r/ecommerce Mar 04 '25

Welcome to r/ecommerce! Please Read Before Posting

12 Upvotes

Table of Contents:

I. Account Requirements

II. Content Rules

III. Linking Policies

IV. Dropshipping Guidelines

V. Reporting Violations

VI. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

VII. Encouraged Content

I. Account Requirements

To prevent spam and ensure quality contributions, r/ecommerce requires:

  • A Reddit account age of 10 days.
  • A minimum Reddit comment karma score of 10.

There are no exceptions. Please do not contact moderators for exceptions.

II. Content Rules

  1. No Self-Promotion:
  • Do not solicit, promote, or attempt to enlist personal contact with users in any way.
  • This includes posts, DM requests, invitations, referrals, or any attempt to initiate personal contact.
  • Your post/comment will be removed, and you will be banned.
  • Examples of promotion include but are not limited to: Subtly mentioning your brand, using a post to drive traffic to a separate platform, or offering services.
  1. No External Links (Except Site Reviews):
  • Do not post links to services, blogs, videos, courses, or websites (see Section III for site review exceptions).
  • App reviews are not allowed.
  • Do not link to your YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, or other pages.
  1. No 3PL Recommendation Threads:
  • These threads are repetitive and often promotional. Refer to previous threads.
  1. No "Get Rich Quick" or Blogspam Posts:
  • Do not post "We turned $XXX into $XXX in 4 Weeks - Here's How," How-To Guides, "Top 5 Ways You Can..." lists, success stories, or other blogspam.
  1. No "Dev Research" Posts:
  • Posts seeking "pain points," app validation ideas, or feedback on app/software ideas are not allowed.
  1. No "What Should I Sell?" Posts:
  • Do not ask what products you should sell.
  1. No Sales, Partnerships, or Trades:
  • Do not offer your site, course, theme, socials, or anything related for sale, partnership, or trade (even if free).
  • Discussion about selling your site is also prohibited.
  1. No Unsolicited AMAs:
  • Unsolicited "Ask Me Anything" posts are rarely approved, except for highly visible industry veterans.
  1. Civil Behavior Required:
  • Be civil and adult at all times.
  • This includes no hate speech, threats, racism, doxing, excessive profanity, insults, persistent negativity, or derailing discussions.
  1. No Duplicate Posts:
  • Search the sub before posting to avoid duplicate posts.
  1. Affiliate Link Policy:
  • Affiliate links are generally prohibited, as they often blur the line between helpful content and promotion.

III. Linking Policies

  • Posting a link to your ecommerce site for review or troubleshooting is allowed and encouraged.
  • Please use the included template for site feedback requests.
  • All other links are subject to Section II-2.

Site Feedback Request Template:

  • Site URL:
  • Specific Areas for Feedback: (e.g., design, usability, product pages)
  • Target Audience:

IV. Dropshipping Guidelines

V. Reporting Violations

To report a violation, use the "report" button and provide specific details. Include a link to the offending content and explain the rule violation.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Brand new FAQ post coming soon!

VII. Encouraged Content

  • Case studies.
  • Discussions of new trends.
  • In-depth analyses.
  • Weekly "Wins/Struggles" thread.
  • Beginner's Questions thread.
  • Moderated "resource sharing" threads.
  • Discussions involving approved vendors.

Moderation Process:

  • Moderators will remove posts and comments that violate these rules.
  • Appeals can be sent via modmail.
  • If you believe you can add value to the subreddit, please send a modmail mentioning what value you will add, your experience with ecommerce, and we can review your request to be added as a Moderator to the community,

Important Notes:

  • These rules are subject to change.
  • This sticky post will be updated periodically.
  • Table of Contents:

I. Account Requirements

II. Content Rules

III. Linking Policies

IV. Dropshipping Guidelines

V. Reporting Violations

VI. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

VII. Encouraged Content


r/ecommerce 9h ago

3PL Recommendations in EU/US?

7 Upvotes

Do you have any 3PL recommendation for fulfilment in the EU and the US (can be different companies).

Any companies to stay away from?


r/ecommerce 1h ago

What is this PayPal PCI DSS? I am in Australia.

Upvotes

Firstly I am in Australia.

PayPal has been hounding me to provide all this information to them about how I process and store card data. They ask about my in store policies and my website policies.

Is this stuff all mandatory? They want to do network scan of my business and my website etc.

The thing is I don’t handle card data at all. On my website I use PayPal only handles by their own PayPal plugin in woocommerce.

In store I only use square and store no card details at all which again is outside of my control.

Do I have to comply with all these requests and a scan every 90 days etc? It’s super complicated and asking me about their encryption methods and honestly PayPal or square are the ones handling it.

It’s why I use them.

PayPal’s own website says let us handle it. So why are they hounding me for all this information.

https://www.paypal.com/au/webapps/mpp/pci-compliance


r/ecommerce 3h ago

3D printers for "small-scale" manufacturing

1 Upvotes

What do you think about the possibility of getting a 3D printer to meet small-scale manufacturing needs and escape these ridiculous tariffs? Is it reasonable to make the last tariff one pays the tariffs on a 3D printer? Just musing aloud.


r/ecommerce 7h ago

Helping Ecom Stores Track Competitor Prices

2 Upvotes

I’ve been building a competitor price analysis tool to help ecom stores easily track their competitors prices. Right now, I’m working with one store and it’s been really helpful for them to spot pricing opportunities without having to manually check other sites all the time.

I’m looking to improve the tool based on real needs. If you’re an ecom store owner and think competitor price tracking could help you, I’d be happy to build something tailored exactly to your needs for free.

No catch or sales pitch just trying to make something genuinely useful. Feel free to DM me if you’re interested or want to chat about it.


r/ecommerce 5h ago

manufacturer is based in the US - how will tariffs impact it?

0 Upvotes

Hey -

I've been testing out reselling some products on eBay / Amazon and it's been converting. It's a manufacturer in the US and I'm not sure how the tariffs will impact it.

Their manufacturing facilities are in Richmond VA and California -I think the price hike will happen from their costs for raw goods going up.

I think I'm at a point now where I can buy more in bulk and also expand out with my own domain / site and try some PPC -

What else should I look out for with tariffs coming?


r/ecommerce 18h ago

What does “exceptional customer service” really mean?

8 Upvotes

We often hear that the keys to success in e-commerce are a great product and exceptional customer service. But I’m curious … how do you define exceptional customer service?

Is it about fast response times? Is it having a helpful attitude? Is it about always saying yes and letting the customer win, even if they’re wrong? Or is it about setting clear boundaries and still leaving the customer feeling respected and valued? Maybe something else?

I’d love to hear how you define it … feel free to preface your answer with your perspective (e.g., customer, e-commerce owner, support rep, etc.) for context.


r/ecommerce 20h ago

With all these tariffs on Chinese imports, are US brands looking elsewhere?

9 Upvotes

I’m based in Australia and have been watching the new 50%+ tariffs on Chinese goods roll out in the US.

Out of interest, I ran the numbers on a typical health supplement:

  • From China, something that used to land for $80 is now pushing $123!
  • From Australia, it’s closer to $88 landed with a 10% tariff max
  • And with the Aussie dollar dropping 5% recently, USD is even stronger over here

Just seems like there’s a bit of a gap opening up, especially for US influencers or eComm brands.

Are these tariffs going to decimate the industry? Or are we seeing a slow but permanent shift away from this shipping from other countries type of industry?


r/ecommerce 12h ago

Amazon sponsored ad stopped converting

2 Upvotes

I added a new branded line to my Amazon store around Black Friday. It started taking off little by little. I started sponsored ad, it was converting. I felt pretty good about it. Then about second week in March, sponsored ad stopped converting and sales dropped off.

Why would ads convert, then not, only after a couple months?

P.S. my competitors are large companies with large pockets for advertising.


r/ecommerce 1h ago

Quit porn business

Upvotes

I want to help men quit their addictions to porn. I tried using YouTube and other social media platforms but the topic and words are constantly being pushed down or censored. I refuse to use other words like corn etc - what else can I do instead?


r/ecommerce 14h ago

How to find the specific keywords for ads...???

2 Upvotes

My e-commerce journey has been interesting and I don't regret much at all about it. I noticed early on that it is extremely evident that a seller can't seem to know what all the magic keywords are that will give the best success for conversion to a sell.

Was there a tool or something that a seller can know specifically for their own product which keywords for ads will lead to conversion to a sale?

It has been extremely evident that a seller can view their ad click cost search phrases and just sit there and pick out negative keywords to add to the negative keyword list for their ad because they see someone searched for something slightly unrelated. This has been easy to see how the cycle works.

This may be ok for big money ticket items but not for low ticket items. That process actually contributes to the degradation of the system. It's surprising how long the online marketplaces have been around and not caught on to this or adjusted for it. Are the online marketplaces not wanting new emerging quality brands? It's almost so bad and negative that it makes me want to shun it and provide only to select retailers.


r/ecommerce 2d ago

Donald Trump Ruined My Business

3.1k Upvotes

I’m an Amazon seller. I sell toys. My best selling product is made of steel and sourced from China. The U.S. doesn’t have a domestic toy market. Even with 200% tariffs it would still be cheaper for me to source from China instead of producing in the U.S.

My product was loaded onto the boat March 1st and I expected to pay 25% (Section 301 tariffs) + an additional 10% China tariff, and a 3% duty. The boat departed a day after Trump announced the additional 10% China tariffs(so now 20% or 48% total). My inventory still hasn’t arrived so who even knows how much I’ll be paying when it finally hits the port.

If I order again I will be paying 82% in tariffs(additional 34% tariffs from liberation day) My Chinese competitors frequently undervalue their shipments so it doesn’t affect them anywhere near as much as me.

I wonder how much of these tariffs i can claw back by pretending the Gulf of Mexico is called the Gulf of America.

Even those MAGA hats are made in China.

I don’t think any American teens are salivating at the thought of working in a coal mine or a sweatshop making shirts/shoes.

No smart business man is going to invest millions of dollars into the U.S. when our president has a bi polar economic policy changing his mind on tariffs every other week.

I guess this is what we get for electing someone who got a small loan of a billion dollars from his dad and still filed for bankruptcy 7 times.

I really feel bad for the lower class who now has to deal with the biggest tax hike in history. What happened to no taxation without representation?

I truly hate to get political but I’m near certain I’m going out of business.

Sorry for the rant.


r/ecommerce 15h ago

Will Paid Ads help??

1 Upvotes

Started a new brand in Women’s Health niche a few months ago but have no sales since then. I’m posting 1-2 videos every day on our TT & IG accounts, get 20-30 people every day to our website but they don’t convert. I’m thinking of trying paid ads but not sure if that will help. Some guys told me that if my product doesn’t sell organically then it won’t sell with paid ads as well. Looking at my competitors who are doing good monthly sales, I just don’t understand how they make sales as they don’t make much content and don’t run ads. What are your thoughts on this?


r/ecommerce 16h ago

Brands Approval

0 Upvotes

Can someone help to get brand approvals for the E-commerce like Amazon, Walmart and Ebay?


r/ecommerce 1d ago

Imports from China to EU getting cheaper

14 Upvotes

With Chinese exporters losing US as the major client, import prices are expected to drop. Anytging that would make sense to stock up now from China in EU and sell within EU later?


r/ecommerce 1d ago

Product Dilemma: Jewelry vs. Matcha Health Drink

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I'm looking for some advice on my next ecommerce move.

Background: I've been in ecommerce for a while, mainly running print-on-demand businesses with decent side income success. I recently closed my successful Etsy POD store and pivoted to a jewelry store on Etsy, which is performing okay so far.

Now I'm planning to launch a Shopify store, but I'm torn between two options:

Option 1: Jewelry Store

  • Already have a reliable supplier relationship
  • Established niche with a unique brand angle
  • Good profit margins
  • Could launch quickly with minimal setup
  • CONS: Marketing - although it has it's own brand angle, I'm not sure that I'd be great at marketing this, like I would marketing option 2

Option 2: Matcha Health Drink

  • I'm genuinely passionate about health and fitness
  • I drink this matcha daily and believe in the product
  • Have solid marketing ideas for Facebook/TikTok ads
  • Feel confident in my ability to create authentic content and killer ads
  • Product is more unique and I see huge potential for it, I think we're very early re health products
  • CONS: Still researching the market, only have a white label supplier so far

Both health products and jewelry are competitive niches, so I know neither path will be easy, but would really appreciate hearing your thoughts and experiences!

Thanks all! <3


r/ecommerce 15h ago

How to save your business post Donald Trump Madness

0 Upvotes

Let your customers send stuff back.

No, not returns.
Take-backs.

Here’s how it works:
🔁 They send you their old stuff.
🎟️ You give them store credit.
📦 You just got free inventory. Which you can use to mitigate the rising cost of new inventory

And that’s not all.

Now when they come back to spend that credit?
Boom — second order, lower CAC.

You’re solving two problems in one move:

  1. Inventory you don’t have to import from China.
  2. A repeat customer without spending on ads.

Yes, there’s some ops involved.
But the math? It checks out.

Take-back is the comeback.
For your margins.
For your marketing.
And for a smarter future in e-com.


r/ecommerce 1d ago

Shopify -> Amazon Sellers: How do you handle product data differences?

2 Upvotes

currently selling on Shopify and looking to expand to Amazon. I'm finding the differences in required fields, category specifics, and image rules between the platforms pretty challenging to manage efficiently. For those who've done this, how do you streamline the process? Are you using specific tools, spreadsheets, VAs, or just manual grind?


r/ecommerce 1d ago

Meta/IG Shop: Preorders not working?

2 Upvotes

Hey! We’re experiencing mass cancellation of orders through Meta/Facebook sales channels due to orders not being fulfilled within 30 days.

We run webstores for Bands through Shopify and push out products to various sales channels based on client needs (Spotify for Artists, Online Store, etc). I’ve run through all of the documentation on Meta surrounding preorders and I cannot seem to figure out how to add in the preorder_fulfillment_date field for our products.

I’ve also tried to set up a supplementary feed, successfully altered products based on their ID, but I cannot figure out how to get Meta to recognize these products as preorder. Additionally, I’ve tried adding in meta fields within the product and variants of Shopify but MetaCommerce does not recognize those either.

Is there something I’m missing here?

Thanks in advance!


r/ecommerce 1d ago

Ecom newbie

3 Upvotes

I want to get started in ECOM. Some suggestions would be appreciated


r/ecommerce 1d ago

Where do you find cardboard boxes and packaging for cheap in Australia?

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone, Im selling desktop tower computers (Australia based) and Im planning to expand my business to outside of my city.

I've already looked online at a few stores and they seem to be either b2c prices or a rediculous minimum order quantity to get the smallest discount.


r/ecommerce 1d ago

Annual & Monthly Budget Excel Template

2 Upvotes

I’ve spent an incredible amount of time working on this Sheet , and I’m excited to finally share it with you. It’s designed to make managing your financials easier while giving you full control over your money. Whether you’re tracking monthly expenses, planning your savings, or analyzing your spending habits, this is your all-in-one solution.

Dashboard Features

Period Selection

Easily choose a specific month or view the entire year using the dropdown menu. The dashboard dynamically updates to reflect the selected period, keeping your data relevant and up-to-date.

Income Allocation

Track your total earnings for the selected period and see exactly how your income is distributed across expenses, bills, and savings. It’s a simple way to understand where your money is going.

Budget Breakdown

Compare your planned versus actual amounts for income, expenses, and savings. This feature provides clear insights into your financial performance, helping you stay on track.

Notifications

Stay on top of unpaid bills and due dates with dynamic alerts. These notifications adjust automatically based on the month you’ve selected, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.

Expense Analysis

Monitor your spending with precision. See how your actual spending compares to your budget in key categories. Color-coded visuals make it easy to spot overspending or areas where you’ve saved.

Insights

Get a quick overview of your budget versus actual performance. Dive deeper into your income sources and spending patterns to make smarter financial decisions.

⚙ Customizing Your Data

Budget Tab

Easily input and adjust your monthly or yearly budget. Any changes you make here will automatically update the dashboard, keeping everything in sync.

Actual Flow Tab

Record your income, expenses, and bills in real time. You can even filter data by category, subcategory, or month for a more detailed view of your financial activity.

This template is designed to give you complete control over your finances while making it simple to track, adjust, and analyze your budget. Whether you’re looking to save more or understand your spending habits, this tool has you covered!

Images can be seen here

Here's a basic version of it in Google sheets: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ex2Frh4X7IH-PMi5eYt_No02iZ-n0hX6/edit?gid=334348482#gid=334348482

You can get the premium Version here: https://www.patreon.com/c/extra_illustrator_/shop

I hope it makes managing your Finances a little easier!


r/ecommerce 1d ago

Question about licensing stuff to make my business legal

0 Upvotes

I've got a brilliant idea for a clothing brand. I'll be using Shopify and Printify (for the shirts/whatnot) If it picks up, I'll use something better than that for the clothing. I need some advice on what I should do to legally start an online e-commerce business. Do I need to file for a LLC? Are there certain licenses I need to file for, for the business? I'm in the state of Tennessee if that helps at all. I have no clue what I'm doing on this side of starting a business.


r/ecommerce 1d ago

Not an ecommerce site, but want to sell one or two products

0 Upvotes

Hi, we're in Canada and managed a site for writers, built on Wix. It's not a store, and contains unique interviews, articles etc; a podcast is coming soon. Traffic is doing really well, and so is social media.

A while ago we created a unique books design (it doesn't carry our branding) made by a professional designer. It's a cool design and well-written, praising the benefits of books and all they give readers. We're thinking about selling it on our site on tees, hoodies, and tote bags. We're don't want to run a store, partly because that's not our objecive, and also because of the VAT issues selling into the UK and some other countires, and the pain/cost of accountants etc - so this rules out using Printful, Printify, Gelato, etc.

From all the research I've done, the only option appears to be Etsy. We're not specifically looking for Etsy shoppers; instead we'd like an efficient POD solution with a platform with a Wix app that pays international VAT on low-cost physical goods. Am I correct in concluding that Etsy might be the only option? Any thoughts/ideas would be welcome.

Thanks!


r/ecommerce 1d ago

How do these tariffs work?

1 Upvotes

where and how do they get charged. For example I have products coming from China currently on a boat. Is the IRS going to send me a bill when they arrive at the port? How does this work?


r/ecommerce 1d ago

Tariff surcharge as a separate line item

0 Upvotes

I've heard reports on the news about some companies talking about adding a separate line charge for the additional tariff tax. How would you calculate this and pass it on without giving away your cost on the item? How would you describe this charge? Is anyone actively doing this in their course of business? TIA.