E611: How He Became The Largest Amazon Seller Without Using FBA
The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast
Release Date: 08/13/2025
E628: Don't Trust Your Suppliers? This Can Help
The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast
In this episode, Mike Babbitt from Synovus is on the podcast to talk about the inherent risks associated with importing goods, and how you can reduce that risk especially when starting with new suppliers. He shares various strategies to illustrate these challenges, and the importance of understanding the international trade landscape. Mike Babbitt, Synovus’s Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance Origination, is on the podcast today to talk about the various risks that importers (and exporters) are facing in 2025 and 2026 and how you as an importer can protect yourself when...
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E627: Big Changes in Amazon Software this Year
The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast
Amazon software has changed a lot recently. AI tools, reimbursement services, and product launch software have all been affected in the past year with Amazon suddenly introducing their own tools and undercutting these services. Grab a chance to win an annual membership to Ecomcrew Premium by The Big Takeaway Amazon software has gone through some massive changes this year. Helium 10's affiliate program has eliminated lifetime commissions. Jungle Scout has shifted focus to enterprise customers. Amazon's new reimbursement policies have greatly affected third-party...
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E626: How Fake Reviews Work Off-Amazon
The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast
Dave interviews Allyse Slocum, the VP of Product @ Trustpilot, to talk about how fake reviews and review manipulation affect independent review platforms like Trustpilot. They explore how Trustpilot works, the difference between store and product reviews, and how Trustpilot handles fake reviews. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and...
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E625: Ecom Bubble Pop? Pattern Group Posts Major Losses
The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast
Dave discusses the recent IPO and earnings of Pattern Group, the biggest Amazon seller in the world. He highlights their significant losses and unique business model as exclusive brand partners for big brands like Pandora. He delves into their financial reports to see if they'll be profitable in the future, using their growth projections. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC,...
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E624: 5 Tips to Reduce Returns (and Save Margins)
The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast
Amazon's return policy has become a huge factor to consider especially when developing products for the new year. Dave shares 5 tips for e-commerce sellers to reduce returns and to restore some bottom line back into their business. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard free for 2 months — no credit card...
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E623: How Working for A Chinese Amazon Business Feels Like
The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast
Dave reveals what its like working in an Amazon Business based in China, sourced from a Chinese forum. He talks about the differences of the Chinese vs. American e-commerce businesses, and how they structure their businesses by expanding to multiple marketplaces almost immediately. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try...
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E622: Amazon Ad Costs Are Up This Much
The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast
Dave reveals Amazon's Q3 2025 earnings report, and what it means for e-commerce sellers while focusing on their e-commerce growth, advertising revenue, and third-party seller services. Dave talks about the implications of these numbers for sellers and the overall market. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard...
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E621: 5 Tariff Strategies My Company is Taking
The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast
Dave talks about how the tariffs have impacted his business personally and how he plans to address these challenges. He talks about how you can save your profit margins by manufacturing locally or manufacturing in house (at least by experimenting), and expanding to other marketplaces or countries to save some of that profit margin. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC,...
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E620: Breaking Down the New FBA 2026 Fee Increases
The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast
Amazon's new FBA fees have been announced for 2026 and Amazon themselves claim that their new fees only add 8 cents per unit sold of the average item selling price. Is that really the case though? In today's episode, Dave breaks down how the new fees ACTUALLY work, which products came out unscathed, and Amazon's bigger picture goals. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC,...
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E619: % Of Chinese Sellers Declining? It's a Lie.
The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast
There have been reports of a significant decline in the number of Chinese sellers on Amazon, according to SellerSnooper and Marketplace Pulse, but their disappearance is not that simple. Dave dives into why Chinese sellers are disappearing from Amazon and where they went. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard free...
info_outlineDave dives into the huge business of FilterBuy, one of the largest e-commerce companies on Amazon that actually does NOT use FBA. FilterBuy specializes in selling HVAC filters and is founded by David Heacock, a good friend of mine from way back in the day. We explore the company's impressive growth, why David chose to manufacture from the US and why logistics are the main business that David is in. With that being said, what business are we all in?
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Amazon makes it really hard for sellers to avoid using FBA.
FBA sellers get faster shipping times, better customer service and a nice badge that says "Prime Delivery" on your listing.
With all of these things stacked against FBM Sellers, how do you succeed?
To answer that question, we tell you about how Filterbuy became the biggest FBM seller on Amazon based on my interview with CEO and founder, David Heacock.
The Big Takeaway
- FilterBuy is the largest seller on Amazon that does not use FBA.
- David Heacock kind of foresaw how important American manufacturing would be and was one of the first to adopt the strategy.
- The company's success is more than just product cost. David credits it mostly to efficient logistics.
- Manufacturing in America allows for reduced freight costs and just-in-time inventory unlike manufacturing in China.
- Pre-orders or Kickstarter launches are actually a viable strategy that most sellers sleep on. There's significant cash flow opportunities on Kickstarter and you also get to order the exact amount of opportunity for those pre-orders, which is a great strategy for the pre-launch period of new products.
Timestamps
- 00:00 - Introduction to FilterBuy and Its Success
- 05:52 - David Heacock's Vision and Strategy
- 12:27 - The Importance of Logistics and Manufacturing in America
- 20:16 - Long-Term Thinking in Business
- 24:08 - Conclusion and Key Takeaways
David, I apologize that we weren't able to get your actual interview up but we were really grateful for the opportunity to interview you nonetheless.
If you're interested and want to follow David Heacock on social media, you can find him at his LinkedIn.
As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested.
Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content.
Thanks for listening!
Until next time, happy selling!