🦇⚽ Bat Signals and Crushing my 11-Year Old Son at Soccer

Buying things on Amazon and reselling them back on Amazon is against TOS. True or False?

Living in Costa Rica has revealed a universal truth: if you have a soccer ball, you have friends. Whenever our boys start a game, kids and adults flock to us like magnets. It’s like our own version of the Bat-Signal. Thankfully, these impromptu games are less about soccer skills and more about the joy of the game. My son Jackson complains how everyone wants the ball passed to them but never returns the favor.  🤬

Recently, we’ve turned to YouTube for soccer tutorials – a luxury we didn’t have growing up. Back then, our coaches were often enthusiastic parents, like “so-and-so’s Dad” who loved the game but lacked professional experience.

Now, YouTube has become our coach. Okay, we’re not aiming to become the next Messi, but simple tutorials on throw-ins, kicks, and dribbling can work wonders. It’s amazing how quickly mastering a few moves can transform a player, especially among the younger crowd. These new skills earn immediate playground acclaim!

So, the next time your kids are glued to gaming videos, maybe sneak in a ‘how-to’ on their favorite hobby. The real trick is practicing with them – get ready to be involved!

Hey! We’ve got a hot plate of Value for you today. Enjoy!

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credit: midjourney / prompt: sunset on a tropical beach. Calm waves and orange sky

Buckle up chums, this one’s a doozy.

I’m going to cut to the chase:

I added a Handwritten note to ALL the items I sold on Amazon (And way more impactful if the item i’m selling is from my own brand)

There were definitely some roadblocks. After learning about this strategy, I was thinking about all the pitfalls, like:

Good news. I didn’t have to. There are… handwriting robots. What! Machines that are designed to make notes that look they were written by a human! Technology is amazing – first there were Chia Pets and now this.

There’s thousands of fonts to pick from, and ways to add in letter variations (for example, not every letter “a” in your handwritten note is exactly the same.)

I found out I could hire a company like Simply Noted, Handywritten, or Scribeless to write and deliver these to my home – or my customers Most notes come in at around $2-3/note. Also they’re well versed in APIs & Zapier.

Yeah, $3/note is a bit pricey. Sooo… I thought I could just buy a machine and do it myself. It was actually easier than I thought. I learned that the machines weren’t all that expensive, and I could get the whole set up for… $500. Insane. For those curious, here is the exact one I bought – and I needed a laptop as well (any old laptop will do).

I was able to find both a good sourcing agent and manufacturer who were willing to put these into my product packaging for $0.11 each. Amazing!

The long and short is — YES. Think about this – when’s the last time you’ve recieved a handwritten note from anyone other then your grandmother? I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve received a handwritten note. And basically all of them were something I bought on eBay or Etsy. Nothing on Amazon – and nothing in person.

Handwritten notes are more impactful because it has that “time” element baked into it. Customers see the note and they think, “Wow! That must have taken him a lot of time to write.” Now — we know it didn’t take any of my time, but that doesn’t mean the sentiment I wrote is any less true.

First things first, I avoided anything that counted as review manipulation. So no asking for a positive review, no reach out to us if you’re unhappy, offering gift cards, diverting away from Amazon or any of that stuff. Eventually I just settled on a kind a friendly message thanking them. But… I could definitely have asked for an unbiased review, or mentioned that I had discounts on repeat purchases (which I do). It’s also allowed to mention a VIP program, warranty, or prizes.

It was my goal to make the note look authentic as possible – so our final note was written in blue pen on a piece of paper that looked like it was ripped off of a notepad from my kitchen. I really wanted them to notice it and read it.

The main idea behind this strategy is to make your products and services more approachable and human. There are a lot of benefits to adding handwritten notes. Here was a few we saw immediate benefit from:

Give this one a shot – let us know how it goes. I know if you invest the time and money in this you will contribute significantly to the long-term success of your brand.

Jamie Northrup’s Minimalist Hustler is one of my favorite newsletters i’ve signed up to lately. He helps entrepreneurs increase their online income with 3 quick resources every day. And since it’s minimalist, you get value delivered quicker than you can say, “Ka-ching!”

I love me a lounge. Quiet, relaxing, free drinks (and booze), and food, WiFi, chargers, etc – pretty awesome. Some even have spa services, beds, or virtual golf.  It’s super annoying when I’m at an airport and there’s a closed lounge or I don’t have time to pop in 😢😢😢

If you’re doing any kind of OA or credit card sourcing there’s a good chance you’re already using a card that gives you complimentary access to an airport lounge. 

On the off chance you don’t have one of these cards, basically every major bank or organization has one. If you bank with one of these companies – check them out. Here’s a list of the 10 most common ones in Canada and the USA.

Canada:

USA:

The majority of these give you access to a Priority Pass membership card which will get you into at least one of the lounges in pretty much any normal-sized airport (also, most larger airlines have their own specific lounge). If you don’t have a Priority Pass and still want to access a lounge, most of the time you can buy your way in for around $50.

What’s the nicest lounge you’ve been in? Let us know! The last one I was in was in Las Vegas. Very nice with a full bar, food – and showers.

Do you have any interest in getting licked by a giraffe?

If you answered yes, then you should come to Costa Rica to try it out! (You do need to buy them dinner first, they’re not that easy).

 Yep…there are giraffes in Costa Rica… Just outside of Libera is Ponderosa Adventure Park (no not the restaurant chain), and it is one of our favorite spots to hit up once or twice a year as a family.

…Now it certainly isn’t Disney, but one of the best parts is going on the Safari Tour. It’s a delightful journey aboard a large farm tractor, transformed into a cozy covered wagon, as it meanders through a safari-esque landscape. Guests of all ages can indulge in the rare pleasure of feeding an array of friendly animals, including cows and ostriches.

Yet, the true enchantment lies in the encounter with the majestic giraffes. Whether you’re an adult or a child, the experience of touching and feeding these gentle giants is nothing short of magical. Carrots 🥕are conveniently available for purchase at the on-site snack store for a dollar. Beyond this, the park offers a wealth of other activities such as zip-lining and rafting, alongside a variety of other animals waiting to be discovered. If you find yourself nearby, consider adding this adventure to your must-experience list!

Amazon FBA Community members who go bad (allegedly). Nate McCallister’s October 27th post outlining the actions of 3 FBA figures who all have been charged with some pretty serious crimes really took me down memory lane.

I got my start years ago with Jim Cockrum’s My Silent Team PL training. And Brett was always the golden boy of the group. I remember actually even speaking to him. For those that don’t know, Brett — again, allegedly — created a Ponzi scheme using an investment opportunity with his brand, Dynasty Toys.

Anyway – I think that’s an extremely justified reason to be upset. How about we don’t scam people?

Speak Up! Questions from the Community

No questions this edition. Want to have your question answered in the newsletter? Send us an email at info@sellingfrom.co

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