Selling on marketplaces may seem like the quickest way to start promoting your products online.
After all, the infrastructure is already in place, traffic is phone number library high, and the customers are there. But is your company truly in control of its own growth?
The answer may surprise you—and that’s exactly what we’ll discuss in this article.
What are marketplaces?
Marketplaces are platforms like Mercado Livre, Amazon, Shopee, and others, where multiple sellers offer their products in the same environment.
They function like large virtual shopping malls, where the power of appending missing data to phone numbers consumers have many options, but their attention doesn’t always go directly to your brand.
The advantages that everyone knows
Yes, there are real benefits:
Easy to start selling
Immediate exposure
Platform with consolidated traffic
But what few businesspeople realize is the hidden cost of this “facility”.
And have you considered the disadvantages?
Let’s look at the facts:
1. You don’t own your store.
In a marketplace, you rent a space. The rules of the b2b reviews game can change at any time, and you have no say in the matter.
2. Tight margins
The fees charged per sale are high and often make growth unfeasible. You work, invest in inventory, logistics… and the profit goes away in commissions.
3. Loyalty comes from the marketplace, not your brand.
Those who buy from you rarely remember your company. They remember the platform. And worse: next time, they might buy from your competitor in the same environment.
4. No control over customer relationships.
You don’t have direct access to your customer’s email, phone, or preferences. This limits personalized campaigns, remarketing, and long-term relationships.
5. You become hostage to the algorithm
If the platform decides to reduce your reach or prioritize another seller, your sales plummet overnight — and there’s nothing you can do about it.