A while back, Amazon released the Vendor CentralVendor Central is an invite-only platfor… More interface, which aims meant to encourage manufacturers and suppliers to start using the platform more efficiently. Unlike the Seller CentralAmazon Seller Central is a portal or a h… More interface, which is available to everyone who wants to sell on Amazon, Vendor Central works on an invite-only basis. So you can’t sign up for it unless Amazon specifically invites you to join the program and start using the Vendor Central interface.
So, what is the difference between the two web-based interfaces? Keep reading to learn more.
As we’ve already mentioned, Vendor Central is a viable option for you only if Amazon invites you to join in. What actually happens is that Amazon buys the products from you, sells them on the venue and decides on a selling price, and then you get paid back the amount you’ve negotiated with them upon selling them the items.
Amazon Vendor Central vs. Amazon Seller Central
Price
This is one of the key distinctions between the two interfaces: while on Seller Central you are at liberty to sell the products you manufacture at any price you see fit, Vendor Central doesn’t really allow you this option. However, remember! While you do not have full control over your prices, as Amazon might go above the MAP, you do get the chance to sell more than you might have on your own, since Amazon buys products in bulk, rather than individually.
Disbursements
Another distinction between these two interfaces is reflected in the way in which sellers get paid for their products. While Seller Central guarantees really fast payment, on Vendor Central you’ll get your money after 60 or even 90 days, which might definitely put some sellers off, especially if they have cash flow concerns.
Inventory Management
Also, you can’t really control your inventory and the shipment of said inventory. Amazon might decide that they have sold enough, and you could end up being sent back some of the products they bought from you, which is not something Seller Central users come across.
Moreover, if you’re using Vendor Central, if you’re using Vendor Central and Amazon is interested in your products, they might ask you to add it to the Amazon catalog.
Control over Content
One advantage Vendor Central has over Seller Central is the fact that the former allows A+ content. This means that you’ll be able to promote your products more successfully, by increasing customer conversion, retaining customer interest, and also raising brand awareness. You can either build your A+ details page yourself, or have Amazon do that for you.
Amazon Vine
One more cool feature is Vendor Central’s Amazon VineA reviewer program available exclusively… More program, through which Amazon provides customer reviews for new or pre-released products. This way, you could have some of Amazon’s top reviewers post a review about your product, making it more visible for your buyers.
Keep in mind, however, that even though Amazon contacts you and buys your products, you still need to make sure that they meet all of Amazon’s requirements!
Note that bulk selling doesn’t sound tempting for those who still want to grow their business, or for those who don’t do selling just as a secondary activity and get the fat profits from some other sector of the business.
Irina is part of the Business Development Team at SellerEngine Software. She’s an expert in bringing back to life Amazon Selling Accounts. Her motto is: everything will be alright in the end, and if it’s not alright, then it’s not the end.
15 Responses
Hi Irina,
Good primer on Seller Vs. Vendor ( ironically both mean the same 🙂 ) !!
I have some more questions on these sites. Can I get your attention for a quick call or to communicate on emails?
Thanks once again!!
Hello Prasad,
I’m glad to hear you find our post useful. We’ll send you a separate email to get in touch.
Maria
SellerEngine Team
Hello Irina,
I have some questions on VC and and would like to ask more about “She’s an expert in bringing back to life Amazon Selling Accounts”
Any chance of being in touch?
Ajay
Hi Ajay,
Thank you for writing in and for following our blog. One of my colleagues from the Services Department will get in touch with you tomorrow via e-mail and you can either communicate via e-mail or have a call with them. You will have all your questions answered and if you have trouble with an Amazon Suspension then my colleagues will be happy to help.
Thank you,
Julia
SellerEngine Team
Just a quick note, Vine is all but dead.
Irina,
We have some questions about VC. Would it be possible to speak with you guys about our issue? Thanks!!
Elisa
Hi Elisa,
Thank you for following our blog. I’ll hand this over to Irina and she will contact you shortly via e-mail so you can address your questions.
Thank you,
Julia
SellerEngine Team
hello, great to find something to give definition to a complex situation.
I am happy to say that our brand is on vendor central.
I am unhappy to say that our prices are 200% of MAP and that is not our wish,
especially as it twice the price of our competition.
I have spent many hours seeking to communicate this, but cannot find a way in.
Can I kindly be offered a method of contact ?
thank you !
Hello SellerEngine Team,
I’ve tried reaching Antony Prabu your Marketing Manager just a few days ago via email antprabu@Amazon.com to discuss our previous account with Amazon and have not heard back from him. We were an established Amazon Vendor Central account a few years ago and would like to resume or reinstate the account once again but this time we would like an assessment to our previous implementations to our last account and confirm all current fees and up-charges involved with maintaining a Vendor Central account. Please provide us with a with a recourse to communicate with you directly. Looking forward to doing business once again.
Santiago Román
Dear Santiago,
Thank you for writing in. I am afraid there is a confusion here. I think you actually want to write to Amazon but you wrote to SellerEngine.
We are a third party software company that designs software and services for Amazon sellers.
Please try to get in touch with your Amazon contact again or open a case with Amazon via your SellerCentral account.
I am sorry I could not be of more help.
Let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Julia
SellerEngine Team
Hello SellerEngine Team
I have been with Vendor Central for several years. MANY PROBLEMS starting with the original agency that loaded my information. Another agency recently advised me to change to Amazon Seller. I am still confused with pros and cons from both Amazon Vendor interfaces. Is there an honest independent company that can evaluate my website and advise me as to what I can do? I do not have an Account Representative (like most companies) so I can call and get errors corrected. What about Amazon Canada? Some of my items that sell for $250 in US are on Amazon Canada for 3 – 5 times as much.
Hi, Fran!
Thank you for writing in! We’re really sorry to hear that you’ve been having issues with the Vendor Central account.
You can shoot us an email at services@SellerEngine.com and we can talk more about the problems your facing.
Hi Irina,
Is there a way to modify pricing in vendor central ?
We are in VC and primed for growth but need to adjust pricing g on a few skus and are not sure if it can be done or how Amazon would re-act.
This was helpful, Thanks.
But I’m currently trying to delete/arrange (uploading test) photos on Vendor Central. I can access them and add more pictures. I’m making progress on Vendor Central yet I feel like I’m making a messy entrance because I’m not able to easily correct/edit my mistakes as I catch them on the “view on Amazon”… I am willing to pay someone some $$$ if they can take the time out of there lives and just walk me through this one step at a time…. My Amazon Vendor central rep is just too busy. Any advise will help.
Warm Regards,
Joey Uribe
Hi Joey,
Thanks for reaching out to us. We don’t currently support Vendor Central, but our partners at AMZ Pro might be able to help you with listing optimization. They can be found here. http://www.amzpro.co.uk/
If you’re looking for help with product shots, then you can contact our friends at Curly Graphics. https://curlygraphics.com/
I hope that helps!