Here are my favorite proven Amazon and eBay selling guides, software and experts for 2020
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- Topics are in alphabetical order
- 50+ of them are FREE
- Items in orange mean they also (or exclusively) work for eBay sellers
- Items with an asterisk * are authored/owned by me
- (Can't find something? Type "Ctrl" and "F" on your keyboard and enter ONE word you're looking for)
- Bookmark this page by pressing <Ctrl> D
- Some links on this page may be affiliate links, where I may be compensated if you purchase something
- Questions? Suggestions? Corrections? Contact me
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Amazon - Free Beginner Help
Amazon Seller Courses
Apps (Mobile)
Apps (Web)
Barcodes (UPC)
Blogs
Boxes
Bundling Products
Buy Box (Amazon) Tips
Category Approval (Amazon)
Coaching
Cost/Expense Cutting
Course For International Sellers
Discounts/Cash Back (for online & retail arbitrage)
Ebay - Free Help
Ebay Seller Courses
Gated Amazon Categories
Help Books & Sites
Importing from China
Labels
Optimization
Packaging & Packing
Poly Clear Bags
Podcasts
Private Label
Restricted Categories Approval
Sales Rank
Sales Tracking
Scales
Scanner
Sell Books
Sell Toys & Games
Sourcing Directories/Sites
Supplies
Taxes
Tools
Toys
Training
Wholesale Sourcing
AMAZON - FREE BEGINNER HELP
7 Day Beginner Course (FREE) - An easy-to-follow introduction to selling on Amazon by Jessica Larrew
How to Sell on Amazon For Beginners (FREE)- My own guide in Parts 1, 2 and 3.
Robyn Johnson's 'Getting Started' info (FREE) - Top-notch beginner's material (Amazon and Craigslist) from my trusted partner
Amazon.com's "Get Started Selling' site (FREE) - Amazon has plenty of info for the beginning seller here.
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AMAZON SELLER COURSES
Amazon/eBay seller training I recommend:
- Proven Amazon Course by Jim Cockrum (includes training for both programs above and full training for online arbitrage, retail arbitrage, Shopify, private label, Amazon Merch, and much more)
- Proven Private Label by Jim Cockrum. 'Do it Yourself' sourcing and selling of private label products). This is 100% free if you purchase Proven Amazon Course
- Proven Wholesale Sourcing by Jim Cockrum. Sourcing wholesale system. This is 100% free if you purchase Proven Amazon Course
- Amazon Boot Camp 4.0 (New for 2019) by The Selling Family. An easy and very detailed course on selling on Amazon, and finding (sourcing products) in retail stores and online to sell on Amazon.
International (non-U.S.) based Amazon sellers:
- InternationalAz (100% free when you buy Proven Amazon Course)
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APPS (Mobile)
(Also see 'TOOLS' section - scroll down)
eBay Seller App (FREE): I use this to research items sold on eBay, I use the same tool to list my items on eBay
Amazon Seller App (FREE for Apple/Android mobile devices): I use this app to manage my Amazon seller account and sales; and also use it to research products I'm considering selling.
Camfind (FREE): use this when an item doesn't have a barcode and you can't figure out what it is you've found (see my review here)
RedLaser (FREE) (for iPhone, Android or Windows phone). Use this to compare prices across several retailers including (Amazon) so you can conduct 'online arbitrage' (buy low to sell high).
Profit Bandit - My favorite phone app right now ($9.99/month). Use this app on your phone to check Amazon seller info (price, competition, etc.) on any product you want to buy at a store/online (this is generally accomplished by launching the app, then using the phone's camera to 'scan' the UPC) barcode on the product)
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APPS (Web)
CamelCamelCamel.com (FREE) browser plug-in (and web site) – see past pricing history for Amazon Products
Keepa.com - Detailed price and sales rank history charts for millions of Amazon products. Price history is free. Sales rank history requires a paid subscription to Keepa.
Brickseek (FREE): I use the paid version of Brickseek ($30/month) to discover, find, and track deep-discounted items in stores and online, which I then buy and resell on Amazon and/or eBay. (I am not compensated in any way if you buy the paid version of Brickseek).
eSnipe - I use this sniping tool when I am 'buying low on eBay to sell high on Amazon' (or back on eBay)
OfferUp (FREE) - Find stuff for sale by local homeowners cheap, to resell on Amazon/eBay. Think of it as a 'modernized, easier-to-use craigslist'. See my review here)
IFTTT (IfThisThenThat) (FREE) - I use this to send me an alert when a local individual posts a specific used toy (that I can sell on eBay or Amazon for a profit) on Craigslist. Go to this page and scroll down to the 'Craigslist Watcher' Section
Slickdeals (FREE) - I use Slickdeals' site and its free 'deal alerts' to discover deals (online and in stores) that I can buy to resell on Amazon or eBay. Slickdeals is not as robust as Brickseek but it is helpful.
(Also See 'Tools' section below)
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BARCODES (UPC)
Barcodestalk.com I use this site if I am creating a private label product to sell on Amazon. (All physical products on Amazon require that you provide them with a unique UPC (Universal Product Code). You find UPC codes on the back of almost any product (it's the rectangular 'barcode' graphic on the back of the package/item. There are cheaper options, this site is the only one I have experience ordering from.
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BLOGS
Honest Online Selling (FREE) - That's my blog: "Remarkable & Proven Ways to Make a Living With Amazon & eBay". Be sure to subscribe to receive latest updates from me.
Jim Cockrum (FREE) - One of the most successful entrepreneurs I know. Jim's updated-for-2018 Silent Sales Machine book is what started me on my solo career several years ago.
Jessica Larrew's The Selling Family Blog (FREE) - Jessica Larrew is responsible for my knowledge of procuring liquidation and grocery goods for $.25 to $1.00 and selling them for $7 to $25 each on Amazon.
FBAMastery (FREE) - Blog by book mega-seller and the "Hemingway of FBA" Peter Valley
Bookmark this page by pressing <Ctrl> D
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BOXES
When I am shipping my products to Amazon's warehouses, I buy and use 'Small', 'Medium' and 'Large' boxes from my local Uhaul. They are (my opinion) sturdiest and the least expensive. (My local Lowes and Home Depot and Walmart stores also carry similar boxes but I find them not as sturdy than Uhaul's.)
Once in a while (esp. if I need multiple quantities of a single size) I'll order from Uline.
(FREE) When I need smaller boxes, I try to find free ones locally (small retail stores that are throwing them out, etc.).
(Also see 'SUPPLIES' section below.)
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BUNDLING PRODUCT
Tips for Amazon Sellers (FREE)
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'BUY BOX' (Amazon) TIPS
Amazon Hacks (FREE) - For Amazon sellers. Tips on 'winning the buy box'
'How The Buy Box on Amazon Works...' (FREE) - by Skip McGrath, also for Amazon sellers
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CATEGORY APPROVAL (Amazon)
Lots of info is right here and here.
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COACHING
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COST / EXPENSE CUTTING
My tips in the blog posts here and here (FREE)
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COURSE for INTERNATIONAL SELLERS
"'6 Easy Steps for Non-U.S. Residents Who Want to Sell on Amazon.com'" from The Wholesale Formula (FREE)
InternationalAz (New course coming soon)
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DISCOUNTS/CASH BACK (for online & retail arbitrage)
My favorite sites to buy stuff at further discounts:
eBates (get cash back when shopping online) (FREE to use)
Raise (discounted gift cards)
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EBAY - FREE HELP
How to sell on eBay, Updated for 2019 (FREE)
How and Why to Sell on eBay, new for 2019 (FREE)
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EBAY SELLER COURSES
50 Shades of eBay by Skip McGrath (FREE)
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GATED AMAZON CATEGORIES / RESTRICED PRODUCTS
Lots of info is right here
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HELP BOOKS/SITES
20 Tips for Selling on Amazon (FREE)
Liquidation Gold – A Guide For Amazon Sellers
B.L.E.S.H.A. Guide* (Buy Low on Ebay – Sell High on Amazon (or back on eBay))
Selling On Amazon FBA (FREE)
Amazon.com's "Get Started Selling' site (FREE)
How Amazon FBA Works (FREE)
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HELP FORUMS (FACEBOOK GROUPS)
You will find many free Facebook Groups exploding with seller help. My favorites (=friendliest) are below:
MySilentTeam (FREE) - One of the biggest/most helpful Internet Marketing/e-commerce resources
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LABELS
Shipping
FREE UPS Shipping Labels - for printing out your shipping labels that go on the outside of your shipping box.
I’ve also purchased these when I need labels FAST: 200 Shipping Labels Half Page Self Adhesive for Laser Inkjet Printer
Dymo Labels:
- If you are printing labels using a paid listing service like Listtee.com or ListLabelShip.com then use: 30252-R labels
- If you are using Amazon’s Scan & Ship then use: 30334-R labels.
- The “-R” = removable.
Also see these– DYMO-Compatible 30252 Address Labels
“30 Up Labels”
Use these when you are printing sheets of labels directly from Seller Central and you're using a 'regular printer' (like the printer you use to print normal documents)
You can find LASER 30-up labels HERE.
Before using your inkjet, please read Amazon’s Labeling Requirements HERE.
You can find INKJET 30-up labels HERE.
Other Labels
2" x 2" Suffocation Warning Peel and Stick Labels (2 Roll of 500 Labels) Total 1000 (use these if your poly bags do not already have Amazon's required warning printed on them)
"This Is A Set - Do Not Separate" Labels (use these when you don't want Amazon to open a box/bag that contains your bundled items, or if you don't want them taking components out of a box/bag that contains the item you are selling).
Bookmark this page by pressing <Ctrl> D
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OFFICE EQUIPMENT
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OPTIMIZATION
"How to Rank Your Products on Amazon" (FREE) - learn how to optimize your product listing on Amazon. Also here's a podcast on the topic
eBay Sellers - See #20 - #22 in this help guide (FREE)
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POLY CLEAR BAGS
I order poly bags from seller 'Bubblefast' on Amazon. I use polybags for packaging multipacks, or bagging plush toys, or bagging items with exposed products (the existing package has openings so the consumer can 'touch' the inside product) or bagging items when they have 'cloth' material exposed (like baby bibs).
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PODCASTS
Silent Sales Machine Radio - One of the most thorough, up-to-date podcast about Selling on Amazon, from Jim Cockrum
Ask Jordan (FREE) - My podcast that only answers questions about selling on Amazon (Last episode was in 2016)
Scott Voelker's Amazing Seller Podcasts (FREE) - Episodes (focusing on Private Label) so good he should be charging $ for them
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PRIVATE LABEL
- Proven Private Label by Jim Cockrum - 'Do it Yourself' sourcing and selling of private label product
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RESTRICTED CATEGORIES APPROVAL
See the "GATED AMAZON CATEGORIES" section above
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SALES RANK
Cheat sheet for buying items to resell (FREE)* - For Amazon sellers - what bestseller rank (sales rank) should you focus on?
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SALES TRACKING
eSales Tracking Sheet - a low-cost, proven way to keep track of your Amazon/eBay/Paypal fees, profit/loss etc.
InventoryLab - a more automated inventory expense/sales tracking online tool (highly recommended by many Amazon merchants)
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SCALES
I use this one (it will weigh boxes up to 75 lbs).
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SCANNER
See 'Tools' section below. - Also: For a free, in-depth comparison of scanners/scanning services, send an email to jordanmalik@gmail.com with the subject: SCANNER REVIEW (leave the body of the email empty)
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SELL BOOKS
FBAMastery (FREE) - By book mega-seller and the "Hemingway of FBA" Peter Valley
How to Make $2,000 per Month Selling Books on Amazon (FREE) - The very same book I used when I started selling on Amazon
Online Book Arbitrage (FREE) - A true tactical manual on how to source profitable books online for reselling on Amazon
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SELL TOYS AND GAMES
Toys & Games You Can Buy Locally & Sell on Amazon & eBay for Big Profits (2016)*
Selling Plush (Soft Stuffed Toys) On Amazon*
Learn how to source toys yourself, online, with this course; or in this book (print or kindle)
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SOURCING DIRECTORIES/SITES
Top 99 Wholesale Resources by Skip McGrath
Gsalr.com (FREE) - My garage sale finder of choice
EstateSales.net (FREE) - My estate sales finder of choice
The Thrift Shopper (FREE) - My thrift store finder of choice
OfferUp (FREE) - Find stuff for sale by local homeowners cheap, to resell on Amazon/eBay. Think of it as a 'modernized, easier-to-use craigslist'. See my review here).
(Also see 'WHOLESALE SOURCING' below)
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SUPPLIES
Freecycle (FREE) - Join your local freecycle and keep your eyes peeled for other freecycle members giving away boxes, packaging material, etc.
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TAXES
(If you are serious about your online business at all, please hire an accountant or CPA)
Sales Tax For eCommerce Sellers (FREE)– Best place for up to date info provided by TaxJar.com
TaxJar.com - Easy and simple assistance for you to gather and report sales tax for various states
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TOOLS
Amazon’s FBA Calculator (FREE) – Use this to see if you will make a profit on your Amazon Products
Cleer Pro* (FREE) - Online arbitrage info is now at your fingertips with this Chrome extension
CamelCamelCamel.com – (FREE) online tool – see past pricing history for Amazon Products
eBay Calculator (FREE) - Free tool to estimate your eBay profits
eSales Tracking Sheet - a low-cost, proven way to keep track of your Amazon/eBay/Paypal fees, profit/loss etc.
eSnipe - I use this sniping tool when I am 'buying low on eBay to sell high on Amazon' (or back on eBay).
FBAToolkit (FREE) - Gives you a rough estimate of sell-through-rate for any Amazon item.
Fatfingers (FREE) - find eBay items with misspelled titles (which can be snapped up for far less than their actual value and resold on eBay/Amazon for a profit)
Online Sourcing Grid (FREE) - Deep links to online stores' clearance sites (find products to buy, receive, then flip back on Amazon for a profit. (See a video on how it works, plus info on the full version, here)
Profit Bandit - My favorite phone app right now ($9.99/month). Use this app on your phone to check Amazon seller info (price, competition, etc.) on any product you want to buy at a store/online (this is generally accomplished by launching the app, then using the phone's camera to 'scan' the UPC) barcode on the product)
remove.bg - I use this service to remove the background of my product images in 5 seconds to comply with Amazon terms. Also great for eBay sellers.
TaxJar.com - Easy and simple assistance for you to gather and report sales tax for various states
(Also see 'APPS' sections above)
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TOYS
See 'Sell Toys & Games' section above
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TRAINING
See the sections above (Scroll up) entitled "Amazon Free Beginner Help", "Amazon Seller Courses", "eBay Free Beginner Help", "eBay Seller Courses"
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WHOLESALE SOURCING
The best wholesale sourcing training products/services that I trust are:
- This Wholesale Central page (FREE) from Robyn Johnson, a seasoned and talented Amazon and Wholesale coach
- The Ultimate Guide to Wholesale Sourcing (FREE) by Vendrive. Vendrive is a trusted partner of mine, and provider of Wholesale Sourcing CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Software
- Proven Wholesale Sourcing by Jim Cockrum (=sourcing wholesale system)
- Complete Amazon Marketing System by Skip McGrath (full amazon training with a wholesale sourcing slant)
- Real Wholesale Sources by Ryan Reger
- Trade Show No Show by Jim Peterson and Jim Cockrum
(Also see 'SOURCING DIRECTORIES/SITES' above)
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Titles/topics above with an * are authored/owned by me
Questions? Suggestions? Corrections? Contact me
Bookmark this page by pressing <Ctrl> D