Let’s face it, both retail arbitrage and bookselling are volume-based sourcing methods. You need to scan a lot of barcodes before you finally have a profitable product in your hands.
How do I know? Because I used to source and resell used books, in fact my brother and I managed to flog over 20,000 books on Amazon using FBA in just over a year.
Our secret? A Bluetooth barcode scanner and a decent power bank. We used the KDC200i. But the Opticon OPN-2006 Bluetooth scanner is also a great option.
How useful is the Opticon OPN-2006 Bluetooth scanner?
The Opticon OPN-2006, or similar, is an essential tool that every bookseller and retail arber should have in their toolbox. It makes life 10x easier.
Add a scanning app like ScoutIQ with a downloadable database, you should be able to make 20-30 decisions per minute, maybe more.
Regardless of your phone’s operating system, the Opticon OPN-2006 is relatively easy to pair and use. Oh, it’s also small and lightweight, making it perfect for FBA arbers and booksellers.
But what I love about the Opticon barcode scanner is that you can use it in a lot of instances. To list your books on Amazon with a bulk listing software like Scanlister, for example.
You can rely on OPN-2006. It’s used by small and big organisations for various functions from visitor registration to inventory tracking. You can also use it to check if a barcode is scanable, which is one of Amazon’s requirements.
What I don’t like about the Opticon OPN-2006 Bluetooth scanner
There isn’t much not to like about the Opticon OPN-2006. First of all, it uses the older version of Bluetooth 3.0. The more updated versions of Bluetooth like 4.0 or 5.0 will operate better, so Opticon can do better in that regard.
Also, the OPN-2006 comes with a flash memory of 512 kb and 96 kb RAM, which is a little bit poor if you ask me. Although with this memory and RAM, it would get you through your regular scanning with ease.
What I don’t like about the OPN-2006 is the 3.7 V, 240 mAh battery that can last for only 12 hours. So, if you source full time, you would have to get used to the idea of charging this device multiple times a day. This can be solved by carrying a reliable power bank, though.
Verdict
Overall, the Opticon OPN-2006 is a handy tool. It’s small, lightweight and easy to set up. It will make looking up price information and creating listings on Amazon a lot easier and efficient.
Importantly though, investing in a scanner like the Opticon OPN-2006 will make sourcing a lot easier and more fun.
Other Options to Consider
Other options in the market to consider are the Eyoyo, SocketScan, and KDC 200i. The KDC 200i is my favorite scanner. The KDC 200i is portable and lightweight, just like the OPN-2006. And on the pricey side, the KDC 200i is also really affordable.
The best barcode scanner for you? Check out my article on the best barcode scanners for Amazon FBA sellers.
FAQs
Can you use a Bluetooth scanner with Amazon Seller App?
In short, yes. Sourcing inventory with your Bluetooth scanner connected to the Seller App is easier and quicker than using your phone’s camera. I would recommend using a scanning app with a downloadable database and only use the Amazon Seller App to check the prices of books not in your scanning app’s downloaded database.
How to scan books with amazon seller app?
To scan a book with the Amazon Seller App, tap the camera icon on the top right and simply focus the phone’s camera on the book’s front cover or barcode on the back. This is the slow way.
The popular way is to pair your Bluetooth scanner to your phone, and scan the barcode of a book with a click of a button.
How do I use my Opticon barcode scanner?
First, make sure you have paired the scanner to your phone. Then, press the large button on the scanner. A red line will appear, then position the scanner, so the red line passes over the product’s barcode. Once the scanner beeps, that means the scan is complete.
If you already have the Opticon device connected to your PC or mobile phone, then upload the scan for a result. But if you didn’t connect the Opticon, then you can save the scan for upload some other time.