The Flood

[Carnie64]

Hello Everybody!

I've sent out more than 400 postcards now here in the UK, 10-15 has been returned because addressee is not known (probably bankrupt), and I have received about 45 catalogues and email responses, about 10%.
Some of these won't give me any information before I've filled in an application form to become a retailer with the wholesaler.
I have to say that many of the responses I've received are just rubbish, they have not any valuable products, that would be easy to sell.
I'm not satisfied with these results. Is it different here in the UK from US?
What are your results?

[AngelGirl]

Sydney made several suggestions on how to find product. My suggestion is that if you are not having good results one way after diligent effort, try something else. Recently, I've been going to stores with a notebook and just writing down product & manufacturer information. I take information on any product that I would consider buying if I were in the market for that type of item. Quite often there is a phone number or a web address for the manufacturer. I then go home and start calling. Ask for the sales rep for your area. At some point along the way, you should tell them you plan to sell on the Internet and don't have a brick and mortar store because many manufacturers have policies against that. You don't want to go through the pain of applying and then learn that. You can also ask your wholesaler whether or not they carry the product of other manufacturers.

I like this approach because I can be fairly certain I'm getting a genuine wholesaler. After the catalogs start coming in, you still have to see if there is demand for the products and whether the prices are good or not.

Just my 2 pence (had to get that in!).
Angel (from USA)

[JohnDoyle]

Please email me personally at joesarabia@earthlink.net. I have profiled a US eBay seller that is selling a definite UK product here. If this seller can acquire the items being sold, it should be a walk in the park for you to do the same.

I won't give the particulars on the forum as I think this could definitely be very interesting to you, since you're in the UK.

This eBayer is selling over 150 of these items a month and you can probably drive to a distributor in the UK and get the same products they are selling.

I have not done a price or competitive analysis yet, but when I compare this item to US products of the same type, this eBayer is selling these UK products substantially higher than their US counterparts.

You may definitely want to take a look at this and see if you can get your initial product stream started. At the very least, it is a definite JV possibility and something to investigate.

I personally don't have any interest in adding another product line right now. I have many more product lines that I am selling right now than I can handle and even more "in my cue" for me to start investigating, developing, and/or selling.

I have ZERO problems finding products since I am willing to give away another potential income stream.

It's not guaranteed to be anything but a lead, but then, most of my product lines started exactly like this opportunity.

Regards,
JOhn

[SydneyJohnston]

AGC students, there are some real clues in Joe's email. Look at what he says:

* I personally don't have any interest in adding another product line right now. I have many more product lines that I am selling right now than I can handle and even more "in my cue" for me to start investigating, developing, and/or selling.

* I have ZERO problems finding products since I am willing to give away another potential income stream.

* It's not guaranteed to be anything but a lead, but then, most of my product lines started exactly like this opportunity.

WHY do you think that Joe has more than he can do, while others can't seem to find a thing? I'm going to nag him to comment on this. I'll be interested in what he has to say.

[CandaceHCA]

Hi Everyone, Candance here from the UK. I have only just started the auction-genius course in mid stream!
I have only heard one live seminar and already I am "fired up" regarding sourcing.

In the past, I looked at "wholesalers" catalogues on the Internet and thought, "mmmm - watches, or interesting toys or gadgets, they will be good to sell". Then I've bough them and tried to sell them on e|Bay. Result - I had to sell 200 watches to a local market for half the price I paid and sell 2 wholesale boxes of shoes to a dealer for 1/2 the price I paid!
Moral of this, you have to do some research to see if what you buy will sell for a profit on eBay.

Regarding sourcing in the UK, I have had varied success. It does NOT seem as easy as in USA.
I have definately even recently had some "Wholesalers" who were really cut price retailers. Be careful!!

Sydney encouraged me to think about sourcing. I have successfully purchased Designer Childrens Clothes in bulk from eBay USA. Also Digital Cameras. If any UK folks would like details of a Wholesale Site that seems genuine, just contact me.
What Sydney told me, encouraged me to think locally.
I live in a town surrounded by Shoe Wholesalers. My friends brother owns a Wholesale Tool Warehouse within 1mile of my home. A local cottage industry have a shop within another mile from my home. I buy products from a man who manufacturs them who attends my Church. I am negotiating with him to try the product on eBay.
There are opportunities right in front of our eyes if we look with the correct vision.

I am at present investigating the possibility of some Video Products for sale on eBay on "How to do" things. So the list goes on.

Just BE CAREFUL with all the lists of so called wholesalers. Learn from my costly mistakes. Anyone want further information about this I would gladly take up e-mails with you.
I would LOVE to hear from others about Wholesalers and your experiences - positive and negative.