Amazon’s “Buy With Prime” Program: An In-Depth Guide for Buyers and Sellers
Amazon’s Prime membership has always been hugely popular among customers for its free shipping and other benefits. Now, with the new “Buy With Prime” program, sellers can offer Prime benefits on their own websites too.
This extensive guide explores how “Buy With Prime” works, the advantages it provides for both buyers and sellers, as well as answers to common questions about using the program. By the end, you’ll have an in-depth understanding of this new e-commerce initiative from Amazon.
Let’s get started!
How “Buy With Prime” Works
With “Buy With Prime”, sellers can sell products through their own websites while leveraging Amazon’s fulfillment services and Prime membership perks [1]. Here’s a brief overview:
- Sellers enroll eligible products in Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) so Amazon handles shipping and delivery.
- On their websites, sellers can display the Prime badge and estimated delivery dates for enrolled items.
- When a Prime member buys an eligible product, they get the same Prime benefits, like free shipping, they’d get on Amazon.
- Amazon fulfills and delivers the order, while the seller still owns the customer relationship.
Currently, only select merchants using FBA can participate, but Amazon plans to expand it over time. Sellers simply add a “Buy With Prime” button to start offering the program.
Benefits for Sellers
The main advantage for sellers is access to Amazon’s huge customer base of Prime subscribers without having to sell on Amazon itself. Here are some additional benefits:
Remove Shipping Hassles: Sellers no longer handle fulfillment, returns, or customer service issues related to logistics. Amazon takes care of it.
Boost Sales with Prime: Tapping into the 150 million Prime members worldwide means potential for higher sales volumes and increased basket sizes.
Strengthen Customer Relationships: Sellers still own the customer data and can market directly to buyers in the future through emails and retargeting ads.
Remain Independent: Sellers maintain control of their brand, pricing, and product assortment without Amazon constraints. They’re free to continue selling elsewhere, too.
Overall, “Buy With Prime” expands sellers’ reach while letting them outsource fulfillment headaches to Amazon’s proven infrastructure.
Benefits for Buyers
The key benefits for buyers include:
Fast, Free Shipping: Prime members get free express shipping, just like on Amazon, as well as faster standard shipping on eligible items.
Wider Product Selection: By tapping sellers outside Amazon, buyers gain access to a more diverse range of products than just what’s available on Amazon alone.
Same Purchase Protections: Eligible purchases are protected by Amazon’s A-to-z Guarantee, allowing returns for any reason within 30 days.
Simpler Shopping Experience: Prime members keep their login and payment details linked to Amazon for frictionless checkout on enrolled sellers’ websites too.
Improved Product Research: Some buyers may prefer researching and purchasing from specialist stores rather than Amazon’s complex product pages.
In short, buyers enjoy all the Prime perks they’re used to, but with an expanded catalog of items to choose from across different online stores.
How Sellers Can Participate in “Buy With Prime”
The steps for sellers to get started with “Buy With Prime” and offer Prime benefits on their websites are: [2]
- Sign up onSell.Amazon.com Sell.Amazon.com, Create an account and provide basic business information.
- Set up Buy with Prime: Link your Seller Central and Amazon Pay accounts to import your existing product catalog.
- Select eligible products – Choose which items can display the Prime badge and estimated delivery promise.
- Add the Buy with Prime button. Copy and paste the provided code snippet onto the product pages.
- Market your Prime offerings: Promote Prime-eligible items to existing and new customers through on-site ads and emails.
It’s a straightforward process once sellers meet the enrollment criteria. Amazon handles the technical integration so Prime benefits can go live immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions buyers and sellers may have:
Q: Can any seller participate in Buy with Prime?
A: No, only invited FBA sellers currently have access. Amazon is gradually expanding the program.
Q: What shipping methods does Buy With Prime include?
Eligible items qualify for free Prime shipping with delivery timeframes based on the customer’s location.
Q: Do sellers pay any additional fees?
A: No, there are no additional payment processing or shipping fees for enrolled sellers beyond standard FBA costs.
Q: How do returns and refunds work?
A: Buy with Prime purchases are protected by Amazon’s A-to-Z Guarantee for returns within 30 days. Sellers manage the process.
Q: Will my order ship from an Amazon warehouse?
A: Yes, once purchased, Amazon fulfills orders from its network of warehouses and delivers packages directly to buyers.
Q: Will customers see my website or Amazon during checkout?
Customers will see the seller’s website but also have the option to check out with their saved Amazon login and payment details.
Q: What customer data do sellers receive?
A: Sellers only get the customer’s name, email address, and order number. No other personal information is provided to the merchant.
Key Takeaways
To summarize some of the main points:
- Buy with Prime allows eligible third-party sellers to offer Prime benefits and fulfillment on their own websites.
- Sellers gain access to Amazon’s vast Prime customer base without incurring infrastructure costs like fulfillment or return processing.
- Prime members can shop on enrolled merchants’ sites while enjoying the same fast shipping and purchase protections.
- It expands product selection for buyers beyond just Amazon’s offerings alone.
- Participation is by invitation only but should benefit both sellers and customers as the program scales up further.
Overall, Buy with Prime presents a win-win scenario that strengthens e-commerce for all parties involved. Integration is also seamless through Amazon’s underlying tech platforms.
I hope this extensive guide has helped explain the ins and outs of Amazon’s new program. Let me know if any other questions come up!