One of the questions that I get asked most frequently is, "Where can I find products to sell?" My stock answer, "If I told you I'd have to kill you," but all jokes aside, we must first decide on what product you are looking for. It is always best to stick with something you know about, as this makes for smarter purchases and it is important to remember that "you make money when you buy, not when you sell."
What in the wide world of sports am I talking about? If you purchase the product at a good price, then you are sure to make a profit, provided there is a market for your product. Have you done your market research and if not, why haven't you? There are some powerful and comprehensive programs that will do all the work for you and their information is based on eBay's historical data. The two most widely used by eBayers, worldwide, are
Hammertap and
Terapeak and both do an excellent job, providing detailed seller reports by keywords, categories and even by seller. Great way to check out the competition!
The sources for products to sell on eBay is virtually unlimited and the possibilites are endless, therefore, I will only mention the ones that I can personally attest to. Let's start with the basics, your attic, closets and garage. We all have STUFF that we no longer use, or need. Get rid of it and put some extra money in your pocket! Garage sales, estate sales, flea markets, auctions, trade shows and your local newspaper.
If you're thinking about kicking it up notch, in the words of Emerial Lagasse', then you may want to think about a reputable dropshipper, wholesaler, or liquidator. There are many companies who claim to be wholesalers, but you really need to ask lots of questions before making important decisions about your suppliers. Try calling the manufacturers direct and they will refer you to a local distributor in your area.
When it comes to dropshippers there are only two that I know and trust,
Doba and
Worldwide Brands and both are eBay Certified Solution Providers. Dropshippers will do all the work for you and even provide you with the photographs and copy for your eBay listings. Once you sign up as a member, there is no cash outlay until you sell the product. Once it's sold, you pay for it and they ship it to your customer with your company name on the package. The profit margins are usually less, but so is the workload.
Liquidators are also a great way to get inventory for your business and you won't have to buy massive quantities to get started. My absolute favorite is
Liquidation.com, who is a national company and they have warehouses in most major U.S. cities, so you may be able to avoid the shipping cost by picking it up from their warehouse.
Check out local government auctions by doing a basic internet search. eBay also has many wholesale categories and once you become a Powerseller, you will have access to eBay's reseller marketplace. The list goes on and on, but this should be enough to keep you busy for a while, so please check back tomorrow for another eBay Best Kept Secret!
What are you good at and what do you know? Did you know that Information Products are some of the hottest selling items on eBay? Why not share your knowledge and make some money in the process? Today's eBay Best Kept Secret will focus on how to do just that.