Navigating the New Landscape of Merch by Amazon's BSR Ranking
Sep 16, 2023
Key Takeaways
The recent restructuring of the Best Seller Rank (BSR) on Merch by Amazon, including the introduction of the "Climate Pledge Friendly" category, has altered the way BSR reflects a product's sales velocity, making it imperative for sellers to adjust their research strategies.
Sellers need to account for the new Climate Pledge Friendly badge when evaluating BSR, as products within this category may present misleading BSR values in comparison to their actual sales performance.
Staying updated on evolving features like the Climate Pledge Friendly category and adjusting metrics accordingly will be crucial for sellers to accurately gauge product popularity and make informed decisions in this new landscape.
Unpacking the Changes
If you're in the business of selling products on Merch by Amazon, you've likely come across the term BSR or Best Seller Rank. It's an essential indicator used to gauge the popularity and sales velocity of a product. However, a recent overhaul in the way BSR is calculated and categorized has left many sellers scratching their heads. This article aims to clarify these changes and help you adapt your research strategies.
The Puzzling Trend: BSR Anomalies
In the past, a low BSR indicated high sales, often hundreds per day. For instance, a T-shirt with Halloween-themed gaming controllers recently showed a BSR of 8,000. Typically, this would suggest the product is flying off the shelves. However, the same product indicated only about 300 sales over the past month—roughly ten sales a day. Clearly, something doesn't add up.
Similarly, a Breast Cancer Awareness shirt displayed a 10,000 BSR, which would normally signify excellent sales. But the month's total sales were only around 200, averaging to seven or eight per day. These anomalies have puzzled many, but there seems to be a reason behind them.
The Climate Pledge Friendly Factor
Amazon has introduced a new feature labeled "Climate Pledge Friendly" on some Merch listings. Interestingly, products with this label seem to have their BSRs calculated within this sub-category, rather than the broader one they would usually fall under.
In other words, the BSR of a product in the Climate Pledge Friendly category is relative to fewer products, making the BSR appear much lower (better) than it would in a broader category. For example, a 10,000 BSR in this new category might equate to what we previously understood as a 100,000 BSR in a more general category.
What This Means for Sellers
The introduction of the Climate Pledge Friendly category has made BSR a less reliable indicator of a product's actual popularity. Sellers conducting product research now need to factor in this new category. If a product has the Climate Pledge Friendly badge, the BSR may be inflated in terms of its actual sales performance. You'll need to dig a little deeper into the specifics to get an accurate read on how well a product is truly doing.
How to Adapt
Pay Attention to Badges: Always check if a product has the Climate Pledge Friendly badge. If it does, the BSR may be less valuable than it appears.
Adjust Your Metrics: When comparing products, make sure you're comparing like with like—either all products within the Climate Pledge Friendly category or all products outside it.
Keep an Eye on Updates: This is a new and evolving feature. Amazon may expand or modify this category, which could further impact BSR calculations.
Conclusion
The changes in how BSR is calculated on Merch by Amazon have made it imperative for sellers to adapt their research and evaluation methods. While the new Climate Pledge Friendly category introduces a layer of complexity, understanding its impact allows for more informed decision-making. As this feature is still relatively new, sellers should continue to monitor any further changes to stay ahead of the curve.
If you have additional insights, theories, or questions about these changes, feel free to share them in the comments. The landscape is ever-changing, and collective wisdom can go a long way in navigating it successfully.
