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Join us for IM Accelerator 3. If you haven’t secured your spot, get your ticket here: https://team.internetmasterycommunity.com/whats-next/ What an Amazing day we are having. Sold out. Amazing group of people. Get your ticket to IM Accelerator 3 on February 15th, 2026 today and save $100.

Holiday Season Performance

The 2025 holiday season was a first for some members, providing a learning experience.
Some members experienced better-than-expected sales, while others ran out of inventory.
Preparation for the fourth quarter is crucial, with some retailers starting in May.

Virgin Voyages Conference

The upcoming 9-day Virgin Voyages trip is a business conference, not a vacation or cruise.
The trip is a full tax deduction as a business expense.
The goal is to bring the community together for a week to discuss online business and financial freedom.
Currently, 21 cabins are deposited and committed.
Dr. Seinfeld will be on the trip with nausea medication.
The 9-day duration was deemed too long; a 7-day trip is preferred for future events.

Internet Mastery Accelerator Focus

The accelerator aims to increase the speed and velocity of business growth.
The focus is on expanding business beyond Amazon due to increasing challenges with Amazon accounts, including downtime.
Amazon accounts for 51% of online sales, but it is a limited strategy due to gated, restricted, and blocked products.

Spy Rivals Enhancements

A new “Optimized Buys” tracking number is being introduced in Spy Rivals.
- This feature addresses the issue of selling faster than estimated when combining Spy Rivals data with the Internet Mastery Repricer, which can impact IPI scores.
- It will show:
  - Daily estimated sales
  - Monthly estimated buys
  - The increase in sales when using the Repricer.
- Benefits include:
  - More accurate sales numbers, aiding in raising IPI scores.
  - A partial ROI (Return on Investment) calculation for using the Repricer.
- The feature took approximately five months to build and test, showing 91-92% accuracy.
- The optimized number will not be less than the estimated monthly buy.
- Availability:
  - Accelerator members will receive special access by tomorrow or Monday.
  - General community access is expected in two to three months.
  - Attendees of the Boca conference in late February will also gain access.
Spy Rivals is undergoing a UI redesign with new colors and layout for a more modern look.

Q&A on Optimized Buys

Bob and Tammy Lewullis inquired about the impact of the Repricer on daily sales.
- The Repricer helps sell statistically more than other sellers but does not guarantee winning all sales due to Amazon’s buy box rotation and multiple sellers.
Ana Cigagna asked about variation data analysis.
- Variation data availability depends entirely on what Amazon provides; if Amazon does not provide it, it cannot be analyzed.
- Suggestions for variations without data:
  - Buy a small sample to test sales speed.
  - Review customer reviews, noting that only 3-4% of buyers leave reviews, making it an unscientific guess.
- Helium 10 and Keepa are not considered reliable for real-time variation data as their data does not come directly from Amazon.
- Demonstrated that Amazon’s Best Seller Rank (BSR) often remains the same across variations, even if positions change, indicating inconsistent data.

Expanding Beyond Amazon

Amazon is a “gateway drug” to e-commerce, accounting for 51% of online sales.
Downsides of Amazon:
- Limited strategy due to gated, restricted, and blocked products.
- Products bought from reputable places may still be blocked.
Other Marketplaces:
- Products restricted on Amazon can be sold on platforms like eBay, Shopify, Etsy, Poshmark, Makari, and Walmart.
- These platforms primarily use FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant), where the seller holds and ships inventory.
- Walmart has Fulfillment by Walmart but recently experienced significant seller shutdowns and requires an LLC/EIN, making it better suited for wholesale or own products.
Big Four Platforms: Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Shopify are identified as the primary focus, accounting for 85-90% of online sales.
Long-term Goal: Building one’s own brand of products.
- This strategy significantly reduces issues with invoices, authenticity, competition, and buy box to less than 1%.
- It represents the “bottom of the funnel” in the Internet Mastery community’s reverse pyramid model.

Multi-Channel Selling Strategy

When sourcing BOLO deals:
- If a product can be sold on Amazon, it should also be listed on eBay and Shopify to capture the remaining 49% of online sales.
- If a product is restricted on Amazon, it should be listed on eBay and Shopify.
Clarification on Drop Shipping (Rabia Tasneem):
- Drop shipping, where a seller lists an item without owning it and then buys it from a retailer (e.g., Costco, Best Buy, Amazon) to ship directly to the customer after a sale, is generally discouraged by eBay due to potential delivery issues.
- The recommended strategy is FBM:
  - Buy the inventory from the retailer (e.g., Best Buy).
  - Ship the inventory to your home.
  - List the product on eBay or Shopify.
  - When a sale occurs, ship the product from your home to the customer.
- This approach ensures the seller owns the inventory, aligning with eBay’s policies and preventing order cancellations.
- While FBM requires more work (managing home inventory, shipping), it provides an additional income stream and can be automated by hiring part-time staff as the business grows.

Next Steps

Customer Support will:
- Provide a detailed strategy and approach for multi-channel selling.
- Guide members through the process of opening an eBay account.
- Discuss how Ease On automates some eBay and Amazon processes.

Action Items

Melissa will:
- Check the social feed for members unable to find the Accelerator 2 group link.
Amy will:
- Check the social feed for members unable to find the Accelerator 2 group link.
Accelerator Members will:
- Gain special access to the new “Optimized Buys” feature in Spy Rivals by tomorrow or Monday.
Members without an eBay selling account will:
- Consider setting up an eBay account for selling.

Amazon Listing Policies and Risks

8-step Internet Mastery Framework:
- Source product.
- Check Amazon availability.
- Determine profitability.
- List product (if green/good velocity).
Restricted Products:
- Never attempt to list restricted items on Amazon.
- Avoid listing branded products as “generic” to circumvent restrictions.
- Generic listings often lead to authenticity claims from Amazon, as invoices for branded products will not match a “generic” listing.
- Amazon performs sweeps, shutting down generic listings and requiring inventory validation.

Product Sourcing Strategies

Woot:
- Woot is an Amazon-owned company offering deals and closeouts.
- Products purchased from Woot often come with Amazon reviews and FBA shipping.
- Caution: Ensure the brand is not also the seller when buying from Woot to sell on Amazon.
BOLO Deals:
- BOLO deals identify products but do not guarantee ungated status on Amazon.
- Account-level permissions, IPI score, and performance history determine selling eligibility.
- “No bad BOLO deals”: Restricted BOLO deals can still be opportunities on other platforms.
Wholesale Sourcing (FAIR.com):
- Explored Dr. Squatch wholesale program on FAIR.com, showing potential for high profit margins (e.g., buying deodorant for $4, selling for $20 on eBay).
- Challenge: Some brands on FAIR.com may deny sales to third-party sellers, preferring brick-and-mortar retailers (Shirley Beasley’s experience with Poo Pourri).

Multi-Channel Selling and Fulfillment

Leveraging eBay for Restricted Products:
- Products gated on Amazon can be sold on eBay, as eBay has different restriction policies (quantity limits for new sellers, not product type).
- Determining Sales Velocity on eBay: Use the “sold items” filter on the left-hand side of eBay listings to see past sales and prices.
- Unbundling Products: Buy multi-packs (e.g., 3-pack deodorant from Sam’s Club) and sell individual units on eBay for higher profit.
- eBay Mechanics:
  - No buy box; sales rely on scrolling and seller feedback.
  - Paid advertising is available but not recommended for reselling due to referrals to similar listings.
  - New eBay accounts have quantity restrictions (e.g., $1,000/month or $5,000/3 months), which increase with good selling history.
Multi-Channel Fulfillment Scenarios:
- Scenario 1 (Ungated on Amazon):
  - List items on Amazon, eBay, and a Shopify site.
  - Ship products to Amazon FBA.
  - Amazon fulfills orders for all channels using multi-channel fulfillment.
  - Shopify fulfillment can be automated.
- Scenario 2 (Gated on Amazon):
  - Buy products and ship them to a personal residence.
  - Manually fulfill orders for eBay or Shopify sales.
  - Invoices from these purchases can be used to attempt ungating on Amazon for future orders, provided the brand is not the primary seller on Amazon.
Own Website (Shopify):
- Consider selling products on a personal website (e.g., Shopify or WordPress) to drive traffic and sales.
- Shopify is recommended for ease of use.

Next Steps

Customer Support will:
- Discuss eBay mechanics in more detail later in the day.
- Discuss the concept of Shopify later in the day.

Internet Mastery Accelerator Event

The next Internet Mastery Accelerator event will be held on February 15, 2026.
- This date is two weeks before the Internet Mastery Level up event in Boca.
- Topics for the Accelerator event will not overlap with the Boca event.
Attendees can purchase tickets at an event special price of $199.
- The ticket includes 200 prep credits and replays of the event.
- Tickets are available via the social feed by clicking on “Accelerator” for the February 15th event.

E-commerce Platform Strategy

A central website platform, such as Shopify, WordPress, or WIX, is recommended as the core of an e-commerce business.
- This central platform allows for selling products that may not be permitted on other marketplaces.
- It is crucial for building a long-term, sellable e-commerce enterprise.
Major marketplaces like eBay, Amazon, and Walmart should serve as foundational pillars around the central website.
- Other platforms like Poshmark, Makari, and Etsy can also be integrated if applicable.
Shopify is initially complex but becomes more familiar and faster with experience.
Current business focus remains heavily on Amazon, with an emphasis on also listing products on eBay.
- The recommended order for expansion is Amazon and eBay first, followed by Shopify or Walmart, depending on the product.

eBay Selling Best Practices

When searching on eBay, prioritize items that have already sold rather than sorting by the lowest price.
- Price is a factor, but trust, feedback, delivery speed, and free shipping are more significant.
Always offer free shipping on eBay by incorporating the shipping cost into the total product price.
- This is considered a fundamental rule for selling online.

Evolution of Selling on Amazon

The typical progression for Amazon sellers starts with Retail Arbitrage (RA).
- RA involves buying products in-store or online with a small budget for testing.
- Amazon views retail receipts as a gray area for authenticity.
The next evolutionary phase is Wholesale Arbitrage.
- This offers a more secure opportunity with legitimate wholesale invoices, though Amazon does not always accept them.
- The process is similar to RA, focusing on product sourcing and system checks.
The long-term strategic goal is to move towards Private Label and Branding.
- This requires significant time, effort, patience, and understanding, with potential risks, but offers greater security and profit.
- Benefits include protection against authenticity claims and reduced competition on listings.
Amazon Brand Registry is a free program that offers significant advantages:
- Ability to block other sellers and add products to Amazon’s gated brands list.
- Access to Subscribe and Save, identified as a “winning lottery ticket” for revenue.
- Availability of A+ content and special advertising options.

Product Selection for Private Label and Branding

The most critical factor for product selection is to choose consumable products.
- Consumable products are purchased repeatedly, amortizing the initial customer acquisition cost over multiple sales.
- The time and money invested in developing a product (labels, boxes, branding, photos, FNSKU, listing) are the same for both consumable and one-time purchase items.
- Customer acquisition costs can be high (e.g., $130 to acquire a $99 customer via Facebook Ads). Consumable products ensure profitability beyond the first sale.
Avoid products with:
- Short shelf life: Such as fresh vegetables or certain perishable foods.
- Rapidly obsolete technology: Like earbuds, where technology evolves quickly.
- FBM-only shipping for scale: Products that cannot be efficiently handled by FBA for a large business.
- Low demand or niche appeal: Focus on what people want to buy, not personal preferences.
- Difficult or restricted categories:
  - Clothes/Shapewear are generally hard to sell on Amazon.
  - Weight loss products are highly restricted for advertising on Amazon.
For supplements, prioritize those that provide an immediate, noticeable feeling to the user.
- This encourages repeat purchases and builds trust for other products that may have long-term, less perceptible benefits.
Spy Rivals is a crucial tool for product research.
- It helps identify popular products and market demand on Amazon.
- The process involves searching for a product (e.g., “neck pillow”), analyzing top-selling similar items, and identifying private label opportunities.
Alibaba is used for sourcing products identified through Spy Rivals.
- A demonstration showed finding a neck pillow identical to a top-seller on Amazon for $3.50 with a minimum order quantity of 25 pieces, which sells for $23.99 on Amazon.
- OEM/ODM options allow for branding the product with a custom name.

Next Steps

Customer Support will:
- Ask Preston to create a video on multi-channel fulfillment for products already at Amazon.
Attendees will:
- Purchase tickets for the February 15, 2026, Internet Mastery Accelerator event today to secure the special price.

Product Strategy and Listing Process

Identify product and validate market demand before purchasing inventory.
- List the item on Amazon first, using manufacturer pictures from Alibaba.
- A UPC code (GS1 barcode) is required for listing on Amazon.
- Fulfillment will be FBA.
Consider product expansion into variations, such as different colors, using the same supplier.
Starting a private label business can be done with a few hundred dollars; for example, 25 neck pillows cost approximately $75, plus shipping.
Evaluate overseas suppliers based on:
- Feedback and reputation.
- Responsiveness.
- Whether they are the original manufacturer or a reseller.
Avoid purchasing products that go on or in the body (e.g., creams, lotions, pills) from China.

Multi-platform Sales and Fulfillment

Shopify Integration:
- Build a Shopify website that can sell various products, not limited to a single niche.
- Utilize a plugin to pull product listings and customer reviews directly from Amazon to the Shopify site.
- Automate fulfillment for Shopify orders by having Amazon send products directly to customers.
- Initially, manually review all orders to ensure the system functions correctly before full automation.
- Shopify integrates with Shipstation for orders not fulfilled by Amazon (FBM).
  - Shipstation prints shipping labels, marks orders as fulfilled on Shopify, and notifies customers.
Amazon FBA Logistics:
- Send inventory to Amazon for FBA.
- Products should arrive at a prep center before being sent to Amazon.
- For lightweight items shipped via air, direct shipping to a prep center is recommended to manage customs and duties efficiently.
- Ana Cigagna shared that her supplier prints UPC labels and ships directly to Amazon, handling customs.
  - Customer Support advises caution with direct shipping from China due to the risk of incorrect labeling and potential Amazon account suspension.
  - Recommends using a prep center, especially for initial small orders (e.g., 25 units), as it can be more cost-effective than hiring inspection companies.
  - Long-term, direct shipping with FNSKU on the product is possible for pre-prepped items.
Other Marketplaces:
- Products can also be sold on Walmart and eBay.
- Prices on eBay are generally lower than on Amazon.
- Keyword research is essential for optimizing eBay listings.

Branding and Account Management

Brand Registry:
- Register the brand once; it is not category-specific.
- Multiple brands require separate registrations.
- Brand registry is not a prerequisite for starting to sell, but the application process should be initiated.
- The UPC code is linked to brand registry to confirm brand ownership.
Private Labeling:
- Products from Alibaba can be private labeled with a brand name on the product or packaging, depending on order quantity.
- Minimum order quantities apply for custom branding (e.g., 200 units for engraving a metal product at $7 per piece, totaling $1400).
Amazon Accounts:
- Generally, only one Amazon seller account is permitted.
- Special exceptions for multiple accounts may be granted under specific circumstances (e.g., different EINs), but issues with one account can impact all linked accounts.
- It is not necessary to separate private label products into different accounts; all products can be managed under a single account.
Repricer:
- A repricer tool is not needed for private label products because the seller is the exclusive vendor for that specific UPC code and brand.

Mindset for Private Label

Be prepared for a slower growth curve, initial investment, and the possibility of product failures.
Patience, time, and dedication are crucial for success.
Melissa Cooper emphasizes the need to move towards private label due to increasing difficulty in retail arbitrage and the desire for more control over one’s business.

Action Items

Bob and Tammy Lewullis will:
- Research and purchase a GS1 barcode for product listings.
Eric and Linda Gilkinson will:
- Investigate Shipstation as an alternative to Pirate Ship for shipping labels, especially for Shopify integration.
- Explore setting up a Shopify site this week.

February Accelerator and Florida Event Details

The link for the February accelerator event is available in the Internet Mastery Community feed.
The Florida event agenda and hotel venue will be finalized this upcoming week.
- Attendees should plan to be in Boca Raton by 1 or 2 PM on Friday for the events on Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday.

Amazon Business Challenges and Solutions

Seller Central Efficiency:
- Cheryl inquired about using Seller Central more efficiently.
- The most efficient way to use Seller Central is to minimize its use for daily operations like changing prices, listing existing items, or fulfilling orders, unless creating new products.
- Focus is on simplifying the business, not complicating it.
Ungating Process:
- Bob and Tammy raised questions about ungating.
- Ungating using retail receipts is becoming increasingly difficult.
- Wholesale sourcing is presented as an alternative for ungating.
Auto-Ungating List Strategy:
- Eric and Linda Gilkinson shared their experience:
  - Used the ungating list from Internet Mastery Underground, which contains approximately 2400 items.
  - Initially, 500-700 items (around 30%) were auto-ungated after 16 hours of processing the list.
  - After 30-45 days, more items became automatically ungated without requiring an application.
  - Their IPI score increased by 150 points after utilizing the auto-ungating list.
  - Recommendation: Do not disregard items marked as “restricted” in Bullo searches, as they may actually be ungated.
- Wayne reported a 30-point increase in his IPI score after using the auto-ungating list from the Seller Black Book.
- Recommendation: Re-run the auto-ungating list after 4-6 weeks to identify newly ungated items.
- The auto-ungating list is the easiest and fastest method to improve Amazon account IPI scores and stabilize the ungating process.
- There is an urgency to utilize auto-ungating now, as Amazon’s policies may change in the future.

Wholesale Sourcing for Replenishable Products

Bobby asked about establishing brand-direct relationships for replenishable items.
- Creating brand-direct relationships is challenging without significant capital or existing connections.
- Recommendation: Focus on building relationships with smaller, individualized wholesalers who are eager to collaborate.
Shirley inquired about finding profitable replenishable products.
- Wholesale sourcing is crucial for finding replenishable products.
- Focus on wholesalers who consistently offer the same products, rather than discontinued items.
- Blowout specials from wholesalers are beneficial for short-term cash flow.
Decision for February Accelerator:
- The February accelerator session will be dedicated entirely to wholesale sourcing.
- The session will cover:
  - How to find wholesalers.
  - Strategies for communicating with wholesalers.
  - Negotiation tactics with wholesalers.
  - Wholesale sourcing strategies, including scripts and handouts.
- Wholesale products can be sold across multiple platforms, including Walmart, Shopify, and TikTok Shop.
- Attendance for the wholesale session is contingent on participants securing their tickets.

eBay Selling Strategies

eBay is an effective platform for selling products, especially those that cannot be ungated on Amazon.
Attendee Sales Performance on eBay:
- Jenny Lee sold $12,000 in the last year.
- Robbie sold $5,000.
- Melissa sold $1,200.
- Muhammad sold 1,000 items.
- Wayne sold $600.
- Bobby sold $284.
- Gerard sold $200.
- Joy sold $140.
- Shirley sold $120 in the last three months.
- Eric and Linda Gilkinson sold $140 since last month.
Key Differences from Amazon:
- On eBay, each seller creates their own unique listing, unlike Amazon where multiple sellers share a single listing.
Strategies for Increasing eBay Sales:
- Title Optimization:
  - 95% of buyers find items through title searches.
  - Titles are limited to 80 characters.
  - Optimize titles with relevant keywords; grammar and word order are less critical.
- High-Quality Photos:
  - Photos are a primary driver of sales on eBay.
  - Using other sellers’ photos is against eBay policy and should be avoided.
- Detailed Description:
  - Include keywords not present in the title within the description.
  - Buyers can opt to “Include description” in their searches, which expands results and increases visibility.
- Free Shipping:
  - Offering free shipping is highly recommended to achieve significant sales results.

Next Steps

Customer Support will:
- Finalize and release the agenda and hotel venue details for the Florida event this upcoming week.
- Conduct the February accelerator session focused entirely on wholesale sourcing, provided attendees secure tickets.
- Prepare for a deeper dive into eBay strategies in the next session.

Prep Center Credits and Internet Mastery Accelerator

Internet Mastery Accelerator ticket costs $200 and includes:
- Training and recordings.
- 200 prep center credits, valued at $2 each (totaling $400).
All prep credits are valid for one year from the date of addition.
Credits are not automatically added if a user has existing unlimited prep credits that have not yet expired, allowing for an extension of the one-year period.
To request the addition of 200 prep credits to an account, email Melissa Cooper at melissa@internetmastery.io or contact support.
All prep credits have a one-year expiration due to increasing costs of item preparation.

eBay Listing Strategy

Getting Photos for eBay:
- Use the AI Lister tool within the Internet Mastery Community.
- Process:
  1. Locate the ASIN of the product on Amazon (from the URL or product page).
  2. Navigate to AI tools in the Internet Mastery Community.
  3. Select Lister AI.
  4. Input the ASIN and click “Generate listing.”
  5. The tool provides images, a title, bullet points, a description, and keywords suitable for an eBay listing.
  6. Download the images and utilize the generated text.
- Optimization is crucial: Simply having photos is insufficient; titles, descriptions, and keywords must be optimized for eBay to ensure product visibility and sales.
- Manual photo saving is discouraged: Directly saving images from Amazon product pages is time-consuming and does not provide optimized listing content.
eBay Account Setup:
- An eBay buyer account is automatically linked to an eBay seller account; no separate account is required.
- To sell, navigate to eBay and click the “Sell” button.
Future Resources: Customer Support will create new video documentation on setting up an eBay account and listing items correctly for the “conspire health business,” which will be added to the library.

eBay Shipping Strategy

To determine pricing for free shipping on eBay, the size and weight of the item are essential.
USPS Rates:
- Packages under one pound typically cost between $3 and $6.
- Priority Mail for packages over one pound is approximately $7.
- Flat rate boxes are available: Small ($13), Medium ($22), Large ($31). For these, the size of the box, not the weight, determines the cost.
Recommendation: For items that fit in a small flat rate box, add $13 for shipping to the total product price.
Best Practice: Most successful eBay sellers offer free shipping.

Amazon IPI Score and Ungating Process

IPI Score Fluctuation:
- Bob and Tammy Lewullis observed a 30-point drop in their IPI score to 504 after ungating 750-800 ASINs.
- This temporary dip is a normal part of the process, similar to a credit score temporarily decreasing after applying for new credit before increasing.
- A significant improvement in approval rates will be observed after completing a second round of ungating.
Ungating with Black Book and Spy Rivals:
- Kenneth Harvey experienced a discrepancy where ASINs appeared ungated in Seller Central but still gated in Spy Rivals.
- Process:
  1. Clicking an ASIN in the Black Book directs to Seller Central.
  2. Copying the ASIN and pasting it into Spy Rivals (full version or browser extension) will display its status.
  3. Spy Rivals and Seller Central statuses are synchronized.
  4. If an item is restricted, Spy Rivals will redirect to Amazon Seller Central to apply for ungating.
  5. Auto-ungating in Seller Central is not instantaneous; it can take up to 24 hours for Seller Central to notify Spy Rivals of the change.
  6. It is not necessary to list an item immediately after being ungated; waiting for the systems to sync is sufficient.
- Ungating does not require purchase: Users are simply getting auto-ungated and do not need to buy the product.

AI Lister for Other Platforms and Private Label

Lister AI for Multiple Platforms:
- The AI Lister tool can generate pictures, titles, and descriptions for listings on platforms beyond eBay, including TikTok, Poshmark, Makari, Etsy, and Shopify.
- The tool creates custom content; inputting the same ASIN multiple times will yield different results. A free refresh option is available if initial results are unsatisfactory.
Lister AI for Private Label:
- The tool can be used for private label products on Amazon by taking an existing Amazon listing (similar to the new private label product) and rewriting its content.
- This is a “game changer” for creating new private label listings on Amazon.
Manufacturer Pictures: Using manufacturer pictures generated by AI Lister is acceptable, as no single vendor has exclusive rights to them.

ASIN Gating Issues

ASINs that were previously sellable can become gated when attempting to restock.
Reasons for re-gating can include:
- Changes in seller performance metrics.
- Updates to rules or regulations for selling specific items.
- Generic branding issues.
This is a recurring issue on Amazon, highlighting the benefit of having one’s own products to avoid such restrictions.
Even with private label products, issues can arise (e.g., a bakery fighting Amazon for six weeks over a beef tallow listing due to paperwork requirements).

Action Items

Melissa Cooper will:
- Add 200 prep credits to accounts upon request via email.
- Assist Kenneth Harvey with the ungating process by taking control of his screen and guiding him.
Customer Support will:
- Create and add new video documentation to the library on setting up an eBay account and listing items correctly for the “conspire health business.”
- Send Melissa Cooper a screenshot of Bull with his tongue out.
- Provide Shirley with a notification in about two weeks.