4 Ways to Find Products to Sell on eBay
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Free PDF Download How Can an eBay Store Increase Your eBay Profits? - By Sue Barrett |
If you want to get new products that you can resell on eBay for a profit, there are a few ways you can go about it. Ideally, you want to buy at the lowest price possible. This would mean going directly to the source: the product manufacturer. This is easier said than done, however, so some other options would be to buy from wholesalers, liquidation companies or drop shipping product sourcing networks.
Manufacturers
You may be able to get the lowest price from manufacturers, but many of them already have distribution channels in place and will not sell to individuals. If you decide to contact some manufacturers to see if you can arrange a deal, be prepared with your own business name and website that you can sell through. Many manufacturers don't want to provide their items for sale on eBay, so if have a website that you can sell through, they may be more likely to work with you.
You can find manufacturers by searching in online directories like Alibaba, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council or Thomas Net for industrial products.
Wholesalers
It is easier to buy products from wholesalers, but you will need to buy in bulk. When buying in large quantities, you need to figure shipping costs and storage expenses into your profit margin to see if it is a profitable venture for you. You will first need a tax ID number, which you can get from the IRS. This process can take up to several weeks, so it is a good idea to get your tax ID number prior to contacting wholesalers.
The Go Wholesale search engine is an easy way to shop multiple wholesalers and suppliers at once. It is free to use.
Liquidation Companies
Unlike liquidation sales, which happen once when a company goes out of business, liquidation companies sell off the inventories of other businesses, and this is ongoing. If you live close to liquidation companies, you can inspect products and avoid shipping costs when purchasing through them.
You can also buy from liquidation companies online, although you will not be able to physically inspect products prior to purchase. Some items you receive may be damaged, as liquidation items include customer returns and products that may be in need of repair. Assume you will get a small percentage of damaged items. This way you can factor that cost into your purchase price and make sure that the deal will still be profitable for you.
Two websites, Liquidation and Speedy Liquidators, are popular online sources for liquidation items. Keep an eye on shipping prices, as you do not want a high shipping cost to eat into your profit margin.
Drop Shipping Product Sourcing Networks
In the last few years, drop shipping networks like World Wide Brands have become popular among eBay sellers because of their convenience and ease-of-use. Through these networks, you can buy products from hundreds of different wholesalers through one website. The wholesalers will drop ship products directly to your customers, so you do not have to buy any products up front.
This option is especially convenient if you are working on a small budget, have limited storage space or want to sell a wide variety of products. However, the downside is that you will have lots of competition, since many other eBay sellers like this platform.
Good news! There is no one right answer! You get to decide which product sourcing option has the most benefits for you. Then evaluate costs so that you can sell products profitably on eBay. There are many people making good money on eBay, and you can too with a little research and planning first.
Manufacturers
You may be able to get the lowest price from manufacturers, but many of them already have distribution channels in place and will not sell to individuals. If you decide to contact some manufacturers to see if you can arrange a deal, be prepared with your own business name and website that you can sell through. Many manufacturers don't want to provide their items for sale on eBay, so if have a website that you can sell through, they may be more likely to work with you.
You can find manufacturers by searching in online directories like Alibaba, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council or Thomas Net for industrial products.
Wholesalers
It is easier to buy products from wholesalers, but you will need to buy in bulk. When buying in large quantities, you need to figure shipping costs and storage expenses into your profit margin to see if it is a profitable venture for you. You will first need a tax ID number, which you can get from the IRS. This process can take up to several weeks, so it is a good idea to get your tax ID number prior to contacting wholesalers.
The Go Wholesale search engine is an easy way to shop multiple wholesalers and suppliers at once. It is free to use.
Liquidation Companies
Unlike liquidation sales, which happen once when a company goes out of business, liquidation companies sell off the inventories of other businesses, and this is ongoing. If you live close to liquidation companies, you can inspect products and avoid shipping costs when purchasing through them.
You can also buy from liquidation companies online, although you will not be able to physically inspect products prior to purchase. Some items you receive may be damaged, as liquidation items include customer returns and products that may be in need of repair. Assume you will get a small percentage of damaged items. This way you can factor that cost into your purchase price and make sure that the deal will still be profitable for you.
Two websites, Liquidation and Speedy Liquidators, are popular online sources for liquidation items. Keep an eye on shipping prices, as you do not want a high shipping cost to eat into your profit margin.
Drop Shipping Product Sourcing Networks
In the last few years, drop shipping networks like World Wide Brands have become popular among eBay sellers because of their convenience and ease-of-use. Through these networks, you can buy products from hundreds of different wholesalers through one website. The wholesalers will drop ship products directly to your customers, so you do not have to buy any products up front.
This option is especially convenient if you are working on a small budget, have limited storage space or want to sell a wide variety of products. However, the downside is that you will have lots of competition, since many other eBay sellers like this platform.
Good news! There is no one right answer! You get to decide which product sourcing option has the most benefits for you. Then evaluate costs so that you can sell products profitably on eBay. There are many people making good money on eBay, and you can too with a little research and planning first.
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Free PDF Download How Can an eBay Store Increase Your eBay Profits? - By Sue Barrett |
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About the Author: Sue Barrett RSS for Sue's articles - Visit Sue's website Home Business Center, Inc. offers a new Free Business Start-Up Checklist and over 218 business startup guides. They also publish the latest news and trends at The New Business Idea blog. Click here to visit Sue's website. Why Use Credit Cards to Start Your Small Business How to Start a Dry Cleaning Business Supplies You Need to Start a Scrapbooking Business How Do I Start a Medical Transcription Business at Home Affiliate Marketing Tips 123 |
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