How to Sell Video Games on AMAZON For Beginners

Summary

In this video, the host discusses how to start selling on Amazon in 2022 and beyond, sharing insights from a decade of experience. They cover the basics of Merchant Fulfilled and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), explaining how to list items, the benefits of using FBA for increased sales, and the importance of understanding the platform. The host also addresses the challenges of 'ungating' in certain brands and categories, offering strategies and resources, such as a Discord community, to help new sellers navigate the process and grow their business.

Takeaways

• 🕒 The video discusses an upcoming whatnot auction at 2 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday featuring a variety of video games and gaming-related items.
• 🎮 The speaker has been selling on Amazon since 2012, initially using Merchant Fulfilled for about five or six years, which involves listing items and shipping them directly to customers when sold.
• 📚 It's necessary for the items to be in the Amazon catalog to be sold, and Amazon's fees are typically higher than eBay's, but Amazon offers a larger customer base willing to pay a premium.
• 📦 Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service where third-party sellers send their products to Amazon warehouses, which then handle storage, shipping, and customer service for the items.
• 🔢 Approximately 40% of Amazon's revenue comes from third-party sellers, making it a significant part of their business model.
• 🛍️ The video recommends using third-party listing software like Excel List to streamline the process of listing items on Amazon.
• 🏢 When selling through FBA, sellers need to prepare items with barcodes and labels, ensuring the Amazon barcode is the only one visible upon arrival at the warehouse.
• 📈 The speaker emphasizes the importance of starting with Merchant Fulfilled sales to understand the platform before transitioning to FBA.
• 🚫 'Ungating' refers to the process of gaining access to sell certain brands or categories on Amazon, which may require specific strategies or meeting certain requirements.
• 🔗 The video mentions a Discord community as a resource for those interested in selling on Amazon, where members share tips and strategies, including ungating methods.
• 📦 Discussed is the concept of the 'Buy Box' on Amazon, which is a feature that allows for a quick and convenient purchasing option for customers, and becoming eligible for it can significantly impact sales.

Q & A

What is the scheduled time for the Whatnot auction mentioned in the script?

The Whatnot auction is scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday.

What types of items are being sold in the Whatnot auction?

The items being sold include complete unboxing of games from Soul Blazer, Final Fantasy 2, Breath of Fire 2, Secret of Evermore, Mario RPG with the manual, Adventures of Link, GameCube items, N64 games, Game Boy Pockets, hobby shop run items, and an authentic Earthbound cartridge for Super Nintendo.

What is the speaker's experience with selling on Amazon?

The speaker has been selling on Amazon since 2012, which is approximately 10 years of experience.

What does 'Merchant fulfilled' mean in the context of Amazon selling?

'Merchant fulfilled' refers to a method where the seller lists an item, stores it at home, and ships it when it sells, similar to eBay, but the item must be in the Amazon catalog.

What is 'Fulfillment by Amazon' (FBA) and how does it work?

'Fulfillment by Amazon' (FBA) is a service where a third-party seller sends their products to an Amazon warehouse. Amazon then stores, ships, and provides customer service for these products. The seller lists the item using software like ExcelList, sends it to an Amazon warehouse, and Amazon handles the rest once the item is received and listed as available.

What are some of the benefits of using FBA over Merchant fulfillment?

FBA benefits include not having to handle shipping or storage, reduced time spent on backend processes, and often being able to sell items at a higher price due to Amazon's customer base and premium service.

What is the process for sending items to Amazon warehouses for FBA?

The process involves listing the item using third-party software, printing the required label with a label printer, packaging the item properly with a clear poly bag and label, and sending it off to an Amazon warehouse in a batch.

What is 'ungating' on Amazon and why is it necessary?

'Ungating' on Amazon refers to the process of gaining permission to sell certain brands or categories that are restricted to ensure only reputable sellers are offering genuine products and providing a good customer experience.

What are some strategies for getting ungated in certain brands on Amazon?

Strategies for ungating include starting an LLC and getting an EIN, ordering directly from distributors to meet invoice requirements, and using unique methods like purchasing from retailers like Kohl's which has been working for some sellers.

How can new sellers get started on Amazon according to the script?

New sellers can get started by creating an Amazon seller account, linking their bank account, and beginning with Merchant fulfillment to understand the platform. After gaining some experience, they can consider FBA and join a community like the reselling Discord for further guidance and strategies.

What is the buy box on Amazon and why is it important for sellers?

The buy box on Amazon is the option for buyers to quickly add an item to their cart without having to compare prices or sellers. Being buy box eligible can significantly increase sales, especially for items like video game systems, as it makes the purchasing process quick and convenient for customers.

Outlines

00:00

🕒 Upcoming Auction and Amazon Selling Introduction

The speaker announces an upcoming auction at 2 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, featuring a variety of video games and gaming-related items, including GameCube and N64 games, as well as a rare authentic Earthbound cartridge for Super Nintendo. The speaker also addresses the common question of how to start selling on Amazon in 2022 and beyond, sharing their experience since 2012. They explain the difference between Merchant Fulfilled and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), the latter of which involves sending items to Amazon warehouses for storage and shipping upon sale. The speaker recommends using third-party listing software for efficiency and provides a link for interested viewers.

05:02

🛍️ Transitioning to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

The speaker discusses the transition from Merchant Fulfilled to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), highlighting the benefits of FBA, such as reduced time spent on backend processes and the ability to scale the business significantly. They mention that about 40% of Amazon's revenue comes from third-party sellers, emphasizing the importance of this model. The speaker provides a step-by-step guide on listing items for FBA, including using barcodes, listing software, and label printers. They also touch on the process of sending batches to Amazon warehouses, the verification process, and the financial aspects of selling through FBA, including fees and net profits.

10:03

🚪 Navigating the Ungating Process on Amazon

The speaker addresses the 'ungating' process on Amazon, which refers to gaining access to sell certain brands and categories that are restricted for new sellers. They explain that Amazon's priority is to ensure a good customer experience by preventing the sale of counterfeit items. The speaker advises new sellers to start with items they are allowed to sell and gradually work on ungating for more desirable brands like Nintendo, Sony, and PlayStation. They suggest joining a Discord community for support and sharing of ungating strategies, such as purchasing from specific retailers or distributors to meet invoice requirements. The speaker encourages sellers not to be deterred by ungating and to start selling on Amazon as soon as possible, as it can significantly impact their business.

Keywords

💡Whatnot auction

A 'Whatnot auction' refers to a live online auction event where various items are sold. In the context of the video, it signifies the platform where the host is promoting an auction taking place at 2 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, featuring a variety of video games and gaming-related items.

💡Heavies

In the script, 'Heavies' likely refers to high-value or highly sought-after items being auctioned. The host mentions that the auction is 'full of Heavies,' indicating that the items for sale are of significant interest to collectors or enthusiasts.

💡Unboxing

Unboxing is the process of opening a new product, often for the first time. In the video, the host mentions 'complete unboxing' which suggests that the items being sold are new and have not been previously opened, adding to their value and appeal.

💡Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service where sellers send their products to Amazon's warehouses, and Amazon handles the storage, shipping, and customer service for those products. The video explains how FBA can be beneficial for sellers, allowing them to focus on listing items rather than managing logistics.

💡Merchant Fulfilled

Merchant Fulfilled refers to a selling model where the seller handles the storage and shipping of their products. The host mentions having used this method for about five or six years, which involves listing an item and shipping it directly to the customer when it sells.

💡Ungating

Ungating in the context of Amazon selling refers to the process of gaining access to sell in certain restricted categories or brands. The video discusses the challenges of ungating and offers strategies for sellers to gain approval to sell in these areas.

💡Barcode

A barcode is a machine-readable code used for identifying products. In the script, the host explains that when using FBA, items like a PS2 game need to have their barcode scanned or manually entered for listing and inventory purposes.

💡Label Printer

A label printer is a device used to print labels, often for shipping purposes. The host mentions using a label printer, specifically a DYMO LabelWriter 450 Turbo, to print labels for items sent to Amazon warehouses.

💡Buy Box

The Buy Box on Amazon is a feature that allows customers to add items to their shopping cart with a single click. The video explains the importance of being Buy Box eligible, as it can significantly impact sales by making the purchasing process more convenient for customers.

💡Reselling

Reselling is the act of buying items and selling them for a profit. The video is aimed at individuals interested in reselling items, particularly used video games, on Amazon. The host provides tips and strategies for starting and growing a reselling business on the platform.

💡Discord

Discord is a communication platform often used by communities for real-time chat. In the video, the host encourages viewers to join their reselling Discord community for support, advice, and strategies on selling on Amazon, including ungating and other selling techniques.

Highlights

Upcoming whatnot auction at 2 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday featuring a variety of video games and gaming merchandise.

Introduction to selling on Amazon since 2012, covering both Merchant Fulfilled and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) methods.

Explanation of Merchant Fulfilled, where sellers list items, store them at home, and ship upon sale, similar to eBay but within Amazon's catalog.

Advantages of selling on Amazon include higher customer traffic and the ability to sell at a premium.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) allows third-party sellers to send their products to Amazon warehouses for storage, handling, and shipping.

Approximately 40% of Amazon's revenue comes from third-party sellers, emphasizing the significance of FBA.

Use of third-party listing software like Excel List to streamline the listing process with Amazon.

Details on preparing items for FBA, including proper labeling and packaging requirements.

Amazon's process for checking in items and making them available for customers to purchase.

Financial aspects of FBA, including profit margins and Amazon's fees for handling, shipping, and customer service.

The concept of 'ungating' and how it applies to certain brands and categories on Amazon, ensuring reputable sellers and quality customer experience.

Strategies for getting ungated in brands like Nintendo, Sony, and PlayStation, including unique methods and the use of LLCs and EIN numbers.

Recommendation to start selling on Amazon without delay, even with ungating challenges, due to the platform's potential for business growth.

Importance of the 'Buy Box' on Amazon and its impact on sales, especially for systems and convenience-oriented buyers.

Tips on packing and shipping video game systems on Amazon, including box sizes and shipping cost benefits.

Invitation to join a reselling Discord community for support, advice, and shared experiences among Amazon sellers.

Overview of the basics for starting to sell on Amazon, including setting up a seller account and considering FBA for business scalability.

Call to action for viewers interested in Amazon selling, encouraging them to ask questions, join the community, and take advantage of the platform's opportunities.

Transcripts

what's up guys real quick we're doing a

whatnot auction 2 p.m Eastern on

Wednesday and it is full of Heavies I'm

going to show you what we're selling all

of these complete unboxing s games from

Soul Blazer final fantasy 2 Breath of

Fire 2 secret of Evermore Mario RPG with

the manual Adventures of the link nice

GameCube stuff

there's N64 games over here Game Boy

Pockets hobby shop run items and a Holy

Grail on Super Nintendo authentic

Earthbound cartridge come hang with us

it's gonna be crazy I'm imagining

there'll be some deals since it's in the

afternoon we're gonna have fun we'll see

you at 2PM on Wednesday all right now

let's get to the video the most common

questions I get asked today is how do I

get started selling on Amazon in 2022

2023 and Beyond

let's talk about it I've been selling on

Amazon since

2012 about 10 years now uh I did

Merchant fulfilled fulfilled by Merchant

for about the first five years of that

maybe six years so what that means is

you literally just list the item you

store it at home you ship it when it

sells just like eBay the difference is

the item has to be in the Amazon catalog

so you search it up Mario 2 on NES

they've got it you find it you list it

you put your condition you don't even

have to include pictures you can if you

want to and then when it sells you ship

it to the customer Amazon takes their

fees they're usually a bit higher than

eBay's fees but the reason people have

selling on Amazon is because you can

often get a little bit more for your

items there's more customers they're

willing to pay a premium especially

if you do fulfill by Amazon FBA if you

don't know what that is fulfillment by

Amazon what that means

is that you a third party seller

send your stuff off to an Amazon

warehouse and people don't know actually

about 40 of Amazon's revenue comes from

third-party sellers so it's a

significant chunk

so you take your game SmackDown just

bring it on PS2

it's got the barcode on the back you can

scan the barcode you can manually type

it in you list it usually using like a

third-party software I've used inventory

lab and exceller list I like Excel list

better I've been using that for about

the last year I have a link down below

if that's something you want to get it's

a third party listing software just

makes it more efficient easier syncs up

with Amazon you send off your batches

and and do that

print out the uh the label you're gonna

need a dymo uh label printer that's what

I use it's a labelwriter 450 450 Turbo

those will print out the label 30252 is

the label size

that covers the barcode the only one

barcode to be showing when it hits the

warehouse I'll show you what that looks

like

so here's an example of a Dragon Ball Z

for Wii I just covered up the barcode no

bag no nothing uh you can do a big old

batch of stuff to send to Amazon to then

put in a big box down here right there

that green box

we have a whole bunch of systems and

games and stuff inside of that box

that's being sent to an Amazon warehouse

when those items get checked in so

Amazon gets them they get them in

receiving they verify the contents make

sure everything is there so you're

basically just listening it to Amazon

the customers can't see it until Amazon

says yep we've received everything it's

live we're gonna open it up to customers

so these things were dispersed across

warehouses across the country

um could be one Warehouse if you're

lucky I usually send to a warehouse in

Chicago just because that's where they

like all my stuff to be sent they check

it in it opens to customers so say this

game sells for 25 dollars

when that game sells when the customer

pays Amazon will pull that from from the

warehouse ship it out

and I'll get uh I'll probably net about

17 bucks on the sale uh so they they

handle customer service shipping all

that stuff it cuts my time by like 40

because I don't have to handle any of

the back end stuff and I don't have to

store it those are some of the reasons I

love FBA

um here's an example of a of a cartridge

game so cleaned up and poly bagged I

have links to all the clear poly bags

that I use you just gotta have your

label on every single thing that you

send in

um and then once it checks in Amazon

will ship it

to customers

but there's a lot more to cover with

selling on Amazon let's talk about the

ungating uh in certain brands and

categories before we get into ungating

uh I just want to encourage you guys if

you've never sold on Amazon and you're

kind of overwhelmed by all of it

just start an account get started you

got to connect your bank account just

follow the steps to starting the seller

account on Amazon it's really not that

complicated you don't have to have an

LLC you don't have to have anything

special you as an individual can start

selling on Amazon today once you get the

account set up and I recommend getting a

couple fulfilled by Merchant sales under

your belt before sending in your first

fulfilled by Amazon FBA shipment

just to get a little bit of a feel for

how the platform works it's a bit

different than eBay there's a learning

curve the Paris entry are a bit higher

but for me

that's what actually enabled me to go

full time that's what changed my

business and in turn changed my life

fulfilled by Amazon

really really enables you to ramp up

your business I mean we have sellers

that are by themselves or have very

little help that are doing seven figures

in sales and use video games they're in

the Discord so

they're killing it they're doing super

well they can send in tons and tons and

tons of games and Amazon enables uh the

ability to sell all those because you

don't have to ship them or store them

um so that's FBA but let's talk about

ungating when you open your account

there's probably going to be a lot of

stuff that you cannot sell off the

get-go that being said we have had some

people that just started selling on

Amazon in our reselling Discord

if you want to check that out links in

the description

um but they were actually able to sell a

lot of different types of video games

now ungaining can be confusing because

on eBay you can just sell whatever you

want right pretty much

but on Amazon they they basically want

to make sure that the sellers that they

have are not selling fakes that they're

reputable sellers that they're going to

give the customer a good experience

that's really all Amazon cares about is

is the buyer having a good experience

so to get ungated in certain brands you

might need to get ungated in Nintendo

Microsoft Sony PlayStation Sony and

Playstation are different

um relative to Amazon

uh even like overarching category

sometimes like just video games in

general or toys in general uh it can be

a lot but what I would say is

just start the account uh take some of

the games some of the games or whatever

that you have to sell see if they're in

the catalog see if it lets you sell them

and start with the stuff that you can

sell

start there

and then if you have a lot of ungating

questions that's why I definitely

recommend you join the our Discord

because uh we have a an actual ungating

chat in there where people have been

getting ungated in Nintendo Sony

PlayStation Microsoft and sharing the

exact strategies go in the backlog in

the chat check it out a lot of the

methods to get ungated there's one

that's been working through Kohl's right

now which is kind of unprecedented

um kind of unique strategies you could

also start an LLC get an EIN number a

tax ID number

and then order straight from

Distributors meet the invoice

requirements for certain brands to get

ungated and there's good Distributors

like Entertainment Earth often Works

um there's there's some other ones

where you know if you can't get it

figured out from the Kohl's method or

from some of the other methods then you

might have to go in that method

but don't let the ungating thing keep

you from starting on Amazon because you

can sell a lot right out the gate you

can sell all books you can sell a lot of

video games and then you know we've had

people be able to get ungated very very

quickly and some key Brands like

Nintendo uh so I definitely recommend

starting as as quickly as possible

because it could change your business it

could change your life it did for me and

we we do have videos on this channel

talking about how to pack up video game

systems that's one of our biggest areas

of sales on Amazon

um we can talk about the used buy box so

the buy box is where

if you hit add to cart on Amazon it adds

that one to the buy box

some buyers do this that may be hard for

you to understand

um but some buyers just go onto Amazon

they want the convenient add to cart

they don't want to look into the pricing

information they don't want to look into

anything they just want to know that

they can buy it quick convenient easy

returns

um and it's gonna it's gonna happen so

once you become buy box eligible that

becomes a game changer especially for

systems and otherwise

packing up systems

so we do them in a box you can do them

in a bit in various different ways you

need to this is a set sticker we have a

link to those Below on your box you pack

it up you can use a little bubble wrap a

little craft paper but you just take

your you know if it's a Nintendo 64

controller and cords put it in a box we

use a 12 by 8 by 6 cardboard box link to

those as well

um

and then just tape it up put our this is

a set sticker print our label our skew

label from exceller list put that on the

box and then we might add like seven of

those to a batch preview the batch

Amazon says okay you can send all these

to this Warehouse in Chicago we say sure

the box has got to be under 50 pounds

for them to take it so we make sure it's

under 50 pounds pack it up enter the

dimensions uh enter the weight and cool

thing about Amazon is they have very

very cheap partnered rates with UPS so a

45 pound box to multiple States over

might cost like eight dollars to ship

which is insane so like shipping all

those nc4s it's very cheap or you could

have 250 games in one box that's under

50 pounds and it'll be like eight bucks

to ship 10 bucks to ship you know

sometimes 12 if it's if it's going

across the country but that part's

amazing shipping costs stays very very

low for you on a per unit basis where

you have to factor this in to other

platforms when something sells or when

you sell something Merchant fulfilled

um so yeah we've got videos on how to

pack up systems that can be a little bit

daunting but there's a lot of ways to do

it and you can check out those videos on

this channel

um

uh I think they just one of them just

came out so check out the video we might

put it at the end of this one so you

guys can find it easily that's kind of a

lot of the basics of selling on Amazon

the keys just get started link your bank

account you don't need an LLC you can

use your social security number

um start by selling something Merchant

fulfilled just listing it and shipping

it off when the customer buys it then

consider doing FBA use exceler list the

software check out my link for that if

you want

um

to list with FBA send off your first

shipment with stuff that you're allowed

to ship get some experience then

consider joining the Discord to learn

about ungating and various Brands and

categories with all the methods like

with Nintendo

um Sony PlayStation stuff like that

um get ungated and then continue sending

more stuff to Amazon learn the platform

it's very well worth it I'd be happy to

make one of these videos in more detail

hopefully that covered some of the

basics for you guys if you're if you're

looking to get started on Amazon I know

a lot of you may be

um this will answer a lot of those

questions

uh start the process if you have

questions along the way ask them in the

comments join the Discord ask further

questions in detail I'll help you Sky

guy will and a lot of other great

sellers in the Discord are happy to help

we've got a great Community we'd love to

have you on the Discord if you're

willing to put in the work if you want

to get started on Amazon selling used

video games or otherwise

hit the like button subscribe we made it

this far we'll see you guys next time

Bartle do