Before you start: what you need
A few minutes here will save you hours later. Most of the problems new users run into in their first week come from one of the five points below.
1. An Amazon Professional seller account
ArbiSource connects to Amazon through your seller account. That connection is how it checks live prices and which products you're allowed to sell. So you need an Amazon.co.uk seller account on the Professional plan before ArbiSource can do its job.
- No seller account yet? Open one first. Chapter 3 walks you through it. You can still read this handbook and plan your set-up while Amazon verifies you.
- On the Individual plan? You can switch to Professional at any time in Seller Central.
Besides being needed for ArbiSource, the Professional plan removes Amazon's per-item fee. It also gives you the tools and reports a reselling business needs. See Choosing your Amazon selling plan.
2. The right ArbiSource marketplace
ArbiSource has two completely separate versions:
| UK version | US version | |
|---|---|---|
| Sells on | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com |
| Retailers | UK retailers | US retailers |
| Billed in | Pounds (plus VAT) | US dollars |
| Account | Its own login and subscription | Its own login and subscription |
Between them, the two versions cover 660+ UK and US retailers, with more added regularly.
You choose your marketplace when you sign up, and you can't switch it yourself afterwards. If you sell on Amazon.co.uk, choose the UK marketplace. If you choose the wrong one by mistake, email support and they can move you across.
A few things follow from this:
- Your currency follows the marketplace, not where you live. UK = pounds, US = dollars.
- Selling in both the UK and the US means two ArbiSource accounts, each with its own subscription. One account can't cover both.
- Other marketplaces aren't supported. ArbiSource doesn't cover Amazon Canada, Amazon's European marketplaces, or matching US retailers against Amazon.co.uk.
3. One email address, used consistently
Each Amazon seller account can be linked to one ArbiSource account. Two simple habits avoid most login and linking problems:
- Double-check your email address when you sign up. A single typo creates an account you can't get back into. Then, when you sign up again with the right address, Amazon reports your seller account as "already linked".
- Use the same email address whenever you contact support, so the team can find your account straight away.
If you're coming back after a break and your seller account says it's already linked, don't make a new account. Email support with your Seller ID and they'll reconnect you to your original account. (Where to find your Seller ID.)
4. A clear idea of what ArbiSource is, and isn't
ArbiSource is self-serve sourcing software. It scans retailers, matches their products to Amazon listings, works out the fees, profit and ROI, and checks whether you're allowed to sell each item. It also keeps a ready-made pool of results (the Vault), tracks price drops, checks your restrictions and has many other tools covered in this handbook.
ArbiSource isn't a managed sourcing service. It doesn't buy stock for you, introduce you to wholesalers, supply invoices or Transparency codes, or decide what you're allowed to sell. Those things are between you, your suppliers and Amazon. ArbiSource gives you the information to make good decisions quickly.
5. A starting budget and regular time
You don't need a large budget to start, but you do need some money to work with and regular time to learn: aim for at least an hour or two a day at first. Chapter 1 has an honest breakdown of the costs and the time involved.
Checklist
- I have (or am applying for) an Amazon.co.uk Professional seller account
- I know to choose the UK marketplace when signing up to ArbiSource
- I've written down the exact email address I'll use
- I know where to get help (the in-app welcome guide, the Guides & Tips on the Help page, support@arbisource.com, Discord)