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Wholesale Vs Liquidation in 2016 for Ebay/Amazon

by ASwineford
12 replies
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Hello Everyone!

I have been purchasing and selling from liquidation sites and auctions for close to five years and it's starting to feel like I'm in a losing battle. I love doing it and have loved gaining the stock and handling all of the inventory myself. The problem is simple, is there enough money to be made in this any more? I realize the potential, but haven't changed much over the past few years, but this year it's time to make some changes and look for more opportunities to grow!

I am looking for advice from other fellow members that could point me in the right direction at least for either different opportunities or just more options in general. I have purchased everything from Dahm and Lalique to any common household electronics. I have purchased salvage, shelf pulls, new, antique, and everything in between. I typically buy in bulk and refurb salvage myself, and do any of the fixing and bundling as well.

I know everyone asks these types of questions, but I figure you don't know what people will say until you ask so here I am!

Also, I am starting this year by setting aside $1,000 and seeing what I can do with it on this new venture. Even if it's the same, but tweaked to make more profit I'm going to test whatever theories I can come up with and keep it updated here on the forum.

Typically I sell the items for whatever the lowest pricing is on each item on Ebay/Amazon. I was also wondering if that may be a mistake as well.

Thank you all very much for your time and I hope the New Year is great for all of you!
#2016 #amazon #ebay #ebay or amazon #liquidation #wholesale
  • Profile picture of the author bmcgehee
    I have been selling on amazon for 3 and 1/2 years. I have done salvage and liquidation many times as well and you are right, it is hard sometimes. Its not a consistent income because you never know what you are going to find and what is next. Have you thought about buying from alibaba? White label products? Its not all that complicated. Let me know if you need more info.
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    • Profile picture of the author ASwineford
      Originally Posted by bmcgehee View Post

      I have been selling on amazon for 3 and 1/2 years. I have done salvage and liquidation many times as well and you are right, it is hard sometimes. Its not a consistent income because you never know what you are going to find and what is next. Have you thought about buying from alibaba? White label products? Its not all that complicated. Let me know if you need more info.
      I have purchased from alibaba before in the past, but it was years ago. I made several purchases and then had one bad experience with a scammer and stopped using the service. Always interested in as much information as possible though if you don't mind sharing! Thanks for the reply!
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      • Profile picture of the author Hermes Urbanus
        [DELETED]
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        • Profile picture of the author ASwineford
          Thanks for the input. It would definitely be nice to be able to find the source of the liquidated products and be able to purchase them directly.

          As far as Alibaba goes, I purchased for years in car stereos from China. I only had one competitor at the time and made some decent money, but since then the market became extremely flooded with others that had found the same seller. Now every time I look on Alibaba it's become full of knock offs and items that wouldn't sell for anything in the avenues that I sell through.

          Thanks again for the input! Look forward to any other ideas!
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          • Profile picture of the author Importexport
            Originally Posted by ASwineford View Post

            Thanks for the input. It would definitely be nice to be able to find the source of the liquidated products and be able to purchase them directly.

            As far as Alibaba goes, I purchased for years in car stereos from China. I only had one competitor at the time and made some decent money, but since then the market became extremely flooded with others that had found the same seller. Now every time I look on Alibaba it's become full of knock offs and items that wouldn't sell for anything in the avenues that I sell through.

            Thanks again for the input! Look forward to any other ideas!
            What you write is just a small part of the reasons why I teach my students not to take the risk of buying through Alibaba.

            There are safe sites, but I don't publish them online because safe sourcing involves a lot more than just using safe sites. See more reasons plus helpful information here: If your secret B2B portals are so safe why don't you share?

            For a whole lot more helpful information you might like to see: Ask Me Anything About Product Sourcing And Importing For Profit. ― Veteran Importer Here.

            Walter Hay.
            "If you think education is expensive - consider the cost of ignorance."
            Signature
            Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
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          • Profile picture of the author akeemceo
            Hello, these sources exist, Ive personally worked with top suppliers that have contracts with big box retailers, as an individual or small company they will never let you in the door to buy directly. The best route would be to find a good distributor or reverse logistic company that has already establish his relations and can supply you on a consistent level.
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            • Profile picture of the author Importexport
              Originally Posted by akeemceo View Post

              Hello, these sources exist, Ive personally worked with top suppliers that have contracts with big box retailers, as an individual or small company they will never let you in the door to buy directly. The best route would be to find a good distributor or reverse logistic company that has already establish his relations and can supply you on a consistent level.
              This is another reason why you should consider buying direct from factories overseas ..... But not through Alibaba, where the great majority of suppliers are traders masquerading as manufacturers.

              Not only so, but thousands of people have been scammed by suppliers on Alibaba and that includes large numbers of Gold Suppliers.

              See my posts #8 and 10 above.

              For a whole lot more helpful information you might like to see: Ask Me Anything About Product Sourcing And Importing For Profit. ― Veteran Importer Here.

              Walter Hay.
              "If you think education is expensive - consider the cost of ignorance."
              Signature
              Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
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              • Profile picture of the author akeemceo
                The big problem that a lot of people may have with China directly is one product quality and two shipping cost, i find that my Chinese buyers prefer to buy from USA. Let me know if you have any questions. Respectfully

                Originally Posted by Importexport View Post

                This is another reason why you should consider buying direct from factories overseas ..... But not through Alibaba, where the great majority of suppliers are traders masquerading as manufacturers.

                Not only so, but thousands of people have been scammed by suppliers on Alibaba and that includes large numbers of Gold Suppliers.

                See my posts #8 and 10 above.

                For a whole lot more helpful information you might like to see: Ask Me Anything About Product Sourcing And Importing For Profit. ― Veteran Importer Here.

                Walter Hay.
                "If you think education is expensive - consider the cost of ignorance."
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                • Profile picture of the author Importexport
                  Originally Posted by akeemceo View Post

                  The big problem that a lot of people may have with China directly is one product quality and two shipping cost, i find that my Chinese buyers prefer to buy from USA. Let me know if you have any questions. Respectfully
                  I agree. There is a huge market in China for goods from the USA, and also from Australia.

                  If people importing from China make sure they get the best deal direct from genuine manufacturers, they will have plenty of margin to cover shipping costs.

                  Walter
                  Signature
                  Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
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  • Profile picture of the author startup
    Originally Posted by ASwineford View Post

    Hello Everyone!

    I have been purchasing and selling from liquidation sites and auctions for close to five years and it's starting to feel like I'm in a losing battle. I love doing it and have loved gaining the stock and handling all of the inventory myself. The problem is simple, is there enough money to be made in this any more? I realize the potential, but haven't changed much over the past few years, but this year it's time to make some changes and look for more opportunities to grow!

    I am looking for advice from other fellow members that could point me in the right direction at least for either different opportunities or just more options in general. I have purchased everything from Dahm and Lalique to any common household electronics. I have purchased salvage, shelf pulls, new, antique, and everything in between. I typically buy in bulk and refurb salvage myself, and do any of the fixing and bundling as well.

    I know everyone asks these types of questions, but I figure you don't know what people will say until you ask so here I am!

    Also, I am starting this year by setting aside $1,000 and seeing what I can do with it on this new venture. Even if it's the same, but tweaked to make more profit I'm going to test whatever theories I can come up with and keep it updated here on the forum.

    Typically I sell the items for whatever the lowest pricing is on each item on Ebay/Amazon. I was also wondering if that may be a mistake as well.

    Thank you all very much for your time and I hope the New Year is great for all of you!
    When you buy from these sites te profits have already been siphoned off to a big extent.

    Find the ORIGINAL source of the surplus... that is what the owner of the site you buy from has done... then you will make BIG money most only dream about... I know this is an absolute fact. I owned a surplus liquidation firm for years and teach my students this method.

    hope that helps

    Dr B


    It i
    Signature

    Maverick Arbitrage Secrets - If you can follow a simple, step by step blueprint, you can start your own Product Arbitrage Business, starting with ZERO cash, today! http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...inventory.html

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  • Profile picture of the author linda dropshipping
    hi ,
    u need to find better supplier in from original factory.it will reduce a lot cost.And u said u had purchased from alibaba before in the past few years ago.And had one bad experience.now market are more regulation，so u can try to find.Good supplier will help u a lot.its better to find more the 3 supplier to reduce risks.
    hope it can help u.
    linda
    Signature

    to be a better girl.

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    • Profile picture of the author Importexport
      Originally Posted by linda dropshipping View Post

      hi ,
      u need to find better supplier in from original factory.it will reduce a lot cost.And u said u had purchased from alibaba before in the past few years ago.And had one bad experience.now market are more regulation，so u can try to find.Good supplier will help u a lot.its better to find more the 3 supplier to reduce risks.
      hope it can help u.
      linda
      Alibaba is no more regulated now than it was in late 2011 when they admitted that buyers had been scammed by 2236 Gold Suppliers.

      Jack Ma promised then that Alibaba would clean up their act, but as this report shows, they have not.
      China's Consumer Protection Watchdog Reports On Alibaba

      I have taught hundreds of people how to safely source overseas without risking it on Alibaba.

      Walter Hay.
      "If you think education is expensive - consider the cost of ignorance."
      Signature
      Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
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  • Profile picture of the author TorrenceJ
    Unless I could make a HUGE amount of money in a year(like $150,000 and higher)I'd pick wholesale if you can,more consistent. Liquidation always seemed a little too random to me and I would need enough money to safely tie me over for the period I'm looking for more items,enough money to risk buying the items,and money to cover the loses if it turned out to be defective and the customer wanted a return.
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