Online sales can be brutal, just a warning. Amazon and the like have set a precedent that no local, independent seller can fulfill. Everyone wants free freight, and they expect their product in a day or two. They don’t understand that not only does Amazon have its own national distribution network with centers everywhere, but Amazon doesn’t make money on physical products that they sell. Selling shit online is a loss leader for Amazon. Small businesses can’t eat the cost of that.
My company got an online order from someone 3000+ miles away on a Monday, to ship FedEx ground. She called us on Tuesday angry that she hasn’t gotten it yet.
Our location is in the name of our company. It should be very clear that it will take more than a day to go that distance. You would think so, at least. She ended up canceling the order and we had to put everything away. Wasted easily an hour of company time for absolutely nothing.
I have a couple of ideas for online sales, first, you can sell books through Door Dash and Instacart. Yes, shipping costs, but also more or less instant gratification locally. 😉
I’ve also been hearing good things about a platform called Whop.
Online sales can be brutal, just a warning. Amazon and the like have set a precedent that no local, independent seller can fulfill. Everyone wants free freight, and they expect their product in a day or two. They don’t understand that not only does Amazon have its own national distribution network with centers everywhere, but Amazon doesn’t make money on physical products that they sell. Selling shit online is a loss leader for Amazon. Small businesses can’t eat the cost of that.
My company got an online order from someone 3000+ miles away on a Monday, to ship FedEx ground. She called us on Tuesday angry that she hasn’t gotten it yet.
Our location is in the name of our company. It should be very clear that it will take more than a day to go that distance. You would think so, at least. She ended up canceling the order and we had to put everything away. Wasted easily an hour of company time for absolutely nothing.
I have a couple of ideas for online sales, first, you can sell books through Door Dash and Instacart. Yes, shipping costs, but also more or less instant gratification locally. 😉
I’ve also been hearing good things about a platform called Whop.
https://fortune.com/2026/06/14/gen-z-founder-steven-schwartz-whop-platform-minted-650-millionaires-wants-work-be-fun-money-worries-obsolete/
But you’re right, making shipping times 100% clear is a must!