Sourcing

Overview

The Source Module is used for finding reliable, in-stock, and profitable products. The module first checks for the presence of over 200 stores in AP's Item Finder. If 200 stores are not present it will find stores using your supplied dropshippers in your dropshippers.txt file. Once 200 stores are present the module will move into sourcing product. It will check each product directly on Amazon to ensure it matches your configured filters, as well as a number of other checks to ensure only quality products are sourced. After AP Buddy finishes sourcing from a store, it will be deleted from AP's Item Finder.

To ensure you never need to manually add stores AP Buddy uses your dropshippers.txt file to find more stores. It takes the first store from the file, and then researches listed products to find more dropshippers. From there stores are added to AP's Item Finder and sourced from. After sourcing from said store, the store is removed from the Item Finder. This system ensures a constant loop of fresh products, provided your Dropshippers.txt file is filled.

Product Checks

AP Buddy checks for a number of common issues before deciding a product is worth sourcing. All checks with a brief description are included below.

• Page Not Found/Item Not Available

If an item returns the Amazon dogs, and/or a Page Not Found page, the item will not be selected for import.

• Banned Products

AP Buddy includes a configurable Banned Products list, where keywords can be added. If these keywords are found in the product title the item will not be selected for import. You can find the banned products list in the Check Profit section of your config window (it also works for Check Profit!).

• Price Doesn't Match

If the price doesn't match what AP has stored, the item will not be selected for import. This prevents issues with miscalculated profit margins that ultimately can lead to a loss.

• Can't Be Shipped

AP Buddy allows a Zip Code to be configured (typically set to a California Zip Code to cover Prop 65). This ZIP Code can indicate if an item can't be shipped to the given location. If it can't the item will not be selected for import. This option can be configured under the Check Profit section of your config window (it works for Check Profit too!).

• High Return Rate

If an item is found to have a high return rate, it will not be selected for import. This option can be enabled/disabled under the Check Profit section of your config window (it works for Check Profit too!).

• Kindle Item

If an item is found to be a Kindle item, it will not be selected for import.

• Amazon Fresh Only

If an item is found to only be delivered via Amazon Fresh it will not be selected for import.

• Minimum Quantity Requirement

If an item has a minimum quantity requirement per order, it will not be selected for import.

Configuration Guide

Find Stores

• Minimum Feedback : The minimum feedback score required for a seller to be added to the Item Finder. (Recommendation: 500+)

• Minimum Quantity Sold : The minimum quantity an item must have sold for it to be used to find more sellers. (Recommendation: 2+)

• Skip Store Finding & Refresh : Skips initial updating of stores in AP and initial finding of new stores to source from. This is useful to speed up sourcing by a slight amount, and/or for ensuring AP Buddy only sources from stores you specifically add to AP yourself.

  • Note: If AP Buddy runs out of stores before finding the targetted sourcing amount, it will attempt to find new stores in an effort to reach the desired sourcing amount, regardless of this setting.

Source

• Minimum Price : The minimum retail price of products to source. Prices below this will not be added to import list.

• Maximum Price : The maximum retail price of products to source. Prices above this will not be added to import list.

• Minimum Sold Quantity : The minimum quantity sold for an item to be considered for addition to the import list. (Recommendation: 2+)

• Minimum Total Products : The minimum number of products AP Buddy should add to your import list.

• Clear Import List Before Sourcing : Clears your import list before sourcing. Not clearing can lead to products with errors to stack up, preventing sourcing and listing reaching configured targes. (Recommendation: Enabled)

• Open Dropshippers File : Opens your dropshippers.txt file.

Dropshippers File

The dropshippers file is used by AP Buddy as a springboard for finding more stores. Without at least one store, AP Buddy will not have the means to find additional stores. Only a few stores is necessary for functionality, but more stores will lead to a greater diversity of products sourced, as AP Buddy uses the listings on these stores to 'snowball' its way into more stores.