Best Place to Sell Funko Pops
If you are a bulk seller, say, you get much of your merchandise from a wholesaler or make use of retail arbitrage strategies, then you are fully familiar with Funko.
With this category – Funko Pop! Vinyl, you are majorly dealing in collectible figures of characters from pop culture.
Just like other product categories that are restricted until you apply for ungating, the Funko Pop!
Vinyl contains sensitive items like children’s toys that would need Amazon to protect the consumers of these products.
However, you will note that plush toys branded Funko are listed in the toys and games category. You can get ungated in this too.
This post explores all you need to know to ungating Funko Pop New on Amazon. Herein you will know what Funko Pop is, steps to follow to apply for ungating, and other relevant information to guide you through the whole process of getting ungated to sell Funko POP!.
What Is A Funko POP!?
Funko pops are giant plastic replicas of your favorite characters in pop culture. Their appearance is odd. For instance, they depict characters as Big-eyed, and with huge heads. These appearances make these products the new favorites for collectors and fandom enthusiasts.
Compared to other collectibles on the market, Funko Pops fetch considerably lower prices. Some start for as low as $10 bucks. However, given that they have been in the market for a while giving it time for some of the merchandise in their lineups to go rare, don’t be surprised if you find a Funko pop selling for up to thousands of dollars.
For instance, the Funko Pop! Vinyl Star Wars Holographic is said to have gone rare given that only 480 units of this product were ever produced. Those who purchased them say it can set you back to about $2500 for one unit.
What Do the Numbers Mean on Funk POP!?
Every time a product is added to a specific series of a line-up, it is assigned a unique number as an identifier. This number makes the product look more like a collectible. Here are other ways this unique number is significant:
- These numbers are serialized. For collectors, these numbers tell more than just the identity of the product. They are used to tell the year of manufacture which is significant when haggling over the price. A rarer item can be more costly than one manufactured recently.
- The collectibles industry is quite valuable. This makes it a lucrative target for fakes and counterfeits. To minimize scammers and fraudsters taking advantage of unsuspecting buyers, these numbers are assigned to every product as its unique identifier. This means there can never be duplication or extra numbers popping up even though the company hasn’t released them yet. This is typically why Amazon also restricts the sale of these products.
- Lastly, these numbers are assigned for serialization and documentation. This implies that every addition is well documented for reference and tracking.
Why is Funko Pop Restricted from Many Sellers?
Funko Pop is technically a representation of other brands’ works. For instance, they use characters from characters created in Disney movies. This means it can be considered as reproduction hence, one needs rights for it.
To sell or distribute copyrighted products is outlawed unless you are certified. Therefore, many sellers are restricted from selling these items to enforce the law. Amazon wants sellers to first obtain permission from some restricted brands to be able to list their items on the platform. These brands may also have their specific set of rules which you need to observe before being allowed to sell.
Furthermore, sellers are restricted to sell until they can prove that the products they want to list are authentic, of high quality, and certified by state and federal laws.
Example Funko POP! Brand Products
You can get a plethora of products branded with the Funko Pop brand. Some may include clothing, board games, home décor, plush toys, and stationery. However, when it comes to collectibles, here are some of the popular brands by the company: Batgirl, Green Lantern, Batman, Lord of the Rings, New Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, and How to Train Your Dragon.
How To Start Selling Funko Pop! On Amazon
Find a certified Funko supplier and product
You need to identify a supplier who deals in Funko-branded items. You should, however, note that Amazon is strict on these distributors as well. Your supply has to be trusted by Amazon, and there aren’t many of those out there. The second stage is finding a product that meets these two criteria:
- It must already exist on Amazon
- You should be able to get at least 10 items of this particular product from the same supplier.
Place An Order
Next, you need to place an order of at least 10 items of this product. You can order for more than 10 but not less. The purpose of this is to secure a commercial invoice which shall be used by Amazon to ungate you to sell these products. Remember to double-check everything such that the details that would appear on the invoice match those on your seller central account.
Submit Your Funko Ungating Application
Go to your account inventory section, toggle on Add a Product and input the product to search on Amazon listing. You will be notified that the product is restricted and be invited to apply for approval. As you proceed, you will be asked to upload an invoice and a letter from Funko authorizing you to sell their products. This could be optional. However, if your distributor can write you an authorization letter, use it for application alongside the invoice to increase your chances of success.
What are Amazon Restricted Or Gated Categories
Amazon gated or restricted categories are those with strict selling rules that no seller is allowed to sell freely. These categories, brands, and ASINs have specific approval guidelines, and any seller who meets the standards can enjoy a vast market with less competition.
That means Amazon only has the power to draw the rules and open gates for more sellers to access the categories. There are some of the best services out there that can help with ungating Funko Pop New on Amazon. The good news, however, is that Amazon does not always restrict the entire category, like in the previous gating practices. Instead, it gates subcategories, leaving some products open, even though they might be under gated categories. This explains why there is a short list of gated categories and a long list of restricted products or subcategories. Generally, any seller who wants to sell within a gated category must apply for Amazon to let them in.
Why Does Amazon Gate Its Categories?
Most multi-million investments are built on trust, customer satisfaction, and a healthy working environment, and Amazon is no exception. Being a huge marketplace with millions of users globally, Amazon strives to maintain a good relationship with both buyers and sellers by ensuring only high-quality products are in circulation. It achieves this by gating some categories, brands, and ASINs. As a seller, you can seek professional ungating services to help with ungating Funko Pop! New on Amazon. Here, are the main reasons why Amazon gates its categories:
To Monitor Product Standards
One of the first missions of the company is to ensure buyers are offered both high-quality and safe products. It does this by allowing only sellers whose products have undergone stringent quality assessment steps to access highly-demanded categories. Since the platform is home to millions of brands and buyers, there are high chances of buyers getting counterfeit products. Hence, it is Amazon’s responsibility to block such products by setting up strict selling rules.
To Protect A Brand’s Reputation
Amazon also works jointly with big brands to ensure only authorized resellers can list products from certain brands. Therefore, to protect the brand’s reputation, Amazon asks sellers to provide legit documentation from these brands to show they are allowed to list their products. Resellers who do not provide proof of authorization are locked out of certain categories. Many large and well-known brands require pre-approval with them directly, before even applying for Amazon’s Funko Pop ungating. This is true for both seasoned sellers, and individuals new to the platform.
To Enhance Customer Satisfaction
Besides ensuring buyers can get high-quality products, Amazon also restricts some categories to prevent sellers from exploiting buyers. That means only sellers with a positive track record can access the categories and reach buyers. This enhances customer satisfaction and a positive rating. This is why you need to apply for ungating Funko Pop! New category. The company may also limit or dictate maximum pricing to ensure buyers are not being fleeced.
Adherence to FDA Regulations
Many items require the approval of the Food and Drug Administration to sell in the US marketplace. No retail platform, website, or other selling venue is permitted to offer any product that is not previously rubber-stamped by the FDA.
The obvious reason for this is safety because specific laws exist to ensure that end users are not harmed. Further, items from foreign countries may not be permitted, as they do not meet standard codes from other regulatory bodies.
Categories And Products That Require Amazon Approval
As stated earlier, Amazon has a long list of gated products and a short list of restricted categories. That is because one category can have more subcategories, which can add up to tens of products. Therefore, when applying for approval, sellers need to consider three Amazon Funko Pop! ungating levels; category, brand, and product ungating. They should also differentiate between sub-categories and product unlocking.
General Guidelines to Get Ungated on Amazon
Whether you are a new reseller or an established FBA seller, utilizing the vast market space offered by Amazon should never be a challenge again. Amazon’s mission is to see its users grow, and thus, increase sales and profitability. And this does not matter if you are listing your products in a locked or unrestricted category. As a result, if you want to expand your selling portfolio by accessing restricted categories, here are the general guidelines to get ungated on Amazon:
Sign Up for A Professional Amazon Seller Account
Professional Amazon Seller Account is the backbone of any seller as it records all the activities conducted by the seller on the platform. It is through this account that Amazon can tell your business position and determine whether you meet all the quality standards for ungating Funko Pop! New. Therefore, if you don’t have one, you can create a professional Seller Account which goes for less than $50 per month.Analyze And Verify Your Account Health
Creating a professional Seller Account is not enough. You still need to maintain its health to maximize your Funko Pop ungating chances. Maintaining a healthy account includes meeting your customers’ expectations and adhering to Amazon’s business code. That means you should have a timely shipping record, good customer relations, competitive pricing, and avoid violating Amazon’s policies. To check your account health, go to the Account Health section on the Seller Central Account and click on the Performance menu.
Check Specific Category Guidelines
Each category has specific ungating instructions. You need to check the Funko Pop! New ungating instructions before requesting approval. Some categories are complicated, while others have simple instructions that even new sellers can unlock easily. For example, some categories require sellers to have at least three years of selling experience and running websites.
Choose A Reputable Supplier
Getting a reliable supplier is also a vital step, especially as your demand curve grows. Amazon will also ask you to provide legitimate invoices from trusted suppliers whose products fall under gated categories. After choosing a supplier, you need to place at least three orders, with each order having at least ten pieces of the restricted product.
Retailers are not considered suppliers. You cannot go down to your local store and purchase a bunch of items for resale. The products need to come from verified wholesalers and distributors.
Be sure to do your research before sourcing and paying for any potential sales items.
Prepare Your Documents
Before submitting your ungating Funko Pop New request, you need to prepare your documents, which include recent purchase invoices from reputable wholesalers.
These scanned copies of sales invoices should have all the ASINs written next to the product name. Price and other confidential information should be locked for wholesaler privacy.
As a general note, it is usually best to send the Funko Pop ungating documents in PDF format, so it can be easily seen that they have not been revised. You may also be required to send information about your status or business trading information.
Request Approval
With all the documents and other requirements ready, you can proceed to request approval using the following steps:
- Go to the Inventory menu and click on Add Product.
- Search for the item you want to list.
- Go to the Listing Limitations Apply.
- From the new menu, click on the Apply to Sale button.
- Lastly, click on the Request Approval button.
Guidelines To Ungate Specific Categories on Amazon
Ungating Funko Pop New or any other toy category goes a long way in understanding what each category entails and how to ungate it on Amazon. For instance, the Grocery and Gourmet Food category requires sellers to have authorization from regulatory bodies like Food and Drug Administration. On the other hand, some categories require sellers to have more years of selling experience and a good online presence. Therefore, if you intend to sell in any gated category, you need to consider the following best tips to maximize your chances of Funk Pop ungating.
- Getting a Pro-Merchant Status. You can get the status at less than $50 per month. It becomes easier if you already have a Professional Seller Account.
- Maintaining your order defect rate below 1%. Since it is challenging to tell how fast some products can go bad, it is crucial to ensure your orders move as fast as possible to minimize cases of selling defective products.
- Maintaining your pre-fulfillment cancel rate below 2.5%. A higher pre-fulfillment cancel rate can impact your account health negatively. Thus, you need to lower your order cancelation to maximize your brand ungating approval chances.
- Lowering your late shipment rate to below 4%. Timely delivery is one way to get customer trust; hence, you should try as much as possible to avoid late shipment.
- Acquiring child product certificate. A Child Product Certificate is a must-have requirement when applying for Funko Pop ungating or if you want to sell in children’s categories such as Toys and Games. It also proves that you adhere to both local and federal product safety laws.
Final Thoughts on Funko Pop Ungating and Selling on Amazon
Amazon wants to protect its customers and sellers from fraudulent people looking to take advantage.
On the other hand, Funko POP! needs to protect its reputation by ensuring authenticity and protection of copyrights. This increases the legitimacy of the dealers and collectors.
To ensure this, ungating Funko Pop new means you need to provide proper and specific documentation during the application for approval.
