LocostUSA.com

Louvers and vents look really nice.

I might have mentioned on one of your other threads, but i have a side biz with a friend making handguards for mountain bikes www.geohandguards.com . We sell them on our website and amazon. Approx 80% of our sales are amazon. They are great to work with and their fees are reasonable, at least for small items with decent value. We pay $15 on our $75 product and $19 on our $95. The fees include listing, shipping, returns and storage. People seem to trust amazon more than a small companies website. Its a bit of work to set up your store and brand (its really designed to import good made in China.) We send them bulk inventory in heat sealed packages, then they distribute. They call it Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) Amazon "sponsored" ads are really cheap too - a few $0.01 per click.

The best part is that we can focus on our products rather than dealing with shipping, customers etc

You're the first small shop I've heard say anything good about FbA. I'm not sure how I feel about 20% fees, but the exposure is nice.
Most of my sales have been one offs or short runs. My current portfolio is over 100 SKUs and clients (so far) haven't been bothered by 4 days make to order.

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Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Yeah - FBA is great - we charge an extra $5 on our amazon store- that includes shipping which is extra on our website but usually around $3.50-6
My partner and i have our primary businesses (im a doctor, he is a painter) so the FBA makes it so the handguard biz is more passive for us...ie we put the time in when it is convenient. The amazon credibility is also a bonus. If handguards we my only business, of course id try to keep as much $$ in my pocket as possible.

If you need a pair for templates, let me know. I have a pair off my car which will not go to paint till May.

Thom

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Thom

Thom if you can get me two or 3 good pics with them laid out by a framing square I can work from the image

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

My 350Z client shared a pic from this past Saturday.



Still waiting on pics from the first few Miata customers

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216