Clear the Shelf with Chris & Chris

Chris Grant & Chris Racic
  • 5.0 (60)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The show that meets at the intersection of education and entertainment to discuss online arbitrage, retail arbitrage, wholesale, and all facets of selling on Amazon. We'll bring you news, tactics, strategies, insights, stories, and interviews to help you grow your Amazon business. Welcome to the show!

  1. 2D AGO

    These 7 Amazon Products Will Destroy Your Business Without Coverage

    Apply to work with me one-on-one: https://www.cleartheshelf.com/apply $30,000 in legal fees. Just to get dismissed from a lawsuit. The seller didn't make the product, didn't ship it, didn't fulfill it. The customer tripped over the FBA box on their doorstep and sued everyone. Ashlin Hadden has insured more than 5,000 e-commerce businesses. She processes 50-100 insurance applications a week for Amazon sellers. Today she breaks down what Amazon actually requires, what your LLC doesn't protect you from, why your homeowner's insurance won't cover your inventory, and the seven product categories you should never sell without a policy. Chapters: 00:00 - Ashlin's Origin Story 04:57 - What Amazon Actually Requires 06:14 - General Liability vs. Product Liability 07:10 - You Jumped on Someone's Listing. You're Responsible for It. 08:10 - "Your LLC Can't Pick Up the Phone and Defend You" 10:46 - What Happens When You Get Sued (The Claims Process) 12:12 - How Much Coverage Do You Actually Need? 14:13 - Umbrella Policies and Excess Coverage Explained 16:33 - The $30,000 Lawsuit Over a Box on a Doorstep 19:00 - 7 Products You Should NEVER Sell Without Insurance 22:12 - A Resistance Band Hit a Surgeon in the Face (Horror Story) 26:00 - Your Homeowner's Insurance Won't Cover Your Inventory 28:06 - Prep Center Risk: Only a Handful Actually Have Coverage 30:05 - Prop 65: California's Ambulance Chaser Problem 32:34 - Cease & Desist: Is Legal Defense Covered? 34:00 - What Does Insurance Actually Cost? ($600 to $150K) 37:37 - How to Get Started (Application to COI in a Day) 38:52 - Lightning Round: One Thing Every Seller Must Know Follow Ashlin: Website: ecom.insure Email: sales@ashlinhaddeninsurance.com Social: @ashlinhadden everywhere Follow Chris Grant: X/Twitter: @cleartheshelf Newsletter: https://cleartheshelf.com/newsletter Follow Chris Racic: X/Twitter: @ChrisRacic Newsletter: https://oaleads247.com

    43 min

  2. MAY 7

    He Went 12 for 12 on Amazon Ungating in 2026. Here's How.

    Apply to work with me one-on-one: https://www.cleartheshelf.com/apply He went 12 for 12 on Amazon brand ungates. One took 155 days and 50+ attempts. Another got approved on the first try. There's no rhyme or reason. But there is a system. Zach Altmyer (@ZachAlt) is back on the podcast. Since his last appearance, he launched the Bolo Insider newsletter, built a full discontinued product database, and went on a 12-for-12 ungating streak. Today we dig deeper into his buy-and-hold strategy for discontinued inventory, his exact ungating application process, why eBay is an underrated sourcing tool (not just a selling platform), and how to find profitable products collecting dust on shelves nobody else checks. Chapters: 00:00 - The Bolo Insider Database: What It Is and How It Works 04:22 - "His Revenue Tripled" (Subscriber Results From the Database) 06:17 - $2 Product, 243 Units, $15 Each: The Math on Discontinued 08:49 - Five Signs a Product Has Been Discontinued 14:25 - "Just Call and Ask": Confirming Discontinuation With Brands 16:24 - Buy and Hold vs. Quick Flip: How to Decide 20:04 - Cash Flow Management: Funding Your Hold Cycle 22:54 - Using eBay as a Sourcing Tool (Not Just a Marketplace) 25:00 - Your First Trip: Google Maps, Dusty Shelves, and Price Tags 29:18 - Dollar General Clearance Events: Digging Through the Dust 31:06 - 12 for 12 on Amazon Ungates: The Full Strategy 35:56 - 155 Days, 50+ Attempts: What Kept Him Going 38:37 - Combining Brand and Walmart Invoices (Did It Work?) 45:53 - The Case for eBay: Brands You Can't Sell on Amazon 49:03 - eBay Algorithm Hack: End + Sell Similar vs. Relist 55:51 - Using Claude AI to Automate RA Receipt Processing 59:05 - Lightning Round: Bargain Outlets, Air Purifiers, and Dreams Follow Zach: X/Twitter: @ZachAlt Newsletter + Database: boloinsider.com Follow Clear the Shelf: X/Twitter: @cleartheshelf Newsletter: https://cleartheshelf.com

    1h 5m

  3. APR 29

    Zero Percent APR Stacking Strategy for Scaling Amazon

    He has 30+ credit cards. His credit score is excellent. And he built $142,000 in 0% APR credit limits across banks to scale his purchasing power. The math on credit cards for Amazon sellers is wild if you actually run it. Looking for the best Credit Card: https://www.cardratings.com/bestcards/business-credit-cards.php?src=704525 Taylor Thomas (@ArbitrageCard) is back on Clear the Shelf. This time we go deep on credit card strategy for Amazon sellers: how to time applications across banks, the 5/24 rule, stacking credit limits on 0% APR cards, and why a seller spending $8K/month on inventory is leaving $10K+ per year on the table in signup bonuses alone. We also cover discount gift card best practices, the cashback model transition at Arbitrage Card, and how to turn credit card points into real travel value. Chapters: 00:00 - What's New at Arbitrage Card (Cashback Model, Rebrand, Balance Checker) 04:22 - The Cashback vs. Discount Model (Why It Matters for Sellers) 08:00 - Building a Team of 11 From One Extended Family 12:08 - How to Choose a Business Partner (Taylor and Joe's Story) 17:00 - Gift Card Tracking: Best Practices for Reconciliation 23:00 - Credit Card Misconceptions: More Cards = Bad Credit? (Wrong) 27:06 - Can You Get the Same Signup Bonus Twice? (Usually Yes) 31:27 - $10K Per Year in Signup Bonuses on $8K/Month Spend 35:15 - Timing Credit Card Applications Across Banks and Bureaus 38:00 - The Bureau Freeze Hack: How to Apply for Multiple Cards in One Day 43:36 - Chase 5/24 Rule Explained (And How to Work Around It) 47:31 - The 0% APR Playbook for Scaling Your Amazon Business 53:37 - How He Stacked $142K in 0% APR Credit Limits 57:24 - The Three Biggest Credit Card Mistakes Amazon Sellers Make 01:01:00 - Is Credit Card Points Hacking Getting Worse in 2026? 01:04:44 - How to Turn Chase Points Into Airbnb Stays 01:06:52 - Lightning Round: Best Card, Best Hack, One Hour to Improve Follow Taylor: Website: https://arbitragecard.com/cleartheshelf Use code: cleartheshelf to save $50 on your first $100+ purchase. Email: info@arbitragecard.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psalm103.1 Follow Chris Grant: X/Twitter: @cleartheshelf Newsletter: https://cleartheshelf.com/newsletter Follow Chris Racic: X/Twitter: @ChrisRacic Newsletter: https://oaleads247.com

    1h 12m

  4. APR 23

    Why 2026 Might Be the Best Time to Sell on Amazon

    Every big seller he's talked to says the same thing: Amazon has actually gotten easier. But you're probably hearing the opposite on social media. So who's right? Watch this next: https://youtu.be/X83l6GFho-4?si=oH8YpD_NH2keX90H Jimmy Smith (@AskJimmySmith) has done $10M+ in online sales over 11 years on Amazon. He's run a software company (Replen Dashboard), built a community that's trained thousands of sellers, and just hosted a closed-door event with 75 sellers. Today he breaks down why 2026 might be the best time in a decade for Amazon sellers, the AI tools saving him $30K a year, why he shut down his software after 6 years, and the systems framework behind scaling from $30K to $100K per month. Chapters: 00:00 - From Insurance Agent to $10M Amazon Seller 02:45 - Networking: The Most Important Skill Nobody Talks About 08:49 - Why He Shut Down Replen Dashboard After 6 Years 14:50 - Amazon API Changes: What It Means for Seller Tools 18:00 - "2026 Is the Best Time in a Decade for Amazon Sellers" 21:30 - Why Big Sellers Say It's Getting Easier (While New Sellers Struggle) 27:00 - The Rich Get Richer: Mentality of Successful vs. Stuck Sellers 30:00 - What's Actually Holding Intermediate Sellers Back 34:52 - The New Seller Playbook: Keepa, Net Fishing, and Rabbit Trailing 37:51 - The First SOP Every Seller Should Build 40:00 - "Being Hands-On Isn't Leadership, It's Being a Bottleneck" 42:01 - VA Mistakes: Why Your First Hire Probably Won't Source for You 46:42 - Pattern Recognition: What Separates Sellers Who Break Through 49:46 - AI for Amazon Sellers: Start Here (Practical, Not Hype) 55:02 - Using AI to Audit Your P&L and Restock Reports 01:00:08 - AI Agents: Are They Ready for Sourcing? 01:05:34 - Goals vs. Standards: Why Revenue Goals Are the Wrong Frame 01:08:17 - Three KPIs That Will Change Your Business This Week 01:10:34 - Lightning Round: Rolodex Contacts, Underrated Skills, and AI Tools Follow Jimmy: X/Twitter/YouTube/Instagram: @AskJimmySmith Website: askjimmysmith.com Follow Chris Grant: X/Twitter: @cleartheshelf Newsletter: https://cleartheshelf.com/newsletter Follow Chris Racic: X/Twitter: @ChrisRacic Newsletter: https://oaleads247.com

    1h 17m

  5. MAR 16

    How She Dominates With No Competition Listings on Amazon

    35% of Elizabeth's Amazon sales come from listings she created from scratch. She buys $20 items at TJ Maxx and sells them for $85 on Amazon. And she's never had more than 5-6 sellers on any listing she's built. Most have 2-3. Often it's just her.Elizabeth Thompson has been selling on Amazon for 20 years. She specializes in something most RA and OA sellers never even try: creating Amazon listings from scratch for products she sources through arbitrage. Today she walks through the entire process step by step, from brand approval to GTIN exemptions to using Amazon's AI tools to build a complete listing in 10 minutes.Chapters:00:00 - What If the Product Doesn't Have an Amazon Listing?02:10 - 20 Years on Amazon: From eBay to FBA04:27 - 35% of Sales From Listings She Created08:05 - Amazon Consulting: What She Teaches Other Sellers10:36 - When to Create a Listing vs. When to Walk Away14:00 - The First Sale: Testing Demand With Just One Unit16:09 - The GS1 Mistake That Ghost Listed 400 ASINs19:08 - The Math of Listing Creation22:03 - How to Actually Create a Listing From Scratch (Step by Step)26:00 - Brand Approval vs. Selling Approval (They're Different)31:00 - GTIN Exemptions: When There's No UPC37:26 - 10-Minute Listings41:00 - Using AI Create Amazon-Ready Photos in Seconds44:46 - Photo Rules: What Amazon Does and Doesn't Allow48:48 - Risk Tolerance53:00 - Bundles, Multi-Packs, and What to Avoid01:00:37 - Creating 30-50 Listings a Week: Is There a Limit?01:05:37 - Lightning Round: First Listing, Best Tools, and Best AdviceFollow Elizabeth:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThompsonMomCalendly Link: https://calendly.com/liz-iggysincFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/975965942459911/ GO DEEPER WITH OAC+ Want the full Keepa Academy training used by 7 and 8-figure sellers? It's included with OAC+, our private community of 200+ Amazon sellers. OAC+ includes: - Full Keepa Academy course - Sourcing courses and SOPs - Amazon to Amazon flip leads - Live coaching and Q&A - Suspension support Join OAC+: https://www.oachallenge.com/plus CONNECT WITH US Twitter: https://www.x.com/cleartheshelf Website: https://www.cleartheshelf.com Twitter: https://www.x.com/ChrisRacic Website: https://www.oaleads247.com

    1h 12m

  6. MAR 11

    He Made $25K Playing Skee Ball, Then Scaled Amazon to $1M

    He made $25,000 hustling skee-ball at arcades. Then he started Amazon FBA as a college freshman, dropped out after one year, and hit $1.1 million in a single month doing online arbitrage. He's 21 years old. Gavin (@GavinFBA) started selling on Amazon in September 2023 with $500 in first-month revenue. Two years later, he's running a seven-figure Amazon OA business, stacking margin with discounted gift cards and credit card cashback ($60K in a single month), and refusing to pay himself a dollar. This episode breaks down his entire playbook: how he sources, how he funds massive buys, why he goes deep instead of wide, and the Q4 house he rented with two friends that changed everything. Chapters: 00:00 - The Ski Ball Hustle: $25K From Arcade Arbitrage 02:00 - From Popeye's Chicken Sandwiches to StockX Shoe Flips 10:11 - First Amazon Sale: $14 in His Girlfriend's Dorm 15:33 - $800K in Sales as a College Freshman and Baseball Player 19:58 - Dropping Out of College: The Conversation With Mom and Dad 24:05 - Three Friends, One Discord, All Crossed Six Figures in Profit 28:00 - The Q4 House in Florida That Unlocked a New Niche 30:45 - Going Deep: Tracking Sales Cycles and Controlling the Market 34:16 - The August P&L Breakdown: What $240K in Revenue Actually Nets 38:38 - Funding $100K in Two Days by Calling Friends 42:14 - $60K in Cash Back: The Full Margin Stacking System 46:31 - $250K on One Brand: The Biggest Bet He's Made 50:06 - Team of Three: VA, Prep Center, and Grandma 57:17 - "I Drive a 2003 Acura TL and I Refuse to Pay Myself" 01:02:17 - "The Most Technical People Sell the Least" 01:06:04 - Lightning Round: Biggest L, Best Investment, and What's Next Follow Gavin: Instagram: @GavinFBA Twitter/X: @GavinFBA GO DEEPER WITH OAC+ Want the full Keepa Academy training used by 7 and 8-figure sellers? It's included with OAC+, our private community of 200+ Amazon sellers. OAC+ includes: - Full Keepa Academy course - Sourcing courses and SOPs - Amazon to Amazon flip leads - Live coaching and Q&A - Suspension support Join OAC+: https://www.oachallenge.com/plus CONNECT WITH US Twitter: https://www.x.com/cleartheshelfWebsite: https://www.cleartheshelf.comTwitter: https://www.x.com/ChrisRacicWebsite: https://www.oaleads247.com

    1h 10m

  7. FEB 25

    Amazon Suspended Him. He Made $350K on Whatnot Instead

    He was doing $1.7M a year on Amazon wholesale. Then a counterfeit complaint got his account suspended for 180 days. Instead of folding, he pivoted to live selling on Whatnot and did $350K in under 10 months.Kip Roland (https://x.com/kip_roland) is one of the early movers in live selling on Whatnot and TikTok live auctions. He built nearly 37,000 followers, runs 3-5 hour live shows 6 days a week selling liquidation clothing at $1 starting bids, and is already top 15 in live generated revenue on TikTok after just two weeks on the platform. Today we're breaking down what live selling actually looks like as a business, how the economics compare to Amazon FBA, and whether this is something Amazon sellers should be paying attention to. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Meet Kip Roland: From Amazon Wholesale to Live Selling 02:14 - The Origin Story: Flipping Sneakers to Product Manager to Full-Time Seller 09:45 - The Amazon Suspension That Changed Everything 14:11 - "It Was Like Being Fired" (With a Newborn at Home) 19:11 - What Is Whatnot and Why Should Amazon Sellers Care?24:16 - First Shows Were Brutal: Building an Audience From Zero 27:07 - Selling 60 Items Per Hour: The Proof of Concept Moment 29:01 - The Psychology of Live Auctions (Sacrificial Lambs and FOMO) 33:01 - Why He Switched From Kitchen Appliances to Women's Clothing 40:29 - How the First 10 Minutes of a Live Show Actually Works 44:49 - Dollar Auctions: How Often Do You Sell at a Loss? 53:34 - Closing in on 40K Followers: How Whatnot Helps Sellers Grow 59:01 - TikTok Live Auctions: "This Is Whatnot Circa 2023" 01:06:00 - Why Live Selling Projections Are in the Trillions 01:11:38 - The Business Behind the Camera: Organization and Hiring 01:16:42 - "Liquidation Ruins Retail Forever" (Sourcing for Whatnot) 01:26:06 - Whatnot Academy: Sourcing, Selling, and Scaling Live 01:30:56 - Lightning Round: Would You Still Be on Whatnot Without the Suspension? GO DEEPER WITH OAC+ Want the full Keepa Academy training used by 7 and 8-figure sellers? It's included with OAC+, our private community of 200+ Amazon sellers. OAC+ includes: - Full Keepa Academy course - Sourcing courses and SOPs - Amazon to Amazon flip leads - Live coaching and Q&A - Suspension support Join OAC+: https://www.oachallenge.com/plus OA CHALLENGE LIVE - MARCH 2026 Join us for our next live cohort where we build your Amazon business together over 14 days. Learn more: https://www.oachallenge.com CONNECT WITH US Twitter: https://www.x.com/cleartheshelf Website: https://www.cleartheshelf.com Twitter: https://www.x.com/ChrisRacic Website: https://www.oaleads247.com

    1h 37m

  8. FEB 23

    He Raised $1M on Friends' Credit Cards to Scale Amazon

    He crossed $10M in Amazon sales in 2025. Almost entirely online arbitrage. Just sourcing, scaling, and staying in stock.Stephen Reinhard (https://www.instagram.com/stephendoesbusiness/) started flipping Nike cleats at Ross in middle school for $20. By college, he was running a $75K/month retail arbitrage operation and flying home once a month just to shop. Today, he runs a lean OA business doing $3M+ in a single month with 12-15% net margins and a team of 7-8 VAs.In this episode, we break down how he treats online arbitrage like wholesale, why he thinks most Amazon AI tools are a waste of time, the $150K gift card mistake that almost slipped through, and the Q4 story where he raised $1M on friends' credit cards to keep scaling.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Intro00:35 - Meet Stephen Reinhard: $10M Amazon Seller02:33 - From $20 Cleats at Ross to $10M on Amazon06:06 - Why He Treats Online Arbitrage Like Wholesale09:20 - The Numbers: $3M+ in a Single Month11:46 - $464K in Sales from $6,700 in Ads (PPC Breakdown)13:42 - "OA Is a Video Game. I Just Get Dollars."15:48 - Buying Out Entire Websites to Block Competition18:26 - Do You Always Stay in Stock on Winners?21:36 - How He Lost $150K in Unreconciled Gift Cards24:44 - Building a VA Team That Runs Without You27:15 - The VA Who Begged to Learn and Became His Right Hand31:23 - How Many People Does It Take to Run $10M?35:46 - Why Most Amazon AI Tools Are a Waste of Time37:56 - Protecting Margins at Scale Behind Hard-Gated Brands40:46 - He Raised $1M on Friends' Credit Cards in Q444:35 - Lightning Round: Real Estate, Mentors, and What's NextGO DEEPER WITH OAC+Want the full Keepa Academy training used by 7 and 8-figure sellers? It's included with OAC+, our private community of 200+ Amazon sellers.OAC+ includes:- Full Keepa Academy course- Sourcing courses and SOPs- Amazon to Amazon flip leads- Live coaching and Q&A- Suspension supportJoin OAC+: https://www.oachallenge.com/plusOA CHALLENGE LIVE - MARCH 2026Join us for our next live cohort where we build your Amazon business together over 14 days.Learn more: https://www.oachallenge.comCONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://www.x.com/cleartheshelfWebsite: https://www.cleartheshelf.comTwitter: https://www.x.com/ChrisRacicWebsite: https://www.oaleads247.com

    51 min
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5
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

The show that meets at the intersection of education and entertainment to discuss online arbitrage, retail arbitrage, wholesale, and all facets of selling on Amazon. We'll bring you news, tactics, strategies, insights, stories, and interviews to help you grow your Amazon business. Welcome to the show!

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