Seller Knowledge Hub

MarginMate Academy

Browse our library of 50+ strategies on sourcing, pricing, fees, and marketing.

Platform Guide

Amazon FBA vs. FBM

Rising storage fees in 2025 might make FBM the more profitable choice. We break down the math.

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Platform Guide

TikTok Shop Hidden Costs

The days of 2% fees are over. Learn about the new commission structure and affiliate costs.

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Platform Guide

Shopee vs. Lazada Fees

Comparing transaction fees, free shipping programs, and commissions in Southeast Asia.

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Platform Guide

Is eBay Dropshipping Dead?

A real breakdown of Final Value Fees and why low-margin dropshipping often fails in 2025.

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Platform Guide

Etsy Pricing Guide

How to factor in the $0.20 listing fee, transaction fees, and Offsite Ads into your handmade prices.

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Platform Guide

Walmart vs. Amazon

Is Walmart Marketplace finally a cheaper alternative? We compare WFS storage fees vs Amazon FBA.

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Platform Guide

Shopify vs. Marketplaces

Rent vs. Own: When does the cost of driving your own traffic become cheaper than Amazon fees?

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Safety Guide

Avoid Facebook Scams

Google Voice codes, fake Zelle payments, and courier scams. How to sell locally without losing money.

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International

Global Selling Fees

Understanding VAT, Import Duties, and the 2025 changes to "De Minimis" thresholds in the EU.

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Psychology

The Power of $0.99

Why the "Left-Digit Effect" still works and when you should actually use rounded numbers instead.

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Psychology

The Decoy Effect

How to use a 3rd "dummy" option to push customers toward your most expensive product.

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Psychology

Anchor Pricing Strategy

How to create a high reference point (MSRP) to make your selling price look like a steal.

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Psychology

The Free Shipping Trap

Should you raise the price to offer free shipping? The math behind conversion vs. margin.

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Psychology

Bundle Pricing Strategy

How to increase profit and Average Order Value (AOV) by selling sets instead of singles.

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Strategy

Dynamic Pricing

When (and why) to change your prices daily using supply, demand, and algorithmic repricers.

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Strategy

How to Raise Prices

A guide to increasing your margins without angering your existing customer base.

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Branding

Luxury Pricing Tactics

How to charge a premium for a standard product using "The $200 Rule" and exclusivity.

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Copywriting

5 Words That Justify Price

"Artisanal", "Curated", and other powerful words that psychologically justify a higher price tag.

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Warning

Race to the Bottom

Why being the cheapest seller usually leads to bankruptcy, and how to avoid the price war.

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Sourcing

Alibaba vs. AliExpress

Bulk vs. Dropshipping. Which platform is right for your current business stage?

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Sourcing

What is MOQ?

Understanding "Minimum Order Quantity" and 3 tactics to negotiate it down.

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Business Model

Private Label vs. White Label

Building a brand vs. selling generics. Which model fits your budget and timeline?

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Logistics

Shipping vs. Volumetric Weight

The "hidden killer" of e-commerce profits. How to calculate Dimensional Weight.

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Sourcing

Finding Local Suppliers

Why sourcing domestically might be cheaper than China once you factor in speed and customs.

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Branding

Custom Packaging: Worth It?

Does a fancy unboxing experience actually increase ROI, or is it just a waste of margin?

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Logistics

Incoterms Simplified

EXW, FOB, DDP. What they mean, who pays for shipping, and which one beginners should choose.

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Risk

Quality Control Guide

How to inspect your goods in China before paying the balance. The 30/70 payment rule.

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Operations

Inventory Management 101

How to calculate your reorder point so you never run out of stock or pay long-term storage fees.

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Myths

Dropshipping Myths

The real costs of "passive income." Why dropshipping is actually harder than holding inventory.

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Financial Health

Gross vs. Net Profit

The "Gross Profit Trap" kills businesses. Stop celebrating sales revenue and start tracking what you actually keep.

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Analysis

Break-Even Point

Calculate exactly how many units you must sell to survive. The difference between fixed and variable costs.

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Checklist

The Hidden Fees Checklist

10 phantom costs like storage, disposal, and currency conversion that eat your margins when you aren't looking.

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Strategy

ROI vs. Margin

Which metric matters more? When to chase high ROI for growth vs. high Margin for safety.

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Financial Health

Cash Flow Management

Why profitable sellers go broke. Understanding the "Cash Conversion Cycle" and inventory traps.

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Loss Prevention

Cost of Returns

A return is a double cost. Calculating your true refund rate and how to minimize the damage.

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Operations

When to Hire Help

Stop working for free. How to calculate the opportunity cost of your own labor and when to hire a VA.

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Legal

Tax Basics for Sellers

Sales Tax vs. VAT vs. Income Tax. Understanding your obligations so you don't panic in April.

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Benchmarks

The 30% Rule

What is a "Healthy" Profit Margin? Benchmarks for Private Label, Wholesale, and Dropshipping.

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Marketing Math

Ad Spend ROI & CPC

Don't guess your bids. How to calculate your "Max Cost Per Click" based on conversion rate.

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Marketing

Algorithm Secrets

How to rank on Amazon & TikTok in 2025. Why "Sales Velocity" and External Traffic matter more than keywords.

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SEO Strategy

SEO for Product Titles

The "Mobile First" character limit and the exact formula to rank on page 1 without keyword stuffing.

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Creative

Photography on a Budget

How to take pure white background photos using your iPhone and a $10 poster board setup.

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Conversion

Copywriting 101

Turn browsers into buyers using the "So What?" test and addressing customer pain points directly.

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Social Commerce

TikTok: Organic vs. Paid

Should you grind for viral views or pay for traffic? A breakdown of Spark Ads vs. Organic reach.

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Influencers

Influencer Marketing ROI

How to track sales using discount codes and calculate if an influencer is actually worth the cost.

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Ad Creative

UGC vs. Pro Ads

Why "Low Fidelity" content filmed on a phone builds more trust and sells better than studio ads.

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Retention

Email Marketing Guide

How to get repeat customers for free using automated "Welcome" and "Post-Purchase" flows.

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Reputation

Handling Bad Reviews

Turning 1-star ratings into opportunities by using the "Public Reply" strategy to win trust.

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Q4 Strategy

Black Friday Pricing

Prepare your anchor prices and inventory now so you don't destroy your margin during Cyber Week.

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Profit Strategy

Cross-Selling Strategy

How to use "Frequently Bought Together" and the 25% Rule to boost Average Order Value (AOV).

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