Posts Tagged ‘wholesale’

Dear eBay Queen:

I sell items on eBay that we import from China (specifically stone mosaics). I want to sell them on Amazon, but I do not have the UPC codes, as we import these ourselves. I noticed that one of our competitors is selling on Amazon.  I’m sure he did not purchase UPC codes for all of his products, how is he selling this: http://www.amazon.com/Scabos-Split-Face-Travertine-Mosaic/dp/B001HTPLMA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1283025191&sr=1-2 How can I put my items on Amazon like he is doing?  Thank you.

Marc

Dear Marc:

When it comes to listing items that do not have UPC codes on Amazon, you have a couple of options.

1. List off of your competitors Amazon listing.  This is super easy to do, but you are at the mercy of what your competition is listing.  If they don’t list an item you have, you won’t be able to list it either.

It is very easy to piggy back off of your competitors listing. To do this, look on the right side of the screen. You’ll see “More Buying Choices”, under that are the words “Sell Yours Here”.  Click on that, and you will be taken through a step by step process to list your item.

2. Become an Amazon “Pro Merchant”.  This will cost 39.95 a month, but will allow you to create your own UPC codes and list items that are not on Amazon.  You can cancel this service at any time.  This is probably your best bet if you have lots of items to list on Amazon.

For me, Amazon is a fast and easy way to list my product.  I hope you find it just as fast as I have.

Dear eBay Queen:

I would like to become a re-seller or a seller that buys new product to sell.  Do you know how I would go about becoming a re-seller? Who would I talk to, and what is the best approach? I am looking to sell computers, software, hardware, televisions, monitors and those types of items.  Could you give me a few ideas on how to get started?

Jack Brown

Springfield, MO.

Dear Jack:

You did not mention if you had sold anything on the Internet before.  If you have not, I would suggest you try selling a few things you have lying around the house before you dive in head first.  There is quite a bit of competition in the field you are considering selling in.

If you would like to buy new hardware, computers, software and television for re-sell, I would double check to make sure this is the market for you.

To start with, you will need to find a wholesaler that will sell to you.  Most wholesalers will require you have a tax ID number from your state.  To receive large discounts, you will need to order in large quantities.   Every wholesaler I know requires the money upfront, which means you’ll need the funds to buy the product.  It takes a very long time to be on a credit basis with a wholesaler.  Without the volume discounts, you might have a hard time breaking even before eBay fees.

I have found that computers, electronics and such, have a tendency to have *very* slim profit margins since you’re competing against some of the most efficient companies in the world, i.e.. Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target etc. As a rule, without any significant volume going in, you’ll probably end up paying about the same at a wholesaler as typical customers pay at New Egg or Amazon.

Another option for you to stay in the same electronics category without a lot of the same competition would be to find older equipment, verifying what works and then selling.  This would be a good option for you if you have the nose for finding good deals.

Drop-shipping might help keep your costs down.  Keep in mind; there are others out there that drop ship, so look your competition over closely before you do this.

I’m sorry if this seems a little negative.  I don’t mean for it to be.  There are lots of sellers already in the electronics field selling. If this is your passion you will definitely find a way to succeed, but it will be harder than those that chose a less crowded field to go into.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 140446015835 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page): Do you have a Twitter account? Would you pay for followers? Somebody would! Check out 5000 Twitter Followers. SOLD $100.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140446015835

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? E-mail: questions@asktheebayqueen.com.