2026-06-12·2 min read
The FBA fee mistakes that quietly eat your margin
Dimensional weight, the apparel surcharge, and the low-price inventory fee — three charges that don't show up in most sellers' early math.
FBA feesmargincost
Blog
Field notes for Amazon sellers — the numbers that decide whether a product actually makes money.
2026-06-19·2 min read
ACOS vs TACOS: why your ad math is lying to you
ACOS only counts sales that touched an ad. TACOS counts your ad spend against everything you sold. The gap is where bad decisions hide.
PPCACOSadvertising
2026-06-26·2 min read
How to set a reorder point that doesn't sink you at Q4
Lead time and safety stock are easy in June and brutal in November. Here's how to set a reorder point that survives Chinese New Year and the holidays.
inventoryreorderstockout
2026-07-03·2 min read
Title, bullets, and the 250-byte backend limit
The 200-character title and 250-byte backend search term limit exist for a reason. Stuffing them is the fastest way to get less traffic, not more.
listingSEOkeywords
2026-07-10·2 min read
BSR is a vanity metric (and how to read it anyway)
Best Sellers Rank tells you a product is selling, not how much or how well. Here's what BSR is good for and where it lies to you.
researchBSRcompetition
2026-07-13·2 min read
What a real private-label margin looks like after fees
A 15% referral fee, an FBA fee, PPC, returns, and storage all take a slice. Here's what's left on a typical $30 product and why 20-35% net is the sane target.
marginprivate labelprofit
2026-07-14·2 min read
What a $1 coupon actually costs you (it is not $1)
A dollar off costs more than a dollar when you add the $0.60 clip fee and the effect on your sell-through. The math is worse than most sellers think.
couponpricingmargin
2026-07-17·2 min read
Q4 storage fees are the inventory tax nobody budgets for
Amazon triples storage rates from October through December. Here is how to model the cost before your holiday inventory lands and eats the profit you thought you had.
storageFBAinventoryQ4
2026-07-20·2 min read
How to share in a bid war without going broke
Another seller enters your keyword, bids go up, and your ACOS climbs. The usual response is to bid harder. That is usually the wrong answer.
PPCbiddingcompetition
2026-07-22·2 min read
What it takes to get ungated in restricted Amazon categories
Amazon gates categories like apparel, beauty, and grocery behind approval processes. Here is what the process looks like and what it costs to get through it.
restrictedungatingcategories
2026-07-25·2 min read
Return rates by category and when a product is not worth listing
Apparel returns can hit 30 percent. Electronics is lower but the margin is thinner. Here is how to know when the return rate makes a product unsellable before you buy the first unit.
returnsmargincategory
2026-07-27·2 min read
Brand Registry is worth it if you have a trademark first
Amazon Brand Registry gives you product page control, A+ content, and brand analytics. It also requires a registered trademark. Here is what the process looks like and whether it is worth the wait.
brandtrademarkregistryA+ content
2026-07-29·2 min read
Multi-Channel Fulfillment vs a 3PL: when each one costs you less
Amazon will ship orders from other platforms through FBA inventory for a fee. A 3PL charges differently. The crossover math depends on your volume and product size.
fulfillmentMCF3PLlogistics
2026-08-01·2 min read
Lightning Deals are expensive. Here is the real number.
The fee to run a Lightning Deal can run into the hundreds of dollars, and you also discount the product. The combined cost often exceeds the short-term sales lift.
lightning dealpromotioncost
2026-08-04·2 min read
The actual checklist for a private-label launch (before you order)
Most sellers rush from product idea to purchase order. The ones who succeed do a half-dozen things first. Here is the checklist that stops you from buying inventory you will regret.
launchprivate labelpreparation
2026-08-07·2 min read
Sourcing outside China: when it makes sense and when it costs more
Vietnam, India, Mexico, and Eastern Europe are alternatives to Chinese manufacturing. The pricing and quality differ. Here is what to expect from each.
sourcingmanufacturingsupply chain