Online selling, especially selling as an Amazon FBA merchant is a popular–and relatively easy–way to create a home-based business. FBA stands for Fulfilled by Amazon and it one of two ways you can sell on the giant online retailer. FBA allows Amazon to fulfill your orders, while the second method relies on you to fulfill your own sales.

Lots of people opt to sell via FBA because… well, it’s just easier all around. When you become an Amazon FBA seller, you do your initial sourcing and buying of product and then ship it to Amazon. From that point on, they take care of the rest, including storing your inventory, pulling, packing and shipping when your items sell. All for a fee, of course.

So What’s this Ungating Thing?

You already know Amazon sells tons of stuff in a wide array of categories. The thing is, not all categories are open to all sellers. Especially new sellers. Over the years, Amazon has tightened up more of the categories. For example, when I started with Amazon, there was no problem selling in the Grocery and Beauty categories. Those are two of the areas that I still sell in and profit from, but new sellers are no longer permitted to start in those areas.

Gated (or closed) categories require approval from Amazon. It’s not always easy to get and many sellers wonder if there’s a “secret.” There are a number of companies that now offer help in getting into ungated categories. Yes, for a fee. The good thing is they know exactly what needs to be done so there’s no hit-and-miss like there is when you try it alone.

Don’t let the gated categories worry you though because there’s still many more that you can sell in. In fact, there are more than 20 categories for new sellers that you can sell in that don’t require pre-approval.

Open Amazon Categories

Here a current list of open categories that you can sell in, either FBA or merchant fulfilled. But you can check to see if there are changes (because Amazon does do that occasionally).

Amazon Device Accessories – This is anything from cases to cords to SD cards for Amazon device such as the Kindles. And the products can be new, refurbished or used devices.

Amazon Kindle Device – In this category you are only allowed to sell used devices.

Baby Products (excluding clothing) – This category can be big and includes new items only for the nursery, feeding, and other baby gear.  Also, there may be some requirements that need to be met to sell during the holiday season.

Books – This wide category includes new or used books (hard copies), calendars, card decks, sheet music, magazines, journals and other types of publications. There are also some shipping requirements you need to meet if you self-fulfill.

Camera & Photo – This is an ungated category for new, refurbished and used cameras, camcorders, telescopes and other related equipment.

Cell Phones – This category is considered ungated, but there are restrictions on the types of cell phones and accessories that can be sold. Products can be new, used, refurbished and unlocked.

Electronics (Accessories) – This is another category that is considered ungated, but there may be some required for specific products. New, used and refurbished products are allowed to be sold in this category.

Health & Personal Care – Products in this category include first aid and nutrition, but there can be a confusion with some Beauty products, which are in a gated category. (Is a hand lotion a personal care product or a beauty product? That’s a question you need to have Amazon answer.) Only new products are allowed to be sold in this category.

Home and Garden – This is a huge category and includes kitchen and dining items, pet supplies, furniture, decor items, bedding and bath products, craft and hobby supplies, home appliances, storage, patio, lawn, garden, pool supplies, landscaping, snow removal equipment and generators. The products can be new, refurbished, used or collectibles.

Industrial & Scientific – This category includes lab equipment and supplies, industrial materials, power transmission equipment, electronic components, sanitation and janitorial items. And all have to be new. Amazon requires “seller to conduct proper research to ensure their Industrial & Scientific product listings comply with applicable local, state, federal and international laws and regulations.”

Musical Instruments – Guitars, orchestra and recording equipment can be sold by first time sellers in this category and those items can be new, refurbished, used or collectibles.

Office Products – New, used, refurbished and collectible office supplies, furniture, printers, and calculators can be sold without approval.

Outdoors – All types of outdoor gear are sold in this category and can be new, used or refurbished.

Personal Computers – Desktops, laptops, drives and storage devices can be sold in new, used or refurbished condition in this category.

Software and Computer Games – New and used products can be sold in this category, but three may be specific requirements for some products.

Sports – New, used, refurbished and collectible products are sold in this large category that can include exercise and fitness gear, hunting accessories, team sports equipment along with licensed/fan items. Collectible trading cards, game-used, and autographed items can not be sold in this category by new sellers.

Tools and Home Improvement – New, used and refurbished hand and power tools can be sold by new sellers in this category, along with plumbing, electrical, building materials and appliance parts.

Toys & Games – This is another category open to new sellers but there may be a requirement for holiday season. (In the last couple of years that requirement has been that you’ve sold items in the previous months withing the category).

Video Games & Video Game Consoles – This category includes game consoles, games, and accessories in new, used or collectible conditions. There may be specific requirements for some products.

If you’re thinking of becoming an Amazon seller, one of the first things you need to determine is what to sell. Take a look at the ungated categories above and see what’s selling. Hopefully, it will give you some ideas about what you may be able to sell… and profit with as an Amazon seller.

A Little Overwhelmed?

I know I was when I first thought about selling on Amazon. I researched, read and then researched and read some more. And I was really scared to pull the plug. Fortunately, I stumbled across a young woman and her husband had made Amazon FBA their full-time jobs. And by full-time, I’m not talking 40 to 60 hour weeks. They figured out how to make a stay at home income so they could raise their son and live a good life. And with products, they were finding at outlet stores selling on Amazon FBA for a profit. The couple were Jessica and Cliff Larrew and I’ve been following them since 2014.

Within a couple of week of reading one of Jessica’s early book, I overcame my fear and send in my first products to Amazon. By the next month, I sold out of everything and eagerly sent in my $39.99 a month to become a professional seller on Amazon. Jessica and Cliff and went on to create more products. One of them the 7 Day Email Course: Everything You Need to Know to Start Selling on Amazon. This free online course tells why Amazon work for people like you and me want to make money and still be at home with our families. It’s includes:

• Why Amazon is the perfect selling platform
• Why you should considering selling as an FBA merchant
• How Jessica and Cliff made over six figure in their first year
• What items to find, buy and sell (for a nice profit)
• What tool you need to work efficiently

Oh, and the other great thing about Jessica and Cliff’s Free email course… it takes the overwhelmed feeling and kicks it in the pants and right out the door. If you’re interested in more information (and remember it is free) then check it out here.

I hope this post gives you a little more information on working from home as an Amazon. And please, come back some.

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