What is Amazon seller Central?
Amazon seller Central is the interface that is used by merchants to sell their products directly to customers.
An Amazon Seller Central account is considered a marketplace or third-party Amazon seller. The Amazon seller is responsible for setting up and maintaining their seller account.
Amazon offers both individual and professional seller accounts. Both types of accounts are free to register, but the professional seller accounts require a monthly subscription (the current fee is $39.99). For most businesses, the professional seller account will be the better option as it offers analytics & marketing tools to help the business scale on Amazon.
What does an Amazon Seller Central account offer?
As a third-party Amazon seller there are two options for fulfilling orders: You can handle all of the tasks of shipping, customer service, and returns for the orders yourself through Amazon Fulfilled by Merchant program or you can choose to allow Amazon to handle this process by enrolling in the Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) program.
Benefits of Amazon seller Central
The main benefit of Amazon Seller Central is that it’s open to anyone. This means that any individual or business can register as an Amazon seller and begin selling products on the marketplace.
Additionally, there are a number of other benefits associated with using Amazon Seller Central:
Control of the seller account – Using Seller Central allows sellers to have complete control over their seller account. Sellers can manage product listings, sales reports and customer inquiries without needing to request the assistance of an Amazon representative.
Sell directly to Amazon’s customers – Sellers who use Seller Central have access to millions of potential customers who already use Amazon. This is one of the biggest benefits of using Seller Central as it significantly increases a seller’s reach.
Flexible logistical options – Sellers who use Seller Central have access to three different fulfillment methods: Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM), Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Fulfillment by Amazon for Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF).
Quick payment terms – Once you have registered an account, you have access to automatic two-day payouts via ACH deposit transfer or wire transfer. Additionally, you may also request accelerated payments on a weekly basis if required.
What is Amazon Vendor Central?
how to sell on amazon vendor central
If a company is selling through Vendor Central the phrase “ships from and sold by Amazon” appears on the order page.
Amazon Vendor Central is most often used by direct manufacturers and distributors.
If you sell through Vendor Central you are considered a first-party seller, because you are acting as the supplier to amazon (selling your products directly to Amazon in bulk).
Registration on Vendor Central is strictly by invitation only. It is quite rare that Amazon would contact a seller personally and ask them to sign up for Vendor Central. Typically, sellers start with Seller Central and generate demand for their products to entice Amazon to buy their product in bulk through the Vendor Central program.