The Wholesale Forums

[Pete]

For the next two months, more than even the rest of the year you need to be very concerned about the track record of your suppliers. There are all sorts of neat little goodies that spring out of the woodwork through November and December. We all see them in the malls, fancy toys, RC cars, gifts you'd never consider other times of the year, all out there in the aisles with their high prices and no returns policies. (Sorry to anyone selling RC cars, but there are always some of them out.)

And there will be people looking online to find the same at a lower cost. You may decide to put them up and see how they do. But will that guy you were buying them by the case from in a temporary shop be around come the first of they year? Or will you be eating the defects that are sure to follow?

Same with online suppliers. There will be plenty offering the goodies this year, but will they be there next year? There may even be some here. Not saying Anthony is looking for such folks, but who is to know a couple months in advance?

So, deal with those you know, or those you can get good references on. Sellers who have a record and some longevity. You don't want to end up with 43 braying donkeys who quit braying December 29.

[Games776]

Its bound to happen 'An amazing company' will pop out of knowhere with really good prices people will buy then sell etc until after xmas then the company will dissapear of the face of the earth!

Also for companies in china when in the year is it they have like 2 weeks off when the whole country baisically stop?

[Pete]

Actually, that happens twice a year. Chinese New Year Will be mid-February for 2010 and National Day was the first of October, still recovering from that one. Closed down for 10 days or so. We were operating all but 3 days, but shipping was not good. DHL went from 2 daily flights out to 1, post office was closed, etc.

The factories all close, so we ended up with empty shelves and have not rebuilt inventory since. We had about 500 DS Lite consoles at the start and now have hardly any. We sell them as quickly as they come in the door.

[KBB]

No offence guys, but don't you check the quality of the goods when they arrive? That's part of the job. While this might be difficult in some cases - electronics that fail after a week's use, maybe - most retailers should be able to tell if there's a problem the day the stock arrives and is unpacked.

We always get some panic returns in January - bound to happen when high volumes are retailed through December. But the thing we've noticed, is that the panicked retailers who are on the phone to us the day we re-open are usually our smallest buyers. They buy cheaply from us, sell on at a 300% markup, then spend all their take before Christmas. They then come back to us in a panic because they don't have the 300% to refund their customer.

[jamestyrer]

Pete is making a very good point. One trick ponies always emerge around this time, do the usual checks if they are new, but as Pete says, why take a risk with new suppliers?!?!?

[Acetech]

Basically, unless you feel 100% comfortable to deal with a supplier (new or not), then don't. I personally think that if in doubt then yes, use an established and trusted supplier, though obviously there are and will be some perfectly trustworthy new suppliers about, but do as much homework as possible to ensure that you are getting exactly what you want, and basically, if in doubt, shop about until you find that comfort zone of a supplier you feel you can trust.


Gary

[C89]

But these 'new suppliers' might actually have the items in stock.

No offence Pete but your website lists about 30 variations of Nintendo DS Lite consoles and from my recent orders I would say you are only ready to dispatch about 7 of those models at the moment.

Yes you are trustworthy and you do give refunds if something goes wrong, but your system isn't exactly flawless.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by KBB

No offence guys, but don't you check the quality of the goods when they arrive? That's part of the job. While this might be difficult in some cases - electronics that fail after a week's use, maybe - most retailers should be able to tell if there's a problem the day the stock arrives and is unpacked.

We always get some panic returns in January - bound to happen when high volumes are retailed through December. But the thing we've noticed, is that the panicked retailers who are on the phone to us the day we re-open are usually our smallest buyers. They buy cheaply from us, sell on at a 300% markup, then spend all their take before Christmas. They then come back to us in a panic because they don't have the 300% to refund their customer.

You sound like a traditional wholesaler selling to B&M retailers.

Not quite the member base here.

I am referring to online hucksters who fold their tents and creep off in the night.

Of course, I understand that Wal-Mart ToysRUs and the like open and inspect every battery operated goodie they offer over the next two months.

Just as I opened and tested each electronic ignition module and switch I ever sold as a factory warehouse distributor in the auto parts business.

It's the manufacturer's responsibility to put working items in the box, not the wholesaler or even the retailer's responsibility to test each and every one before turning it over to the consumer.

However, there was one year when selling about 1,000 Perfect Petzzz from a mall cart my employees did install a pair of batteries in each one before they turned them over to the customer. But it took the customer that long to fill out the adoption papers, so it worked out well.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by C89

But these 'new suppliers' might actually have the items in stock.

No offence Pete but your website lists about 30 variations of Nintendo DS Lite consoles and from my recent orders I would say you are only ready to dispatch about 7 of those models at the moment.

Yes you are trustworthy and you do give refunds if something goes wrong, but your system isn't exactly flawless.

That is true. Never claimed it was. I have posted often about the inconsistencies involved when dealing with China, and as recently as a week or so ago mentioned turning down new quantity buyers in an attempt to protect the individuals selling one or two at a time by dropshipping.

And, it no longer lists those 30, they are down but not forgotten, hopefully to rise again in the near future.

And, I'm certainly not going anywhere, which was the main point. I'm still shipping phones and mp players daily, with a couple of new items due in just a day or so.

Being let down by the factory is quite a bit different than selling crap and leaving town. This is something that some buying DS Lite refurbs elsewhere have already experienced. More than one has mentioned about paying for local repairs out of pocket to keep consumers happy.

I'm not perfect, but I'll stand tall and take my licks and keep right on going, not turn tail and scoot out of town.

[nicky3clare]

Originally Posted by Pete

I'm not perfect, but I'll stand tall and take my licks and keep right on going, not turn tail and scoot out of town.

That's why so many members respect you Pete!