You’ve heard of this guy Tim Sanders and Private Label Masters, right?
And, after seeing the price tag for his course, you are wondering if it’s legit. His ask is steep, but as you’ll find out, it’s well worth it.
Stick with me here as I do a deep dive on Tim’s PLM course and give some insights not only into this course, but also how Tim’s course compares to other FBA courses.
Then I’ll finally hone in on the best way to make money online in 2020.
So, what’s it really come down to with all these ecommerce gurus?
IMO, what it comes down to is trust?
Who the hell do you trust these days? Everyone is an expert that wants to sell you their “secret recipe” for making money online.
We’ve all been there. Searching online for hours, digging through various Reddit and Quora threads and watching endless Youtube videos. It can be more daunting than Chinese instructions for your kids swing set.
And, you know what? You can piecemeal things together from these free sources and grind your way to success. But having a mentor that can provide you with a time-tested process will give you much needed structure, especially if you are a noob.
And, that’s ok. We all started somewhere.
I’ll share a little bit about myself and my journey making money online and how that ultimately lead me to boss status with the lead generation model (hint – it’s crushing these days). I’ve also built and scaled multiple 6-figure Amazon FBA brands, dropshipping stores and everything in between.
Just remember there is no straight line to success.
I promise you that your entrepreneurial journey will have you taking multiple courses as you look to become an expert in your craft.
BUT, you need a ROCK SOLID foundation when you start out.
Look, here’s the secret. There are no perfect courses.
Every single one is going to have areas that don’t live up to the hype. I’ve literally taken over 50 courses that span Amazon FBA, Dropshipping, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing and Lead Generation in an attempt to build my rock-solid foundation.
What I suggest is making sure whatever course you choose has ancillary channels outside of the main course that you can tap into in order to fill these knowledge gaps. Things like Facebook groups or YouTube channels or live streams to help you out.
And yes, PLM has both that you can use.
Because I was so successful right out of the gate with my lead generation business, I was able to fund my quest for knowledge as I looked at ways to add additional revenue streams that were independent of each other.
Needless to say, I’m well rounded in the ecommerce space.
I really dig writing and these reviews not only help me crystalize my understanding of the business model, but hopefully can you side step that shitty feeling of laying your foundational tracks on shifty ground.
Check out all my reviews and decide for yourself which one makes sense intellectually and financially. Seriously, take time to read and research each business model and the available courses before you begin.
Oh, and hit me up on Instagram yo! I’m down to answer anything that doesn’t make sense
Let’s do this and see what Tim Sander’s and Private Label Masters is all about….
1. What Is Private Label Masters?
Imma flex a little here and make this a detailed bullet compared to some of my other points. You’ll see why as you start readin’.
Private Label Masters is a course created by 8-figure Amazon FBA seller Tim Sanders.
Let me just say it upfront.
The course is legit and offers an insane scope for learning the in’s and out’s of Amazon FBA.
Not to mention, his tools and resource list are exhaustive and he gives you EXACTLY what you need to be efficient and effective.
I thought that was really impressive, but as you’ll find out, it’s going to add a potentially prohibitive cost factor right out the gate because each tool has its own cost for use/membership.
But that aside, you are definitely going to learn some cool stuff.
For instance, his Amazon PPC training was off the charts and packed with TONS of value, strategy and downright genius. So much so, I ended up implementing some of the techniques he covered into my own stores and right away saw a significant increase in my conversions.
I mean, something sooooo simple as his bid strategy can be night and day for your PPC results.
You remember Price is Right…..right?
The game show where contestants bid on items and the closest one wins a chance to “Come on down” to play the next game.
I mention it because Tim uses a technique similar to something from that show. The ole’ 1 dollar higher bid.
He introduces a simple strategy that parallels this idea to make sure you are the winning bid.
Again, something so simple, so intuitive, yet so elusive to the mind if you don’t have someone pull back the curtain. He does that for PPC and some other areas of the Amazon biz model.
High level though. 20,000ft view….
In essence, Tim teaches you how to create your own brand and store (private label) while using the business model of Amazon FBA (fulfilled by Amazon – we’ll cover this in more detail later).
Something like this….
Private labeling is DIFFERENT from the arbitrage model. Tim is teaching you how to LITERALLY create your OWN brand and start/operate a LEGITAMATE biz.
Retail arbitrage is a race to zero and the barriers to entry are non-existent.
Tim’s “secret sauce” lies with a concept he calls Compound Layering. And, it intuitively makes sense when you start to roll through the training.
It’s essentially skill stacking and using a holistic process instead of being myopic with your approach.
Leveraging all the areas needed to succeed with the Amazon FBA business model, Tim has a methodology that immediately elevates you to a top of the food chain Amazon operator.
His compound layering technique is achieved by providing you training in all areas needed to succeed, whereas others like Ryan Rigney’s course, teach you how to show up to a gun fight with a knife.
Don’t be that guy!
Being real though, this is a highly HIGHLY competitive space.
And you shouldn’t have this bootstrap mentality if you are looking to succeed and escape your 9-5 with Amazon FBA and private labeling.
Why? Because this will be you…
Like I said earlier, you can piecemeal knowledge together with Youtube, internet forums, FB and all the other “free” knowledge available to us in this digital age.
Buuuut, there’s a reason that information is free. And there is a reason Tim’s course has that hefty price tag.
Creating a barrier to entry (high course cost) for specific knowledge means there is less competition, which ultimately increases your chance of succeeding. You’ll get that if you buy Tim’s Amazon FBA course.
That doesn’t mean the barrier to entry is low for the biz model. Hint – it is and I’ll tell you why later in the review.
It means the barrier to entry is high to enter the upper echelon of sellers due to the cost associated with attaining the right knowledge.
Now, it’s just a matter of which course you should go with.
One thing Tim didn’t do a good job discussing was the initial cost associated of Private Labeling under Amazon FBA.
It’s freaking expensive and if you are on a budget or cash strapped, you run the risk of being crushed by your competition. You need at least $15k to start this journey.
Otherwise…
VS
Again, why is that? Because you don’t have a solid foundation and PROCESS that you can follow or leverage to ensure your success. And you are doing it scrapping by with nickels and dimes. I’m not saying to get crazy here, but again, you need to spend money to make money.
Anyway, as Tim puts it, Private Label Masters and their Compound Layering will provide you enough of know how to be an Amazon assassin.
Tim breaks down his training into 8 modules.
Module 1 – Your Journey Begins: Introduction
In Module 1, Tim talks about the necessary mindset to succeed, the various business structures (LLC vs S Corp vs Sole Prop), Taxes, the need for product liability insurance so you don’t get your legs chopped off if shit hits the fan and then he finally touches on Amazon’s Fees (detailed coverage on this later!)
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Module 2 – Product Research
As Tim says, product research is…
He provides a complete Product Discovery Process, which is worth its weight in gold. Seriously, this part alone is worth the Ft. Knox ransom for his course.
It’s super in depth and provides you with a clear-cut methodology for picking winning products. He covers singles vs homeruns, which I thought could have had better examples.
He’ll cover what types of products to avoid. For example, things that are topical, ingestible, high liability items like sharp knives, fad items like the fidget spinners, seasonal products, electronics or products with a lot of moving parts.
Again, this is what you get when you lean on a mentor that has been very successful. Simply knowing WHAT to build your brand around is just as valuable as HOW to do it.
He continues by discussing how to sell in a gated category – need Amazon approval, how to avoid patent and trademark infringements and how to be more efficient by integrating various tools into your research process.
This section is nuts because you are thrown so much information. He’ll discuss ways to differentiate your brand by utilizing bundling & quantity changes or looking for ways to do product improvements and adaptations.
He also does a product deep dive, so you can get an ‘over the shoulder’ view of this in practice. For me as a learner, that is another huge benefit to his training.
He literally shows you what this looks like in real time as he implements the product research process right in front of you.
Not only that, he does it with three products: a sensory blanket, message center board and child’s teepee.
He wraps it up with discussing what you are ultimately doing. That is, building a REAL business into a brand.
There is so much he covers and this summary is just scratching the surface.
Module 3 – Product Sourcing
In this section, Tim gives us an intro into Alibaba as that’s his main source for finding suppliers/products.
Anytime you are using a tool/website in your process, you want to get familiarized with its functionality. He covers various filters to use and certifications/badges you should look for on sellers.
He’ll also cover trade assurance and why that is important when working with Chinese suppliers.
His suggestions on how to talk with suppliers, how to interact with suppliers and how to vet them with specific questions will 100% help you build a great relationship with your supplier of choice. And that my friend, is a must!
Pro Tip:Alibaba chat doesn’t save after you exit. Make sure you save any details you discuss with your supplier, otherwise when you leave, it’s gone!
Here’s how Tim envisions it with his Compound Layering…
Rounding this training out, he covers negotiating MOQ’s (minimum order quantities) and ordering samples as part of your quality control check.
Module 4 – Shipping
Honestly, this module just felt…..ugh. I don’t know how to say it, but there were gaps and the blurred-out screen recordings during the training leave you to “figure it out” as you navigate this new platform.
I could see how a new Amazonian could feel like a blind person using a walking stick to find a curb.
Your spotter (Tim) is telling you where the curb is (hey, it’s 10 steps ahead, a la click here and then click here, etc), but you can’t see it (blurred screen) and you have to tap around until you finally feel it.
That’s what I’m saying. You are going to feel for this one.
Look, he does a decent job and you’ll be alright. And maybe it was just how I digested the videos.
But, getting the shipping piece dialed in is a very important part of this puzzle, and I felt there could have been better training.
Sure, he talks through the process, but get ready to watch this one a couple times.
He covers freight forwarder, air vs sea, shipping quotes, the difference between FOB shipping and EXW shipping, duty rates, the printing of your shipping labels, explaining of FNSKU (Amazon product identifier), incorporating an inspector to QA your goods before shipping and how to request a quote from Flexport and Freightos.
Again, big module that’s packed with tons of information that will make the difference for you as a successful seller.
Not to mention getting access to his connections like Flexport and Freightos.
Module 5 – Branding and Listing Optimization
The motto of this module is “Do It Right the First Time”.
There’s an army of sellers looking to take you down and squash your dream of online independence.
Being honest, business is cut throat and you don’t want to be just another fish in the sea.
How are you going to stand out amongst the crowd of brands and sellers that want you to disappear faster than a card in David Blaine’s hands? He touches on it, but start to rack your brain with this highly important question.
He covers how to choose a name (alliteration), how to do ADVANCED keyword research, why your listing needs high quality images and outstanding copywriting so you can create an emotional connection with your buyers (i.e. discussing and showing benefits instead of features).
Here’s how that looks from the Compound Layering perspective
Here’s some FB comments from his peeps that show how important it is to “Get It Right the First Time”
He talks about product inserts that will help you connect with your customers AND how these inserts can help you avoid future Amazon fees while also getting some reviews.
Let me just go ahead and tell you – he states to put your ecommerce store URL on the insert so you can drive secondary purchases to your website instead of the customer reordering through your Amazon store.
Wait, WHAT?
Yeah, you heard me right. Didn’t know you needed to build a website, did you? But I’m trying to be an Amazon FBA seller….
Yeah, well he slides that in there like Benny the Jet stealing home.
You’ll miss it if you blink. But again, you are building a real business and brand.
If you can eliminate margin pressures by cutting Amazon out of the loop, then you better figure that out.
And guess what? That is NOT in his training.
Module 6 – Product Launch Time
Tim goes over two ways to get this party started and introduce your brand to the world.
This section is just as important as any other part of the PLM course because without a product launch strategy, you’ll be on page 1,000 making your listing as elusive to find as the Loch Ness Monster.
Part 1 of this module is exploring ZonJump, which is taught by the man himself, Leo, the CEO of ZonJump. I thought that was pretty cool to see him incorporate another professional into his training and it goes to show that Tim is the real deal by getting a CEO of a popular tool to teach a section of his training. Leo doesn’t disappoint and if you harness this tool, you’ll be well on your way to being Mr. Popular on Amazon.
Part 2 is Tim covering his Facebook launch strategy, which is rather clever. He goes step by step covering all the necessary items to squeeze the sales juice from Zuck’s platform.
Stuff like finding highly converting keywords, detailed targeting tips that let you maximize your ad budget, how to get some initial reviews, constructing user friendly URL’s and an example of an ad construction for one of his “trial” products he does during the course.
It’s pretty legit and won’t disappoint. That’s what you’ll notice as you walk through this course. Little pointers and tips that really help you get on the path of profitability.
There are gems everywhere, so be on the lookout you internet pirate!
Module 7 – Sponsored Products (Amazon’s PPC)
For someone as successful as Tim (8-figure seller, 125+ products) he hands over the reins to his assistant, Aaron Eaton, to level you up to black belt status for Amazon PPC. #humble
Aaron covers keywords selection, ACoS and bidding prices, auto vs manual campaigns, search term report, PPC pyramid and creating something called the ultimate campaign.
Aaron is simply brilliant and sequences his presentation in a way that leaves you with a FIRM understanding of your new ninja skills.
Module 8 – Maintaining & Scaling Your Business
Tim walks you through what is needed to scale and grow your private label Amazon FBA business into a sustainable money producing machine.
Tim covers how to get reviews though email campaigns and gives you his exact template. He discuss using Amazon promotions to stand out, responding to customers (Amazon 24hr policy), how to manage your inventory levels (hint – his tip to not run out of stock is sooooo sweet), responding to reviews, removing negative seller feedback, how to track your keyword rankings, how to handle running out of stock, split testing, dealing with hijackers, how to get into brand registry for Enhanced Brand Content, hiring VA’s and reimbursements from Amazon.
It felt like a nice cap to the PLM modules 1-7. And, yet again, he drop BOMBS that can help you stay on top of your listings like discussing a stolen buy-box scenario from nefarious competitors.
That alone might seem insignificant, but the accumulation of tips will ensure you are covering your ass. It’s not just tips though.
Tips and hacks are not synonymous. Tips are about optimization, while hacks are shortcuts akin to Band-Aids.
What I like about Tim is that he prioritizes a holistic approach that sets you up for success by being solid in your understanding of what is needed to succeed. Other courses like Amazon FBA Ninja give you hacks that become irrelevant as time moves on and leaves you looking for the next trick that will get you through a few months.
*Find a way to put in his Product Flow pdf here*
Breathe….
A lot to consume, but let’s keep going and dig into this Amazon FBA biz model and the Private Label Masters course.
2. Who Is Tim Sanders?
Ostensibly, Tim is a baller, right. 8-figure Amazon seller. Been at the game for over 4 years. Tons of followers.
But, Tim had his humble beginnings. He wasn’t always an FBA yoda.
Yeah, he is an FBA Jedi through and through. Don’t mistake that for a second!
Tim tells you about his 10-year old self and the story of his first entrepreneurial endeavor collecting recyclables and then cashing that out at the recycle center.
The story continues as he tells how raiding these money centers (bins) funded his families first trip to NYC.
This makes you instantly connect to him because he wasn’t from a privileged background.
His journey continued when he graduated high school and started working for Costco as a cashier and cart runner. Apparently, he was crushing it as a cashier and began exploring a promotion into management.
But, Tim didn’t have seniority, so it was back of line for him and hitting that next level in his corporate career. He found out that his efforts and work ethic didn’t necessarily move the needle on his income.
FRUSTRATING!
To him, they were mutually exclusive and no matter how hard he worked, his income stayed the same because he was an hourly employee bound to the hierarchy of corporate promotions.
It hit a crescendo when he was out one day gathering carts in the pouring rain.
Shoot me now! WTF, ugh I feel you bro.
TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE
That’s when he decided he had to change and boy oh boy did he change indeed!
Eyes wide open for new opportunities, the lightbulb went off when someone came through his line at Costco with a cart stacked and packed with just one item!
Like hundreds of the same thing. The guy told him he would buy items at Costco and then resell them online for a profit.
Wuttt?
HELLOOOO retail/online arbitrage model.
Our favorite Amazon whiz kid parlayed that experience into what we now know is a multimillion-dollar success story.
Here’s a picture of him slinging goods right out of his parents’ house.
This lead him on the long, arduous road of acquiring the knowledge and skillset necessary for building out his Amazon FBA biz into what it is today.
Now, this is him….
And he is doing shipments like this….
My man ain’t fitting that into his parents’ house lol!
So, Tim is a real seller doing big biz.
What I also found was that he came off very genuine. His communication was clear, concise and packed together in a way that was easily digestible. He didn’t wow you with Ferrari’s or layer in a wannabe rap video with partying, girls and endless debauchery.
He seems like a normal dude that wants share his knowledge with the hopes you can circumvent some of the growing pains associated with figuring out Amazon FBA.
And, he’s gonna whack you $5g’s for it. Again, that’s not the only cost to this biz though. Get ready to at least triple that dollar amount if you want a reasonable shot at succeeding with FBA.
You can succeed, but this course’s price tag coupled with the inherent cost of doing biz with FBA means you gotta be sitting right and have some money stacked away before you start.
3. How Does Amazon FBA Work?
Amazon FBA is pretty simple to understand. But make no mistake about it.
You are building a legit business.
And, news flash. It’s NOT as passive as you think.
If you are trying to set up a passive income stream that is more maintenance than ongoing work, you should look into another online business model like lead gen.
I digress, but I need to keep hitting on that so you know before you spend money on a course. Yes, this course is going to get you to where you need to be, but start to consider the whole picture and you’ll realize knowledge attained from a course is just your first step on that thousand-mile journey.
Simply, FBA is leveraging Amazon to store, ship and provide customer service for your goods. Instead of holding inventory in YOUR warehouse and YOU delivering your product after a customer orders, Amazon steps in to take that off your hands.
Basic Steps of Amazon FBA
- Pick a product to sell
- Source that product from a manufacturer
- Ship that product to an Amazon warehouse that is geographically relevant to your target market.
- Use Amazon for inventory management (tools aka seller central)
- Customer places order online through your Amazon storefront.
- Amazon sources your product at the warehouse and packs it for shipment.
- Amazon ships your product to the customer
This model eliminates your need to worry about storing inventory at YOUR warehouse and the daunting task of inventory management, while also granting you access to millions of shoppers through their insanely popular shopping platform.
And, did you know that as an FBA seller, your listing is given preference to those that are FBM listings (fulfilled by merchant)?
Win, win in my opinion.
4. Is Tim Sander’s Private Label Masters Course Legit or a Scam?
Simple answer….
LEGIT
You know what? When I’m trying to figure out if something is the real deal or not, I think the easiest, most clear-cut way to answer this question and cut through all the BS is to SEE success stories of past or present students.
Alright bro, you are a baller and are crushing FBA. I get it.
But, is this (your process) like some insane math equation that only you and Einstein can figure out?
Because it’s all good if it works for YOU. Hat’s off my man (or gal).
But when you are putting yourself out there as an Amazon FBA guru and charging a hefty fee for your accumulated knowledge, I want to see other people killin’ it too.
Utilizing your methodology.
Well, check this out….
And, lets see what Tim has done in the last 12 months….
Nuff said.
5. How Much Does Tim’s Course Cost? Any Specials?
I’ve been alluding this this all along. His course ain’t the cheapest.
Private Label Masters cost $5k upfront with the one-time offer to reduce the cost by $1,500 if you pull the trigger on that first sales call.
Tim has pivoted from the open enrollment model to an exclusive group that requires an “interview” to see if you are a good fit.
Look, they are going to take your money. Don’t fret LOL.
It’s a typical strategy to turn the table around on a prospect by making you feel like you need to sell him on why you should be allowed to join.
That Jedi mind trick works on some people because you end up talking yourself into the program.
At the end of the interview, all they have to do it show you where to swipe your card.
Now, we know that Tim ain’t personally taking these calls. He’s got a sales team. So they are going to hit hard.
Check out this lady’s experience….
No, it’s not a scam. But, if they ask for your momma secret recipe, you best believe they are going to get it if you want into their program.
Truth be told, I didn’t have that same experience and who knows how that conversation above played out.
Be prepared. All I’m sayin’.
Oh, and compared to other FBA courses, this is top of the cost mountain when it comes to price tag.
For me, I’m not at all hesitant when it comes to paying for knowledge. Self-education outside of traditional institutions like colleges and universities has without a doubt been one of the best investment for turning me into an ecommerce whiz.
5 grand for a course is worth it in my opinion if the content is dope. But, what happens after the course? How much more do I need to outlay?
With Amazon FBA, you’ll need a fat stack to pay for that first inventory order.
Ohhhhh, and pray to god that first product isn’t a dud. If it is, you better have some dry ammo to reload and take another shot at the Amazon biz.
That’s why I think if you go with this course, which will undoubtedly set you up for success, you need another 10-15k to fund your first purchase orders.
Again, course cost is all good. But, what if there was a way to generate money online without all the crazy cost associated with ordering product?
Pros of Private Label Masters
6. Tim’s A Legit Private Label Seller On Amazon
Yeah, we kinda covered that earlier. He is a legit seller and he is crushing it.
Throughout the training, he keeps showing you his Amazon Seller Center dashboard and the numbers he’s generating.
Check out this September check-in.
Being a multimillion-dollar seller substantiates his course imo. Layer on top his student success stories and I give him mad praise for what he is doing in the Amazon FBA community.
Fist bump Tim.
7. Comprehensive Course To Sell Private Label FBA
You’re going to gain access to a 20+ hr video series that covers your Amazon FBA private labeling journey head to toe.
By far, compared to other FBA courses, this is super thorough.
Not only in the scope of knowledge you are going to learn, but in the resources he provides to make sure you are an efficient and effective seller.
For instance, check out this tool he gives you to calculate your product profitability.
Couple that with the software and chrome extensions he recommends and you are going to pull into Amazon looking like a G.
So, do you want to McGyver your way into Amazon success by trying to connect the dots from random free sources?
That endeavor will leave you like Charlie.
Don’t be like Charlie.
His course is so comprehensive that it’s hard to succinctly summarize HOW comprehensive it is into a short paragraph. Go back up to the first section and review all the material covered in the 8 modules.
Not only do you get that foundational knowledge and a practical way to implement it, but you get tips from an experienced seller that will make you stand above your competition.
Tips that come from either losing money or from real-world experience testing various strategies to see what works.
As Tim stated during the course….
What’s the saying?
“A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise one learns from the mistakes of others.”
8. Is The Course Updated For 2020
Yeah, it is.
Don’t fret and think you are going to get swindled into buying an FBA course that isn’t teaching tactics conducive to the current environment.
Nah, you’re good. Why do I say that?
Part of this is my experience as an Amazon seller and building two successful 6-figure brands.
Part of it is that I’ve taken almost every e-commerce course out there and have written a detailed review that summaries my thoughts and the merits of each training course.
Part of it, well a BIG part of it, is that there is an active community that puts you in touch with other PLM students jamming out in real time makin’ that online money, money, money.
And, Tim is still selling himself right now. He’s not the guy that crushed it in the early days that then “cashes out” and says he is just a mentor that is willing to show you the way.
He’s grindin’ yo!
He drops about 2 videos a month on his YouTube Channel and has been doing that for a couple of years now. His latest video at the time of writing this course review (October 2020) was posted on 10/18/20.
And the one before that (see below) was on August 29th where he did a Q&A for over an hour with current students.
So yeah, it’s updated and you are getting real time knowledge that you can put into action to hustle your way to internet freedom.
9. FBA Community Groups (Free & Paid)
As someone new to the ecommerce world, and specifically Amazon FBA private labeling, you are going to want, no need, a group of others that are on the same path as you.
This bee hive mentality allows you to tackle challenges with a smile because you know there will be someone there to answer your questions.
Maybe someone that has encountered the same issue you are currently facing.
Or, someone that sees the world through a different lens and has a solution for your problem that has remained elusive to you.
Believe me, no amount of training, whether Tim’s or Sophie’s, will fully prepare you for all the challenges ahead.
Here’s another example of the support you’ll get in the Student FB group
This is the Admin in his Facebook group responding to this thread in August 2020.
Throw on top the 27.5k members to his free FB group and you have a robust community of like-minded people all hustlin’ towards the same goal – Amazon FBA boss status.
Want a sneak peek into one of these livestreams?
Cons of Private Label Masters
10. Not Taught To Source Product From Many Locations
Pigeon holding yourself to a specific platform to source your products or adamantly thinking the only answer is Chinese manufacturers can put you in a pickle if shit hits the fan.
Global tension are high and western democracies are starting to look at China more critically.
Hell, they are tryin’ to ban Tik Tok because it’s owned by a Chinese company all in the name of national security.
I’m not political at all. I’m all about makin’ my money.
I don’t want to wander down that rabbit hole in this post, but just start thinkin’ about what happens if you only know one way to do something and then one day you wake up and that way is no longer valid.
Now, this seems irrational, I get it. All I’m sayin’ is that there could have been other ways to source your product sprinkled into this training.
Remember what I was saying about the never-ending journey of knowledge acquisition? This is where taking multiple courses comes in handy.
Each course has at least 1-2 unique tactics. For instance, a gal named Sophie Howard created a course that discusses ways to source outside of China.
Why would you do that? Source outside of China that is…
Well, if you are only targeting US customers and are going for a specific quality in your products, then sourcing from a US manufacturer might be a better solution for you and your new brand.
11. Higher Priced Course
Getting on board with a $5k course fee is tough.
I get it.
I mean, hot damn that’s insane to put that type of trust in someone’s knowledge base especially when it’s outside of the traditional educational institutions.
Usually, you can vet a course by the prestige of the institution offering the class or the professor’s credentials.
It’s a brave new world amigo. Our traditional institutions are falling by the wayside and “specialized” training and knowledge is taking its place.
I believe you should judge the worth of education on its ROI. And if you plan to make a living from this, you’ll be able to see a return in spades.
The Federal Poverty Level is ~$13k for individuals. If this simply makes you enough of money to be at that level, you are looking at a 2.5x return on investment. I think a 3X return is reasonable, so as long as you grind, persist and put some effort into this endeavor, you are going to make your money back.
PLM is on the higher end of the Amazon FBA course cost. But honestly, it’s not outrageously priced. Relatively speaking that is.
And, if you get their discount, they are right in line with other FBA courses.
Let me double tap this point again.
This biz model takes CAPITAL.
Just like when Michael Bisping was clowin’ on Luke Rockhold’s “Conceive, Believe, Achieve”, I’m gonna keep it real with you. Positive self-talk is 100% essential as you are going to bump your head and want to quit, but that isn’t going to cut it.
It’s gonna be hard and it’s going to take MONEY.
Why?
Because you WILL have some products that flop. 100% guaranteed. That is if you keep going. Pushing for more in an attempt to better your brand or increase your income.
Those product duds are dead money. Have you factored in product samples, outsourcing branding/optimization, shipping cost or product launch with PPC ads?
If you don’t have the necessary capital to invest, how are you going to keep your head above water?
Anyway, you can do this! And, you ARE going to do this.
If you don’t have the money for a course like this right now, save up, start digging around for free information and come back when the time is right.
12. Low Profit Margin Compared To Local Lead Gen
Profit is what we are in the game for, right? 20-30% profit margins aren’t baaaad, but you know what’s better?
80-90% profit margins baby! That’s what you get with local lead gen!
There are so many ways to make money. And if you are down with a 20-30% profit margin and tight on cash, I’d suggest checking out dropshipping.
You can essentially do the same thing as Amazon FBA (of course, there are differences), but you don’t have to put out that huge upfront cost of procuring your inventory.
With lead gen, your cost is a nominal fee for hosting and domain rights.
If you are willing to put in the work yourself to build and rank a website, you can keep your cost very very low.
As you’ll see in the section below, you aren’t really in control of your online money-making destiny with Amazon. If you break their ever-evolving rules, you’re out.
And so is your ability to profit.
With lead generation, YOU own the website. YOU control the power dynamic between yourself and the one paying you money.
Essentially the roles are reversed and you are the Amazon.
See, with lead gen, you build and rank a website and funnel leads (jobs) to a local business owner.
In return for generating leads, they pay you a fee.
Either per lead, commission on the business generated or a monthly retainer.
You know what your cost is?
Pennies on the dollar.
For instance, I’ll scoop a domain from NameSilo for ~$10/yr (less than $1/month). I pay Siteground ~$10/month to host my domain.
You don’t need a calculator to do the math here.
My tree site in Michigan pays me about $2k/month and has been paying me that since 2014.
$$$ Cha-Ching $$$
Now, I put in work, for sure! I built the website, did some backend work to beat out my competition, but once I was ranked and climbed the Google mountain, the site went on auto-pilot and I basically have done nothing to it while it generates me cash money.
And my profit margin is INSANE.
You can see why I like this model waaaaay better. Amazon’s still cool though. Just depends on what you want.
If you want to build a brand on another company’s platform and have a bunch of moving pieces that you need to maintain, then that’s cool. I’ve been there, done that and I’m not gonna lie to you.
It’s pretty baller to know you created a brand that sells. But again, what is your WHY?
WHY are you trying to make those digital dollars?
Sure, you can hire a VA to handle your Amazon biz once it’s up and profitable. But that cuts into your profit margins too.
It’s a juggling act that has a lot of moving pieces. Like I’ve been saying, you are building a legitimate biz from end to end and essentially using Amazon to manage inventory.
Lead gen is different. It’s way more profitable AND way more passive.
It’s not even apples to apples because the profit margins are night and day.
13. Amazon Keeps Raising Fees
Jeff Bezo’s is a smart man. He understands the value his platform brings to the table as it pertains to sourcing potential buyers of your products. And he charges for it.
As is their annual tradition, in 2020, Amazon once again raised their FBA fees. Here is the official statement:
This happens every year, so just a heads up if you were thinking things were gonna stay the same.
And this year? SPOLIER ALERT…. storage fees are going up A LOT.
For example, their standard size storage fee during January to September is going up 8.7%.
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR.
Ok, that might have been much. But a 10% fee raise is pretty significant.
What happens if your product cost goes up too? Double whammy.
You honestly don’t have any control here. If you want to use their platform to tap into the scores of worldwide buyers, you have to fall in line and take these raises on the chin.
As of December 2019, over 214.8 million users visited Amazon’s website per month. Wal-Mart came in second at 138 million.
You want access to that pool of buyers. Trust!
Your margins WILL decrease, which means you better be nimbler and on point with how much inventory you order because you don’t want to get whacked on these storage fees.
Some years are worst than others, but the general trend is up.
Concluding Thoughts
I thought Tim did an excellent job presenting his methodology in a clear, concise manner that was easy to understand.
He takes you from start to finish and gives you a solid foundation for becoming a private label Amazon FBA seller. My friend, let me say it again, you NEED a solid foundation if you want a shot at succeeding.
This business model is near market saturation and gets more and more competitive as time ticks by.
The cool part that I liked about Private Label Masters is that it’s a holistic approach that provides you with proprietary software (well, if you count custom excel sheets) and a litany of tools to guide the research and development of your new brand.
You won’t see Ferrari’s, hyperbolic statements or bro-life. He keeps it clean and really puts an emphasis on mindset and the fact this won’t be an overnight success story.
Throw on top the active FB community and monthly livestreams and you have tons of people lockstep with you helping you succeed.
I’ve taken a ton of FBA courses as I’ve walked the entrepreneurial path and this was my favorite one.
But remember, my ability to fund my first FBA biz and build my knowledge base started with my first few lead gen sites that I rented out. My lead gen biz was so passive, I decided to start looking at other ways to make money online, hence my exploration into FBA.
And after I explored and built other online income streams through FBA, dropshipping and others, I’ve always come back to focus my efforts on my lead gen biz.
14. Do Tim’s Students Actually Make Money?
Yes, they do.
And that really should be the crux of your decision-making process.
Are others succeeding using his methodology?
Here are some more screenshots of student success stories.
Go ahead, let that motivation juice flow.
Don’t get it twisted. These students worked their ass off to succeed. I know because I’ve built multiple 6 figure brands using Amazon FBA. It ain’t easy boss.
Hard work is cool and will get you far in life. But, if you are cash strapped, it doesn’t matter how hard you are willing to work.
With this model, you need MONEY. Period.
And Tim doesn’t really talk about that, which is why I’ve been pounding the table on this fact. I hate when people aren’t fully aware of what they are getting into.
Because then comes the regret. The resentment. The woe is me attitude. Or, you make the right decision to pay for the best course (Tim’s), but upon digging in, you realize you don’t have the money to do it right.
Then you force yourself into a corner and might not be able to build a brand in the niche you want.
Anyway, yeah, people are crushing and so can you. I KNOW you can do it!
15. Who’s A Good Fit For Tim’s PLM Course?
Anyone that can invest the time, capital and gray hairs into starting a legit brand and business.
Also, I wanna say this is a course best suited for a ‘green behind the ears’ Amazon seller.
But that doesn’t mean you won’t find good value if you already have experience. I bought the course after successfully starting my first 6 figure brand.
And I learned a lot from it.
If you like structure, if you like a professional presentation, if you like to learn from people that are truly masters in their craft, then this course is for you.
It’s as close to a turn key solution as you’ll get in the FBA course world.
And if you need community, they have that too.
So, if you have the drive to really dedicate yourself to doing this thing, then go for it. Make sure you have $15-20k before you start, otherwise you are going to be operating with one hand tied behind your back.
16. What Alternatives Are There To Tim’s Private Label Masters Course?
I did a review of what I consider the top FBA courses. If you are dead set on this model to make money online, then jump over there to give yourself the best shot at picking a course that’s right for you.
In that review, I cover 6 of the best FBA courses currently on the market.
I rate each course based on the presence and quality of:
- Mindset Training
- Business Setup Training
- Product Selection Basics
- Product Sourcing Training
- Q&A / Community (FB Group or Online Forum)
- Overall Relevance of the Training on Today’s Amazon (very different than 2016 when I started)
- Overall content structure
If you don’t want or can’t fork over $5k for Tim’s course, then rest assured that there are alternatives.
Like, I’d suggest Amazon FBA Ninja if you want to get your black belt in Facebook Ads.
Need a kick in the ass or feed on hype and motivation? Check out Nine University.
Maybe you are already doing your thing and just looking to fill some gaps or build on what you already know. Mobile optimization might be top of mind, so check out FBA Sales Accelerator.
As you can see, different courses offer different benefits. It really just depends on where you are at with your knowledge and what your goals are for taking a course. If you are just starting out, Tim’s Private Label Masters course is the way to go.
Pros and Cons of Private Label Masters
The Good and Bad of Tim’s Course
Pros
- Active and profitable Amazon seller
- Large social media presence with Facebook Group and YouTube channel
- Organized, structured and professionally presented course material
- Complete process from end to end. Holistic approach
- Updated for 2020 selling environment
Cons
- Only teaches how to source from China
- Requires a lot of tool subscriptions that cut into your bottom line
- Blurred screen during some examples leaves you guessing
Parting Thoughts on Private Label Masters
FBA is a great business model for someone seeking to start their own brand and operate a legitimate business. Your profit margins are decent and you can make good money, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is a truly passive way to make money online.
Tim’s got legitimate street cred in the Amazon FBA world and is very knowledgeable about his craft. He’s going to give you everything you need to make FBA work.
How Does Amazon FBA Stand up to Others?
18. Control
Here’s the rub with Amazon FBA. You don’t have 100% control over your business as you are using someone else’s platform as the “brick and mortar”.
You see what I’m saying right?
Amazon is big brother and if Mr. Bezos gives you the boot, whether the reason is just or not, they have the ability to hang a “closed” sign on your business’ front door overnight.
And, as you now know from my Amazon fee section, they can slowly erode your profit margins by raising FBA fees.
The fee trend is up my friend. And I’m willing to bet it ain’t reversing or going down anytime soon.
The biggest factor when thinking about this “lack of control”. Your pre-purchased inventory.
UGH!
COULD……… YOU ………IMAGINE!!!!
What if Amazon changes their terms or cancels your listing or whatever. And you have thousands of dollars in inventory that hasn’t sold?
You wanna go through that nightmare? Sure, you could build out an ecommerce store on Shopify, but what about now storing your inventory?
What about dealing with returns if you are a small seller? What about sending money to China that is 10,000 miles away? Political climate anyone?
Look, this ain’t Halloween and I’m not tryin’ to scare you.
Just start to think about the derivative to the derivative. Go a couple layers deep.
The reason I like lead gen is simple. YOU own the website.
Got beef with your hosting company? Throw the deuces and go somewhere else.
You make your money by invoicing the local business owner for your leads. He ain’t paying?
YOU’RE FIRED!
Guess what? There are 20 other business owners that would happily take those leads. Go down the list. Hell, check out Homeadvisor. You’ll find 10-15 local business already paying for leads.
You are big brother and you sit atop the decision-making mountain.
You don’t have to reign with an iron fist. Not trying to say that. But, you have control through and through.
Plus, you aren’t selling a product. And there’s not a lot of moving pieces.
AND you hold the most valuable assets to a business.
Leads and customers are the lifeblood of a business. Without them, there is no business. Your services will NEVER go out of style.
19. Entry
Let’s be real. The barriers to entry are low with FBA. The skillset isn’t as much technical as it is grind.
And, fat stacks sitting in your account that can fund your endeavor.
What this means is competition is high. Sure, not all the low-level guys are doing damage and crushing it, but there are hundreds to thousands of listings for almost any product you can think of.
Finding that undiscovered niche is rather tough.
So, get ready to deal with a bunch of me-too sellers. If you are crushing it, someone is going to see that. And copy it. And, there goes those precious profit percentages because you are now spending more on ads.
Don’t forget about big brother aka Amazon. You ever heard of Amazon Basics? You wanna be their guinea pig to see if a product is profitable and then have them use that data to jump into your product category?
Go ahead, Google it. It ain’t commonplace. I’m not saying that, so don’t get it twisted. But if they come into your niche, they will obliterate you.
I ain’t trying to look over my shoulder every day, month, year waiting to get knocked off my profitable perch.
With the barriers to entry so low, you really need to consider diverting some of your resources to building a branded site on a platform like Shopify or WooCommerce.
Are you ready to get into the website building game? If you are going to do that or “need” to do that as a safety blanket for the FBA biz model, why not look at lead gen?
Generating leads is a highly technical skill. So much so, billion dollar publicly listed companies are built around that business model.
Ever heard of HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack or Angie’s List?
Front page of Google has 10 spots. There’s your competition.
TEN.
And once you are ranked, it’s hard to get knocked off. That’s why the skillz to do it are highly valuable.
How many local business owners have the skills to rank a website? Or have someone they are paying to work on their website.
You think Timmy the tree guy is an expert cutting up his online competition?
[Course Creator’s First Name]’s Course is works, but Generating Leads is Better, Here’s Why:
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This is me and Ippei chillin at our Air-bnb we stayed in the Bay area for 2 weeks.
