JUMP on this one. (I make NO Money from promoting this wholesale deal - I have no relationship with the supplier!)

Please leave a comment after the video!

How-to Video #3: Got eBay Competition? Crush 'em with CRAZY Value!

2010-02-14T15:29:00.000-05:00

Will you lose money if you gave a CRAZY FIVE-YEAR Replacement Guarantee on some of your eBay items? Or would you boost sales? The answer might surprise you. View the video below.

How-To Video #2: Easy-To-Make Videos Can Send THOUSANDS of visitors to Your Site

2010-02-13T16:52:00.000-05:00

You can create little videos of the product(s) you sell, and upload the videos to Youtube VERY easily - so easy, you'll be surprised. If you set up the videos correctly in Youtube, it will help drive traffic to your online store/ebay listing. You can do it to! Watch the video below first, then see the other links on the bottom of this post, for more info.

More Info: How to Set Up a free Youtube Account

More Info: How to use Animoto.com to create a video for free.

How-To Video #1: How to 'Flip' an Ebay Listing for Profit

2010-02-13T13:11:00.000-05:00

One way I make a nice 'income stream' is by finding poorly-described items on Ebay, winning them via eBay's auction, and then making a nicer, more accurate listing and selling that item at a nice profit (often 100% to 200% more than what I paid). View the video to see how this is done - anyone can do it! You just need an eBay account (Free), and a Paypal account (also free).