[Everend]

I've been rather slow on posting this here, mostly out of fear of rejection, but it is to a point now where I need some help from woodworkers. Earlier this year I discovered that anyone can sell products online. I know, welcome to modern day. This sounded like a good way to generate some extra income and take a little pressure off my day-job.
After weeks/months of research I found a product with promising margin, I found an industry expert to advise me and selected a manufacturing plant to produce tack cloths for me. I posted it online for sale and had been steadily selling 1-3 every day. Unfortunately, that volume doesn't quite cover the cost of goods and advertising fees. The plan is to slowly increase sales and grow the brand. With Amz, the more you sell, the more opportunities Amz gives you to sell.
A little more than two weeks ago someone posted a negative review, trying to use it to clean car parts. Since this was only the second online review it brought the total down to 3 stars. Since then sales have dropped to one every few days.

So enough story... my request for help. If you use tack cloths, would you be willing to buy Orlando Woodworks tack cloths and leave a review?

thanks
Everend

 

[Stick486]

tack cloth to clean car parts??? Seriously!!!
that needs a rebuttal...
poor review for product misuse... don't stand for it...

 

[Everend]

tack cloth to clean car parts???
that needs a rebuttal...

Yea, I posted a response but one has to really look for it.

 

[Stick486]

Yea, I posted a response but one has to really look for it.

make it easily see-able/readable...

 

[Everend]

Unfortunately, I don't control where the response is posted. Its amazon's ball field, they choose to hide review responses.

 

[Stick486]

Unfortunately, I don't control where the response is posted. Its amazon's ball field, they choose to hide review responses.

I'm in a pissy mood....
I couldn't get in to write Kevin a ''love '' note..
I tried...

 

[Wood Chip]

I don't sell on Amazon so this may not be possible. On Etsy I had someone leave a mediocre review before they even received the product! It really ticked me off because it was the first review I had below 5 stars. I contacted the person and asked her to retract the review, which Etsy allows, and wait until she received the item. Upon receipt she loved the item & posted a 5-star review. Many online shoppers underestimate the power they have when leaving reviews. You may want to contact your customer, explain that they did not use the product as intended and offer a full refund. If Amazon allows him to retract a review, ask him to do that. Don't allow your reputation to be tarnished, esp in the early days. Even if you have to refund the sale, it's money well spent to keep your reviews high.

Did you know that when you search tack cloths in Amazon's "Automotive Parts & Accessories" your tack cloth comes up (along with other brands)?

Order placed, Gary

 

[Danman1957]

Everend,

I am a technical sales rep for a company here in Canada. We sell chemicals to the metals transformation industry such as coolants, solvants, parts cleaning soaps rust inhibitors etc...
I started Nov. 1 2016 so that's 10 months ago. I was given a box of samples of tack cloth and have only given out a few and have yet to sell a first order of that product.

Finishing shops and body shops are about the only people using these and even they don't use much. I wish you good luck but I'm not sure you chose the right product.

 

[chessnut2]

Many online shoppers underestimate the power they have when leaving reviews.

How true. Angie's list is notorious about that. I know a trim carpenter whose business was hurt because some woman gave him a terrible rating, and ranted on and on and on about the fact that he missed a spot of sawdust about as big as a silver dollar when he was cleaning up at the end of a job. My wife used to sell some things on Ebay, and she got a terrible review once because someone misread the ad and didn't even know what they were buying. I don't even trust reviews any more.

 

[Semipro]

You guys realize that people can leave reviews without even purchaseing the product on Amazon

 

[dovetail_65]

You guys realize that people can leave reviews without even purchaseing the product on Amazon

Yes, but its stated "verified" buyer or not so its simple to distinguish.

 

[Knothead47]

Motel and restaurant reviews are a prime example! I take a few negative reviews for either with a small grain of salt. No matter what good food or service you get, there is always someone who is not satisfied. I look at the overall rating before making a decision.
My wife and I were in Modesto, California a few years ago. We asked the lady at the desk to recommend a good Mexican restaurant. We went there. It was our first and last time in one visit. It was horrible! Taco Bell would have been better.

 

[Semipro]

Reviews

Yes, but its stated "verified" buyer or not so its simple to distinguish.

You're absolutely right but it still goes on the rating star chart of the product,
If the consumer doesn't notice (far right next to the review) it still show as a good or bad review nobody is wiser

 

[DaninVan]

Other Side of the Fence

Unfortunately, I don't control where the response is posted. Its amazon's ball field, they choose to hide review responses.

When I buy something from Amazon.ca they hound me for months trying to get me to 'review' my purchase. That would be like Cdn. Tire phoning me once a week (probably at dinner time) trying to get me to tell them what a wonderful shopping experience I had buying a box of garbage bags.
Trust me, if the product is a crock, I'll let you know!

* Oh! And they send me e-mails months later asking me to respond to someone's question about a product...ask the manufacturer!

 

[Stick486]

Yea, I posted a response but one has to really look for it.

make it easier to find...

https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Remo...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B071JM7DH5

 

[Everend]

You're absolutely right but it still goes on the rating star chart of the product,
If the consumer doesn't notice (far right next to the review) it still show as a good or bad review nobody is wiser

thanks for posting a review

 

[Everend]

make it easier to find...

https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Remo...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B071JM7DH5

Ah, the reason I didn't include a link is because amz can tell how a shopper gets to the listing. There's a whole game about how amz determines which listing is displayed first on a search. Conversion from shopper to buyer is tracked, the more people who go to the listing but don't buy hurts ranking. If someone follows a link instead of finding it by searching, that hurts ranking. Its a big game where the rules change frequently.

 

[Everend]

I wish you good luck but I'm not sure you chose the right product.

yes, I figured this going in. My wife's ex told me about this whole selling online thing. He claimed to make about $1000 a month selling tea infusers. I said, well if that @#@$ can do it... I decided to pick this product because it could be made locally (I didn't need to import from China), they are small and overall investment wasn't going to hurt too much if it flopped. This market is shallow (the top three listings take a majority of the sales volume) but I figured if I could get 10% of the market I could get about 40% return before advertising.
I've learned a WHOLE LOT about this business and about online marketing (that can help my day job - ETsHomeRepair) Overall its been a good experience and I think I've learned enough that I can do better on my next product. I haven't figured out what that will be yet. The second one will be easier than the first and the ...10th will be easier yet. By the time I have ten products selling a few each day, I may make that $1000 profit a month.

 

[JOAT]

I was given a box of samples of tack cloth and have only given out a few and have yet to sell a first order of that product.

I would take some if I was given them. But if I need a tack cloth I just make one.

 

[Stick486]

Ah, the reason I didn't include a link is because amz can tell how a shopper gets to the listing. There's a whole game about how amz determines which listing is displayed first on a search. Conversion from shopper to buyer is tracked, the more people who go to the listing but don't buy hurts ranking. If someone follows a link instead of finding it by searching, that hurts ranking. Its a big game where the rules change frequently.

didn't know that...

Mr Moderator(s)...
can the posts w. the links be deleted please..