Before you start: what you need
A few minutes here saves hours later. Most first-week problems come from one of these five points.
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.com seller account on the Professional plan.
- No seller account yet? Open one first. Chapter 3 walks you through it. You can read this handbook and plan your setup while Amazon verifies you.
- On the Individual plan? You can switch to Professional at any time in Seller Central.
ArbiSource needs it, it removes Amazon's per-item fee, and it gives you the reports and tools a reselling business uses. See Choosing your Amazon selling plan.
2. The right ArbiSource marketplace
ArbiSource has two completely separate versions:
| US version | UK version | |
|---|---|---|
| Sells on | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk |
| Retailers | US retailers | UK retailers |
| Billed in | US dollars | Pounds |
| 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.com, choose US. If you pick the wrong one by mistake, email support and they can move you across.
- Your currency follows the marketplace, not where you live. US = dollars.
- Selling in both the US and the UK means two ArbiSource accounts, each with its own subscription.
- Other marketplaces aren't supported. ArbiSource doesn't cover Amazon Canada, Mexico or Europe.
3. One email address, used consistently
Each Amazon seller account can be linked to one ArbiSource account. Two habits avoid most login and linking problems:
- Double-check your email address at sign-up. A typo creates an account you can't get back into, and when you sign up again with the right address, Amazon reports your seller account as "already linked".
- Use the same email whenever you contact support, so the team can find your account straight away.
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 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, monitors your restrictions and much more.
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 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 big budget, 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 breaks down the costs and the time involved.
Checklist
- I have (or am applying for) an Amazon.com Professional seller account
- I know to choose the US 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)