Most first-time FBA sellers lose money on product 1 for the same reason: they confuse "this is getting views" with "this can survive Amazon."

Views are cheap. Inventory is not.

Before I'd ever send a unit to FBA, I want seven things on one page:

1. The actual problem. Not "people like gadgets." What does this replace, and what happens if they don't buy it?

2. Who the buyer is. Age, situation, and why they'd search Amazon instead of walking into a store.

3. Social proof that isn't ads. Organic posts, comments, and complaints. If the only proof is a UGC creator getting paid, I pass.

4. What real people said. Screenshots and quotes, not "customers love it."

5. Sourcing that a beginner can actually do. Search terms, not a mystery Alibaba middleman.

6. Honest economics. COGS, Amazon fees, ads, returns. If it only works at a $0.40 CPC, it's not a first product.

7. Competition and risk. How many listings already own the keyword, and what kills this in 90 days.

I built ProductSignal because I was tired of "winning product" videos that skip 4–7.

If you're picking a first product, score it on those seven. If you want that work done for you, that's what the report is.

Most first-time FBA sellers lose money on product 1 for the same reason: they confuse "this is getting views" with "this can survive Amazon."

Views are cheap. Inventory is not.

Before I'd ever send a unit to FBA, I want seven things on one page:

1. The actual problem. Not "people like gadgets." What does this replace, and what happens if they don't buy it?

2. Who the buyer is. Age, situation, and why they'd search Amazon instead of walking into a store.

3. Social proof that isn't ads. Organic posts, comments, and complaints. If the only proof is a UGC creator getting paid, I pass.

4. What real people said. Screenshots and quotes, not "customers love it."

5. Sourcing that a beginner can actually do. Search terms, not a mystery Alibaba middleman.

6. Honest economics. COGS, Amazon fees, ads, returns. If it only works at a $0.40 CPC, it's not a first product.

7. Competition and risk. How many listings already own the keyword, and what kills this in 90 days.

I built ProductSignal because I was tired of "winning product" videos that skip 4–7.

If you're picking a first product, score it on those seven. If you want that work done for you, that's what the report is.

Most "winning product" lists are just things that already went viral. By the time you see them, the CPC is ugly and the suppliers are sold out.

Here's the filter I actually run before I touch ads:

1. Demand that isn't just views

Views lie. I want repeat search, add-to-cart language in comments, and people asking "link?" on more than one creator. One viral clip is a spike. Three unrelated creators in 10 days is a signal.

2. Landed cost you can survive

Retail minus ads minus refunds minus your time. If the unit only works at a 3x ROAS, it's dead. I want break-even at a ROAS I can hit on a cold account.

3. A supplier who can restock in 7 days

If the only source is one AliExpress listing with 40-day shipping, I pass. TikTok Shop punishes slow delivery harder than a bad creative.

4. Competition on the angle, not the category

"Phone accessories" being crowded doesn't matter. "Mag-safe wallet that looks like a cardholder" being on 40 shops does. I score the hook, not the niche.

5. A kill-switch

What breaks this in 30 days? Seasonal? Trademark? One supplier? If I can't name the risk, I don't understand the product.

If a product fails two of these, I don't "test small." I skip it.

That's the whole report I write for myself. Demand, sourcing, economics, competition, risk. Nothing else until those five are honest.