Amazon is the world’s most trusted ecommerce platform, no doubt. This is the place where customers shop for their commodities reliably and with trust. Millions of customers worldwide helped and encouraged Amazon to build such a platform. Not only the customers’ trusted destination, Amazon has become the no one ecommerce destination for third party businesses. Amazon is new in South Africa. So, how can you become a seller, or how can you sell on Amazon South Africa?
To become an Amazon selling partner, there are many rules and regulations. These are simple yet need to be maintained strictly. Amazon’s vision is to become the world’s most customer-centric company. If you are planning to become a seller or Amazon selling partner, you must participate in those offerings to enhance customer experience.
When you start selling on Amazon, you become part of your journey with Amazon, from Fortune 500 to a single handcraft goods seller. In this how-to-sell-on-Amazon South Africa guide, we will try to figure out those things so you can get started easily.
Is your Business right to Sell on Amazon?
Whatever your Business is and whatever the size of your Business. Amazon always welcomes you to sell on their platform. So, the answer is yes. One of the exciting things is that more than half of Amazon’s Business is small and medium-sized. So Amazon is always excited about your Business and will welcome you with its insightful tools and services.
Things Need to Know Before Start Selling on Amazon:
How to Register:
To register on Amazon, you have to know about the selling plan. There are two selling plans for Amazon South Africa: an individual plan and a professional plan. With the individual plan, you will be able to sell products on Amazon at a per-sale charge, and with the professional plan, you will be able to sell thousands or more.
The individual plan costs R10 per sale, and the professional plan costs R400 monthly subscription base no matter how many units you will sell on this plan.
The good news for a limited time for the South African entrepreneur is Amazon.co.za offering.
A professional account with a R1.00** monthly selling fee. In the meantime, if you think you have chosen the wrong plan, you can change it at any time.
What You Will Need to Get Started with Amazon Registration as a Seller?
It’s simple, and the necessary documents are easily accessible. Before starting registration on Amazon, you have to access your bank account number, a chargeable credit or debit card, a government-issued ID card or passport, tax information, and a phone number.
How Much Does It Cost to Sell on Amazon South Africa?
Here are the essential costs to consider:
Subscription Fees: Amazon offers two main selling plans:
Individual Plan: No monthly subscription fee, but you pay a fee per item sold (usually R10).
Professional Plan: This plan costs R400 per month and is ideal for high-volume sellers.
Referral Fees: Amazon charges a referral fee for each item sold. This percentage varies by product category but typically ranges from 6% to 15% of the sale price.
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) Fees: If you use FBA, you’ll pay for storage and fulfillment. FBA fees include picking, packing, and shipping your products, and these vary based on size and weight.
Shipping Costs: For international sellers, shipping from South Africa to Amazon’s fulfillment centers or customers directly can be costly. Make sure to factor in both the time and expense of shipping logistics.
Import Duties and Taxes: Selling on Amazon’s international platforms means you may need to account for import duties, taxes, and other compliance costs when shipping across borders.
The cost to sell on Amazon from South Africa depends on your selling plan, product category, shipping, and fulfillment choices. To maximize profitability, it’s crucial to calculate these expenses carefully and explore options like FBA or third-party logistics for smoother operations.
What is Amazon Seller Central:
When your registration as a seller is complete, you will get access to the Amazon Seller Central account. This is where all your stuff will be managed and visible, including everything. It’s a portal that allows you to manage your Amazon business.
From this Seller Central dashboard, you can manage everything, including product listing, inventory management, customer messages, invoices, listing optimization, and account health; in short, everything is managed from the Amazon Seller Central dashboard.
How to List your First Product on Amazon South Africa:
Once your account is set up, log in to Seller Central, Amazon’s seller dashboard, where you can add your product. If your product already exists in Amazon’s catalog, you can select it from the list; otherwise, you’ll need to create a new product listing with relevant details like product name, description, price, and images.
When listing your product, it’s important to optimize it by including clear, high-quality photos, detailed descriptions, and keywords that improve visibility in search results. You can choose between fulfilling orders yourself or Merchant fulfillment Network or (MFN) or using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), where Amazon handles the storage, packaging, and shipping of your products. By leveraging FBA, you can also offer faster delivery options, enhancing your customer experience.
What You Need to List Product on Amazon South Africa:
To list products on Amazon must include a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), such as a UPC, ISBN, or EAN. These product identifiers help Amazon accurately match and categorize the items being sold. If you’re listing a product that already exists on the platform, the product ID will be automatically linked, so you won’t need to provide one.
However, if you’re adding a completely new item to Amazon’s catalog, you may need to either purchase a UPC code or apply for a GTIN exemption, depending on the product type and category.
For each of a product id, Here’s some of the important information
that goes into each product listing:
- SKU
- Product title
- Product description and bullet points
- Product images
- Search terms and relevant keywords
Order Fulfillment; How to Ship Your Amazon Order in South Africa?
When selling on Amazon South Africa, choosing the right fulfillment method is important for efficient order processing and customer satisfaction.
You can either handle shipping by yourself, known as Merchant Fulfilled Network (MFN), or opt for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) South Africa, where Amazon stores, packs, and ships your products. If you choose MFN, you are responsible for picking, packing, and shipping each order directly to the customer’s door. Depending on where your customers are located, you’ll need to coordinate with local couriers or international shipping services, ensuring timely delivery and keeping shipping costs reasonable.
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) offers a convenient solution for both sellers and customers who want fast shipping. By shipping seller’s products to Amazon’s fulfillment centers, Amazon takes care of all inventory, including storage, packaging, shipping, and customer service. This option is ideal for sellers looking to provide fast delivery options and access Amazon’s Prime benefits, which can boost sales.
