The Wholesale Forums

[Vertexon]

Hello there members of this forum,

Yes, I am a newbie to this forum after finding it recommended by a successful forum member at Alibaba. I've been wanting to break into the buying and selling (aka internet reselling) market ever since 2 years ago. I quit before because I wasn't able to find good reliable sources. Now, I am trying again, and I won't stop until I find something successful.. However, I have come across a few frusterations which maybe you guys can help me with.

Let's start with the story. I have a registered Ebay account which has sold around 100+ items (without a supplier). I want to move on and my goal is to become a Powerseller on Ebay and have a selling business as well as develop a relationship with a good supplier so I can keep restocking, hopefully bringing in more and more orders as time goes on. I'd prefer a supplier in the U.S. (although I hear China is the best) so I can possibly tour their facility before payment, meet the managers, etc.

Money is not really an object. Right now, I'm trying to find a genuine supplier for high-end computer products (namely Mac/Apple). Buying direct in bulk orders of about 20-50 or so and listing them every month. However, first I would like to start with a small order (minimum order qty), and work my way up as trust develops. I have gotton offer prices for around $1,200 per unit for the model number I was looking for, however, when it comes down to business from them, the payment methods are rediculous.

I've met ALOT of "scammers" because they will only allow Money Gram / TT or Western Union and are missing certain vital contact information (even people who aren't missing contact info). I've settled comfortably upon Escrow or a L/C as payment method, especially if I talk / know the company exists and is not trying to scam it's "customers" and provides proof and tracking of shipment as soon as I pay.

I basically can tell a scammer when I see one, when they ONLY offer Money Gram / TT or Western Union as a payment service and they keep saying "reply as soon as possible", like they're trying to get me to rush into something. I know and realize now it's a bunch of bull, and I've been dealing with it for so long! Especially things that aren't right like companies that are listed under "U.S.", but claim that they're travelling in some "special" country that I should send the money to. Bolognea.

As you can tell, I've run into a bunch. Ugh, and honestly I'm getting sick and tired of it since I'm smart enough not to go through any of it.

Some even which appear to be legit services on Alibaba (Trustpass Verified and GoldSupplier) too. These Chinese suppliers I have been researching have poorly designed websites (even one in UK and USA branches). Another thing I don't trust since I am a web designer myself, they should've coded much better. I don't know if this is really common for legit websites, but maybe you guys can correct me on that. The fact that when I finally chat with them using the TradeManager (a instant messanger type service for business), they'll ALSO tell me that they only accept MoneyGram / TT.. What am I, a fool?

People mostly contact me because I posted a buying lead. Although the prices are good, all I keep getting is companies who only accept money transfer ONLY, not really hard backed methods like L/C or Escrow (even though I mention these are my payment terms in the listing), and they won't explain why not, even though it appears on some of their listings for products that one of the payment methods are "L/C".

I know that this frusteration has gone far enough for some people to declare to themself that such a thing does not exist, that it is all scams and fraud, and I just tapped into a huge market of it. =/

The Bottom Line:
I am looking for a 100%+ good supplier to negotiate prices with and to buy and sell via Ebay. I have been looking to sell Electronics/Computer products, and I hope to develop a long term relationship with a supplier, buying more and more as trust develops. Mostly high quality laptops and cell phones (namely, brands like Mac/Apple and LG). Is there any reliable place on the net where I can narrow down my search for LEGITIMATE companies?!? I've tried two sourcing websites, globalsources.com and alibaba.com, only to no avail. Is there a site where everyone has to register and be verified by some means for security purposes?? Ones that actually accept L/Cs and Escrow services and won't waste my time?

If you guys have any suggestions/referrals for these type of suppliers or for these type of products, let me know. And if I'm taking a wrong turn somewhere, please let me know too. I am new to the sourcing business and I wouldn't mind being corrected. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Kaz M.

P.S.
Forgive me for the long post. I guess I didn't need to say that much, but I'm on the run, couldn't edit it. I also probably realize this topic branches into two other sections, sorry. I will post in those sections as time progresses for my specific needs.

[amazingfinance]

At the end of the day no one on here is going to turn around and go, yeah here is my suppliers details.

Its called research, you have been looking but not in the right places, it tooks us 3 months to find our suppliers.

Go direct to apple and ask for a list of there authorised distributors, etc. This is one way of finding the legit suppliers, generaly it will be credit cards for first orders.

Hope this helps

[Vertexon]

Originally Posted by mlvuk

At the end of the day no one on here is going to turn around and go, yeah here is my suppliers details.

Its called research, you have been looking but not in the right places, it tooks us 3 months to find our suppliers.

Go direct to apple and ask for a list of there authorised distributors, etc. This is one way of finding the legit suppliers, generaly it will be credit cards for first orders.

Hope this helps

Well, if not suppliers themselves.. A actual reliable web service to find them would be nice.

Wow, the last thing I would've thought of is actually contacting Apple directly.. But I will do that as well, might save me some trouble if I get in touch with a direct office. I understand these things take time, all of it is usually self-work anyway and I'm still searching.. finding new sourcing websites each day to go across.

[amazingfinance]

Even finding a apple retail store, go in ask for a list of official distributors, or who they use. Just keep looking you will get there.

[Vertexon]

Originally Posted by mlvuk

Even finding a apple retail store, go in ask for a list of official distributors, or who they use. Just keep looking you will get there.

I've seen online the low-down for selling ANY Apple product. It requires a very tricky contract with specific terms when registering with a distributor, something that I'm not really comfortable with. I think they do this on purpose to discourage buying from other people, this is old news too (2003) ..

http://www.thinksecret.com/news/dealercontracts.html

So, Apple's out the window as an option unless I agree to that whack resellers contract.. or find some other authentic deal from a middleman who's gotten their hands on them. I think for now, it's time to move onto a different company, possibly HP, IBM, DELL, etc.

I'll assume that your mentioned method will work for other companies as well, so I've contacted a few more.

I contacted LG first about official distributors and have successfully received a few which are. I don't know exactly if it's going to payoff as I think it is, but I'm going to ask about their terms and information tomorrow morning. Hope all goes well contacting them.

Wish me luck.

[amazingfinance]

Good luck, but keep trying with apple, over here was can contact apple and get a distributor list.

Good luck again.

[Pete]

You are not going to make the contacts you are looking for on the net.

Several things you must consider -

Many real distributors have crappy websites. They use them mostly for taking orders. Since they do not sell to new accounts over the net, they are not too concerned about design. You are looking for the facade, not the underlying operation. Some distributors still have no website at all, but rely on phone and fax for orders.

You need to attend trade shows and meet real people and let them know that you are a real person. Most new accounts for distributors are obtained in two ways - their outside sales reps discover and opent the account or at trade shows.

If you are looking for socks and handbags, you'll find them on the net. If you are looking for a genuine distributor of products like Apple, you need to go the something like the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. And you'll still end up signing that contract. Apple is very particular about who sells their products and the price the sell them for.

In general, sellers do not accept the buyers terms. It's the other way around.

[Vertexon]

Originally Posted by pete

You are not going to make the contacts you are looking for on the net.

Several things you must consider -

Many real distributors have crappy websites. They use them mostly for taking orders. Since they do not sell to new accounts over the net, they are not too concerned about design. You are looking for the facade, not the underlying operation. Some distributors still have no website at all, but rely on phone and fax for orders.

You need to attend trade shows and meet real people and let them know that you are a real person. Most new accounts for distributors are obtained in two ways - their outside sales reps discover and opent the account or at trade shows.

If you are looking for socks and handbags, you'll find them on the net. If you are looking for a genuine distributor of products like Apple, you need to go the something like the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. And you'll still end up signing that contract. Apple is very particular about who sells their products and the price the sell them for.

In general, sellers do not accept the buyers terms. It's the other way around.

I just missed a major international trade show in August in my state, so that's pretty much out of the picture until next year or until I can find another one in my area.

If Apple is that particular with their products, as I have seen so far (authorization numbers are required all over the place), I will not sell them but rather move onto some other company which doesn't require me to sign a seperate contract. I am still trying to find the ideal product to sell that will return me 50%-100% profit. It is difficult to find out since they do not give out pricing until you have an account with the suppliers (and by then I'll probably be already locked into some paperwork). I'm currently gearing towards HP and LG products now.

Ideally, I would like to find a warehouse nearby that stores all these type of products, sign a couple of forms, and buy directly from the warehouse / storage facility, picking up the order and having the truck bring it back for restocking, all the negotiations done on the floor of the facility. I'm used to doing things like that and I was wondering if it is possible for me to do so with this kind of business.

[amazingfinance]

You are really not going to find electrical products, especialy from apple, lg, hp thats going to offer you 50-100% profit.

In the electronics industry, you work on qty and a very small profit margin, generaly 8-15% at the most.

Finding products with 50-100%, well they cant be legit.

[TheBear]

Originally Posted by mlvuk

You are really not going to find electrical products, especialy from apple, lg, hp thats going to offer you 50-100% profit.

In the electronics industry, you work on qty and a very small profit margin, generaly 8-15% at the most.

Finding products with 50-100%, well they cant be legit.

ahh at last the voice of reason