Zinc
Buy any product online with a single API call
What is Zinc? Complete Overview
Zinc is a powerful API that enables developers to automate online purchasing from major retailers. It simplifies the entire e-commerce process, allowing users to search for products, place orders, track shipments, and handle returns—all through a single API integration. Zinc is designed for businesses looking to streamline their fulfillment processes, reduce operational overhead, and scale their purchasing capabilities without increasing headcount. The platform supports a wide range of retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, BestBuy, and Alibaba, providing access to over 20 million SKUs. With Zinc, companies can unlock new revenue streams, enhance customer experiences, and optimize their supply chain operations.
Zinc Interface & Screenshots
Zinc Official screenshot of the tool interface
What Can Zinc Do? Key Features
Automated Purchasing
Zinc allows you to place orders programmatically with a simple API call. No need to navigate retailer websites or deal with checkout flows. The API supports high-throughput ordering and batched order creation, making it ideal for businesses with large-scale purchasing needs.
Real-time Order Tracking
Get accurate, real-time shipment status updates for every order. Zinc pushes tracking information via webhooks as soon as it’s available from the retailer, ensuring you and your customers always know the status of their deliveries.
Programmatic Returns
Initiate returns and generate return labels programmatically. Zinc eliminates the need for support tickets or manual coordination, making the return process seamless and efficient.
Unified Dashboard
Manage all your orders and returns from a single, clean interface. The dashboard provides a comprehensive view of your purchasing activity, making it easy to track and manage orders across multiple retailers.
Managed Accounts
Skip the hassle of creating and maintaining retailer accounts. Zinc’s managed accounts provide robust ordering capacity, allowing you to focus on your business rather than account management.
Event Webhooks
Receive instant updates when an order is placed, shipped, returned, or refunded. This feature ensures you’re always informed about the status of your transactions.
Cancel In-Flight Orders
Cancel pre-shipped orders or kill orders in flight without needing to contact support. This feature provides greater control over your purchasing process.
Safeguards
Set price ceilings and enforce shipping rules to prevent unexpected costs. Zinc’s safeguards ensure you never lose money on an order.
Scalable Infrastructure
Zinc’s infrastructure is built to handle thousands of orders per week across major retailers. It scales seamlessly with your business growth, ensuring reliable performance even at high volumes.
Best Zinc Use Cases & Applications
E-commerce Automation
Online retailers can use Zinc to automate their purchasing and fulfillment processes. By integrating Zinc’s API, they can place orders with suppliers, track shipments, and handle returns—all without manual intervention. This reduces operational costs and speeds up order fulfillment.
Dropshipping
Dropshipping businesses can leverage Zinc to source products from multiple retailers and fulfill customer orders seamlessly. The API allows them to compare prices, place orders, and track shipments, ensuring a smooth customer experience.
Inventory Management
Businesses managing large inventories can use Zinc to automate restocking. The API can monitor stock levels and place orders automatically when inventory runs low, ensuring continuous availability of products.
Corporate Purchasing
Large organizations can streamline their procurement processes by using Zinc to place bulk orders for office supplies, equipment, and other essentials. The API’s safeguards and tracking features ensure transparency and control over corporate spending.
How to Use Zinc: Step-by-Step Guide
Sign up for a Zinc account and obtain your API key. You can start by visiting the Zinc website and creating an account through the signup page.
Integrate the Zinc API into your application. The API documentation provides detailed instructions on how to make calls for searching products, placing orders, and tracking shipments.
Use the API to search for products. You can query Zinc’s extensive product catalog using natural keywords, and the API will return structured product results ready for use.
Place an order by making a POST request to the Zinc API. Specify the product, quantity, and shipping details, and Zinc will handle the rest, including payment and order confirmation.
Track your order in real-time. Zinc provides updates via webhooks or through the order status endpoint, so you can monitor the progress of your shipments.
Initiate returns if needed. Use the API to generate return labels and manage the return process without any manual intervention.
Zinc Pros and Cons: Honest Review
Pros
Considerations
Is Zinc Worth It? FAQ & Reviews
You can use Zinc Managed Accounts by preloading funds via PayPal or wire transfer, or you can Bring Your Own Account by providing your own retailer login and payment method.
Yes, you can run a details call to get item price, shipping, tax, and availability before placing an order. You can also retrieve all available offers for a product to choose the best one.
You can cancel orders before fulfillment begins and initiate returns after delivery. Zinc provides API endpoints for both processes.
Yes, tracking info is pushed via webhook as soon as it’s available from the retailer. You can also poll the order status endpoint.
There’s no hard limit. Zinc supports high-throughput ordering and batched order creation, with rate limits tunable based on your volume.
Zinc supports Amazon in several regions, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and more. Check the full retailer list for up-to-date information.