I'm a neanderthal from the 70's and I haven't grasped this:

[AlexFl]

I run an online shop in the automotive accessories industry (specifically 4x4's).

In baby talk (please), how can I extend my market through Takealot and/or Amazon SA? Will my product be exposed to international audiences (eg. Amazon USA, Amazon Germany, etc.) through Amazon SA too? Anybody know of a Dummies Guide, online reading, etc in this regard, that's relevant specifically to SA?

(Every time I ask my younger peers they start with "drop kick" this and "drop ship" that - I don't think we're even on the same page)

Happy Friday one & all

TIA (insert emojeeee!)

PS: And yes, it's true, us kids from the 70's... we do still see in only black & white! BELIEVE IT, OR NOT

 

[NeonNinja]

Takealot serves only South Africa, not sure about amazon.co.za, but I’d imagine so.

You can apply to be a seller on both platforms. That’ll increase your reach.

 

[Slckrck]

I run an online shop in the automotive accessories industry (specifically 4x4's).

In baby talk (please), how can I extend my market through Takealot and/or Amazon SA? Will my product be exposed to international audiences (eg. Amazon USA, Amazon Germany, etc.) through Amazon SA too? Anybody know of a Dummies Guide, online reading, etc in this regard, that's relevant specifically to SA?

(Every time I ask my younger peers they start with "drop kick" this and "drop ship" that - I don't think we're even on the same page)

Happy Friday one & all

TIA (insert emojeeee!)

PS: And yes, it's true, us kids from the 70's... we do still see in only black & white! BELIEVE IT, OR NOT

Drop shipping is just middleman import/export direct from supplier with zero to no warehousing on the middle man's part. You are basically a bridge between the manufacturer and the customer, and you add your margin on their price. That's why many of products on Takealot is so much more expensive than Temu for instance, it's the middleman markups that increases the prices. But then again our government endorses Middleman economics in the form of BEE so can't blame the sellers too much.

 

[AlexFl]

Drop shipping is just middleman import/export direct from supplier with zero to no warehousing on the middle man's part. You are basically a bridge between the manufacturer and the customer, and you add your margin on their price. That's why many of products on Takealot is so much more expensive than Temu for instance, it's the middleman markups that increases the prices. But then again our government endorses Middleman economics in the form of BEE so can't blame the sellers too much.

Thanks. Ok, familiar with that then. The definition hasn't changed since I was in the IT industry 20 years ago and used to administer orders between Taiwan (factory & HO - exporter) and Mauritius (a distributor that fell into our jurisdiction - importer). Middleman as you say, or agent that never receives the product. Thanks for clarifying.

Are you suggesting that Takealot is more expensive because they're dropshipping? So they buy and resell, but don't receive the sold item, or hold stock of the item? But then why do they have distribution centres or warehouses? I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm only asking to understand.

 

[Slckrck]

Thanks. Ok, familiar with that then. The definition hasn't changed since I was in the IT industry 20 years ago and used to administer orders between Taiwan (factory & HO - exporter) and Mauritius (a distributor that fell into our jurisdiction - importer). Middleman as you say, or agent that never receives the product. Thanks for clarifying.

Are you suggesting that Takealot is more expensive because they're dropshipping? So they buy and resell, but don't receive the sold item, or hold stock of the item? But then why do they have distribution centres or warehouses? I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm only asking to understand.

No Takealot does have the "traditional" business, however it also allows Third party sellers to list on their platform, those third party sellers are often dropshippers. They also like Amazon host third party goods at their warehouses for a fee, those are often eligible for next day delivery etc.

So not all sellers or goods on Takealot are facilitated or warehoused by them, some dropship direct from (China usually) to the customer.

 

[AlexFl]

No Takealot does have the "traditional" business, however it also allows Third party sellers to list on their platform, those third party sellers are often dropshippers. They also like Amazon host third party goods at their warehouses for a fee, those are often eligible for next day delivery etc.

So not all sellers or goods on Takealot are facilitated or warehoused by them, some dropship direct from (China usually) to the customer.

Thanks for that. Learning from you, which I appreciate.

 

[Jan van Riebeeckstad]

I run an online shop in the automotive accessories industry (specifically 4x4's).

In baby talk (please), how can I extend my market through Takealot and/or Amazon SA? Will my product be exposed to international audiences (eg. Amazon USA, Amazon Germany, etc.) through Amazon SA too? Anybody know of a Dummies Guide, online reading, etc in this regard, that's relevant specifically to SA?

(Every time I ask my younger peers they start with "drop kick" this and "drop ship" that - I don't think we're even on the same page)

Happy Friday one & all

TIA (insert emojeeee!)

PS: And yes, it's true, us kids from the 70's... we do still see in only black & white! BELIEVE IT, OR NOT

Goo goo ga gaa