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Sellers are outsourcing strategy to bots and paying for it

Posted on by SellerBites

One Amazon seller put three ad tools to the test, expecting a streamlined setup and smarter scaling. 

What unfolded instead raised some uncomfortable questions about how these platforms actually work—and whether sellers can really afford to trust them.

  • Sellers hand strategy to bots and it’s backfiring 🤖
  • Walmart.com is the summer shopping hotspot 🏖️
  • Thought of the Day 🍴

SELLER CONFESSIONS

An Amazon seller (OP) confessed: They tried 3 automation tools. Some were impressive. Some just burned cash.

Managing PPC is already a beast. So this seller decided to test out three automation platforms to ease the load while scaling campaigns. They weren’t expecting miracles, just hoping for efficiency. 

And here’s what happened:

💡 Where automation really delivered

  • Saved hours of manual tinkering: Bulk bid adjustments and rule-based automation made campaign changes fast and efficient—especially for high-SKU catalogs.
  • Dayparting wins: Turning off ads at low-converting hours helped protect profit, especially for lower-margin products that can’t afford waste.
  • Surprisingly smart with broad campaigns: Some tools had solid broad-match harvesting capabilities, surfacing long-tail terms that manual setups often miss.

😕 Where things got frustrating

  • Oversimplified targeting. Automation struggled with nuance. Exact match or ASIN-level targeting lost precision when left to the algorithm.
  • The dreaded black box effect. Some “AI-driven” features offered no transparency, no way to tell what was working or why.
  • Inconsistent ROAS. What worked in week one didn’t always hold up in week three, making it risky to rely on without oversight.

Still, the seller isn’t giving up. Their take: automation can absolutely help—but it needs intentional oversight and a clear strategy.

💬 What other sellers have noticed

  • Automation needs human strategy.  Sellers spending $100K+/month say automation is powerful—but only when paired with expert guidance. It’s a tool, not a total solution.
  • Manual still wins for new ASINs. Managing ads manually gives clearer, faster feedback—especially when testing fresh products where real-time tweaks matter.
  • PPC isn’t an island.  Several pointed out that better ads won’t fix poor listings. Boosting your CVR can cut ACOS in half, but only if your product page pulls its weight.

🧠 So… is automation worth it?

If you’re scaling and juggling dozens of ASINs, automation tools can absolutely lighten the load. But they won’t make you money on autopilot. You still need to check the dashboard, refine the inputs, and understand the data.

Pro tip: Pair automation with real-time conversion tracking and creative optimization. It’s not just about ACOS—it’s about where and why the spend is going.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Automation tools can absolutely lighten the load, but they won’t make you money on autopilot.
You still have to tell the tool what it needs to do.

TOGETHER WITH WALMART MARKETPLACE

Walmart now lets you save big and sell bigger

Millions of shoppers turn to Walmart.com every summer for travel must-haves, outdoor essentials and seasonal gear

NexGrill, an outdoor cooking and heating brand that joined Walmart Marketplace in 2022. With access to millions of customers, zero monthly fees, and powerful eCommerce tools, they grew from a small startup to a global brand in just two years. Today, they’re a Pro Seller with nearly triple the SKUs and a 200% YOY revenue increase. 

Now’s your chance to follow their lead, and as a new seller you’re eligible to save up to $75,000 in New-Seller Savings, Walmart’s incentive program going on now.  

It’s their biggest offer ever and includes: 

  • Up to 75% off base referral fees*  
  • Up to 50% off storage fees and 25% off fulfillment fees** (a $2K value)  
  • $1K in advertising credits with Walmart Connect***  

Don’t wait—New Seller Savings runs through January 31, 2026, but the sooner you start, the more you can save. List your products now and make this your biggest summer yet. 

*Conditions apply.

Join Walmart Marketplace today.

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