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What You Need to Know Before Selling on Tik Tok Shop

Introduction

Hey everyone, welcome back to my channel! If you’re new here, hey hey hello! My name is Lauren. Today’s video is all about Tik Tok Shop and what you need to know if you’re considering trying it out for your small business. Let’s dive in!

Introduction to Tik Tok Shop

First off, you should know Tik Tok Shop is very, very new. There are bound to be problems and things that don’t work. Tik Tok Shop is still figuring things out, and they’re growing perhaps faster than they can manage. While that’s great for them, it’s not always the best for us small business owners trying to grow our businesses too.

Discounts and Sales

One of the first things small businesses don’t understand is how Tik Tok Shop handles discounts and sales. You might have seen offers like getting a sweatshirt for a cent or free shipping and wondered how they can offer products at such low prices. It’s actually Tik Tok Shop who is offering those discounts or free shipping, not the business. This means the business is still making its money from sales while Tik Tok Shop covers the discount costs.

These crazy deals are likely temporary, so capitalize on them now while you can because they won’t last forever. Tik Tok Shop is trying to bring in more shoppers and get people used to the platform.

Shipping Policy

Let’s talk about the shipping policy. Tik Tok Shop requires that you ship your product within three business days. This doesn’t just mean printing out a label; the package must be in the hands of the post office and marked as in transit. Otherwise, it doesn’t count, and Tik Tok gets mad about it.

It’s advisable to give yourself a maximum of two business days to get the package to the post office. This way, you have an extra day for the post office system to start tracking the package, making things a lot safer for you. Tik Tok Shop can automatically refund customers if you don’t meet their shipping time frame, which can result in a loss of money.

You can’t sell copyrighted items on Tik Tok Shop. There was a recent crackdown where many shops got shut down for listing items with words like “Grinch” or “Disney” in their products. Some people get away with not naming these items in their titles, but it’s still illegal and risky. Avoid using words like “dup” as well to prevent losing your shop or your money.

Payout Schedule

Now, let's discuss the payout schedule. Originally, Tik Tok Shop paid 15 days after product delivery. The wait time has now been reduced to 8 days after delivery. While better, it still means waiting a while to see funds from your sales. This can be challenging if you need to recoup funds quickly to keep your business running. The payout schedule can eventually improve as you meet certain criteria, like selling a certain amount or avoiding cancellations.

Inventory Management

Made-to-order items are tough to manage on Tik Tok Shop because of the tight shipping deadlines. In-stock and pre-made inventory items are the best to sell. If you have a lot of ready-made products, these are perfect to list on Tik Tok Shop.

Customer Support

Lastly, the customer support on Tik Tok Shop is lacking. Their live agent chat system is often ineffective, and getting a hold of real people is difficult. You might have to be very patient or try to resolve issues on your own. The support quality isn’t there yet, and it can be frustrating.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tik Tok Shop has both pros and cons. It can make you a lot of money, but it also has a lot of growing to do in terms of platform reliability and support. As a small business owner, you need to weigh these factors before deciding to sell on Tik Tok Shop.

Keyword

  • Tik Tok Shop
  • Small Business
  • Discounts
  • Sales
  • Shipping Policy
  • Copyright Issues
  • Payout Schedule
  • Inventory Management
  • Customer Support

FAQ

Q: How new is Tik Tok Shop?
A: Tik Tok Shop is very new and still figuring things out, so expect some issues and growing pains.

Q: Who covers the discounts and free shipping on Tik Tok Shop?
A: Tik Tok Shop covers the costs of discounts and free shipping, not the small businesses.

Q: What is the shipping requirement for sellers?
A: Sellers must ship their products within three business days, and the packages have to be marked as in transit by the post office.

Q: Can I sell copyrighted items on Tik Tok Shop?
A: No, selling copyrighted items like “Grinch” or “Disney” products are not allowed.

Q: What is the payout schedule for Tik Tok Shop?
A: You get your payout 8 days after the product is delivered, although it was previously 15 days.

Q: Is made-to-order a good option for selling on Tik Tok Shop?
A: Made-to-order is challenging due to tight shipping deadlines; in-stock inventory is usually a better option.

Q: How is customer support on Tik Tok Shop?
A: Customer support is weak and often involves bots or chat systems that are not very helpful.

That’s all for this article! If you have any specific questions about Tik Tok Shop, feel free to leave them in the comments. I'm thinking of doing a follow-up video to address your queries in detail. Cheers to your business success!

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