bulk buying -ebay

bee78

Hi,

I am quite new to ebay.but i am finding really enjoyable. Just question in general.

I am thinking of bulk buying and selling it on e-bay.I found some whole salers and manufacturers abroad,who are happy to supply me the products.But how do i ensure that it is a true company.All my source of the companies that i found are thru' the internet.Is there anyway to research on foriegn company. I don't mind paying to find out if the comapny is true and trading.could someone help me pls.

thanks in advance

RFW

It depends on the country and the company.
For example if its a limited company in the UK you can do a company search, other countries have similar systems. Even then the most reputable company can still go under. If you're talking China then there are lots of pitfalls, so a good place to start would be to check that the address is a real one.

steven_garner

Most sellers from China use eBay + a dedicated site (and also list on Abibaba ect) eBay is a good place to build a relationship, this way you are protected on your purchased and get a good idea of how good the supplyer is.

Also, you can find good comanys in the UK, i use a few and after shippings costs/ customs ect its normally cheaper.

A good comany to check out is call 5tech (but you need to register + be approved before you can see the products/prices) its free to set up an account and i have used them a few times with no problems + its all UK based.

Steve.

George666

I agree with steve when dealing with chinese suppliers they usually sell on ebay as well, so buy a small amount on ebay where you are protected best then you can gauge delivery time and customer service within a safe environment.
Then if they are any good you have their contact details that will have been verified by ebay and paypal so you have a good starting point for any future business relationship you may have with them.

motorguy

George666 wrote: »

I agree with steve when dealing with chinese suppliers they usually sell on ebay as well, so buy a small amount on ebay where you are protected best then you can gauge delivery time and customer service within a safe environment.
Then if they are any good you have their contact details that will have been verified by ebay and paypal so you have a good starting point for any future business relationship you may have with them.

Is it not going to be tricky to buy off a wholesaler who sells on ebay, to resell on ebay to make a profit?

steven_garner

pgilc1 wrote: »

Is it not going to be tricky to buy off a wholesaler who sells on ebay, to resell on ebay to make a profit?

Nope, thats how i started! and made enough money to buy some very large orders!
people are put off by the long turnaround time, lack of communication, sending back faulty returns when buying ourside UK (i.e China)

People would much rather pay £10 for an item that has been checked, well packaged, quick delivery and good returns polocy and customer service then pay £5 for the same thing from China.

Also try and research what products people want in a hurry… iPod cable, generally people need them as replacement because they have lost / damaged the original – They want a new one quickly and not willing to wait up to a month for one from China....

DaveAshton

If you're buying to resell, make sure you register as a business seller, both on ebay and also with HMRC.

bee78

DaveAshton wrote: »

If you're buying to resell, make sure you register as a business seller, both on ebay and also with HMRC.

i would have to register as self employed with HRMC..this is something which i am aware of.But with e-aby,is not possible to sell like a private seller. what difference does it make.is it more cost effective with being business seller?

it is something to think about actually bulk buying in ebay and selling it in e-bay.I don't think i will make a good profit,but to start off..maybe...

the companies who i am talking to are mostly from CHINA,and i am cautious. what are the main things which i have to look out for?


i don't want to give up this idea too easily,but what options would i have.many wholesalers in uk and suppliers are not intersted in me as my order for starters is quite small,compared to what they get from other big retailors.

thanks you everyone for answering my query..it is a start and i will let you know how i get on.:beer:

TurkishDelight

bee78 wrote: »

i would have to register as self employed with HRMC..this is something which i am aware of.But with e-aby,is not possible to sell like a private seller. what difference does it make.is it more cost effective with being business seller?

It can be more cost effective yes, as it's pretty easy to get to powerseller status and get discounts off your final value fees, which are lower to start with (8.75% as opposed to the 10% that private sellers pay, dependant on category).
But you also miss out on some listing fee promotions.

However the main issue is that if you are incorrectly registered you will be miselading your customers, and it can get you into trouble with ebay- warnings, listing cancellation, account suspension that sort of thing.

George666

TurkishDelight wrote: »

It can be more cost effective yes, as it's pretty easy to get to powerseller status and get discounts off your final value fees, which are lower to start with (8.75% as opposed to the 10% that private sellers pay, dependant on category).
But you also miss out on some listing fee promotions.

However the main issue is that if you are incorrectly registered you will be miselading your customers, and it can get you into trouble with ebay- warnings, listing cancellation, account suspension that sort of thing.

You missed out the taxman catching up with you and demanding his money this is far more serious than what ebay might do as the taxman can send you to prison.

TurkishDelight

George666 wrote: »

You missed out the taxman catching up with you and demanding his money this is far more serious than what ebay might do as the taxman can send you to prison.

They said they were going to register with HMRC though.

bee78 wrote: »

i would have to register as self employed with HRMC..this is something which i am aware of.