Dropping Physical Stock and Switching to Amazon Associate Links
I recently made a huge change to the “shopping add-ons” part of my sales, and my customers are responding positively!
I recently made a huge change to the “shopping add-ons” part of my sales, and my customers are responding positively!
It has been 2.5 years since I outsourced my 3D Print based manufacturing and there has been a huge pain-point in fulfillment ever since.
Even though I have much less work not having to print the items in house, stocking third party accessories has become a chore.
Ever since I launched my store, I attempted to be a “one-stop shop” for my market niche, Cannabis cigars.
I create the tools to make canna cigars, and for a long time I have tried to offer more than just the tools I manufacture, including all sorts of third party accessories to assist in the process.
Cannagar Tools Herbal Craft Molds & Accessories
Tools for making form-factor perfect cannagars!cannagartools.com
I have supplied accessories like skewers, mats, humidors, cigar cutters, and other items related to the craft.
However, after I outsourced my primary tool manufacturing, I had a problem.
Customers who placed orders with lots of add-on accessories — had to deal with receiving two shipments, from two different places.
One box from me, the only source of the accessories, one the other box with their molds.
My 3D printing partner is NOT a fulfillment center.
How can I solve this?
It is not possible to stock a fulfillment center with my specialty tools for the same reason it’s not possible to stock them myself.
I make a highly variable product with over 100 different configurations. Every order is different, so it MUST be Made to Order fulfillment.
3D Printing is perfectly suited to handle this style of fulfillment.
However, my printing partners are not willing to box and ship all my accessories that have nothing to do with their core business. This is understandable.
They are willing to box and ship with nuts and bolts that I supply to them, but thats about it. Thats as much as they can do.
Communication Didn’t Help
I tried to change my messaging and confirmation pages/emails to explain this to my customers, but sadly this has been creating repeated customer support contact ever since, because it’s simply confusing when you receive one package, things you expect are missing, and my customer may or may not have read the confirmation page, emails, etc, which explain why their order may come in two packages.
So I decided that it was finally time to end my third party accessory sales and opt for sending my customers to a page loaded with amazon associate links.
That way, I can still offer everything in one place, easy browsing, but now I no longer have to handle fulfillment, and because they have to leave my site and buy from Amazon, they know what’s up. There will be no more support cases.
I was nervous about making this change.
I was afraid that the page would sit dead, and no one would use the links.
I was afraid older customers would leave their shopping carts without checking out.
I was wrong. I have made a few sales in the two weeks since I posted the links. Amazon associate sales.
It’s not much, but it takes the work off my hands, and is ultimately better for the customer.
And, accessory sales only made about 5% of my total gross anyway.
I think I can recoup a piece of that in Amazon associate sales.
The major benefits :
I don’t have to stock small accessory items anymore
No more headaches, easier for me, and eliminates possible small-accessory related shipment delays.
2. My customers get slightly lower prices because I am not up-charging
When I stock and sell accessories — I also have to up-charge a bit, and it’s admittedly hard to compete with Amazon when it comes to the accessory prices. I am buying from Amazon in quantity, and up-charging to sell individual items in my store.
3. No more customer support issues because customers already expect amazon links to come separately from their Cannagar Tools order
My customers get direct access to craft supplies in bulk if needed, and I still make a little bit on the side without any work.
So far, it’s looking good.
I have only had a few customers reach out to ask where my accessories went.
Luckily, my chatbot Aficionado was already prepared to answer them.
April 20th is coming soon, which for those who know about the Cannabis industry, things are about to ramp up.
I am headed into my busiest season and I no longer have to mess with accessories.
While my chatbot holds down the fort, it’s time to do more fishing.
Thank you for reading!
Until next time….
Onward and Upward Everybody!
-Chris
Automated Income Lifesyle w/ Chris Morton YouTube
How I Created a 6 Figure 3D Printing Business from Home
In 2017, I started a 3d printing business from home, and by 2020, I had scaled it to over six figures.
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