Sourcing Products for eBay
eBay Performance! Selling Success With Market Research & Product Sourcing” is a clear, readable, almost fool-proof guide to discovering what sells on eBay, obtaining viable product and selling it in an effective way.
The authors are experts in their fields: Robin Cowie is president of WorldWidebrands, for years an eBay licensed provider of wholesale merchandise contacts for eBay sellers and Jen Cano is vice president for HammerTap market research specializing in online businesses and their patterns.
Finding what to sell is just the first leg of the three-part challenge of successful eBay selling; tracking down the supplier is, if anything, more complex.
Cowie recommends these methods of locating product sources:
- Going directly to the source: Most manufacturers will not sell directly to a retailer, but they will supply you with a list of their legitimate wholesalers. Finding the manufacturer often involves legwork such as locating the product in a store. Usually, checking the box, manual, serial number or UPC code on the product will uncover its maker. Once you’ve obtained a phone number, it’s important to fight your way through the automated phone prompts to a real, live, sales rep. He or she will supply you with a list of the companies wholesalers. Cowie advises caution with small or start-up manufacturers as you run the risk of unreliable delivery or the company going out of business.
- Trade shows: These offer the advantage of meeting face-to-face with the manufacturers and the possibility of seeing new products before they come out. Tradeshows.com is a good source for locating trade shows.
- Directories: Another resource can be reliable directories that list manufacturers and trade shows, as well as trade publications. The book goes into considerable detail on all aspects of sourcing, including dealing with wholesalers, setting up vendor accounts, trade and bank references, liquidations, overstocks and importing etc., that should prove of value for any novice to the wholesale buying process.
Photo by eBay.
stubsy on August 5th, 2007 9:43 am
Finding products is the hardest part of creating a sustainable ebay income thanks for telling us about this.
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