faith, Author at Seller Interactive - Page 9 of 19 (2025)

Where Is The Claim Code On An Amazon Gift Card? + 4 Common Questions Answered

faith

Despite being in the marketplace for years, Amazon patrons and sellers may still be unfamiliar with gift cards. They may have queries such as “Where is the claim code on an Amazon gift card,” “What types of gift cards are available,” and “How can you claim Amazon Gift Cards?”

Let’s review these frequently discussed Amazon physical or digital Gift Card questions and learn the ins and outs of gift card claims on Amazon.

5 Popular Amazon Gift Card Concerns

As one of the leading e-commerce platforms in the world, Amazon offers its gift cards with the benefits of having no expiration date and being redeemable at any time.

And as a seller in the retail giant, endorsing Amazon Gift Cards allows you to promote your business and assist customers in finding the perfect gifts. You can tell customers that with an Amazon Gift Card, recipients can pick and choose your products based on their preferences.

Your customer need not worry and guess which of your products would be suitable gifts. They can even purchase one for themselves, effectively giving your brand exposure and increasing your profits.

To help you and your customers understand the basics of the Amazon Gift Card, let’s begin our quest by answering the most common questions about the Amazon Gift Card.

What Types of Gift Cards Can Customers Buy?

Customers can purchase Amazon gift cards depending on their specific needs. The different Amazon Gift Card types available are as follows:

The Amazon Digital Gift Card may be in the form of an email, text, or a Print-at-Home gift card. Customers can customize them with images and messages to make them more personal.

Physical Gift Cards also come in various design options, such as fun boxes with pop-up designs and colorful imagery, a simple card in an envelope, or the classic and sleek design gift cards are known for. The thoughtful packaging reinforces the idea that gift cards are valid presents.

On the other hand, Amazon has partnered with several known brands for Specialty Gift Cards. Among them are Netflix, Apple, Uber, Starbucks, and Whole Foods. If you play your cards right, your brand may be the next big success to join them.

Lastly, the Amazon Reload is ideal for those who prefer to save all their gift cards for an even bigger purchase, making it the perfect gift for many people.

How Can Customers Purchase Gift Cards?

Buyers have several options to purchase gift cards, so they can choose which one is most suitable and convenient for them. When purchasing Gift Cards, customers can:

1. Add Cash to Account Balance - Customers can load their Amazon.com Gift Card using the Amazon Cash barcode from a participating store. They can print the barcode or access it via phone, then present it to the cashier with their registered mobile number.
2. Purchase from a store - Amazon Gift Cards are available in stores and online. The Gift Cards are available in $15, $25, $50, and $100 denominations. Some stores offer loadable cards from $25 to $500. Check the Amazon website for the complete list of participating stores.
3. Order Online - Customers are allowed up to 400 Email and Print-at-Home gift cards per order. There's also a $10,000 cap per customer in one day.

Where is the Claim Code On An Amazon Gift Card?

Your customers smoothly finished the transaction and now have an Amazon Gift Card. But that’s not where the process ends. The recipient must find the gift card’s claim code before any official product purchase occurs.

Claim codes are unique combinations of numbers and letters corresponding to specific gift cards. Recipients must redeem these codes before using the card.

In other words, claim codes serve as your customers’ keys to a locked treasure trove of delightful gifts.

For Amazon Gift Cards, the claim codes are 14 characters.

Buyers can get the Amazon Gift Claim Code on the card itself. However, claim codes can be placed differently, depending on the type of gift card you select. Here’s one example from an eGift card preview.

It all depends on the gift card type. For digital gift cards, it can be printed at the top of the message or just below the logo in the email body sent to the recipient. It can also be in an attachment sent with the email.

For physical cards, the claim codes are typically printed on the back with arrows pointed directly at the claim code location. However, customers may need to scratch it to reveal the code. The claim code may also be on the accompanying receipt if the physical gift card lacks these features.

How Do You Claim the Amazon Gift Card Code?

Now that they’ve successfully located their Gift Card’s claim code, customers can redeem their gift cards through Amazon’s website or mobile app.

Via Website

“Redeem Gift Card” page and input the gift card code. Select “Add to Your Balance,” and the amount will be credited to their Amazon account. Additionally, they can use their claim codes during checkout by heading to their Review your order page's Gift Cards & promotional codes section.

Via Mobile

Buyers must head to the Your Account page by clicking on the person icon in the app and find the Payments section. Once there, they can click “Manage gift card balance.” They must tap the “Redeem another gift card” button and provide their claim code to activate the gift card successfully.

While there is no expiration date for claiming the code, it is advised that recipients redeem Amazon gift cards as soon as possible to prevent and immediately address any issues. An example is misplacing or mishandling a gift card, resulting in a blurred or unreadable claim code.

💡 Claiming the code places the gift card funds in the recipient's Amazon account. People can save their credits by unchecking the "use gift card" or "use balance" options when checking out. They can check these options once more when ready to use the points.

An Amazon Gift Card cannot be transferred or refunded once claimed.

What Issues Can One Encounter When Redeeming Amazon Gift Card’s Claim Code?

Nothing is perfect, and even with Amazon, there can be issues in claiming gift card codes, such as the following:

1. The Gift Card is not sending: Advise customers to double-check recipient's email address and check “junk” and “spam” folders. They may resend the gift card up to 5 times, but Amazon has to deactivate the previous card before issuing new ones.
2. The Gift Card is already being applied: The recipient may receive an error message when they redeem a gift card. The code may have been redeemed. The recipient should check the account balance for clarification.
3. The Gift Card is applied to the wrong account: This issue occurs when people share devices to log on. Before redeeming, the recipient must ensure they are logged in to the correct Amazon account. They should never share the code or any order details.
4. The Gift Card claim code is unreadable - If the claim code is unclear, contact Amazon immediately and prepare the serial number and order details. If purchased from a store, the buyer can ask for help from the store.
5. Other Issues - Request your buyers to check Amazon's Terms and Conditions. Make sure they are not violating any rules that would affect their purchase.

As long as your buyers and their recipients are careful, there should be little to no issues. As a seller, aftercare is a must-know. You can easily resolve these concerns with Amazon account managers handling your Customer Service.

Final Thoughts

Gift cards are great and versatile gifts. You can send a physical card with claim codes at the back or send them digitally via email or text. You can choose designs or customize your own. They are also easy to activate and redeem.

Amazon Gift Cards can bring much-needed exposure for your brand and increase your sales while solving your customers’ gift-giving dilemmas all in one go.

If you find this article helpful for your business, consider working with Amazon experts from Seller Interactive.Book a free call with us today, and let us support you in helping your customers and growing your brand.

How to Sell on Walmart Marketplace and Avoid Getting Suspended

faith

Every business owner wants to keep their business up and running at maximum capacity. This way, their operations won’t be impeded, brand awareness will increase, and they will attract more customers, leading to Walmart marketplace or ecommerce success.

However, new sellers often receive account suspensions because of simple rule violations. While an account suspension may happen to rookie sellers because of unfamiliarity, it’s not an excuse to be exempted from rules and not know them in the first place.

If you want to learn how to sell on Walmart marketplace and thrive, knowing the best practices and guidelines for avoiding account suspensions is best. This article will discuss how to join Walmart marketplace, enumerate why some sellers get their accounts suspended, and how to avoid it yourself.

What Is Walmart Marketplace, and What Are the Benefits of Selling on This Platform?

Like Amazon and eBay, the Walmart Marketplace is an online marketplace that allows third-party sellers to list and sell their products on Walmart.com alongside the retail giant's inventory.

It is open to sellers of all sizes but has stricter guidelines in accepting third-party sellers to provide the best products and services to the shoppers.

What is Walmart Marketplace’s edge over other online marketplaces, then?

Expanded Visibility And Reach

For sellers, one of the biggest advantages of selling on Walmart Marketplace is the size of Walmart's customer base. With over 380 million monthly site visitors, Walmart.com gives sellers access to a vast audience and loyal customer base, boosting brand visibility and reach.

Aside from the Walmart website, your items will appear in the Walmart mobile app and search engine results. You can also enlist the help of Walmart Sponsored Products to set up pay-per-click (PPC) ad campaigns. Because of these efforts, your products will get their much-deserved shine.

Less Competition

Walmart sellers can also enjoy less competition in the marketplace because Walmart only has a little more than 150,000 third-party sellers. This is way less than Amazon, which has almost 2 million active sellers on its platform. Because of this, you can sell products on Walmart.com without worrying about market saturation.

Lower Costs

Competition and customer base aren’t the only important factors in choosing an ecommerce channel. Business expenses matter too! Save as much money as possible—especially if you’re still starting.

Walmart Marketplace only requires sellers to pay referral fees when they’ve made sales. The platform charges sellers somewhere between 6% to 20%, depending on your item’s category.

Convenient Fulfillment Service

Like Amazon FBA, Walmart also has its fulfillment program called Walmart Fulfillment Service (WFS). This program allows third-party sellers to fulfill their orders easily and more efficiently by sending their inventory to a Walmart supplier or fulfillment center. Walmart will then be responsible for packing and shipping orders, handling customer and seller concerns, and managing returns.

Access to Free 2-Day Shipping

Lastly, Walmart Marketplace offers sellers various shipping options, including free 2-day shipping on orders over $35, which can entice potential customers. This feature might seem similar to Amazon’s Prime shipping, but Walmart’s free 2-day shipping does not require a subscription.

By providing this benefit for your customers, you can expect more visibility in the search results pages and more chances to win the Walmart Buy Box. These will help you gain more customers and boost your sales on the platform.

Getting Started

If the world of online marketplaces piques your interest, you must be contemplating becoming an online seller and earning. But where do you begin?

We’ve got you covered with this checklist.

Here’s how you can get started as a Walmart marketplace seller.

1. Create an account on Walmart.com. Then, click the Sell on Walmart link at the bottom of the homepage.
2. Put in basic information about your company, such as your company name, address, and contact details. You’ll also be asked to enter the business type, category, annual sales, and other related information.
3. Read and accept Walmart’s terms and conditions.
4. Walmart will review your application. It usually takes five business days from submission before they inform you of your application status.
5. Once approved, you can start listing products on the Marketplace as a Walmart seller.

While sellers can sell diverse products in a Walmart store, the marketplace has limitations and restrictions on specific items and categories. We suggest you review Walmart’s Prohibited Products Policy to avoid issues.

Improving Your Sales Performance

When selling on the Walmart marketplace, keeping an eye on your sales performance is essential.

Sales performance helps to measure and track progress toward sales goals and can be used to identify areas of improvement. Aside from these, it can also help you identify trends and boost your business.

With strong sales performance, your businesses can thrive. So next time you're thinking about making a sale, remember that it's not just about the sale itself but also how that sale will impact your business's bottom line.

Walmart Seller Center looks at several different factors when measuring sales performance:

• Order Volume: Reflects the number of items you sell over a certain period. It is a valuable metric for comparing sales across different periods.
• Order Accuracy: ensures that the items you ship to customers match those they ordered and that the items are in good condition.
• Customer Satisfaction: Based on customer feedback and return rates. A high score indicates that the Walmart marketplace seller provides good customer service and efficiently handles returns.
• On-Time Delivery: Customers expect to receive their orders within the specified time frame; if you can't meet their expectations, it will reflect poorly on your sales performance.

Improving your sales performance can seem like a handful, but you can take some simple steps to make a big difference.

First, you can use Walmart’s Promotions Manager tool and create clear and concise promotional messages highlighting your products' key benefits, ensure your campaigns target the right audience, and track the results of your promotional campaigns to make necessary adjustments.

Creating a great customer experience can also help your sales performance in the long run. You can do so by engaging and responding to your customer’s concerns, making return processes easy, and going the extra mile to solve their problems.

Most importantly, staying up-to-date on the latest Walmart selling policies and procedures is crucial. By staying on top of things, you'll minimize any problems arising down the road.

Why Do Some Sellers Get Suspended on Walmart.com?

One of these problems may be an account suspension. As a Walmart.com seller, you may have noticed some of your fellow marketplace sellers with suspended accounts or have seen them ask about this on seller forums. While this may be confusing and frustrating, especially to new sellers, you must understand that Walmart has strict rules that all sellers must follow.

Here are some reasons why Walmart marketplace sellers get suspended from selling on the platform.

Failure to Perform According to Standards

Sellers must abide by the following Seller Performance Standards that Walmart has set. Otherwise, they will be suspended from selling on the marketplace.

Order Defect Rate (ODR) Must Be Less Than 2% Over 90 Days

The number of orders with at least one defect divided by the total number of orders placed during the same period gives you your order defect rate.

Some defects include seller-initiated cancellations, inaccurate or damaged items, late deliveries, and customer complaints from ratings and feedback. But even if some orders have multiple issues, Walmart only counts one defect per order.

On-Time Shipment Rate Must Be Higher Than 99%

This is the percentage or rate of orders delivered on time or ahead of the expected delivery date (EDD). For orders with multiple shipments, sellers are expected to deliver them completely by the EDD.

Valid Tracking Rate Must Be More Than 99%

This means that sellers must always provide the customers with tracking details within 24 hours of shipment and delivery scans on or before the EDD.

Non-Compliance With Marketplace Retailer Agreement

After setting up a Walmart seller account, all third-party sellers, including you, must agree to the terms and conditions set in the Marketplace Retailer Agreement. In this agreement, you will promise not to engage in black hat practices and always follow Walmart's Terms and Conditions.

Furthermore, you will declare not to sell any fake, used, or prohibited goods on Walmart.com. And along with product content guidelines, the document also describes the procedures you are accountable for, like order fulfillment and inventory management.

Lastly, you must constantly check the quality of your product listings, especially whenever Walmart releases updates on its marketplace policies and requirements. Otherwise, you will face consequences, including account suspension that can last for weeks, months, or forever.

Violation of Trust and Safety Standards

Besides the Marketplace Retailer Agreement, you must also uphold the Walmart Trust and Safety Standards to avoid having your account suspended. Here are the standards you must follow.

Regulatory Compliance

A seller violates this standard when they list a product on Walmart.com that is prohibited or potentially poses a risk to product and food safety regulations. These items include prescription medications, gambling or surveillance equipment, and untested or uncertified baby products.

Offensive Product/s

A seller violates this standard by selling products considered offensive to customers, promoting discrimination or violence, or displaying profanity or nudity.

Intellectual Property

A seller violates this standard when they sell items that do not acknowledge the creator or intellectual property owner, which signals that you do not have the right to sell the item.

Violation of Walmart Pricing Standards

Walmart is known for its “Every Day Low Prices” (EDLP) pricing strategy. Therefore, as a third-party seller on Walmart.com, you must ensure that your prices align with Walmart's guidelines and guarantee affordable items to its customers.

Even though some pricing violations result in delisting your SKU, Walmart may suspend your account for glaring violations and several infractions. Therefore, you must take note of the following rules when pricing your products:

• Price Parity: According to this rule, Walmart will unpublish a product listing if a buyer can save money by buying the same product from the same seller in the same variation from a different platform, including shipping fees. Therefore, you must ensure that your prices are similar across all channels or marketplaces.
• Price Leadership: According to this rule, Walmart will unpublish a product listing if customers can save a lot of money by buying the item from a competitor's website, including shipping costs. However, note that this regulation only covers products of the same kind and color. Also, it does not cover pricing for goods sold during sales, promotions, and clearances.

Failure To Meet Operational Standards

Lastly, your operations must always be at the highest level as a Walmart marketplace seller. This involves ensuring Walmart shoppers receive their orders on time, offering commendable and high-quality customer service, and processing returns and refunds within the given time frame. Otherwise, your seller account will be suspended, affecting your business in various ways.

Tips to Avoid Getting Suspended on Walmart Marketplace

Now that you know what prompts Walmart to suspend accounts, you must follow all the rules they have set to avoid account suspension. Below are some tips to help you stay in good standing with Walmart.

First and foremost, be familiar with and comply with Walmart's policies. Ensure you have thoroughly read and understood all the terms before selling on Walmart.com. Keep up with any changes that Walmart releases to make the necessary adjustments in your store.

Then, only sell products in good condition and those that meet Walmart's quality standards. Remember, do not offer products that violate Walmart's trust and safety standards.

These products should be uploaded with accurate and complete product descriptions to avoid misleading Walmart customers, which can result in multiple product returns. Provide accurate images, pricing information, and delivery terms to help your customers make informed decisions.

Products need to be a good deal for both you and your customer. Price your items competitively, yet comply with Walmart's pricing standards to prevent your product listings from being unpublished and avoid suspensions.

To keep your buyer satisfaction rating high, ensure prompt responses to customer inquiries and any issues they may face.

Customers must receive orders within the EDD to maintain a 99% and above on-time shipment rate, so ship your orders and provide valid tracking details on time.

Finally, if you are still confused about all the policies and guidelines you need to remember, consult a Walmart account manager who is an expert in this field. They are constantly updated with the latest policies, so you can trust them to guide you in running your business on Walmart.com.

Bottom Line

Learning how to become a Walmart marketplace seller does not only involve knowing the application process and requirements but also knowing how to avoid account suspensions.

Many Walmart sellers get suspended for failing to perform according to standards. However, you can prevent account suspensions by being familiar with the terms and guidelines and keeping up-to-date with the policies. Finally, consult a Walmart account manager from reputable companies like Seller Interactive to prevent such suspensions.

If you are interested in knowing more about Seller Interactive's Walmart account management services, book a call with our experts today.

A Seller’s Guide to Walmart Suspension

faith

Walmart is a giant retail force. It’s only second to Amazon as America’s biggest ecommerce retailer. Their online arm, Walmart Marketplace, offers an even more diverse range of products than their brick-and-mortar stores.

Applying as a Walmart Marketplace seller can be a bit challenging because of the meticulous process. Sellers have rules to follow when selling on the platform. Failure to observe Walmart’s Performance and Policy Standards could result in consequences, such as a Walmart suspension.

Walmart account suspensions are something every Walmart seller dreads. But, if you’ve experienced it, please know there’s a solution to this problem. This article will teach you how to recover from and manage such situations to prepare yourself for a possible encounter.

Why Does a Walmart Account Suspension Happen?

Walmart seller account suspensions are fairly common, but that normalcy doesn’t make it less stressful. Does the platform work together with sellers in resolving issues? Yes. However, there are instances where they’re left with no choice but to suspend Walmart accounts when violations and issues persist.

There are four primary grounds for Walmart seller account suspensions. Let’s tackle each one in depth.

1. Seller Performance Fails To Meet Walmart Standards

Sellers are responsible for meeting Walmart Performance Standards. So keep an eye on these four metrics of seller performance.

Return Rate

A Walmart seller’s return rate is the percentage of customer order returns due to seller fault. Return causes may include item damage and sending the wrong order. The rate shouldn’t exceed 6% within 90 days.

Cancellation Rate

Going by its name, the cancellation rate is the percentage of seller-initiated order cancellations after receipt of orders from Walmart. Sellers should keep the rate below 2% within 14 days.

On-Time Delivery Rate

This rate determines the percentage of orders delivered during or before the expected delivery date (EDD). Keep your account in Walmart’s good graces by keeping this rate above 95% within 14 days.

Valid Tracking Rate

Sellers should have their valid tracking information provided including the delivery scan during or before the EDD. This rate should be above 99% in 14 days.

Exceptions

Walmart acknowledges situations that are beyond sellers’ control. Walmart sellers will be pardoned if they provide sufficient evidence that proves that such situations were behind their failure to meet standards.

If you receive a warning and believe that the infraction isn’t your fault, you can make your case by submitting the following details:

• Valid reason/s for issue
• Sufficient evidence/proof
• The period when the issue occurred
• Total number of orders affected by the issue

We recommend checking your Seller Scorecard frequently to keep track of your performance. You can access it by clicking on the Performance option of your Seller Center account’s Analytics tab.

2. Breaching the Marketplace Retail Agreement

The Walmart Marketplace expects sellers to follow the terms stated in their Marketplace Retail Agreement upon signing up for the platform. The Agreement ensures you won’t sell used, fake, and unauthorized items.

It also enumerates the processes you’ll be responsible for. It’s a legally binding contract once you sign it, so pay attention to its content to stay out of trouble.

3. Violation of Trust and Safety Standards

The Trust and Safety Standards protect sellers from harmful or offensive materials. These are the three violations you should never commit.

Offensive Material

This category covers product listings and items that are deemed offensive to shoppers. This includes products encouraging discrimination and violence and items containing explicit content.

Intellectual Property

This violation occurs when sellers don’t cite the original creators of their listed paintings and other products. Unauthorized product distribution falls under this category as well.

Regulatory Compliance

Items that pose risks to product and food safety regulations belong to this category. These items can include prescription drugs and untested and uncertified baby products.

4. Operational Standards Aren’t Met

Walmart Marketplace sellers should efficiently run and maintain their operations. Meeting the platform's operational standards includes giving helpful customer service and ensuring quick order shipment. Pay extra attention to these two areas to gauge Walmart’s expectations.

Customer Service

Sellers should be able to provide excellent customer service to their shoppers. They must be transparent and precise with delivering information to customers to keep them updated on their purchases.

They should also be responsive to their queries while complying with Walmart standard changes as they happen.

Respect and Equality

Sellers shouldn’t engage in forced and underaged labor practices, nor should they exhibit discriminatory behavior towards any individual. They should also maintain a safe working environment for workers and employees.

How Does Walmart's Suspension Process Work?

When sellers commit a violation, Walmart initially sends them a warning before giving a suspension. They’ll state the grounds for their warning and provide extra recommendations or requirements, giving sellers a chance to improve.

A suspended Walmart seller account goes through a meticulous process, just like the seller application process. First, a team of experts will monitor seller performances through the Walmart Partner Performance Review. Then, after thorough deliberations, they’ll communicate their decision to the seller as soon as possible.

When they suspend a seller, they’ll send them a notice and the earliest date for an account reinstatement appeal. We’ll explain that process in the next section.

How Can Sellers Appeal Walmart Suspensions?

An appeal after a Walmart seller account suspension is possible. However, note that this is only applicable to sellers that haven’t violated their Trust and Safety Standards. Reinstate your account by following these steps.

1. Review Your Performance and Spot Areas for Improvement

Pinpoint the areas that contributed to your suspended Walmart seller account. You can consult an expert for this step since there are areas that may be difficult to analyze. Don’t forget to document your analysis—you’ll need it for the next step.

2. Create an Action Plan

Apply the takeaways from your analysis and turn them into an actionable plan. It should state the problem, cause, and solution/s. Your plan should emphasize that while you continue to sell on the Walmart Marketplace, excellence will be your priority.

3. Send Your Plan to Walmart

Log in to your Seller Center account and go to Support. Next, click Partner Account/Profile and choose the Appealing Account Suspension option. Once there, attach your plan and submit it.

It’ll take Walmart two days to review your plan and make a decision.

Then, should your account be reinstated, they’ll give you guidelines for strict compliance, along with steps to take your account back to good standing.

4. Maintain Your Progress

The work doesn’t stop at reinstatement. Walmart expects sellers to stick to their action plans and improve their performances.

How Can You Avoid Walmart Seller Account Suspensions?

We know how stressful seller account suspensions can be. Keep a suspended Walmart account at bay by considering this simple yet sometimes overlooked tip: understand their terms.

There’s a reason why people often remind each other to “read the fine print” when signing contracts. With a platform as big as Walmart, this advice becomes all the more important. Simply reading terms and policies isn’t enough; sellers should understand them if they want to keep their businesses alive.

Final Thoughts

The last thing you want is to have your Walmart seller account suspended. Avoid getting yourself in such a position by taking cues from this article. Even if you display great behavior on the platform, this remains an important lesson to learn.

Are you having difficulty handling account management by yourself? Let Seller Interactive help! Our team’s years of ecommerce experience will guide you through your selling journey on a large online platform.

Reach out by emailing [emailprotected] to get started.

faith

Knowing your profit margins can help you make pricing decisions and determine whether you're offering a good deal to your customers. But how can you calculate profit margins, exactly? This guide will show you how to calculate profit margins to keep your business on track.

Let's dive right in by defining what a profit margin is and how it can help improve your company’s performance.

What Is a Profit Margin?

A profit margin is the percentage of revenue a company keeps after accounting for all its expenses, such as the cost of goods sold, operating expenses, and taxes.

It's a key metric for assessing a business’s financial health, indicating how well a company can generate profits from its revenue.

A high profit margin means that a company is efficient and has low overhead costs, while a low profit margin indicates a company is struggling to generate profits.

Businesses can also use the profit margin to compare companies within the same industry since businesses with similar costs and revenue levels typically have the same margins.

Companies with high margins are more attractive to investors than those with low margins. High margins indicate that a company has a strong competitive advantage and can generate significant profits even when operating in a difficult market environment.

However, remember that there's no right or wrong level of profit margin. What matters most is whether the company is profitable and if its margins increase or decrease over time.

How To Calculate Profit Margin

You can easily input your values in a profit margin calculator which is readily available online. However, it still pays to know the process of calculating this metric.

To calculate profit margin, you'll first need to gather financial data, including your total revenue and expenses for a specific period. Once you have this information, you can use the profit margin formula:

Profit margins can vary from one industry to another.

For example, businesses in the retail sector typically have lower margins than companies in the technology sector.

Several industries, such as retail, restaurant, and hospitality, have low profit margins. In these industries, businesses must contend with high costs, fierce competition, and slim margins.

Knowing the usual profit margins for your industry and products is crucial to benchmark your performance as a business owner. By paying attention to your profit margin, you can make informed decisions about allocating resources and pricing your products or services.

The Components of a Profit Margin

Any business owner may benefit from knowing their profit margin. By understanding the different components that make up your company's margin, you can identify ways to improve it and increase your profits. Here are the main components of a profit margin.

Gross Profit Margin

A crucial indicator of a company's profitability is its gross margin (GM). It measures the difference between a company's revenue from its sales and the cost of goods sold. In other words, it measures how much profit a business makes on its net sales.

Most businesses generally aim for a gross profit margin of at least 20%. A business with a high gross margin makes a lot of profit on each sale. On the other hand, a low gross margin shows that a business is not making much profit on each transaction.

Remember that this number will fluctuate as costs change and sales rise and fall. However, monitoring your gross profit margin may help you understand how your company generally does.

How To Calculate Gross Profit Margin

To calculate gross profit margins (GPM), use the following formula:

Operating Margin

The operating margin is the difference between a company's revenue and operating expenses. It evaluates a company's profitability and cash flow generation capacity.

Operation margins vary from industry to industry, so comparing a company's operating margin to its competitors is important when measuring its performance.

But as a general guideline, you must strive for an operating margin of about 15%. This figure will give you enough room to cover your costs and still make a profit.

A high operating profit margin indicates that a company can generate much profit with relatively little operating expenses, which can signify strong management and a well-run business.

Conversely, a low operating profit margin may indicate that a company is overspending on marketing or manufacturing or that its products are not in high enough demand to generate much revenue.

How To Calculate Operating Profit Margin

To calculate the operating profit margin, take the company's operating profit after deducting all expenses related to selling its products or services, and divide it by its revenue. The resulting number gives us the percentage of each sales dollar the company keeps as profit.

Net Margin

The net margin shows the percentage of revenue the company has made after deducting all expenses, including taxes and interest, on the debt. A high net profit is an indication that the business is doing good.

Net profit is also a good indicator of future earnings potential. A company with a high net profit generates a lot of cash and is in good financial health. Businesses can use this money to invest in new products, expand into new markets, or pay dividends to shareholders.

How To Calculate Net Profit Margin

To calculate your net profit margin, you must take your total revenue for some time and subtract your expenses, including taxes and other deductions, resulting in your net income. From there, you'll divide your net profit by your total revenue and multiply by 100 to get a percentage.

Factors That Can Affect Profit Margin

Every business owner knows that profit margin is important. However, several factors might impact a company's profit margin. The intrinsic properties of the business may influence some of these, while others are beyond its control.

Nevertheless, here are a few key factors to keep in mind:

• Pricing: Higher prices result in a higher profit margin. Be careful to set competitive prices for your goods. If your prices are too high, you'll lose customers; if they’re too low, you won't make enough profit to cover your costs.
• Costs: If your business can charge a high price for its product or service, you will likely have a higher profit margin. Look closely at your costs and see where you can reduce your spending.
• Demand: High demand enables higher prices. However, you might have to cut your pricing to draw more customers if there is low to no demand.
• Competition: If many businesses offer similar products or services, you will likely need to price your offerings competitively, lowering profit margins.

By carefully monitoring these factors and making adjustments as necessary, you can ensure that you maximize your profits.

In addition, you should also be aware of external factors that can impact your profit margins, such as the state of the economy or changes in the competitive landscape.

Once more, your company may implement strategies to stay ahead of the curve by carefully monitoring these factors.

Final Thoughts

The business world has changed significantly. Increasing competition, technology's impact, and evolving customer needs have all contributed to a more challenging landscape for every business. Safeguarding your business with a good profit margin is essential to stay ahead of the curve.

Your profit margin determines how much money you’ll make from your sales and gives insights into where your business may be losing money or making more than necessary.

Still, calculating profit margins can be tricky for self-starters. Hiring a competent account manager can help you manage matters in your business that may be difficult while trying to sell your products or services.

If you want to learn more about scaling your Amazon business and maximizing your potential revenue, or have any questions specific to your business, Seller Interactive’s team of experts with years of expertise in managing Amazon businesses would be happy to help.

Let us help you find ways to improve your company's profitability so you can continue growing and thriving. Book a call today!

6 Disadvantages of Amazon Fulfillment and How You Can Work Around It

faith

Have you been looking for a convenient way to fulfill your orders to your customers? Whether you are a new Amazon marketplace seller or not, you might need help to fulfill your orders, especially if they continue to increase. After all, Amazon has billions of monthly site visitors, many of whom can become your customers.

Fortunately, Amazon has launched the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) services that helps streamline your online store operations and fulfill orders for your customers without exerting much work on your part. But while this service has many advantages, there are also disadvantages of Amazon fulfillment that you should be aware of.

This blog post will outline six of the biggest downsides of using Amazon FBA and provide tips on working around them.

What Is Amazon FBA, and What Services Does It Cover?

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a program that allows third-party sellers to store their items in Amazon fulfillment centers and let Amazon handle the shipping and customer service. It can be used for all products, including books, electronics, apparel, and home goods. But of course, Amazon prohibits some items from being sold through FBA.

What Makes Amazon FBA Beneficial?

Many sellers find this fulfillment option convenient because Amazon picks, packs, and ships all its products to its customers.

As a result, sellers do not have to worry about packing their orders individually and shipping the items themselves. Sellers can free up their time and allocate it for more significant tasks or aspects of their business.

Also, since Amazon has their own staff of warehouse workers, sellers do not need to hire extra employees to pack their orders.

Furthermore, Amazon stores the items in its spacious fulfillment centers. Thanks to this, FBA sellers can free up storage space in their homes. They also have the option not to rent a storage unit or warehouse space, which saves a lot of money.

Lastly, customers can enjoy Prime shipping services when purchasing from brands using FBA. With fast shipping services, you can attract numerous customers, especially loyal Amazon Prime subscribers, which can help boost your sales.

The 6 Disadvantages of Amazon FBA and How To Resolve Them

As mentioned above, Amazon FBA is a great way to grow your business because of its numerous perks for third-party sellers like you. However, before taking the plunge, you must consider its drawbacks first and find ways to overcome them. Below are some of the disadvantages of using this service and tips on how to resolve them.

1. Complex Inventory Tracking System

While inventory tracking may seem like a no-brainer for experienced online sellers, it can be a disadvantage for new Amazon FBA sellers. This is especially true for businesses or owners who are accustomed to physically counting their products to manage their inventory.

Amazon's inventory management system might be overwhelming with its features, and sellers may get confused about how to utilize them properly.

Solution

Leverage Seller Central (with Professional Assistance)

Because automated inventory management systems are effective and efficient for running an ecommerce business, you must learn how to utilize the one built-in on Seller Central. You can read articles or watch demonstrations on using available systems.

However, it would be best to seek help from professional account managers who are well-versed in the Seller Central dashboard and its amazing features. This way, you can skip the learning curve and proceed with accomplishing more important tasks in your business.

2. Increased Returns

Once you use FBA to fulfill your orders, expect higher return rates because customers can return their orders directly to Amazon, not to you, even without your approval. In addition, with Amazon's 30-day return window, customers can choose to return the products, and Amazon will take care of the return shipping, especially if it's fulfilled through FBA.

Unfortunately, this situation means additional costs for sellers and higher rates of damaged and lost inventory that they cannot resell anymore. Moreover, FBA sellers cannot modify their return policies and must comply with Amazon's since they must provide the same experience and guarantees to all customers.

Solutions

Work on Your Listings

Even though returns are inevitable in ecommerce, you must not let them hinder you from scaling your business. So to avoid returns, whether fraudulent or not, you must optimize your product listings by providing accurate sizing guides, detailed descriptions, and clear images and videos.

This way, your customers can clearly visualize the products and get the variation they need.

Collaborate With Professional Visual Artists

Working with professional photographers and videographers will give you high-quality media for your listing. Also, take advantage of copywriting or listing optimization services for the best results.

Remarket Your Products on Other Platforms

Lastly, you can try to resell your returned items on other marketplaces, look for bulk resellers, or send them to liquidation centers. By doing these, you can still get something out of the items returned by your customers.

3. No Branding Opportunity

Most people are familiar with the Amazon logo and associate it with a trusted online shopping experience. When customers see Amazon-fulfilled products, they expect that these items will be shipped quickly and arrive in good condition.

However, many Amazon FBA sellers do not have the opportunity to include their branding on the packaging or promotional materials. This can be a disadvantage for sellers trying to build strong brand identity because customers may not be completely aware of which brand sold the items they bought.

Solution

Use Your Logo Creatively

To work around this issue, you can incorporate your brand logo into your products. For example, you can put tags for apparel and accessories or print the logo directly on the items, like for electronic devices and beauty products.

In addition, you can include marketing materials inside the box with your product. Or, you can create product inserts that will direct your customers to your own website or social media pages after making a purchase.

4. High Costs

As an Amazon FBA seller, one of the biggest disadvantages you will face is high costs. So, before you start using this service, you must know all associated costs, such as referral fees, storage fees, and fulfillment fees. These are on top of the fees you pay for your selling plan.

• First, the referral fees can range from 6% to 20% of the total sale price, depending on the product category.
• The storage fees vary depending on the time of year and the size and type of products you store in the Amazon warehouse, but they can add up to several hundred dollars per month.
• If you fail to manage your inventory well, you might spend too much on storage fees alone.
• The fulfillment fees can range from $2 to $5 per unit, depending on the size and weight of your products.

Solutions

Monitor Your Inventory Data and Costs

To avoid spending too much using FBA, you must carefully calculate your costs and ensure you are charging enough for your products to cover them. It's also a great idea to keep a close eye on your inventory levels and only order what you need to minimize your storage costs. Not doing so could eventually lead to sunk costs.

Be Selective With the Products You Sell

Carefully choose which products to sell under FBA. For example, if your products are small or light, they are perfect for Amazon’s fulfillment service. But if you sell heavy furniture or big appliances, it would be best for you to fulfill your customers' orders on your own.

5. No Direct Customer Relationship To Improve Customer Satisfaction

Once your products are stored in an Amazon warehouse, Amazon will be responsible for everything from packing to dealing with customer service. This setup leaves no door for third-party sellers to interact with their customers directly. To an extent, it's beneficial because it takes off the pressure on you to provide excellent customer service and handle any customer issues or returns.

However, it can also be a disadvantage because you have no direct way to build rapport and brand loyalty with your customers, leading to repeat purchases. You cannot even ask for additional feedback besides the reviews they leave on your listing, eliminating your chances to improve your products or services.

Lastly, you will not be able to upsell or cross-sell your products since Amazon handles all transactions on your behalf.

Solution

Seek Other Ways of Enhancing Customer Satisfaction

Instead of treating this as a major disadvantage, look at this circumstance positively. Don't stress yourself out with customer issues and product returns. With this in mind, you can focus on more important parts of your business that help improve customer satisfaction.

For example, if you have social media platforms, you can conduct short polls or surveys to know your followers' and customers' preferences. Use these platforms to communicate with them through interactive content and engagement in the comments.

6. Confusing Sales Tax Duties

Sales tax can be confusing and time-consuming to manage when using Amazon FBA. Each state has its own rules and tax rates, and it can be hard to decide which one to follow if your store's inventory is warehoused in a different area.

Additionally, some FBA sellers may need to collect and remit sales tax, placing a significant strain on their resources. Having inventory in a third-party warehouse establishes a physical presence, and about half of all states require these sellers to register and file sales tax.

Solutions

Use a Sales Tax Management Service or Software

Take advantage of resources that can automate your tax duties, such as working with Amazon FBA sales tax experts or using software. These ensure you're compliant while minimizing your administrative burden.

Try Amazon's Tax Collection Service

This service allows the Amazon platform to collect and remit sales tax in your stead. But there's a catch: it's unavailable in some states and for some sellers.

Stay Updated About Sales Tax Laws

Ultimately, you must stay informed about sales tax updates as an Amazon FBA seller. Look up reliable sources of information or work with tax professionals to help you catch up and comply with sales tax laws. Doing so minimizes the risk of penalties and ensures your business stays compliant.

Successfully Fulfill Your Amazon Duties With Seller Interactive

In running an Amazon marketplace business, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, especially in cases like order fulfillment systems. Despite all the benefits that Amazon's fulfillment services can provide, they still come with disadvantages. Sellers (especially beginners) must be aware of these before taking action.

FBA's drawbacks include unfamiliar inventory tracking methods, increased returns, and no control over return policies. Additionally, sellers have to deal with high operation costs, no opportunity for branding, and no direct customer relationship.

However, you can still solve these problems by carefully planning and strategizing your actions, optimizing your product listings, using social media platforms, and hiring reliable account managers.If you need assistance managing your Amazon FBA business, it’s best to work with an individual or agency providing account management services, like Seller Interactive. With our experienced team, we can help you overcome these FBA disadvantages and grow your business to greater heights.

From Selling to Investing: What to Know About the Amazon Trading Platform

faith

Amazon's rise from its online bookstore beginnings to its current retail dominance has been impressive. What started as a humble garage project became a billion-dollar e-Commerce enterprise. As of writing, the retail giant has over 300 million customers worldwide. That number will continue to grow as more people shop online—and the rise of the Amazon trading platform.

Amazon trading is under the "AMZN" ticker on the NASDAQ exchange. While it primarily dabbles in retail e-commerce, it also operates in other industries, such as cloud computing, digital content, and consumer electronics.

This article will discuss everything about trading on the platform. So that aside from being a successful Amazon seller, you can also thrive and grow your income by being an Amazon investor. Let’s begin!

Amazon Trading Platform: Where to Begin

For beginners, trading can be as intimidating as much as beginning your Amazon Store. So, where do you even begin? Before the discussion, let's first cover the trading basics. This will give you some necessary background as the discussions get more specific. Here are the necessary steps first-time investors should take:

1. Understand the Terms Market Cap, Stock, Trading, and More

Before you begin trading, we recommend researching and consulting with Amazon stock experts, especially if you don't know the share price properly. This step would be the perfect time to ask if you have questions.

Research does not stop at the consultation; you must do some yourself. If you plan to invest in a company, look up its history, net revenue, market cap, management, and earnings. Stock research is valuable if you want to invest in the long haul of fractional shares.

2. Decide How You’ll Invest Your Money

Investing money does not come in a one-size-fits-all method. These are some options you can choose from:

Choose Amazon stocks and fund them by yourself. Do you want a hands-on approach? As much as you learn the ropes in beginning your Amazon store, learn on your own when it comes to trading.

Let the professionals do the trade. If you prefer having someone else manage your investments, get a seasoned expert to do the job. Of course, the person should be competent enough to run things as trading involves money.

Invest in your employer's 401(k). For the unaware, a 401(k) is a plan employers offer that packages retirement savings and investments. Many beginners start their investments through this option because of its tax advantages. A good thing about this type is that investors learn effective investing practices, such as making small yet consistent contributions.

3. Seek Out a Reliable Online Broker for Access to the Nasdaq Exchange

First-time investors can always benefit from an online broker's expertise and options. In addition, having one on your side makes it easier to access NASDAQ, especially if you plan to invest in a publicly listed company.

Investors should pick online brokers that align with their needs and goals. Not every broker allows clients to open accounts with them, and they sometimes offer expensive rates. Take note of their rates, accessibility, and trading platforms.

4. Opening Brokerage Accounts or Retail Investor Accounts

You initially just wanted to sell on Amazon, but if you're 100% decided on investing, now's the time to open an account. Investors who adopt a hands-on approach prefer retail investor accounts because they can invest not for anyone but for themselves.

Meanwhile, opening a brokerage account is quick and affordable. Setting one up takes around 15 minutes, much like a savings account.

5. Have a Budget in Place

Losing money rapidly, indeed, isn't your goal, both as an Amazon seller and now as an investor. Have a budget to ensure you won't lose money when trading. But how much money is enough to get things started?

If you want to buy individual Amazon stocks, look at the share prices of your desired investment/s. Amazon stock prices can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, so check them frequently in case of price movements. This should help you set a budget when you're ready to purchase Amazon stocks.

Mutual Funds

Are you planning to use mutual funds? That's alright, especially if you have a tight budget. However, if you're pondering this option, go for an exchange-traded fund (ETF), which works similarly to a mutual fund. In this case, an ETF tracks a specific index or other assets, which can be sold or bought on a stock exchange, just like a regular Amazon stock.

Did you know that most financial advisers prefer investing through funds? If an expert recommends this, take the suggestion. This option allows investors to allocate a significantly large portion of their portfolios to Amazon stock funds, especially for long time windows.

Amazon Stocks

Keep your investments small if you plan to buy individual Amazon stocks. This practice makes investment management easier.

6. Go for Long-Term Investments

While this depends on you, long-term stock market investments are never wrong. It's always a good call because investors can count on the 10% yearly stock return average regardless of day-to-day or year-to-year events.

7. Check Your Investment/S From Time to Time

Going over daily fluctuations won’t change things much, but there will be times when investors need to check on their stocks. Your portfolio/s and investment goals should align with each other to avoid mismanagement.

How to Go About Amazon Trading

Understandably, investing in a powerhouse like Amazon can seem far-fetched, especially for beginners. But investors like yourself have to start somewhere. And fortunately, buying Amazon shares online isn't a crazy idea nowadays. So if you're brave enough to do it despite the risks, go for it! But the question is, how do you do just that?

This section will walk you through the necessary steps for Amazon stock trading. If you want to add other companies to your list of investments, this process remains applicable since they're similar.

Check Amazon's Stock Prices

Before buying stocks, check the company's current Amazon stock price to see if it fits your budget. Make sure yours is enough to cover your expenses, savings, and Amazon stock purchase. If it doesn't fit, ask your broker if they can allow you to buy portions of individual stocks.

Get Your Amazon Stock Trading Account Up and Running

After setting up your trading/brokerage account, you can now buy and store your shares. This step is where you'll deposit your money for the stock split. Buyers can send cash through debit cards or electronic wallets. Much like the account setup, the deposit will only take a few minutes.

Buy the Share

When you've got everything ready, you can finally buy the share. Log in to your brokerage account, look for “Amazon share,” and state the number of shares you want to buy. From there, click the “Buy” button to begin the purchase.

Monitor Your Investment's Performance

The work doesn't stop at buying. Keep a watchful eye on your investments, regardless if you're a short- or long-term investor. Whatever strategy you use, try your best to follow it through until you've reached your investment goals. If you need more assistance, you can ask for help from Amazon stock experts and other professionals for practical monitoring advice.

Final Thoughts

For beginners, going into Amazon stock trading is taking an investment plunge. It's unfamiliar and unpredictable, but the payoff is worth the risk, especially with proper guidance. If you want to go for it, follow the pointers above to start you on the right path and stray from bad practices.If you have more questions or clarifications about this article or are interested in growing your Amazon store along with trading, contact us. We'll be happy to hear from you and start a conversation about Amazon full account management.

A Comprehensive Guide on How to Redeem an Amazon Gift Card

faith

Are you the lucky recipient of an Amazon gift card? Perhaps you want to give the perfect gift to a special someone. Amazon offers an extensive range of products to choose from, making it a fantastic place to shop for almost anything. But let’s get one thing out of the way first—how to redeem an Amazon gift card?

In this blog post, we'll guide you through the process of Amazon gift card redemption and other essential procedures so you can start exploring the vast selection of items available or provide excellent customer service as an Amazon seller.

How Does an Amazon Gift Card Redemption Work?

The best thing about Amazon gift cards is that they don’t have any expiration date. Each gift card contains a 14-digit claim code that customers can use to purchase anything on Amazon, including books, music, electronics, and more.

When your customers redeem an Amazon gift card, the value of their card is added to their Amazon account. There are millions of eligible products on Amazon and its affiliates that you can use your Amazon gift card for.

How to Redeem an Amazon Gift Card in 2 Ways

Whether it’s a physical or digital gift card, receiving an Amazon gift card is always lovely. You’re sure to find the perfect gift on Amazon’s large retail base. Now for the redemption part.

Here are a few ways to redeem an Amazon gift card:

Redemption Through the Amazon Website

1. Scratch to reveal the Amazon gift card’s claim code.
2. Sign in to your Amazon account.
3. Go to the Your Account page.
4. Select Gift cards
5. Go to Redeem a Gift Card.
6. Enter your Amazon gift card’s claim code and click Apply to Your Balance.

Redemption Through the Amazon App

If you have customers with an Amazon gift card who want to redeem it on the Amazon mobile app, they can follow these steps:

1. Open your account using the Amazon mobile app.
2. Then, go to the Payments section and select Manage Gift Card Balance.
3. Tap on the Redeem A Gift Card button.
4. Enter your Amazon gift card’s claim code and click Apply to Your Balance.

How to Add a Visa Gift Card to Your Amazon Gift Card’s Balance

You can also use Visa gift cards on Amazon, which is quite simple. All you need to do is enter the 16-digit or more gift card number as prompted during checkout. You can also keep the card details in your Amazon account for future purchases.

Here’s an easy guide for your Amazon customers:

1. Sign in to Your Amazon account.
2. Go to Your Account and select Payments.
3. Choose the Amazon Gift Card and click the Reload your balance option.
4. Input the Visa gift card amount and click Buy Now.
5. Select the Add a credit or debit card option under Add a payment method.
6. Enter your account details, such as your card number, name, and more.

How to Purchase an Amazon Gift Card

Amazon gift cards are great rewards for friends and family if you want to give them the perfect gift. Whether physical or digital, an Amazon gift card motivates buyers to purchase items from your store conveniently.

Follow these simple steps if you want to purchase an Amazon gift card:

1. Go to Amazon and log in to your account. If you don’t have an account, you can always make one for free!
2. Go to the Accounts & Lists page and choose Gift Cards.
3. Select Purchase a Gift Card, where you’ll find various card types and design options to choose from.
4. Once you have chosen your gift card, select the amount you wish to load, then add it to your shopping basket. If preferred, you may also include a personalized message.
5. Checkout and pay for the gift card using your preferred payment method. Once your payment has been processed, the recipient may get the gift card by email (e-cards) or shipping (physical cards).

What to Do if You Can’t Redeem Your Gift Card

If you’re experiencing difficulty using your gift card, don’t worry! You have a few choices for troubleshooting the situation. Follow these tips, and you should be able to redeem your gift card in no time successfully:

• Double-check if you’re using the right redemption or promotion code. If the code is entered incorrectly, the Amazon gift card code will be rejected.
• Redeem your gift card at a different shop. Some Amazon gift cards are only applicable to certain merchants. So if you can’t redeem it with a particular shop, it might be because they don’t allow gift cards. Check the card’s terms and conditions first to see which participating stores you can use.
• If you’re still experiencing difficulties, contact customer service directly. They’d be available to help you troubleshoot the problem or provide a new claim code.

Final Thoughts

Redeeming an Amazon gift card is a straightforward process if you know your way around the platform. By following the step-by-step instructions provided in this guide, you can easily use your gift card and indulge in your favorite Amazon products.

It’s also good to learn about these processes if you’re an Amazon seller. This way, you can provide great customer service when you encounter customers purchasing with the Amazon gift card.

You must also be aware of online fraudsters and authenticate your accounts before purchasing products on Amazon. If you have reimbursement and refund issues, seek the best Amazon expert to help you get your money back.
Seller Interactive’s Amazon FBA Reimbursement Service helps sellers reconcile their inventory issues, whether it’s gift card fraud-related or others. To learn more about our reimbursement efforts, contact us. We’d be happy to discuss our services and answer any questions you might have.

How To Handle Customers Who Abuse the Amazon Refund Without Return Policy

faith

The truth about returns is that they are inevitable, whether you have a brick-and-mortar store or an online shop. It’s only a matter of time before some customers become dissatisfied with their purchases and decide to send them back. Unfortunately, this situation is more prevalent in ecommerce businesses, as buyers cannot physically see or touch the items before purchase.

Amazon introduced the returnless refund system to address this concern. But not all third-party sellers rejoiced with the news. They have to suffer from its drawbacks and recalibrate their operations accordingly. Even worse, they feared this policy would encourage shoppers to pretend to receive faulty products for free items.

Despite the contentions, Amazon continues to implement the policy. Sellers have no choice but to adhere to the marketplace rules to maintain their selling privileges. But that does not mean you cannot handle your business proactively, especially with respect to returns and refunds.

It’s never too late to protect your sales while giving customer satisfaction. This article will outline how customers capitalize on the Amazon refund without a return process and provide strategies for effectively managing these situations.

Pros and Cons of Amazon Returnless Refund Process

From the name itself, a returnless refund happens when a customer asks for a refund for the item they purchased without having to deliver it back to the third-party seller. This means they can keep the product in whatever condition and still get their money back.

Returnless refunds may not favor Amazon sellers entirely, but you can still use this system to your advantage. In other words, it has pros and cons for your business, which we will explore in detail.

Pros

Amazon would not have launched the refund method if they thought it would not provide sufficient benefits to all parties involved. Even though it only seems useful to customers, it can also help sellers, their employees, and even our planet. Below are some advantages you can gain from using the Amazon returnless refund system as a third-party seller.

• Free From Additional Fees: Consider the returnless refund system as a way to escape the other extra fees. From return shipping fees to storage costs, this can help you avoid these expenses, making it a more cost-effective option for your business.

• Customized Rules and Conditions: Amazon allows sellers to set criteria and issue returnless refunds for specific SKUs. Use the Buyer-Seller Messaging platform on Seller Central to settle any customer issues professionally.

• Increased Customer Satisfaction and Visibility: Returnless refunds provide an immediate resolution to frustrated customers, keeping them satisfied despite the mishap. This can prevent negative feedback and improve your ranking on Amazon SERPs.

• Saved Time and Resources: Sellers can avoid communication with buyers and having to inspect returned goods, which allows them to focus on other tasks.

• Environmentally-Friendly: Returnless refunds also save the environment by reducing packaging waste and fuel consumption from shipping products back to Amazon.

Cons

As previously mentioned, the returnless refund concept of Amazon can pose challenges for sellers due to persistent issues in the marketplace. Here are a few things to watch out for if you’re considering offering a returnless refund option.

• Financial Setbacks: Product returns might hinder your goals, especially if you receive too many buyer refund requests. Multiple refunds can cause damages and losses on your end.

• Unnecessary Chargebacks: Buyers may file a chargeback with their bank instead of disputing a transaction with Amazon, which can affect your reputation as an Amazon seller.

• Lost Buy Box: This Amazon feature allows customers to buy products from your store without comparing other offers. If your refund rate is too high and bogs down your seller rating, you can lose your spot in the Buy Box, leading to fewer sales overall.

• Account Suspension: High refund rates can result in Amazon suspension, affecting the seller’s rating and account health. Amazon may suspend the account to protect buyers if they notice many customer refund requests.

From this information alone, it’s no wonder Amazon sellers must be cautious about abusive buyers and their unethical tricks. After all, a lessened Amazon return rate is essential in gaining more sales and growing your business.

How Does the Amazon Refund Trick Work for Customers?

Behind Amazon’s goal of becoming the most customer-centric company in the world is a seller who also wants to run a hassle-free business. But here’s the truth: Amazon’s return policies are so generous that some exploit the system for personal gains. Who doesn’t want to get free items these days?

As an Amazon seller, you must know how customers can abuse the refund payment method so that you can respond accordingly when you spot them in action. Here are some examples of how they do it.

• False Claims: Some customers falsely claim that the received item doesn't match the product description. They can request a full refund without providing evidence or returning the item, even if the item received is in the expected condition.

• Manipulating the Reason for Return: Customers may select "changed my mind" or "no longer needed" instead of a valid reason like "item damaged" or "incorrect item received."

• Abuse of Multiple Accounts: Some buyers create multiple Amazon accounts to abuse the system. They might purchase items using different accounts and request returnless refunds on all of them. Worse, they might resell the products at a profit.

Protect Yourself Against Abusive Customers

If you’re reading this, chances are you suspect someone is trying to pull an Amazon refund trick. It’s a serious problem that can have far-reaching consequences.

Protect yourself against refund fraudsters. Here are things you can do to help reduce the number of return and refund requests.

1. Understand the Amazon Returnless Refund Policy

If you want to maximize the possible advantages of Amazon's returnless refund policy, analyze its entire context first. From there, you can find ways to turn the rules in your favor.

For example, Amazon allows third-party sellers to customize their returnless refund policies and choose which specific SKUs are eligible for a refund request. This way, you can save yourself from paying the return and possible restocking fees. You can also retrieve expensive items that are best to be resold rather than given away.

Hiring an Amazon expert is best if you do not have the time to study Amazon’s regulations about returns and refunds. Their experience and expertise in the field allows them to provide appropriate solutions for your pressing problems.

2. Handle Customer Inquiries Properly

Refunds and returns can be tricky for any customer service representative. The best thing you can do is train them well enough to accommodate customers who are unhappy with their purchases, no matter how hot-tempered they may be.

Taking this step shows that you do not encourage return fraud. Here are steps to help your employees handle customer inquiries about returns and refunds.

• Keep your CS representatives familiar with your store’s policy. They must be able to explain the policy clearly and confidently to the customers.

• Equip your customer service representatives with the necessary skills to handle common complaints related to refunds and returns, including how to promptly resolve challenging situations and urgent issues.

• Encourage them to use their best judgment when managing customer returns and refund concerns. There will inevitably be some gray areas, but they will handle these concerns well with the right information and attitude.

3. Make Your Refund Policy Visible to Customers

Whether you like it or not, some customers do not read descriptions or policies. You must still provide them with the information they need to know to protect your brand from fraudsters, fake accounts, and customer complaints.

Display your return and refund policies in your storefront, website, and product listings. This action will help them know and understand your store policies before purchasing. It can even minimize confusion and prevent the damage of your reputation from false customer feedback.

4. Escalate Difficult Situations to Amazon Customer Service

Amazon customers have multiple ways of scamming sellers to get free stuff using the returnless refund system. Although refunding them and moving on might be tempting, there are better courses of action than this.

Report a customer directly to Amazon if you suspect them of pulling refund tricks. Amazon hase advanced tools to track customer records for excessive returns. With these details, Amazon will warn them about marketplace policies. Or worse, they might be given a returnless refund limit, which prevents them from scamming more sellers.

5. Practice Good Record Keeping of All Transactions

Good record management can prevent refund fraud. That means keeping track of every purchase made through your store, including the date and time of the sale, the customer's Amazon account name, contact information, and the item purchased.

Maintaining a detailed record can help you confidently respond to refund requests and disputes. You can also provide proof of delivery or other necessary documentation, improving your business operations and increasing credibility.

6. Keep Your Product Listings Accurate

Accurate and detailed product listings are essential in preventing abusive returnless refund requests. When they have all the necessary product information, it eliminates any potential misunderstandings or false claims about the features or specifications.

Include product descriptions, images, and any other information on the listing. Dimensions, materials, and sizes are also relevant since it gives buyers a clear idea of what they’ll purchase from your store. Done correctly, it will save you from complications.

7. Secure Your Packages

Use sturdy boxes and high-quality packaging materials. Choose materials strong enough to withstand the weight of your products and the rigors of shipping. Bubble wrap, foam peanuts, and other protective materials can help prevent your products from shifting or moving around inside the box.

Consider adding tamper-evident seals or labels to your packages. These seals can help deter potential theft by making it clear if someone has opened or tampered with the package. These can also provide evidence to protect you against fraudulent claims of missing or damaged items.

Final Thoughts

Many third-party sellers have a love-hate relationship with Amazon’s returnless refund system. Although Amazon has measures to prevent fraud, maintaining customer honesty remains challenging.

Building a good reputation and customer relationships is still crucial for the success of your business. You have no option but to treat them as loyal customers while ensuring the system works in your favor.

If you find it difficult to balance these factors, consider hiring Amazon experts from reliable agencies like Seller Interactive. We have competent and skilled team members who can help you with your returnless refund issues.

To schedule an appointment, email [emailprotected] now!

How To Request a Refund on Amazon: A Comprehensive Guide

faith

Refunds are inevitable in a big marketplace like Amazon. And believe us when we say that they're not fun!

Every Amazon seller knows that not every customer will be happy with their purchase. Still, it's best to avoid refunds and returns as much as possible. Losing money and receiving negative customer feedback make a bad experience for everyone involved.

Both sellers and buyers find refunds troublesome because there's a process that should be strictly followed. But learning how to request a refund on Amazon isn’t actually too difficult to understand. Allow Seller Interactive to show you how it works so whenever you come across a customer wanting a refund, you can walk them through and answer all their questions.

Reasons for Refunds

Customer satisfaction isn't always 100% guaranteed. Whether your customer’s purchase doesn't meet their expectations or they regret their purchase, it should come as no surprise when some shoppers want their money back. Below are some common reasons for refund requests.

Wrong Shipment

Even if shoppers place their orders correctly, sellers might accidentally send the wrong items. Situations like these make it clear that you’re obligated to accept return requests and ship the correct products.

Delayed Arrivals

Time-sensitive orders exist. As much as you try fulfilling orders quickly, some shoppers may no longer need the items by the time they arrive on their doorsteps. While it may not be your fault, don't be surprised if your customers initiate a refund request.

Buyer's Remorse

Your customers can get impulsive when shopping online. While that's understandable, it’s frustrating when they return your items without valid reasons. As tempting as it sounds, sellers, unfortunately, can't insist on justifications for returns because such policies rarely favor them. Shoppers can file chargebacks if they can't return their purchases, even if they don't have valid reasons.

Gifts

Gift shopping is challenging because they often come with a disclaimer. And unfortunately, that disclaimer often states that shoppers can return the item if they don't like what they've received.

Fraudulent Purchases

Many sellers use black hat tactics and lurk on Amazon to prey on unsuspecting sellers and shoppers. These scams play out by laundering money from stolen credit cards. You can combat this by only offering refunds to the original cards and in-store credit for card purchases.

Damages and Defects

Items damaged during shipping are something sellers can't control. Much like the first reason, merchants in this situation are obligated to issue refunds. Shoppers are justified in asking for their money back since they received defective items. To lower your chances of item defects, conduct a thorough inspection, practice careful packing, and learn the ropes of selling on Amazon FBA.

Wardrobing

Some customers return their purchases after using them for specific reasons. For example, let's say that a customer immediately sends back the mood lights they bought from your store after using them for a party. This practice of abusing return policies is called wardrobing, and it can hurt sellers.

Wardrobing puts merchants in challenging positions because they're forced to comply with friendly fraud. Since customers committing wardrobing are willing to lie about their reasons for chargebacks, there’s not much you can do about it.

How To Request a Refund on Amazon in 3 Simple Steps

Refunding on Amazon is quite different from requesting one from a brick-and-mortar shop. To get a refund from a physical store, you can instruct shoppers to contact your in-store staff and inform them of their concerns. The staff must then forward that concern to you or the store's manager. Then, the store can either issue a refund or give the concerned customer store credits.

Requesting a refund on Amazon requires plenty of attention to detail. So before selling anything, you should look at the product's title, description, and photos to check if it matches the item you’re selling. Since transactions happen online, issues like miscommunication and mishandling are more likely to arise. Is it frustrating? Absolutely—especially if these issues happen often.

However, it's best to keep all documentation on hand. For your customers to have an easier refund process, walk them through the following steps when requesting a refund.

Step 1: Log in to the Amazon Account

Tell your customer to go to the Your Orders page and select Return or Replace Items for the item they want to return. Next, they’ll need to select the reason for the return from the drop-down choices on the following page. Then, they should submit the request.

Inform them that they will see a confirmation message which indicates that their return request has been sent. Amazon will assess this and contact them with further instructions within two business days.

Step 2: Choose From Their Options

After your customer submits the request, you—the seller—need to accept it. Then, they’ll have to choose how they'd like to return the item. For example, they can use a prepaid shipping label or arrange their own shipping.

If they choose to have Amazon return it, they will be provided with a return shipping label. At this point, you can instruct them to click the Continue button after selecting their preferred option.

Step 3: Pack and Ship the Item to Amazon

Lastly, they'll need to pack up the item securely, include any paperwork or other items that came with it, and attach the shipping label. Then they’ll have to send it back to Amazon according to the instructions.

Once Amazon receives the item, they will process the customer’s refund request and issue a confirmation via email. The refund amount should reflect in their preferred refund method within a few days.

And that's all there is to it! Customers can easily return an item and get their money back with only a few clicks. So the next time a customer of yours is not quite satisfied with their purchase, remember Amazon's return policy; it’s easy for them to get a refund and for you to get your item back.

Instant Refunds

Does your customer want to get a refund without returning the items to you? Well, sellers can process returnless refunds painlessly. In some cases it’s more costly to go through the return process than just conceding a refund. So if this option is available and it boosts your customer’s loyalty, then choose this route.

Amazon allows customers to choose the Instant Refund option, if it's available. If your customer is eligible, you can issue the refund through the buyer’s credit card or in a gift card instantly.

Types of Refunds

There are two types of refunds sellers can issue on Amazon. Depending on the circumstances, they can give one of the following choices.

Full Refund

Going by its name, a full refund covers the total amount customers paid—even the shipping costs. You can issue this if Amazon customers return their item/s without damages or missing components. Amazon will also issue a full refund for wrong packages.

Did your items get delivered with damaged or missing parts? Amazon's got your customers covered. Tell them they can request a full refund since the package arrived in poor condition.

Partial Refund

Amazon sellers can issue partial refunds under the following circumstances:

• Customers fail to return their purchased item/s within Amazon's 30-day period
• Customers are at fault for an item's damages
• Customers forgo returning their purchased item/s altogether

Your customers may be asking how to request a partial refund on Amazon. If so, you can inform them that the process is no different! You can walk them through the steps in the previous section.

If you want to know more about partial refunds, take a look at the table below.

Refund Turnaround Times: When Will They Get Their Money Back?

Now that we've got the "how to request a refund on amazon" part figured out, the waiting game begins. Processing and issuing refunds usually take around 7 to 10 business days. However, some cases may take longer because of the circumstances of specific requests.

Your customer’s chosen payment methods also affect turnaround times. For example, if they used their debit or credit card to pay for their orders, they might need to wait an additional 3 to 5 business days for the refund to reflect on their account.

Once you issue an Amazon refund, financial institutions will take time to get the funds to the customer’s account. For example, debit cards and SNAP EBT cards will take up to 10 business days after processing a refund.

On the other hand, credit cards take 3 to 5 business days. Amazon.com gift cards and gift card balances have much shorter turnaround times with each taking only 2 to 3 hours. If your customers want to know how long each method takes, advise them to check Amazon's website for the complete list.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to request a refund on Amazon is a valuable lesson every Amazon seller should learn. The process can get overwhelming for both you and your customer, which is typical. However, having prior knowledge of how refunds work also makes way for smoother transactions, which results in excellent customer service.

Do you have any questions on how to deal with your customer’s refunds on Amazon? We're here to help! Our team would be glad to answer anything you want to ask. Book a call.

How To Return Amazon Items Without Breaking A Sweat

faith

It's no secret that no one likes returning stuff they've bought online. It's a pain to box everything back up, print out the return shipping label, and carry the package back to the post office. But sometimes returns are inevitable—maybe the item was damaged, didn't fit quite right, or wasn't what your customers expected.

With Amazon, it's vital to ensure your customers are happy with their purchases; return policies can be a big part of that. So here's a guide on returning Amazon items to help your customers navigate the return process.

Returning Amazon Items

Sometimes, customers can end up ordering the wrong thing for various reasons. Maybe it needs to be a different size, or they don't like the color. It may also be because they've clicked the wrong button for no reason.

There might even be some items that are damaged or defective upon delivery. But for items that are not damaged or defective, customers have two options: either return the item for a refund or exchange it for a different size or style. Whatever the reason, returning items to Amazon should be easy and stress-free.

How To Return Items on Amazon

If you're an Amazon seller, it's critical to understand how the return process works. What for? There are customers who will wonder about the possibility of returning an item and will come for your help sooner or later. Knowing the return process can help you with potential customer queries about returning an item.

Assisting with queries is part of giving a positive shopping experience. As a result, customers may be more inclined to shop from you again. To assist your customers better, here is a step-by-step guide on how to return items on Amazon.

Log In to the Amazon Account

Ask your customers to go to "Your Orders" and find the order they want to return. Then, click the "Return or Replace Items" button.

Select the Item for Return

After selecting the item they want to return, they will have to choose the reason for the return in the drop-down selection. Then, your customer should choose whether they want a refund or a replacement.

Print the Shipping Label

After choosing the item and indicating the reason for the return, it will generate a PDF of the shipping label, which they can print out and attach to their return package.

Pack and Send the Items

If possible, customers should pack the item securely in the original product packaging. If they can't find the original package, they may use a sturdy box and include packing material such as bubble wrap or styrofoam peanuts to protect the item. They must include everything included in the original package (like all the parts, accessories, and documents).

Different Ways To Return Items to Amazon

There are multiple ways to return items to Amazon. However, returning them through the mail is the simplest option. Customers should pack the item they want to return, attach the shipping label to the package, and drop it off at the nearest post office.

They can also use Amazon Hub Locker to return the items. These are available at select locations and work as self-service kiosk一customers can drop off their return items in the locker, which will then be returned to Amazon.

Shoppers also have the option to return items to a physical Amazon store. First, they should go to Amazon's website and use the store locator tool to find the nearest store location. Then, they’ll need to bring the item and order confirmation to the customer service counter.

Some items can be returned using Amazon's "Flexible Returns" service. With this, they can schedule a free pickup of their return right from their doorstep.

Returning Purchased Items at Kohl's

Buyers can now return their Amazon purchases at a nearby Kohl's. Once enjoyed by only a few in 2017, Kohl's widened their scope on Amazon returns to 1000 stores. Amazon shoppers in the US who have Kohl's in their area can now drop off to-be-returned items to third-party sellers in the Amazon marketplace much faster.

What makes Kohl's Amazon returns even better is that the buyer can drop off the items purchased at the store as is. Packaging and labeling aren't necessary—Kohl's takes over the task and sends it right to Amazon!

Be sure to ask your customers if they have Kohl's nearby. If they do, give them this walkthrough.

Log In to the Amazon Account

Tell your customers to log in to their Amazon account and go to the "Returns and Orders" section.

Choose the Items To Be Returned

Instruct them to select the items they wish to return and choose the appropriate reason from the drop-down menu. Afterward, they can click "Return or Replace Items" and choose whether they want a full refund or a replacement in case of a wrong item.

Select a Return Payment Method

Customers typically choose the account they used to pay for the item as the return payment option. But there are other modes they can choose from: debit cards, checking accounts, and credit cards are among the most popular options. If your customer wants to check all their options, they can review this Amazon resource.

Pick a Dropoff Location

Among the options they can choose is a UPS dropoff, or they can choose to ship and pay using their courier. Instruct your customer to choose the Kohl's dropoff option from the list of choices provided.

Wait for the QR Code

Once everything is settled on the Amazon front, tell your customer that a QR code will be sent their way. They will have to show this code to the Kohl's staff upon dropping off the items.

Bring the Item to the Kohl’s Store

The last step is for the customer to bring their items to Kohl's, packed or unpacked, present the QR code sent to them, and wait until the staff receives the item or gives them a discount coupon from Kohl's.

What Items Can Be Returned?

When it comes to returns, Amazon is pretty lenient compared to other ecommerce platforms. This is their way of making themselves known as the most customer-centric shopping website available.

Most Amazon orders can be returned within 30 days after delivery if the item is new and unused. That means if your customers accidentally ordered two of the same item, or if that shirt they bought doesn't fit quite right, they can return it hassle-free. But before returning an item, they should check the product listing to see if there are any special return requirements. For example, some clothing items must be in their original packaging when returning them.

What Items Can’t Be Returned?

There are some items that Amazon doesn't accept returns on for various reasons. Here are some of the most common items that you can't return:

• Gift Cards: Once an Amazon gift card has been redeemed, it can't be returned for a refund.
• Digital Content: This includes items like ebooks, digital music, and apps, since these items can be downloaded and used immediately. Kindle products can be returned within 7 days of the initial order, but the option will be removed if the book has been partially read.
• Grocery Items: Due to food safety concerns, Amazon does not accept returns for groceries. This includes items like baby food, alcohol, and perishable goods.
• Hazardous Materials: Items that are flammable, corrosive, or otherwise dangerous can't be shipped through Amazon's return center. This includes things like liquids, batteries, and the like.

How To Track Returns

Amazon is usually great at handling returns. Customers can return items without any problems. But sometimes, things get lost along the way, and it can be tricky to track down a return. Fortunately, Amazon makes it easy to track returns so your customer can be sure that their items are being processed and that they'll receive a refund promptly.

If they want to track their returns, simply tell them to log in to their Amazon account and go to the "Returns Center." There, they should see a list of all the items returned and return attempts in the past 30 days.

For each item, they’ll see the return date, the status of the return (whether approved or rejected), and the expected refund amount. It is also through this page wherein they can track the progress of their return by clicking on the "Track Package" button next to each item.

What if a Customer Wants To Cancel a Return?

As an Amazon seller, you need to understand the process and take the initiative to help your customer in this cancellation process.

First, you must know your customer's reason for returning the item to know where to start. Ask your customers to do the following steps:

1. Visit the Returns Center page on Amazon.
2. Select Manage Returns.
3. Select Cancel This Return.
4. If they want to cancel the return, a text box will appear asking them for confirmation.

After withdrawing the existing return, they can choose whether to ignore pickup attempts if they’ve requested a pickup for their return or contact the carrier to inform them that the pickup is no longer needed as the return has been canceled.

Tips for Amazon Sellers

For buyers, returning an item bought on Amazon is pretty simple一just head to the returns center and follow the instructions. But if you're a seller, things are a bit more complicated. You'll need to issue a refund, deal with the return shipping, and provide top-notch customer service, which can be a hassle, expensive, and requires plenty of patience from your end.

However, it's essential to accept that returns are just part of doing business. The good thing is that you can do a few things to lessen the occurrence of returns in your business.

First, make sure to state your return policy on your product listings clearly. This will help set buyer expectations and reduce the likelihood of buyers returning items simply because they weren't aware of your policy.

Second, try to be as flexible as possible regarding returns. For example, you can offer to issue a refund or exchange instead of insisting on a return.

Finally, don't take returns personally. It's important to remember that not every sale is going to be perfect. Ultimately, the goal is to strike a balance between protecting your business and giving a positive customer experience.

Final Thoughts

Here's the thing about returns: they happen. Whether it's a case of buyer's remorse or a package that arrived damaged, customers will occasionally want to return an item they've purchased from you. So make sure your return policy is clear and easy to understand so that customers know what to expect when buying from your shop.

With all the things mentioned above, you can now confidently assist your customers when they ask you how to return Amazon items. However, Seller Interactive understands that running a business while handling returns can be overwhelming. That's why we believe that working with a competent account manager to assist you with your Amazon returns is a practical idea. With years of experience, we are confident that we can assist you with all your return concerns.Send us an email at [emailprotected] to know more!

How to Advertise on Walmart Marketplace and Improve Your Traffic

faith

Are you a beginner Walmart marketplace seller? Walmart has fewer third-party sellers than Amazon. But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry about competition: after all, you probably have a low chance of being discovered by shoppers if you are a new seller.

Consider utilizing Walmart marketplace advertising to attract more attention to your product listings and storefront. In this blog post, you will learn how to advertise on Walmart marketplace so you can reach more potential customers and improve traffic to your listings.

What Is Walmart Online Advertising?

Walmart is one of the largest and most well-known retailers in the world. While it offers various products, its main focus is on providing low-cost goods to its customers, reflected in its marketing strategy, “Every Day Low Prices” (EDLP).

But because Walmart customers are constantly looking for cheap deals, it’s difficult for new sellers to get noticed in the marketplace. This is where utilizing other available marketing strategies, such as running paid ads, is helpful.

Fortunately, Walmart offers various digital advertising solutions, specifically Walmart Advertising, that can benefit its third-party sellers. Walmart Advertising is a pay-per-click (PPC) advertising model in which the advertisers—in this case, the sellers—pay a fee every time a user clicks on one of their campaign ads.

Using Walmart Advertising, you can promote your brand and products within and outside the Walmart marketplace.

Types of Walmart Online Ads

Walmart Connect, formerly known as Walmart Media Group, is the advertising division of the retail giant. It provides advertisers like you with several advertising options. Below are the types of Walmart ads you can use for Walmart Advertising.

1. Walmart Sponsored Products Campaign

This type of Walmart Advertising campaign is placed within the Walmart marketplace. Customers can easily see these ads while browsing the website or app (as products displayed in the grid).

Walmart Sponsored Products can be found in the grid of the search results alongside other non-sponsored products. Additionally, Sponsored Products appear on category pages and product or item pages.

2. Walmart Display Ads

This type of ad encourages customers to buy on the Walmart marketplace by displaying ads across Walmart’s online platforms and other websites. These locations include Walmart.com, the Walmart mobile app, and third-party websites.

Display ads target customers who have previously shown interest in one of the products on Walmart or have previously purchased something on the platform.

3. Search Brand Amplifier

Search Brand Amplifier is a Walmart Search ad highlighting your brand and a curated portfolio of products to customers actively searching Walmart’s website and app.

4. Buy Box Banner

Buy Box ads are available for automatic and manual campaigns. These ads can be found on product detail pages for complementary products or as an alternative to the items customers view.

Why Should You Use Walmart Online Ads?

Now that you know what Walmart Advertising is and the types of ads you can use, you might wonder if it’s worth investing your resources in this marketing strategy. Check out some of the reasons for investing in Walmart Advertising.

1. Walmart Is a Retail Giant

Even though Walmart is popular for its physical stores, the total visits to its online marketplace peaked at 542 million in November 2022. This is a huge opportunity to reach more customers and drive more sales to your products.

2. Competition on Walmart Is Manageable

Walmart has fewer marketplace sellers than Amazon. Walmart has only 150,000 sellers, compared to Amazon's 2 million. With fewer businesses competing for customers’ attention and views, you can increase your sales and lower ad spend.

3. Walmart Offers Various Ads

There are various types of ads that you can use to boost your Walmart online sales and products. With different options available, you can diversify your advertising strategies to get customers’ attention.

Tips on Using Walmart Online Ads To Help Increase Traffic

Now that you know the benefits of investing in Walmart Advertising, are you ready to start your journey as an advertiser? If you are interested in running Walmart ads online to improve your traffic, familiarize yourself with some best practices first.

Here are a few tips to help you get started and make the most out of Walmart ads.

1. Choose the Right Type of Ad

As mentioned above, Walmart offers several different types of ads, so choosing the one that best fits your needs and goals is crucial. For example, if you want to increase your brand awareness among Walmart customers, you should use Search Brand Amplifier ads. If you’re unsure of which one is right for you, try testing out a few options to see which type of ad drives more sales.

But if you don’t want to experiment and possibly spend more on your Walmart marketplace advertising costs, consider hiring PPC specialists instead. A PPC specialist can help you in doing keyword research, spending your ad budget wisely, building ad campaign strategies, and more.

2. Bid on the Right Keywords

When choosing keywords for your ad, select the ones relevant to your brand and product. Using too many broad or unrelated keywords will hurt your chances of being seen by potential customers and result in higher advertising costs.

Use reliable keyword research tools, such as KeywordTool.io and Ahrefs, to know the best keywords for your PPC ads. Alternatively, you can also rely on professionals to help you develop a list of high-ranking keywords.

3. Target the Right Audience

Take advantage of Walmart Advertising targeting options to reach your target audience directly. If you specialize in products for children, target your ads to display on pages that are frequently visited by parents with young kids. This way, you'll get better visibility and higher chances of influencing their purchasing decisions.

4. Create Compelling and Informative Copy

Your ad should give visitors a reason to click through to your store. Therefore, you must ensure that your ad copy is well-written and provides useful information. This way, they will be enticed to look at your listing and eventually purchase your products.

Here are some quick tips in writing good ad copy:

• Focus on your product's biggest benefit for consumers.
• Include emotional triggers.
• Write your ad copy as brief as you can.
• Avoid using language that pressures the customer.
• Use a clear call-to-action.

5. Use Eye-Catching Images

Enhance the visibility of your Walmart ads by using high-quality product photos. Here are some points to remember before uploading a product image:

• Use high-resolution photos.
• Use proper lighting to ensure the product can be seen clearly.
• Get photos of your product in action.

If you’re not very adept at photography, hiring professional ecommerce photographers for your product photos can help. Not only do they know how to take flattering images, but they also know Walmart’s guidelines on product photos.

6. Monitor Your Results

Regularly monitor your ads via Walmart Advertising to gauge their performance and audience response. Compare the product you advertised with a similar non-advertised product and notice if there are any sales trends across both products.

This enables you to make necessary adjustments to keywords, ad budget, and other parameters.

Key Takeaway

Making your listings and storefront stand out is crucial in running an ecommerce business. And being more visible within and outside the Walmart marketplace is possible for third-party sellers with Walmart’s features.

If you want to go the extra mile in growing your Walmart marketplace business, consider hiring full account management services from a reputable agency like Seller Interactive.
Besides PPC ads, we can help you in other aspects of your business, including product listing optimization, product launch, and brand protection. Contact us today!

6 Noteworthy Benefits of DSP to Your Amazon Business

faith

The eCommerce world is ever-evolving. As an Amazon seller, it is your ultimate goal to establish a strong connection with your target audience. Fortunately, you can now enjoy the significant benefits of DSP for your online brand.

Also known as the demand-side platform, Amazon DSP helps businesses effectively plan and manage their advertising campaigns to reach a wide array of consumers across various ad spaces. You’ll never run out of new ways to grow your business because Amazon always extends and innovates.

Discover more about this programmatic advertising platform and its ability to expand your online presence and brand consistently.

What is Amazon DSP?

Amazon DSP allows advertisers to programmatically buy display and video ad placements on the marketplace and other third-party websites. You can manage multiple ad exchanges, and data exchange accounts through one interface by utilizing demand-side platforms.

DSP offers powerful advertising campaign tools that strategically target Amazon audiences on popular apps and websites, leading to increased sales. It will put you in the best position to market your products effectively.

DSP Advertising Formats

As technology advances and consumer preferences evolve, advertisers need flexible and captivating formats to grab their target audience's attention and drive meaningful results.

Thanks to the emergence of DSPs, they now have access to a wide range of dynamic ad formats, letting them take their business to new heights. These formats go beyond traditional ads by delivering innovative approaches to connect with relevant viewers across diverse online channels.

Take a look at each of these:

Display Ads

With Amazon DSP, you can leverage static and dynamic ad formats. Here’s how:

You can further improve the effectiveness of display ads with product remarketing and similar product remarketing strategies.

• Product remarketing involves targeting customers who have previously shown interest in certain products, encouraging them to return and complete their purchase.
• Similar product remarketing displays ads to potential customers based on their interests and preferences, promoting products similar to those they show interest in.

Video Ads

Most DSPs, including Amazon, support video ads. This advertising format lets you capture your customer’s attention through immersive content, promoting a better connection between viewers and your brand.

The power of video lies in its ability to tap into the emotional aspect of marketing. Through sight, sound, and motion, video ads can evoke emotions, spark curiosity, and leave a lasting impression on the audience’s life.

Audio Ads

Entice potential buyers through audio ads. Since they are engaged with music streaming services or podcast platforms, you can reach a unique market in a less cluttered advertising environment.

You can complement your other advertising formats with audio ads to provide a more comprehensive approach to interacting with your primary customer base.

6 Benefits of DSP for an Amazon Business

Is there a catch to having an Amazon DSP for your business? The answer is no. Even if your products aren't for sale on Amazon, this platform can help you expand your reach outside the website. Customers can access various purchasing options from other online stores like eBay, Etsy, and others.

The following are more benefits of using the Amazon Demand-Side Platform (DSP).

• Audience Segmentation
• Holistic Funnel Strategy
• Fact-Based Findings
• Streamlined Operations
• Automated Bid Management
• Inventory Organization

1. User Targeting

The more information advertisers have about their clients, the better. Marketing agencies can use this information to target specific groups and not waste ad space on people who will not buy your products.

A strong user-centered approach entails having detailed knowledge of each individual's behaviors over numerous digital properties. No matter where someone is browsing online or reading an email from them, ads will always be waiting for them.

2. Full-Funnel Approach

When you invest in Amazon DSP, you cover the entire sales funnel. Here’s what we mean.

With Amazon DSP, you strategically navigate each stage of the sales funnel, reaching the right customers with the right message at the right time.

3. Data-Driven Insights

Thanks to the power of DSPs, advertisers can now do more with their ad campaigns. Dashboards enable them to see everything going on in one place, giving them a better understanding of how it affects campaign performance.

They also eliminate the need to waste time experimenting with new strategies when you already know which ones work and which do not.

4. Efficient Work

Unlike traditional advertising methods that require time-consuming processes such as requesting proposals, negotiating, and creating ad contracts, programmatic advertising offers a streamlined approach.

You can swiftly buy and place ads through Real-Time Bidding (RTB). All you need to do is bid on ad impressions in real-time auctions so you can target certain audiences and optimize ad placements.

5. Automatic Generated Bidding

Rather than manually adjusting bids based on various factors, the DSP algorithm automatically generates optimized bids in real time.

This algorithm considers factors such as competition, ad placement, and user behavior to ensure your bids are perfect for the best efficiency.

6. Classification of Inventory

Another significant advantage of DSP is the convergence of supply on a single platform. Advertisers can reach a broader range of publishing companies through a single provider, resulting in a more diverse and global ad inventory than they could otherwise achieve.

This inventory is frequently classified by different characteristics, allowing brands to select their advertisements to appear. This is critical for brands that prefer a secure location for their advertising.

By maximizing these opportunities, you can develop your marketing strategy, earn high revenue, and get better business outcomes.

The Difference Between Amazon DSP and Amazon PPC

Some sellers are still confused about Amazon DSP and Amazon PPC, and it’s not surprising why. Both platforms have advertising objectives that can create an overlap in their functionalities, to begin with.

The intricacies of programmatic advertising, particularly in the case of Amazon DSP, involve technical terminology and complex concepts that may be unfamiliar to sellers not well-versed in digital advertising practices. Terms like real-time bidding, audience targeting, and ad formats can seem daunting and require a learning curve.

Don’t worry; we’re here to clear things up! Below is a table highlighting the key differences between Amazon DSP and Amazon PPC.

Find Your DSP Program Account Manager at Seller Interactive

Amazon is continuously evolving. Staying ahead of the game can sometimes feel like a wild ride. But fear not! Seller Interactive is here to steer you in the right direction.

With a professional DSP account manager by your side, you'll have the ultimate companion on your journey to growth. We'll guide you through the twists and turns of programmatic advertising, helping you grow your business through innovation and creativity.
Book a call today!