| Like the legendary search for the Holy Grail, the cup | | | | consistent basis can be tough. Drop-Shipping |
| that | | | | companies have |
| Jesus drank from at the Last Supper, the same "holy | | | | been known to run out of merchandise. If they |
| crusade" goes on today by veteran and newly | | | | happen to run |
| anointed business owners for the perfect wholesale, | | | | out of the product you are auctioning, asking buyers |
| surplus, and drop-shipping resource. They believe that | | | | to wait |
| divine intervention will lead them to suppliers that can | | | | on their product because it is "backordered," does not |
| defeat the economic laws of "supply and | | | | inspire confidence.Your negative feedback rating can |
| demand."There are more than a few people who try | | | | pile up real quick. The |
| to build an enterprise based on the weak premise that | | | | other problem is expense. Some drop-shippers require |
| they will able to "score" in demand retail items for their | | | | a |
| new business, or auction, at either below wholesale | | | | sign-up, or "entry fee" before you even start |
| prices, or "pennies on the wholesale dollar."Trying to | | | | marketing |
| ride the wave of popular retail products brings | | | | their products. You might also have to pay for support |
| out the greed monster in all of us. Pursuing the "deal | | | | |
| of the | | | | materials, such as pictures and advertisement |
| century" has lead some aspiring business owners to | | | | brochures for |
| risk their | | | | the product you choose to sell.In addition, when you |
| startup capital on fraudulent deals and offers.In this | | | | sell a product from a drop-shipping |
| article I want to discuss three of the more sought after | | | | distributor there are processing fees that have to be |
| sources of product supply, and the "Pros & Cons" of | | | | paid, |
| each. I also want to shed a little light on some of the | | | | in order to get the product out the door and in the |
| misconceptions people might have about buying | | | | hands of |
| "products for resale." The reality is that not every | | | | your customer. That price can range anywhere from |
| product will be available through wholesale, surplus, and | | | | 5.00 to |
| drop-shipping venues.Wholesalers: Typically, one of the | | | | 10.00 dollars and up depending on the item. After Ebay |
| better places to purchase | | | | and |
| products for your new found venture. Most true | | | | drop-shipping fees, you can wind up loosing money, or |
| wholesalers | | | | at |
| will require that you have a "Certificate Of Resale" | | | | best, breaking even. Bottom-line, drop-shipping and |
| before | | | | auction |
| you can purchase from them. A Certificate Of | | | | selling don't mix. The best bet for any auction venture |
| Resale, or "Tax | | | | is |
| & Use Certificate," is not hard to obtain, and costs | | | | to "own what you sell."EVERYTHING CAN BE HAD |
| anywhere from five to twenty dollars depending on | | | | FOR A PRICE-BUT THERE IS A PRICE TO |
| the state | | | | PAY FOR EVERYTHING!Now that we have |
| you live in.Some states do not require that you even | | | | reviewed the "big three" let me put them |
| have | | | | into perspective. There are products that can be |
| one. You can obtain the certificate from your State | | | | obtained |
| Department of Revenue. To see if your state | | | | through a few of featured supply chains, and then |
| requires you to | | | | there are |
| obtain such a certificate, and for a complete listing of | | | | products that will never make it to the surplus, |
| the | | | | wholesale, |
| Departments Of Revenue in all fifty states go to this | | | | or drop-shipping market. Example: To get Louis |
| website:Roisyn.com/certificates.html | | | | Vuitton |
| on your states procedure, once you fill out the | | | | handbags through a surplus dealer is almost |
| paperwork you can get your "Certificate Of Resale" | | | | impossible. |
| number | | | | Surplus dealers that are promoting LV Handbags are |
| the same day. You do not have to incorporate in | | | | misleading you.Same is true for people who are selling |
| order to | | | | designer handbags on |
| obtain a certificate. You need to be a Sole Proprietor | | | | Ebay in mass quantities. The likely scenario is that |
| (at | | | | they |
| the very least) and have an address where you plan | | | | are Chinese knockoffs. Over 80 percent of popular |
| to | | | | retail |
| conduct business. Once you have your number you | | | | products here in the United States are copied in the |
| will be | | | | People's Republic Of China. Those products include |
| able to open a business checking account at most | | | | Nike, |
| local | | | | Reebok, Puma, Adidas, Louis Vuitton, Calloway (Big |
| banks. Most do not require more than a few hundred | | | | Bertha) |
| dollars | | | | golf clubs, and just about any product that enjoys |
| to get started. Wholesalers will require a minimum | | | | popular |
| purchase | | | | merchandising status.There is no plan by the Chinese |
| price that can range anywhere from 100 to 1000 | | | | government to stop |
| dollars.A true wholesaler is usually one step away | | | | "knockoff" activity because it is a thriving industry that |
| from the original | | | | provides employment for the masses. Despite the |
| source of the product. For instance, a manufacturer | | | | pleas from |
| produces blue widgets and wants to get their product | | | | American companies to "cease & desist," there is a |
| into | | | | tepid |
| the marketplace. They will then employ a sales | | | | response from Chinese officials to do address the |
| representative to get the product into the market, or | | | | issue. |
| they | | | | When raids are conducted, they are "ceremonial" |
| will assign a wholesale distributor the exclusive rights | | | | public |
| to | | | | relations stunts to appear as if they are actually taking |
| carry and sell their product line. Some companies are | | | | |
| import | | | | action against the counterfeiters.Another indicator of |
| wholesalers. While they do not necessarily | | | | authenticity is price. You will not |
| manufacture a | | | | find any authentic Louis Vuitton handbags for 30, or |
| product, they will import products from manufacturers | | | | even |
| in the | | | | 100 dollars. Most are 500.00 and up. To illustrate this |
| United States, and from countries like China. A great | | | | point even further, just think about the popular |
| example of such an importer/wholesaler is the are a | | | | celebrities |
| few ways to find wholesale products. Just about | | | | of today who are clothes and handbag aficionados. |
| every product that is in the distribution chain will usually | | | | Jennifer |
| | | | Lopez, Britney Spears, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, |
| have a dedicated trade association, organization, or | | | | all |
| trade | | | | sport around town with "Louies" that can fetch up to |
| publication attached to it. You can find such trade | | | | 10,000 |
| information with the help of the following directory | | | | dollars for an exclusive style of handbag. Do you think |
| information:National Association Of Wholesale | | | | you |
| Distributors | | | | will ever have access to these items in the wholesale, |
| tions/About_Associations.htmThe above website | | | | |
| address will lead your toward | | | | surplus, or drop-shipping market?Forget it! You might |
| associations, ranging from Advertising to | | | | not even get these in some upscale |
| Woodworking. You | | | | boutiques! There are people so well connected that |
| should be able to solicit them for wholesalers within a | | | | they buy |
| particular industry. If you want to purchase their | | | | up "hot items" like LV Handbags before they even hit |
| membership list (separate from the association | | | | the |
| listings), | | | | stores. They know who wants these items, and they |
| you will have to get in touch with them to check their | | | | will |
| current prices. Other good sources are:Encyclopedia | | | | purchase whatever is available just so they can have |
| Of Associations By: The Gale GroupThe Encyclopedia | | | | an |
| Of Associations lists over 100,000 | | | | exclusive for their celebrity clients. Don't get me |
| different nonprofit American organizations. If you | | | | wrong. |
| cannot | | | | It's not that you can't get "designer duds" or handbags |
| find what you are looking for from the National | | | | at |
| Association | | | | wholesale prices. You will not get high end clothes and |
| Of Wholesale Distributors in terms of trade | | | | |
| associations, | | | | accessories that are featured in the latest issue of |
| then this is the directory for you. However, you will | | | | Vogue, |
| have | | | | Cosmo, as a "product for resale," in any wholesale |
| to go to your library to find this research gem. You | | | | environment, unless you spend thousands for the right |
| can | | | | to distribute such a product.Even if some of these |
| usually find it in the reference section of any large | | | | items made their way beyond the |
| University, or Public addition to trade associations, | | | | connected channels of purchasing, exclusive clothing |
| trade magazines are | | | | and |
| another good source. allows you to: "Search our | | | | handbag items like Louis Vuitton will have limited |
| database of over 150,000 magazines, journals, | | | | distribution in "hand picked' boutiques, and well |
| newsletters, & | | | | connected |
| other periodicals. Find FREE in-depth information on | | | | purchasing agents. In addition, there are people in the |
| familiar and hard-to-find publications from around the | | | | fashion industry, as well as other branded industries |
| world, representing thousands of allows you to | | | | that |
| subscribe to trade periodicals | | | | would rather have their merchandise burned, or buried |
| from their web site for FREE! No hidden trial offers to | | | | before |
| | | | it would reach the wholesale, surplus, or drop-shipping |
| you are looking for industrial product manufacturers, | | | | market! For more information on designer clothing, and |
| then this is the directory for you. The Thomas | | | | to |
| Regional | | | | learn about designer "fakes," please refer to the |
| directory will give you access to services from over | | | | following websites: a healthy does of honesty, and an |
| "550,000 industrial distributors, manufacturers, and | | | | eye opening |
| service | | | | perspective concerning the realities of purchasing |
| companies."The Thomas Regional will help you find | | | | designer |
| suppliers in your own | | | | clothes for resale, the Clothing Broker will definitely |
| state or region. Registration is required, but you can | | | | explode some popular myths about obtaining such |
| use | | | | items:The Clothing Broker IS GOLD UP IN THEM |
| the directory for FREE! Other free online sources of | | | | THERE HILLS!Now lets address the Surplus & |
| wholesale information and offers are: | | | | Salvage Industry. When people |
| Wholesale411.com, | | | | first encounter some of the offers from Surplus |
| Wholesalecentral.com, Wholesalegopher.com, | | | | dealers, or |
| Bizbb.com, | | | | brokers, they tend to suffer from what I call the "I just |
| PROS AND CONS OF WHOLESALE | | | | found Gold" syndrome. A feverish excitement |
| SUPPLIERS:Wholesale is the backbone of product | | | | permeates their |
| supply for any type of | | | | brain cells, and reduces them to a quivering pile of jelly, |
| new business venture. Large and small wholesalers | | | | |
| are | | | | leaving their reasoning skills inoperable! A few |
| usually one step away from the manufacturer. They | | | | thousand |
| have the | | | | dollars later, and after coming to the conclusion that |
| advantage of buying large quantities, and, depending | | | | their |
| on the | | | | "Golden Opportunity" turned out to be bars of lead, |
| type of merchandise, are able to pass along savings | | | | elation, |
| to those | | | | then turns to anger.It is a cliche, and I hate using it, but |
| who are looking for "products for resale." With | | | | it is more than |
| wholesalers | | | | appropriate when it comes to surplus and salvage |
| (in most cases) you can be assured of purchasing | | | | products. |
| new | | | | "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is!" Some |
| product. I can't think of too many "cons" when dealing | | | | Surplus dealers will hone in one at least one of seven |
| with | | | | deadly sins--greed! As with wholesale, you will never |
| wholesalers--other than pricing. There might be items | | | | get |
| that | | | | certain products for "pennies" on the dollar. One type |
| could be too expensive to sell in the Ebay auction | | | | of |
| marketplace. Remember, true wholesalers will require | | | | surplus product category that has some people |
| that | | | | loosing their |
| you have a Certificate Of Resale in order to | | | | minds is surplus and salvage electronics.The problem |
| purchase from | | | | with electronics is that they have a low profit |
| them.Surplus & Salvage Merchandise: Another sought | | | | margin even when they are brand new. Finding |
| after source | | | | surplus dealers |
| of supply is retail surplus, closeout, overstock, | | | | with working, undamaged, electronic products can be |
| liquidated, and salvage merchandise. Surplus dealers, | | | | a daunting |
| and | | | | task. Most salvage electronics can be in pretty rough |
| brokers, purchase shelf-pulled, returned, overstock, | | | | shape. See Techliquidators.com: you are getting from |
| closeout, liquidated, and salvage merchandise from | | | | most Surplus Dealers, or companies |
| manufacturers, retail stores, reclamation centers, | | | | who specialize in electronic salvage is someone's |
| bankruptcy sales, and just about any business who | | | | customer |
| has slow | | | | returns, i.e., "junk!" Unless you are a electronics |
| moving or salvage merchandise.Surplus dealers buy | | | | technician, |
| these obsolete items in large | | | | or recycler, then I would stay away from "salvage" |
| quantities, and then resell them to just about anyone | | | | electronics.Even product that is not damaged, and still in |
| who | | | | the box or |
| wants them for their Ebay Auction, Flea Market, Dollar | | | | retail blister pack, can have a pretty high surplus price. |
| | | | If you find that someone is offering you a electronics |
| Store, or Retail Store outlet. One of the largest trade | | | | item, be it a DVD Player, or Xbox, for eight dollars a |
| associations for the surplus industry is the International | | | | unit, |
| | | | then "buyer beware."For a further explanation of the |
| Marketing Association Of Surplus Dealers: | | | | surplus industry, and how you |
| You can find dealers throughout the | | | | can avoid "purchasing pitfalls," I would suggest that |
| United States.Other sources of finding Surplus, | | | | you read the: |
| Salvage, Closeout, and | | | | "The Ten Tenets Of The Surplus and Salvage |
| Liquidated merchandise include the following: | | | | Business" found |
| Closeoutcentral.com, Liquidation.com, | | | | here:The Ten Tenets Of The Surplus & Salvage |
| CWSMarketing.com, | | | | Business |
| Commoditysurplus.com, and National Retail Equipment | | | | DROPPED BY DROP-SHIPPING!My last critique, and |
| Liquidators (Nrel.com).PROS AND CONS OF THE | | | | word of caution is about |
| SURPLUS & SALVAGE SUPPLIERS:The "Pros" of | | | | drop-shipping. You might have access to information |
| the Surplus & Salvage merchandise is that they | | | | about |
| can offer you a variety of products at below | | | | drop-shipping companies that would prove me wrong. |
| wholesale | | | | I will |
| prices. However you "market your merchandise," you | | | | not argue with anyone who is dealing with a |
| should | | | | dropshipping |
| be able to find a product, or price, that will fit into any | | | | company who is serving them well. However, I will tell |
| business advertising model. In most cases, you do not | | | | you |
| need a | | | | that dropshipping is a risk. I really can't recommend |
| "Certificate Of Resale" to buy products from Surplus | | | | any |
| & | | | | type of guide, or information that would lead you to a |
| Salvage Dealers and brokers.The downside is that | | | | reliable source of drop-shipping companies.Unlike |
| you have to do some investigative work. | | | | surplus and wholesale, where you physically own and |
| Some dealers will want you to buy merchandise in | | | | control the product, that option has been taken out of |
| quantity | | | | your |
| (a pallet minimum, truckload preferred) and you have | | | | hands. You are entrusting a company to ship products |
| to | | | | |
| visit the company you are buying from to make sure | | | | directly to your customers. If you get involved with a |
| that the | | | | company who cannot deliver, or who is back ordered, |
| product is, as advertised. Also, more than a few S&S | | | | you can |
| dealers | | | | find yourself with some very irate customers. Sign up |
| want payment in the form of wire transfer which can | | | | fees, |
| be | | | | shipping fees, and expenses for support materials can |
| very risky. Also, dealers and brokers will sometimes | | | | really |
| misrepresent the quality of the merchandise they are | | | | affect the bottom line.Also, most drop-shipping |
| are | | | | companies like to send out product |
| selling. Before you consider doing any business with a | | | | in volume. If you are selling just a few items per week, |
| surplus dealer, or broker, you must read "The Ten | | | | or |
| Tenets Of | | | | per month, it might not be worth if for a drop-shipping |
| The Retail Surplus And Salvage Business." It can be | | | | company to deal with you. Large retail catalog |
| found | | | | companies use |
| here:The Ten Tenets Of The Retail Surplus And | | | | drop-shipping or "fulfillment" houses, but these |
| Salvage Business | | | | companies |
| Supposedly the perfect business model. No | | | | cater to large scale operations.The bottom line is this. |
| inventory, no trips to the post office or UPS. You just | | | | When it comes to finding product |
| set | | | | supply for your business it pays to do your |
| up shop, take the order, pass it along to the wholesale | | | | homework. Visit |
| | | | the company facility when you can. Never wire any |
| drop-shipping company and they send it out for you. | | | | money into |
| Some | | | | a company account. Use a credit card, or Escrow |
| drop-ship distributors will even send you ad copy and | | | | service to |
| pictures to help you advertise their products. They | | | | protect yourself should your supplier not deliver, or |
| can even | | | | send |
| put your return address on the package! A lot of | | | | you defective merchandise.Understand that you will |
| Retail | | | | not be able to get the latest and |
| Catalog companies use drop-shippers as their means | | | | greatest technology or fashions at surplus and below |
| of | | | | wholesale prices. If you follow all of these rules, and |
| supply.PROS AND CONS OF DROP-SHIPPING:There | | | | you |
| is one obvious advantage to drop-shipping. It is | | | | use common sense as your "crusade" you just might |
| basically a "product less" venture. No need to tie up | | | | be able to |
| your | | | | find your own "Holy Grail," of wholesale product |
| money in inventory. Drop-Shipping can fit into any | | | | supply!Robert C. Potter is a wholesale and retail |
| business | | | | surplus products |
| model, or advertising method you happen to use. | | | | specialist. He is the author of "The Ultimate Guide To |
| However, if | | | | Products For Resale!" Over 300 Wholesale & Surplus |
| you are an Ebay Auction seller you might want to | | | | Supply |
| rethink that | | | | Sources For Ebay Auction Sellers, E-Commerce |
| position.Finding a drop-shipping company that can | | | | Websites, Flea |
| deliver on a | | | | Market Vendors, and Retail Store Owners! |