All About Online Arbitrage!
If you follow me on Instagram, then you are probably well aware of my newfound love for Online Arbitrage (OA). Running an Amazon business part-time can be a bit stressful and overwhelming, especially when you're also working a full-time job!
My time off from my 9 to 5 was spent working on my business, and my time off from my business was spent working my 9 to 5. Needless to say, this is a recipe for disaster and will ultimately lead to burnout.
I knew that I didn't want to give up my business or lose the momentum that I worked so hard to achieve. So, I had to figure out a way where I could successfully do both (at least for the time being). I quickly realized that OA was the answer to this problem.
I tried OA in the past and was wildly unsuccessful. I even tried using Tactical Arbitrage and quit after the free trial.
OA is hard. Frustrating. Annoying. But, if you stick with it and don't give up, you will quickly see the benefit!
OA has truly been a gamechanger for my business and has allowed me to scale it at a faster pace. Shopping online enables me to have a continuous inventory flow to Amazon. It has helped me keep up with my weekly shipment goals and, ultimately, increase my Amazon income (and profits)!
I get asked a lot of questions on OA, which not only inspired me to write this post, but also to start a new blog series, "OA With Me!" In this new series, I will share some "online sourcing trips" with you, visiting a variety of websites and online retailers.
Stay tuned for "OA With Me!" posts, but first, let's answer some of the most frequently asked questions I have received on OA!
What tools do I use to online shop?
The only tools I use for OA are my laptop and cell phone. I browse the websites on my laptop and search for products using the Amazon Seller App on my cell phone. You can either manually search for the product name or photo scan the product on your laptop screen.
There are other tools, software, and subscriptions that can help you with OA. Most are expensive and have a steep learning curve. Maybe one day I will invest into them, but for now I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
How do I find products to sell?
Scan, scan, scan. And when that's done, you scan some more!
It doesn't matter if you are doing retail arbitrage (RA) or OA, the only way you can find products to sell is by scanning the products and/or searching for them on the Amazon Seller App.
There are also a variety of different lead lists and groups out there if you're ever at a loss and need some help finding products to sell. I'm a member of Nikki Kirk's BOLO group and absolutely love it!
Disclaimer: This is an affiliate link. If you click through or make a purchase, I might make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Appreciate the support!
What stores do I source at?
All of them!
But, really though! I source from a variety of different websites and online retailers. Some of them include Walmart, Target, Kohls, Nike, Chewy, JCPenney, CVS, Walgreens, etc.
If the website sells new and authentic items, you can source from them!
Do I have better luck with OA vs RA?
If I would have been asked this question 6 months ago, my answer would've been 100% RA. But honestly, today it just depends. I would say that they are about equal now.
Your success with OA, and RA for that matter, is dependent on what you put into it. If you give up, then obviously you won't be successful! Keep trying. Be consistent. And don't give up!
While I'm in no way an expert in OA, I'm extremely happy that I've incorporated it into my business. I highly recommend all Amazon sellers give it a shot!
Do you OA? If so, what are your favorite websites to source on?