Scout is a web-based research tool within Stratify. Using Scout allows you to see category, rank, and fee details about a product to assist with making inventory purchasing decisions.

 

To utilize Scout, log-in to InventoryLab, hover over the Research drop-down, and choose Scout.

 

 

 

Searching the Catalog

Once you are in Scout, you can search the Amazon Catalog by ASIN, Title, or UPC (can be scanned or typed in.)

 

Simply enter the information into the search bar in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

 

 

 

The search results will appear on the page.

 

 

 

At this point, you have a few options. If you know which item you want to list against simply choose Select. If you want to do additional research, click on the image to be taken to the detailed product listing on Amazon (this opens in a new tab).

 

If you choose a listing by clicking Select and then determine it is not the correct one, you can hit the Scout link in the top left and return to the search results.

 

 

 

Product Lookup

 

Category, Sales Rank, & Offers 

Category, Sales Rank, and Offers are shown on both the search results screen and the detailed item information page.

 

 

 

The detailed information page also includes information on prep that is required for the item and the size tier of the item.

 

 

 

 

Buy Box/Amazon

InventoryLab displays icons that will show you which offer is in the Buy Box and which offer, if any, is likely from Amazon.  

 

 

 

 

Conditions

The first two columns in the Offers display shows New and Used merchant-fulfilled offers. The last column shows FBA. Different icons give a further breakdown of conditions in the MFN Used column and the FBA column:

 

N – The product for this offer is in New condition
LN – The product for this offer is in Like New condition
VG – The product for this offer is in Very Good condition
G – The product for this offer is in Good condition
A – The product for this offer is in Acceptable condition
CLN – The product for this offer is in Collectable Like New condition
CVG – The product for this offer is in Collectable Very Good condition
CG – The product for this offer is in Collectable Good condition
CA -The product for this offer is in Collectable Acceptable condition

 

Note that not all of the offers for the product are always displayed in this table. The Amazon API provides offers that they deem as competitive to display. Their terms and conditions for 3rd party applications, like InventoryLab, prevent us from being allowed to show all of the offers directly inside of our application.

 

 

Profit Calculator

After selecting an item from search results in Scout, the profit calculator appears. The calculator can help you make purchasing decisions based on fees and expenses. You can choose to calculate the base profit as MFN or FBA so the appropriate fees will be taken into account. You also have the option to click any of the FBA or MFN prices to automatically populate into the List Price area.

 

 

Product Research Links

 Scout provides you with convenient access to a list of icons and URL links that you may want to use during product research. You will also see any custom ASIN shortcuts you have added. 

 

 

Bookscouter – A book buyback site

eBay – Links to the search results based on the title of the product

Google – Links to the search results for the title of the product

CamelCamelCamel – Links to any sales price/rank history that is available for the ASIN

Prime Comparison – Links to the page on Amazon showing all of the current Prime offers for the ASIN

Amazon Restriction Tool - Links to Seller Central Add a Product page to check on Restrictions for this item

Custom ASIN Shortcuts - Custom shortcuts created by you that allow you to search by ASIN on a website of your choice. To create custom shortcuts, check out this step by step guide: Setting Up Custom ASIN Shortcuts

 

Projected Storage Fees Graph

The Projected Storage Fees graph shows you the projected storage fees and your projected profitability of an ASIN over a 24-month time period at a certain list price.

For information on how to use this graph, check out the below help article:

Scout Research – Using the Projected Storage Fees Graph