Seller Central vs Vendor Central: What's the Difference?

What is the difference between Seller Central and Vendor Central?

Vendor Central and Seller Central are two of the most popular platforms for selling products on Amazon. These marketplaces have different rules, requirements, and benefits. They are different in how products are listed and sold. They offer different opportunities and benefits. It can be confusing to know which is right for your business. 

So what's the difference between the two? Here's a breakdown of the key differences that you should look at. 

What is Vendor Central?

Vendor Central is a business-to-business e-commerce platform created by Amazon. It allows businesses to sell and buy products from each other. Vendor Central is invitation-only, and businesses must be approved by Amazon before they can use the platform. The platform offers a wide variety of products, including clothing, electronics, and home goods. 

Vendors who sell on Vendor Central can take advantage of Amazon's world-class logistics infrastructure and customer base. It provides a central location for businesses to store information about their suppliers and manufacturers, as well as access product data and supplier pricing.

What is Seller Central?

Seller Central is a comprehensive tool that enables merchants to manage their Amazon sales and inventory. With Seller Central, businesses can track orders, manage shipping, view payments and settlement information, and more. Unlike Vendor Central, you can sell all your products directly to the customer and there is no need for a third party between you and your customers.

Seller Central is Amazon's online interface for businesses that sell products on the site. It gives sellers access to a range of tools and resources to help them manage their sales, orders, and shipping. In addition, Seller Central provides merchants with insights into their sales data and customer demographics. The program also offers a variety of tools and resources to help businesses grow their online presence.

The difference between Vendor Central and Seller Central:

The difference between Vendor Central and Seller Central is...

1. Selling method

• As a Vendor Central, you have to sell your products through Amazon's distributors, you cannot sell them directly. Though people blindly trust Amazon and purchase whatever they recommend without question or second thought.
• If you're the Seller Central at Amazon, it is easy to sell all your products without any third party. You can still sell all of them directly to customers through the website's standard mechanisms for listing items in their catalogues.
   

2.  Payment

• Once you are a vendor, then Amazon will handle all of the payments. You can sell your products through Amazon's marketplace without worrying about payment because they will automatically send them over once the sale is complete.
• Seller Central is known for being faster with payments and is a lot easier. Sellers who are Seller Central on Amazon will get their payments faster than vendors. 

3. Price control

• You are a dependent seller if you're the vendor. So, there's no control over price in your hands - it all goes through Amazon’s distributors!
• You are an independent seller if you are a Seller Central to Amazon. As an independent seller on Amazon's platform, you have access to certain benefits that other retailers do not offer. You also have complete control of your pricing and product offerings.

4.  Marketing strategy

• As an Amazon vendor, you don't need to worry about your product marketing. Amazon does all the marketing about the products and oversees all marketing operations.
• Amazon won't be your marketing partner if you are a Seller Central to Amazon. You have to market your products.

5.  Logistics and shipment control

• Amazon is responsible for all logistic works and shipment processes with vendors.
• As a Seller Central of Amazon, you are in full control of how much product is to be sent in and the shipment processes.