Ask Nick: Where do you get your inventory?

Ina · Joined: 02 Aug 2001 Posts: 452 Location: Massachusetts, USA

In Sunday (September 7)'s issue of AuctionBytes-Update, the Ask Nick column will address the question of where to get inventory to sell on eBay.
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Ina Steiner, AuctionBytes.com

Wachusettgrad61 · Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Posts: 2

My husband and I are wood crafters, and so we handcraft our own inventory. We purchase raw materials from Georgia Pacific, Lowes, Home Depot and WalMart.

WG61

sun818 · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Posts: 597

It just isn't worth my time to compete on price. If you sell a non-proprietary item, some other seller can too. eBay's system encourages competition by price more than anything else. Soon enough, you will have to sell under cost just to move the product. I may buy from the same sources, but I'm weaning myself off listing on eBay so I can focus on other avenues that make more money.

The Trading Assistants idea is one worth looking into... hmmm

scribe · Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 1

Sorry but I think Nick did little to help answer the question (where does he get the items he sells on ebay.) Maybe he really does think he will have to kill you if he tells

I suppose since you don't always get top dollar for your goods on ebay that some successful sellers don't want competitors cutting into their profits ... understandable I guess.

For certain you're NOT going to get much help from all those "experts" who want to sell you $495 worth of information for $29.95 ...

If you're near a large city that hosts conventions, check to see if they have a merchandise group show where manufacturers, importers and middle men display their items and take orders ... (Orlando, Vegas, NY, L.A -- they have the info on their web site). You'll need a resale number to qualify for free admission but if you don't have one, you might be able to convince a friendly merchant you know to sign you up.

Also, a lot of ebayers buy liquidations -- pallet loads of rejected, returned or slightly damaged material. Check the yellow pages or the net for this ...

Remember too the "someone elses trash" idea. I know one person who scours the local flea market and weekend garage sales and turns a healthy profit on goods he finds. Not everything sells but a lot of it does.

Hope this helps

sun818 · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Posts: 597

Bubba, I agree. Conventions are great. We have several free ones we attend. Just pay for travel and hotel. We end up making hundreds of contacts. Many will deal with you directly if you can buy in some sort of volume.

Anyway, some online places you can check below. I suggest you research, research, research so you know that its a good buy (price?, condition?, reputable seller?, hidden costs?, references?, etc.). Hehe, these are just a few. I'm not revealing my best sources though.

http://www.liquidation.com/
Manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers convert surplus assets into cash using our online auctions and integrated services. Professional buyers benefit from our fast and secure method to source surplus.

http://www.bigbubbawholesale.com/
We review the wholesale, drop ship, and closeout source lists, directories, and ebooks available for sale on the internet and give our unbiased opinions as to whether you should spend your hard earned dollars or not. We tell you the ones to avoid.

http://pages.ebay.com/catindex/catwholesale.html?ssPageName=MOPS5:HWH01
I've also bought stuff from the Wholesale Lots. But its not necessarily a deal, so you need to do your research before hand.

MrDave · Joined: 12 Sep 2003 Posts: 5

I have tried some places that help with getting products as well. The fees vary a bit. I know Andale is doing this (www.andale.com) and another company TamTam (www.tamtam.com/ebay/) are both taking requests for product sourcing.

One other source is a marketplace search tool on www.tamtam.com called PowerSearch.

I like the www.liquidators.com too, but I haven't found anything yet (just getting started trying to source myself).

Hope that helps.
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MrDave

salterenterprises.com · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 12 Location: North Carolina

Does anyone have any experience with World Wide Brands Wholesale Dropshipper Directory?

Thanks,
karen
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Salter Enterprises
www.salterenterprises.com
We offer a wide variety of quality merchandise - Home and Garden Decor, Jewelry, Electronics, and Gifts

kjp55 · Joined: 18 Aug 2001 Posts: 1972 Location: East of Rockies

I thought I would add a link to another site that is discussing a similar issue.

http://www.myezsale.com/forums/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=38

BURIED TREASURES · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 9:16 pm Post subject:

I am an ebay powerseller and I get a very large portion of my inventory right off of ebay. I am a sniper (hint, hint). I also buy at antique shops, flea markets, junk shops etc. If I can make a profit on it I will buy it for resale. Happy hunting everyone! May each of you find a great source and may they be cheap and your competition blind to them. Sincerely, John Leckrone John@hopkinsvilleantiques.com
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http://www.stores.ebay.com/buriedtreasuressterlingsilver?refid=store

http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=32