***Proof*** Of Sales Inside- Brokering International Export Deals- Broken Down "Real Simple".

215 replies
Basics Of Brokering

The last thread was getting a bit overly complex, so I am going to break it down to the basics here in a fresh recap.

10 Basic Steps.

1: You find a list of manufacturers

2: You call them and ask them if they have any liquidation merchandise they need to unload.

3: They say yes

4: They send you a manifest/inventory sheet of the available product, like one did for me here in this real live example of a sale I made:

Copy of Closeout Inventory as of 072508.xls

5: You go to a trade site and contact buyers of those kinds of products via email.

6: You send interested prospects a copy of the manifest (like above)

7: They, if they are interested, look through the manifest and pick out what they want, with a minimum qty order of , say, one 40' truckload.

8: You send them an invoice , via email, like the one below. (Yes its a real sale with a real customer, acct numbers blocked out).

Beijing K-Fashion Trading Co Final Proforma-1.xls

9: They Wire the Money To Your Seller

10: You (in my case, in this example) make $8,000, or $20,000 or whatever it is.

There is alot that can be said about it , but those are the basics.

You can make 10K deals, or 20k deals, or Million dollar deals.

International export brokering is said to create more overnight millionaires than any other industry in the world.

JF Straw himself made a million dollar deal like this.

Sam Walton was the king of it, only he didnt broker, he bought the deals for his retail stores.

YOU dont even have to buy or purchase ANYTHING or even TOUCH it. This is all done by email.

Believe it or dont, but the proof is right here in front of you complete with contact information.

So, before anyone over complicates the idea...Thats how it works. I just showed you a real life 100% verifiable example!

Dont say it cant be done, or that its more complicated than that, because thats exactly how it's done, and it isnt any more complicated than that.

-JD
#broken #brokering #real #simple #year
  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    Very interesting thread.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by Aaron Doud View Post

      Very interesting thread.
      Thanks Aaron,

      Just to give you an example of how customers can turn into repeat buyers...here is another demonstration of a smaller sale I had made to that same customer, only representing a different "seller".

      I believe I have the signed notarized copy somewhere in here.

      INVOICE 08 FHI890(1).xls

      And here is another customer entirely, also represents yet another (Third) "seller"...

      CHANNEL ARK 6-15-09 SED.xls

      I usually make a 50% commission on these things... these two above are just on small 20' test loads, that people bought to check out the inventory.

      I have made five or six different sales to the first customer (Fortune Trading), from 2 or 3 different sellers.

      If you'll notice in the OP, the "Blonder" manifest reflects 62,000 units, yet "buyer number one" only bought 18,500 units from that inventory sheet.

      The rest of the 62,000 units were sold to a guy in Bulgaria who I still intend to work with, so Im not going to post his stuff here.

      There are THOUSANDS of sellers, and Thousands of buyers, and THOUSANDS of niches. Every product you see in a department store is a niche, and each niche has dozens of brands.

      Over a period of a few years I made about 50 of these kinds of sales working part time, maybe 20 hours per month.

      In any event, I think this tells the story well enough. You have two different international buyers here, and 3 different sellers as examples.

      This stuff is real.

      -JD

      Originally Posted by Tracy411 View Post

      I love the ideas you have outlined in this thread and others. Sounds more than doable, and it is providing a real service to both parties you are brokering with.

      Question: if the buyer wire transfers the money to your seller, how do you typically get paid? You mentioned that you markup the price per unit to get a profit. How does that work if your seller gets the money first.

      Answer:

      Hi Tracy,

      Your seller knows you are a broker, and he supports that. Most of these sellers understand how brokers work. You tell him how much you marked it up, and he makes the invoice, or his secretary does.
      I typically get paid by wire transfer, or sometimes a check (rare).

      Do you have a comprehensive resource you would recommend for someone wanting to learn how to do import/export brokering?

      Answer:

      Im in the midst of creating one, but no, not at the moment. I had one that I had put out a couple of years ago, but I discontinued it because I felt it could have been done better.

      The reason Im posting this isnt for that purpose though, it's to give the naysayers something productive to chew on.
      These documents are not the kind of "proof" you can just make up in MS Works, as they contain REAL verifiable information.

      To answer your other question, I would recommend anything by JF Straw Or Sam Walton.


      I may be missing something here as I currently have a migraine. As always, I appreciate your feedback, John.

      No problem! Sorry about your migraine. Although, I know this neon blue probably doesnt help! lol

      Tracy
      In short,

      Any hillbilly, even working from an OUTHOUSE, could break into international bulk sales, if they had an internet connection, and an (optional) phone.

      -John
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      • Profile picture of the author Arzak
        Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

        Your seller knows you are a broker, and he supports that. Most of these sellers understand how brokers work. You tell him how much you marked it up, and he makes the invoice, or his secretary does. I typically get paid by wire transfer, or sometimes a check (rare).
        So you send the buyer the product list and let them choose what they want, then tell the seller to mark it up and get the difference? Wouldn't the seller want to pocket the markup themselves? I've purchased products like this off of trading sites before (not as a broker) and I was extremely cautious due to the lack of info from many manufacturers and wholesalers. What do you look for in a seller before contacting them?
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        • Profile picture of the author John Durham
          Originally Posted by Arzak View Post

          So you send the buyer the product list and let them choose what they want, then tell the seller to mark it up and get the difference? Wouldn't the seller want to pocket the markup themselves? I've purchased products like this off of trading sites before (not as a broker) and I was extremely cautious due to the lack of info from many manufacturers and wholesalers. What do you look for in a seller before contacting them?
          Good question, and one that probably many are asking.

          It isnt a "profit" thing for them" it's a "problem".

          Liquidation merchandise being backed up in the system is one of the leading problems with our economy as a whole, getting this stuff off the US market is an important thing not just to the local economy in general, but also to alot of these manufacturers individually...too much closeout merchandise floating around in US dollar stores drives their retail price down. They Are DESPERATE to get rid of it.

          for that reason, they will let you sell it here sometimes, especially if they are really desperate to get rid of it, but you are particularly valuable to them if you can get it out of the country.

          Additionally, it is stacking up in their warehouses more and more every season, and costing them money in admin, inventory people warehouse management, crews that move it around, space, it's tying up equipment, they are pressured because in a few months another 20 loads of it are coming in, and they wont have space…, and there is huge pressure because another season is coming and they know they are going to have more of it that they have to deal with.

          It's a cycle of flushing it out that never ends.

          It is a huge problem that they need to get out of their warehouse.

          Also many are liquidating because they are going out of business, or discontinuing a product line and they are moving out of a building that they don’t want to take it all too, and they may only have two months to get everything out of it or they will have to throw it away at their own cost (and it does cost).

          Lastly, it is product that is written off on their taxes already as a loss, so they don’t need to make profit on it, they could sell it for a penny, as long as they haven’t racked up too much additional expense housing it for a year already, and it would be pure profit.

          They don’t care how much money you make, they just want someone to help them rid themselves of it, and they cant sell it to any of their primary market, which is what their own salesman are focused on.

          Mostly, as stated, they want to get it out of their country, because they don’t want it going back on their primary market and flooding it with discount prices.

          This is why they work with liquidators.

          At first glance it doesn’t make sense, but when you consider that there are thousands of liquidators out there, and each year they locate hundreds more products to represent, you can see that there is a huge demand for this service, even though your mind, just looking on the surface might ask “Why don’t they just sell it themselves”…because it isn’t their bread and butter. Excess merchandise is a “problem” they need to get rid of.

          Still, I try my best not to hurt their pride… I usually mark it up 100% so that I make the same thing they do on the product, and don’t insult them too badly. It’s already a bit insulting that they are forced to sell it for pennies on the dollar.

          Again, if there wasn’t a need for liquidation, then there wouldn’t be a secondary market in this world, and if there wasn’t a profit for the guys marking it up, then there wouldn’t be a liquidation industry. there wouldnt be a "Walmart" with a hundred thousand new liquidated products in it every year... Each of those products represent a guy like me, who moved it cheaply and sold it to a discount wholesaler, who sold it to someone like Walmart, or a discount store chain.

          Now think about the tens of thousands of products you see in a department store....and think further about the thousands of brand names for those products...

          Each year, at the end of the year, 90% of those products become "secondary merchandise"... Think about how desperately a store needs to sell seasonal sweaters? because next season they will be out of style...at the end of each season the left over sweaters they dont sell become ":secondary merchandise".

          They sell this back to the manufacturers via "buy back agreements", and it it written off on the manufacturers taxes as a loss and becomes "excess" merchandise.

          Now think of the millions of products out there that have the potential to become excess, secondary merchandise each year, and you will see the scope of how many manufacturers have warehouses full of headaches that they have to rid themselves of before the next season.

          They are desperate to get rid of it. They dont need to make any profit. They dont care what you make, all they care about is that you can help get it out of their warehouse without alot of hassle.

          As far as "buyers" being careful...even major department stores know that a certain amount of merchandise is defective... they arent YOU though, and these big overseas buyers arent you... they buy in quantities of 10's of thousands, or hundreds of thousands, or even millions of units... and they know ahead of time that a certain amount is going to be unuseable, thats why they buy at low prices from liquidation brokers like yourself.

          They are BIG buyers, and their mentality is totally different about it than say a guy who has a small wholesale business. They factor these things in. We arent talking about small mom and pop retail stores here, who are careful about every penny.

          Yes, some of them are careful like yourself, and they want to come and oversee the picking of the product themselves, in which case you email your manufacturer and say, my buyers are coming to your warehouse to pick out their loads..., can you have someone show them around?

          And he will.

          But most of them dont worry so much about that, they figure a certain amount of it into the equation, and if they do worry about it, they dont buy from you, and someone else does.

          Hope this helps,
          John
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  • Profile picture of the author Tracy411
    I love the ideas you have outlined in this thread and others. Sounds more than doable, and it is providing a real service to both parties you are brokering with.

    Question: if the buyer wire transfers the money to your seller, how do you typically get paid? You mentioned that you markup the price per unit to get a profit. How does that work if your seller gets the money first.

    Do you have a comprehensive resource you would recommend for someone wanting to learn how to do import/export brokering?

    I may be missing something here as I currently have a migraine. As always, I appreciate your feedback, John.

    Tracy
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Eniggma here checking in. Great breakdown.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marcus C
    Great post!

    I used to do something similar to this a few years ago, but for my eCommerce stores. Makes me think I should get back into this, but as a broker instead.

    - Marcus
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    • Profile picture of the author Power and Wealth
      Would be great if you touched on how you find lists of manufacturers. Great thread, thanks!
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      • Profile picture of the author wesb
        John is the real deal. I had his original course for a few years. This is a real business.

        I started this type of business back in college although I wasn't exporting products. I sold distressed merchandise to local companies.

        But any ways I'm restarting Johns' brokering concept today. Thanks for bringing this back up John!

        Jerome
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      • Profile picture of the author wesb
        You can use the Thomas Registry either online or the library.

        Originally Posted by Phresh Content View Post

        Would be great if you touched on how you find lists of manufacturers. Great thread, thanks!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rob28x
    Thanks for taking the time to post this John, I am very intrigued and will have to learn more about it.
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  • Profile picture of the author dooright
    I like this idea this and bird dogging nd mobile marketing my goals
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Hey John can you please in the meantime give us a basic phone script or pitch to chew on? I want to continue making calls today. Well everyday. Thx
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    • Profile picture of the author wmcole
      John,

      Thank you for all you've shared! I bought Jim Straw's course on procurement when it first came out. Got distracted by life and didn't do anything with it. (divorce, etc....) August last year I decided to get started AND I've been stuck for months. I decided to commit even if it meant going hungry. (My daughters' mother would have them covered if I really did starve.)

      Yesterday was a breakthrough for me. Sitting in my exes living room (no internet in my apt and it's too small for the kids to be there), homeschooling my girls, using her internet to call on my magic jack, I called 5 companies.

      No deals, and I think one guy was being a smart alec doing did a Cheech and Chong impression while we were talking. I just thought it was funny and was polite to him anyway. The point was to just make the damn calls no matter how it turned out. You know what? It went fine.

      One of the things that has been a big help has been the posts about brokering deals and cold calling you and others have been putting up here on WF. I read them every day, over and over, to shift my mind and perspective.

      Thank you, John and everyone else for contributing their experiences, for sharing all you've been sharing. I'm feeling very hopeful about overcoming what feels like a huge hurdle for me at times.

      I'm looking forward to sharing the gory details of my first deal.

      --Eric
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      • Profile picture of the author John Durham
        Originally Posted by wmcole View Post

        John,

        I called 5 companies.

        No deals
        This is the problem here.

        This is is 10 times easier than cold calling people for webdesign, but if you only called 5 companies is not surprising that you dont have a million dollar deal yet. Good for you, making an effort though!

        A person should really sit down and do 50-100 calls, and, in doing that, there is almost NO WAY you wont come across a manufacturer with excess.

        When you come across one they are going to be VERY HAPPY that you called because excess inventory is a HUGE headache for them.

        Think about it.

        A: They cant sell it back to their primary market
        B: It's stacking up in their warehouse and they are running out of space.
        C: The warehouse costs them money
        D: The forklifts to move it around cost them money
        E: They are constantly having their day interupted by warehouse managers telling asking them what they are supposed to do with it, and having after hours meetings over it.
        F: It takes crews to manage it, and that cost them money.
        G: It takes admin to keep inventory of it and that costs money
        • Just think of everything that goes into making a manifest like I showed you in the OP of 62,000 units, all broken down into individual specifications, designs, numbers... that requires warehouse people to individually go through every piece, record it, and admin people to make the records... aside from all the warehoue people that have to move it around everyday... AND THIS IS USELESS product to them
        • Now think, every time they make a small sale, someone has to dig through all the boxes, open everything up and look for the individual products people buy, then put it all back together
        • More editing the inventory sheets...
        Excess merchandise costs alot of money to keep, but doesnt MAKE any. It's a huge headace for people in manufacturing.

        Those thousands of products you see in discount stores?

        They were ALL products like this.


        If you have ever been in a meeting (which most havent) overhearing executives talk about this problem it would be clear. It even costs money for them to load it, haul it off and throw it away...semi driver, trucks...


        So what Im saying is that when you come across a guy with excess merchandise and you say "I have buyers who might be interested in this"... He is going to be very happy you called.


        Nearly EVERY commercial product manufacturer, who doesnt create on demand, will have it at varying points during the year.


        I would not expect a person to make a deal within 5 calls, however, within a day or two of calling maybe a couple of hours per day, most people will have 2-4 deals.


        Try really digging into a couple of call sessions.


        They arent hard. Its alot easier than cold calling for web design.


        I landed 3 manufacturers in the same session when calling one day for 4-5 hours.


        After you have made a few of those brokering deals, you dont have to cold call ANYMORE, the rest is email. In fact, you may not have to cold call AT ALL, you can even find sellers via email, although it should at least require an introductory follow up call.

        Should average people be doing this?

        have you ever heard JF Straw talk in an interview?

        This industry is TOTALLY made of of average people. People who have alot of motivation however, but that goes for anything.


        Basically,


        Here are some basics:


        1: Go to manta.com


        2: Decide on a niche of manufacturers


        • There are over 600,000 toys manufacturers listed ALONE, and there are thousands of niches besides toys.
        3: Call them up and basically say "Hi Im a liquidator, we sell closeout toy merchandise to a group of overseas wholesale buyers, and I have some potential buyers who are urgent for a couple of toy loads (Or whatever that guy manufactures), they pay cash upfront, and I was wondering if you folks have any distressed merchandise you need to unload...Maybe we could help each other out here..."


        4: Dont use those exact words, make it sound natural in your own words.


        5: You are going to ABSOLUTELY run across people with a BIG inventory problem.... It's inevitable.


        6: You have a BETTER chance of making a deal like this in a single call session than you do setting an appointment for web design, Im serious.


        I'm trying to put some material together right now that gets more specific... if you guys dont mind being a little patient with me. There are also threads all over the place here that I have put up to help guys who are interested in this...


        As far as cold calling goes though, this should be the easiest calling you ever did in your life, because you arent calling as a seller, you are calling as a buyer.



        EVERYONE who has something to sell, wants to talk to a buyer.


        Again, I will create something more specific, but that's the basic idea. As stated, you can see in the op and second post verifiable evidence that I have done this myself, so take my word for it, its not that hard.


        Orchestrating a web design job is harder than this.

        If you stick to the basics in the OP, then this wont be complicated at all. However, yes, it will probably take more than 5 calls, but maybe NOT for some.

        Not everyone is going to get rich at it either, just like anything else though, for people who really want it, the opportunity does exist and is very realistic as I have demonstrated, by my own work. I really didnt do anything more than what Im advising here.


        -John

        You might be "hoping" to succeed right now, but wait till Im done with you man... You will be CONVINCED that you can succeed.

        Busy day today though, not so much time for posting. My apologies.

        As far as liability goes...

        You dont have any, because your name isnt on any contracts.

        What if you worked for AOL, as an independent sales rep, and the owner of the company misrepresented something in the contracts that both parties signed and agreed to?

        That can potentially happen with ANY company you work for, you just focus on what you do, and work with the products and information you have been given. Most of these guys are well established manufacturers and they dont misrepresent intentionally, although there are times when buyers arent happy, sure.

        If you worked for Bill Gates and he misrepresented something, and a customer got mad at YOU for it, what are you going to do?

        Their contract is between themselves and the seller, and HE is the one who makes out the detailed invoice, and packing slips... You are just the middle man... What buyers agree to is on an invoice contract between their company and the sellers company.

        You represent with what you have been given, and the seller signs the dotted lines stating that "this is what they are getting" as in the examples above, and that what you represented is what the buyer will receive. At that point it is out of your hands.

        Again, from time to time, a customer may not be completely happy, sure... Just like any other industry in the world honestly. This is most likely to happen when purchasing "assorted lots", for which there is no inventory sheet, and both parties agree to that, both understanding the GENERAL contents, but not agreeing on SPECIFIC content, only a general idea of whats there... Buyers do this kind of "grab bag" purchase, because they are usually getting it for pennies. It's fairly common, but also its fairly common for them to express unhappiness after such a purchase.

        You just inform your seller and ask them to fix it for the customer. Both of them are parties to a specific agreement, with clearly laid out terms, and both of them are responsible to fulfill their end of whatever was agreed to on paper between them...but you have nothing to do with that part.

        If a buyer is concerned about what they are getting, they are always free to come to the sellers warehouse and oversea the loading of the product. That is always an option that sellers openly offer.

        Buyers can also opt to have the load inspected before it leaves the port, if they choose, at their own expense.

        In short, in this game , anyone who spends thousands of dollars on a load, knows what they are doing, and they know the options available to them. Your buyers do this for a living.

        -John
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Wmcole great story man. I've been making lots of calls myself man and it can get disheartening. But I know ill find a seller soon if I stick with it. I also know for fact nothing will happen if I just sit here. So I got no option but to keep pushing.

    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people wont"

    That's what I keep tellin myself. And it works.

    John thx again and if you could throw up a basic phone script that would be awesome.
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  • Profile picture of the author NewParadigm
    This works because many companies nearly look at any money for their surplus/discontinued inventory as free/found money so they can be generous w/ commissions for a sale.

    Especially in the downturn of the economy businesses are trying to raise cash, and any distressed inventory may sit on the books or written off, but it is taking up valuable space in warehouse. Several businesses can even go to a smaller footprint/less money for a lease if they tighten up their inventory.

    If you have knowledge of a certain niche and know value of products you can progress and take possession of the product in warehouse/storage and sell it. You'd make a bigger margin.

    On a smaller scale, you could have a person or two go in to take photos and database smaller lots of inventory and post items on ebay/craigslist instead of pallet quantity.
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  • Profile picture of the author langdon0555
    John,

    Any idea on when the course would be available? This type of work interest me!

    I have Jim Straw's course, I should read back through his course again but would love to see your take and experience on the mechanics of how to put deals like this together.

    Cheers
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  • Profile picture of the author mrtrance
    On the manifest/inventory list that you get from the manufacturer it does not show the pricing per unit. Where do you get that info in order to be able to know how much to mark up when you send your invoice to your buyer with pricing details? I did not see what sort of pricing the seller was giving you in the manifest/inventory list that you posted here.

    By the way the previous John Durham WSO that others are referencing here is it called the Alibaba Gold course?
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    • Profile picture of the author wesb
      Yes its Alibaba Gold and Export Profits. (I think that's the correct name) I believe Alibaba Gold is the updated course. John is coming out with a new course on the subject soon.

      Originally Posted by mrtrance View Post

      On the manifest/inventory list that you get from the manufacturer it does not show the pricing per unit. Where do you get that info in order to be able to know how much to mark up when you send your invoice to your buyer with pricing details? I did not see what sort of pricing the seller was giving you in the manifest/inventory list that you posted here.

      By the way the previous John Durham WSO that others are referencing here is it called the Alibaba Gold course?
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Hey john another question (dont forget my other one ) if a buyer is ok with wiring you the money for you to make the buy do you take it or still have the supplier handle it and cut u a check?

    How do you protect yourself from any liability from perhaps the manufacturer lying about the contents or condition of the stocklot and so the buyer accuses you of being the liar and coming after you instead of the supplier?
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Thanks man great stuff. That also answers my phone script question. Please see the one above about liability?

    I make calls on my lunch and break. I like to sit down each evening and put together a list of manufacturers to call the next day and read over all this info again to really instill it to build confidence.

    I can't wait to land that first supplier deal so I can get posting on alibaba asap.
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Ok cool. Hey man I am fully confident this can work I have always known about this industry and was interested but never had a guide til now. As always its starting out that's hard, and what I'm trying to get over and through. The whole newbie period of it all.lol i hate it amd it wkrks my patience but oh well. Made a few more calls today and been using the script template you said earlier. nothing yet but ill keep at it. I get the feeling fnding suppliers is harder then finding a buyer.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
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      • Profile picture of the author eniggma
        Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

        If it's too hard Eniggma, there may be a chance that this isnt the thing for you honestly, it should be relatively a cake walk as far as most cold calling goes. Seriously, it's easier than calling for web design.

        There is no shame in saying "This isnt for me" if that becomes the case. Im positive that this may not be for everyone... As is the case with all opportunities.

        Creating an opt in list is easy too, but alot of people think its hard... So...

        Regardless, the opportunity DOES exist for everyone. I was a newby too...in fact I made my own system up and didnt even have a guide... Just sat down and made the calls... When you have your mind made up, you simply do, but there is not a single opportunity on this forum that will work for a person who is focused on how hard something is. What you focus on is this:

        "Here is the way to success, others have shown it, and this is how it works", then you sit down and work it till it works out.
        Ok, I will never complain again. i'm jus gona get it done. I know it works and if I follow instructions it will work for me too. Heck I'm all fired up now that you said that. Amazing what feeling challenged can do to your drive.lol
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  • Profile picture of the author stranger11
    John, good idea starting from the basics. I'll continue here as well and let the other thread die. On the one hand, I am glad I started that thread since it got you to make a new report, on the other, I am sometimes worried that too many people will know about this. But in all honesty, there are so many possibilities that its not a concern.

    I am basically figuring out what not to do, which I suppose is a good way to learn. I may have a few suppliers, but not sure. I did some cold calling, had some that knew what I was talking about. Mostly the issue was getting in touch with someone that could make the decision. Getting through gatekeepers when you make the initial call. Of course, you are not just calling randomly, if you did your research through these directories you will be asking for someone specific.

    I don't think leaving messages would be very helpful, but doesn't hurt to try. Had some interest from online prospects, but the other issue is finding out if they are true liquidation deals or not. They say they are, but sometimes you go on trade sites and the prices are close to the prices of similar products.

    John, you mentioned Macy's before, for giant chain stores like that, do you call an individual branch, or their headquarters? Is each branch responsible for their own inventory?
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  • Profile picture of the author Praney Behl
    This thread has lots of information to soak in.
    Thank you all.
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  • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
    Wow thanks for the info!

    Question: I love this method but how hard is it to find buyers for the products you're brokering? If we just list it on trade sites like alibaba etc. how hard/long does it take to sell?

    If we can just list and get prospects wanting the merchandise..why can't the manufacturers just do that in the first place themselves and not need a broker?

    thanks!
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    @TakenAction its cuz they pay for your expertise that you know how to find buyers and may not be aware of or know how to make use of all the methods you do. makes it less work for them. The same way you'll pay someone for a great guide on how do something when you very well could learn all you need to know on your own with some digging and searching. People pay for knowledge and convenience all the time.
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  • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
    John or someone could you also please help out with a way to get past gatekeepers and talk to someone who can make this decision to give us a list of un-sold items.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by TakenAction View Post

      John or someone could you also please help out with a way to get past gatekeepers and talk to someone who can make this decision to give us a list of un-sold items.
      Yeah, tell them you are a a buyer, and you have customers interested in product.... Bingo. You're past em. It's not like cold calling for web design.
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  • Profile picture of the author stranger11
    When you get leads from manufacturer directories, they should have the name of someone you will contact. Like John Doe who is the vice president of the company. So you ask the receptionist to speak with John. Then you give John your spiel about what you do. Then he will either be able to work with you because he needs a way to clear it out or he will say he doesn't need your services.
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  • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
    Wow I'm just so glad I stumbled across this thread! This has so much potential. I am currently getting phone numbers of toy manufacturers off Manta and I will call tomorrow and hopefully be able to start listing product within the next couple days.

    Thanks so much John and everyone else with great advice!
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by TakenAction View Post

      Wow I'm just so glad I stumbled across this thread! This has so much potential. I am currently getting phone numbers of toy manufacturers off Manta and I will call tomorrow and hopefully be able to start listing product within the next couple days.

      Thanks so much John and everyone else with great advice!

      Yeah the potential is pretty amazing. I have made more deals in the tens of thousands of dollar range via EMAIL, than I could talk about in one thread... JF Straw found a stock lot of "Blue Blocker" sunglasses, and made over a million dollars with it.


      In fact I would never post them for a million dollars , but he and I had many email exchanges chatting over these ideas, and he was a major supporter for me the first time I started talking about it on the WF, he even posted about it in my old forum, and promoted my report for me.

      Back in his day it was harder, because there was alot more physical interaction and salesmanship involved...today we have trade sites and we can do it without leaving our easy chairs, or even physically talking to a customer, and the only real sales ability you need is enough to ask a supplier "Hey can I represent your product for you on commission?"

      The rest is emailing specs back and forth to interested prospects. They dont want "salesmanship" so much these days, they want the product "Specs".

      The Million dollar deals are out there too. The kind of deals I make are what Straw called the little snack deals that you make in between feasts, although I have always thought of a $15,000 commission as a pretty nice little feast. lol.

      This truly is the biggest opportunity on the planet. When you think about shiploads of product flowing between countries, you are talking about what makes the world go round, it's just that most people dont realize, that any little guy from Arkansas can get into the middle of a deal like this from a personal computer, but Im living proof that they can.

      Come to think of it, I think Straw was FROM Arkansas, or Ms. or somewhere in the region..., so was Sam Walton.

      In any event...

      There are thousands upon thousands of different deals you can jump in on.

      This isnt what Im currently focused on, because my true goal is to own a specific kind of directory site with thousands of customers on it... but I have done plenty of these deals over the years... the examples above only represent a fraction...and could do it again at any given time.

      Opportunity is always all around us, in so many shapes and sizes...

      To be saying "I cant see opportunity" is to be like a fish swimming around in the ocean saying "I cant find water".

      -John
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      • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
        Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

        Yeah the potential is pretty amazing. I have made more deals in the tens of thousands of dollar range via EMAIL, than I could talk about in one thread... JF Straw found a stock lot of "Blue Blocker" sunglasses, and made over a million dollars with it.


        In fact I would never post them for a million dollars , but he and I had many email exchanges chatting over these ideas, and he was a major supporter for me the first time I started talking about it on the WF, he even posted about it in my old forum, and promoted my report for me.

        Back in his day it was harder, because there was alot more physical interaction and salesmanship involved...today we have trade sites and we can do it without leaving our easy chairs, or even physically talking to a customer, and the only real sales ability you need is enough to ask a supplier "Hey can I represent your product for you on commission?"

        The rest is emailing specs back and forth to interested prospects. They dont want "salesmanship" so much these days, they want the product "Specs".

        The Million dollar deals are out there too. The kind of deals I make are what Straw called the little snack deals that you make in between feasts, although I have always thought of a $15,000 commission as a pretty nice little feast. lol.

        This truly is the biggest opportunity on the planet. When you think about shiploads of product flowing between countries, you are talking about what makes the world go round, it's just that most people dont realize, that any little guy from Arkansas can get into the middle of a deal like this from a personal computer, but Im living proof that they can.

        Come to think of it, I think Straw was FROM Arkansas, or Ms. or somewhere in the region..., so was Sam Walton.

        In any event...

        There are thousands upon thousands of different deals you can jump in on.

        This isnt what Im currently focused on, because my true goal is to own a specific kind of directory site with thousands of customers on it... but I have done plenty of these deals over the years... the examples above only represent a fraction...and could do it again at any given time.

        Opportunity is always all around us, in so many shapes and sizes...

        To be saying "I cant see opportunity" is to be like a fish swimming around in the ocean saying "I cant find water".

        -John
        Thanks so much! Always find so much value in your posts.
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  • Profile picture of the author IMStrategus
    I'm ready for million dollar deals all day long.
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    • Profile picture of the author eniggma
      Originally Posted by IMStrategus View Post

      I'm ready for million dollar deals all day long.
      I second that.lol

      Heck with 3-4k a month I can quit my job. My bar for success is low so I see this as being a piece of cake in this industry as long as I stay on it and focused.

      Matter fact I'm gona get back to putting together my list of manufacturers to call for tomorrow.
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      • Profile picture of the author John Durham
        Originally Posted by eniggma View Post

        I second that.lol

        Heck with 3-4k a month I can quit my job. My bar for success is low so I see this as being a piece of cake in this industry as long as I stay on it and focused.

        Matter fact I'm gona get back to putting together my list of manufacturers to call for tomorrow.
        You can focus on million dollar deals strictly if you want, but they are more few and far between, even though they exist and lots of people make them.

        Your average deal is going to be anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 dollars, and as JF straw says, you need those in between the big deals, they are your bread and butter deals, and the million dollar deals are the gravy.

        The beauty of it is that it only requires a few hours per week, you can do this in literally less than 8 hours per week, and its mostly emailing...not like killing yourself running appointments and making phone calls all day for months on end.

        Most millionaire liquidators do it by making $50,000 here, and $50, 000 there, and $25,000 here, throughout the year, representing a ton of different products.

        Then in all of that business, because they are doing such a volume of deals, their numbers come up once in awhile and they hit a million dollar deal.

        If I didnt know people who had done it, I would say it was just a nyth, but I do know people who have done it.

        I myself have never hit a million dollar deal, my biggest deal was around $130,000 selling almost twenty 40' containers to one single customer in one sale.

        That to me, was a miracle. lol

        The average deal is going to be 1 to 5 loads, and be in the $10,000 to $70,000 range probably.

        But then, I guess it depends on what you focus on.

        -John
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    So yea 4-5 deals a year and my bills are paid. LOL The rest is all gravy man.

    I am completely fine with the LOW end of that average. I would be ecstatic to make 10k at a time.

    Of course I don't mind shooting for the stars so I am definitely trying to make this full time. But like I said my bar for success (as in paying my bills) is pretty low fortunately.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    I also want to address something of my own volition here...

    There are inevitable questions that are going to come up in this thread eventually, by people who lack full understanding, as some have heard me mention that I am not currently making a ton of money a month or two ago in a thread, so they are going to say "Why arent you a millionaire right now John?"

    I will go ahead and address those now.

    1: Dont believe everything you read, others can assume or 'extrapolate" to themselves what they think the facts of your life are, but thats all it is, a hypothesis, they dont know your priorities or the specifics of your situations, or where your expenses go out to... If I say it myself, which I freely do, then you can believe it.

    2: Secondly, I DO still passively participate in liquidation. I dont go cold calling for manufacturers anymore, but I do have deals that come down the pike that I facilitate here and there, which accounts for some of what you hear me say when I say things like I did in the "John Durham needs to retire" thread, such as "I have a few offline projects that bring me some income here and there".

    As a matter of fact, you may have also heard me say that I had a friend who passed away recently, in another thread...what I didnt say was that that friend owned several retail stores and I am in the mix at this very juncture of helping his family liquidate them.

    It's a very part time thing for me at this time, but I still do participate in it, otherwise I would show you more manifests from more customers, however, I still work with those customers here, and there and plan to continue that in the future, or at least hope to with most of them, so you wont see me listing their stuff here.

    I just wanted to get that one out of the way before it comes up.

    If you hear me say it, then its true, however if you hear OTHERS say it, it is simply them extrapolating, imagining the possibilities, and stringing along what they call facts, to create theories and hypothesis, and state them as fact.

    I think you'll agree, that in other thread I have been utterly honest and soul baring...however no outsider can assume to know my reasoning's, or specific situations , motivations, expenses, or income streams without it being just a theory.

    My own goal is in the area of directory sites, but I do still participate in deals here and there with liquidations, and make a few grand here and there with them.

    It has been even said that I never MADE a liquidation deal, and that I am making this stuff up ...but as you can see in the OP, that is simply not true. You cant provide the kind of proof I have here and get away with it, if it isnt true. There are corporate names, phone numbers, contact details...lol Too easy to verify.

    A person cant just randomly say "I verified it and he's lying", because its just as easy for you to verify for yourself, and bust them in their lie. These arent like "made up paypal statements". Lol.

    Dont believe everything you read.

    -John
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    I appreciate your honesty and the EXTENSIVE amount of info you have provided on this business model. You could easily bundle up these threads (including the one with you and Michael Hiles from 2010) into a WSO and sell it.

    Its refreshing to see someone not only provide such great info, but also proof.

    I for one have always been interested in this biz model and am fully aware of how much money there is in it. And I have always been the type to do my own research and due diligence and take everything with a grain of salt as opposed to simply succumb to becoming a sheep being led on every word.

    I was always looking for a guide on this stuff but could never find one so I am happy to have stumbled upon this thread when I did. Heck I can't even remember how I did but I know I have learned more than enough to take action and am going to stick with it until I can run back here and post my success.

    Anyways thanks again and keep it up. Looking forward to more.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by eniggma View Post

      I appreciate your honesty and the EXTENSIVE amount of info you have provided on this business model. You could easily bundle up these threads (including the one with you and Michael Hiles from 2010) into a WSO and sell it.

      Its refreshing to see someone not only provide such great info, but also proof.

      I for one have always been interested in this biz model and am fully aware of how much money there is in it. And I have always been the type to do my own research and due diligence and take everything with a grain of salt as opposed to simply succumb to becoming a sheep being led on every word.

      I was always looking for a guide on this stuff but could never find one so I am happy to have stumbled upon this thread when I did. Heck I can't even remember how I did but I know I have learned more than enough to take action and am going to stick with it until I can run back here and post my success.

      Anyways thanks again and keep it up. Looking forward to more.
      You can do it bro, as with any business model, the guy who really has his eyes on the prize gets it.

      I have been trying to dig through all my emails and find this guy's (Sergent's) testimonial to encourage you, it's in here somewhere.

      He invested about an hour per week over 6-8 weeks and made a $15,000 commission on his first significant deal. I believe he may have made some smaller ones in between as well.

      The reason it would encourage you is because he was much like yourself, a thousand questions, and pulling his hair out trying to grasp things at first.

      Will find it eventually and post.

      I have some others too... but thats not the big priority at the moment.

      -John
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    • Profile picture of the author mrtrance
      This is exactly the type of biz model I think I have been waiting for to really focus on and make it into a real full time business. I really enjoy the whole buying low and selling high business strategy which I have been doing successfully for a while on Ebay. It is similar to what this model is about except being on a very small scale compared to what you can make here. I buy brand new items from local stores or online retailers that are on clearance or price errors and then turn around and sell for profit typically with a 30%-50% ROI.

      Since I really enjoy scoring the deals and then being able to make a profit from the merchandise I always wondered how I could really expand this into a full time business. Now after reading this thread by JD and what he was shown can be achieved I think this is exactly what I have been after all this time. I will start working on this week and gathering contact info for manufacturers and see if I can start calling and getting some leads.
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Ok cool thx John, still throwing a list of manufacturers together to bang some calls out on my break and lunch tomorrow. Gonna go over your script a couple more times too. Well see how it goes.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by eniggma View Post

      Ok cool thx John, still throwing a list of manufacturers together to bang some calls out on my break and lunch tomorrow. Gonna go over your script a couple more times too. Well see how it goes.

      Well it wasnt a script, it was a basic outline...and you will need more than that if he says "yes", but Im working on it. If I were you I would wait until I can get more comprehensive information to you. It isnt rocket science, but you will need more than a basic outline. Right now I would say a few days of "patience". Give yourself a few days to mull over what we have discussed, and dont take action just yet, because I dont want to be responsible for someone failing...Let me get some comprehensive script info to you.

      Ps. To address something else you mentioned...

      As far as going through my old posts and making them into reports, via copy paste… It’s a quick fix, but I don’t do that. I don’t rehash. lol Although alot of other people DO use my posts like that…They dont believe in their own ability to create. It's a lack attitude.

      If I don’t have a fresh thought, technique, or a fresh illustration or way of looking at something to offer in a report. I just don’t offer one.


      -John
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      • Profile picture of the author RichSerafini
        John, Interesting info. I'm looking forward to getting the comprehensive info - I'll be on the lookout for your new WSO - please post here on this thread when it is ready.

        Thanks. Rich

        Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

        Well it wasnt a script, it was a basic outline...and you will need more than that if he says "yes", but Im working on it. If I were you I would wait until I can get more comprehensive information to you. It isnt rocket science, but you will need more than a basic outline. Right now I would say a few days of "patience". Give yourself a few days to mull over what we have discussed, and dont take action just yet, because I dont want to be responsible for someone failing...Let me get some comprehensive script info to you.

        Ps. To address something else you mentioned...

        As far as going through my old posts and making them into reports, via copy paste... It's a quick fix, but I don't do that. I don't rehash. lol Although alot of other people DO use my posts like that...They dont believe in their own ability to create. It's a lack attitude.

        If I don't have a fresh thought, technique, or a fresh illustration or way of looking at something to offer in a report. I just don't offer one.


        -John
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        • Profile picture of the author Adam Curry
          Can this be done from overseas or do we need to live in the U.S?
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          • Profile picture of the author John Durham
            Originally Posted by Adam Curry View Post

            Can this be done from overseas or do we need to live in the U.S?
            I believe that Sergit, in the testimonial above, was from Canada, and sold a load he located in America to a company in Russia if I'm correct. Yes, you can do it from anywhere, trade sites represent sellers from all kinds of different countries.
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      • Profile picture of the author eniggma
        Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

        Well it wasnt a script, it was a basic outline...and you will need more than that if he says "yes", but Im working on it. If I were you I would wait until I can get more comprehensive information to you. It isnt rocket science, but you will need more than a basic outline. Right now I would say a few days of "patience". Give yourself a few days to mull over what we have discussed, and dont take action just yet, because I dont want to be responsible for someone failing...Let me get some comprehensive script info to you.

        Ps. To address something else you mentioned...

        As far as going through my old posts and making them into reports, via copy paste... It's a quick fix, but I don't do that. I don't rehash. lol Although alot of other people DO use my posts like that...They don't believe in their own ability to create. It's a lack attitude.

        If I don't have a fresh thought, technique, or a fresh illustration or way of looking at something to offer in a report. I just don't offer one.


        -John
        Ok man, since you said it wont be that long ill hold off for now then and read over all of this again in the meantime. Thx

        Maybe in the meantime ill put together a call log sheet and call list or something too while I wait.
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  • Profile picture of the author rugman
    Hey JD - great stuff!
    Keep in mind this when calling - they are NOT attached to this inventory! I am currently selling off some of my fishing "crap" - problem is - I am attached to it so it just ain't sellin! If I had a warehouse with 50,000 fishing reels taking up space it would be a different story!
    Also - when you get the correct person on the phone and they don't have any excess make sure they get all your info - they may call you back in 3 months with the mother load!
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  • Profile picture of the author chrisuchi
    brokering could not doubt be a good source of income if done well
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  • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
    You all should appreciate what John is sharing here. It is great to have people who are willing to take the arrows from the peanut gallery and post up what most would call..."inside information". thanks John.

    I prefer to fly low and collect the dough. However, since I was one of the original members of Jim Straw's Finders Fee club (he published a monthly newsletter in the 70s on Business Opportunities) and have done this...I'll share a little with you.

    Here is a link to Lawrence Bernstein's site
    Harvey Brody’s: ‘Toll Postion Secrets’ Report

    Buried in Harvey's report is some good HOW TO regarding this subject. Jump to page 20 for some good how to.

    Another good place to learn from is Sherman Hunter's site, his free report on this business is a good starting point for you too. His site is

    ealliancemaker.com I think you can still sign up for free to access reports and such, don't think it is active at this time. But good info nonetheless.

    OK, now if you care to read...a little history.

    Harvey Brody worked with Joe Cossman and many of the great importers of the 50s and 60s. He has a product, the Zoom Spout Oiler which he totally owns and controls and has for over 60 years. It has sold around 75 million units or so. You can find it in most places like Walmart, Lowes, Sears, etc.

    Anyhow, Harvey wrote a course on Toll Positions in the 80s. He also taught guys like Jay Abraham, Joe Karbo, Joe Sugarman, Gary Halbert, Ben Suarez ands a host of others about the Direct Response business.

    He also has made tons of moolah with Finders Fees because most of the stuff he finds doesn't meet his very high astandards so he passes them on to others.

    If you OVERTHINK THIS, as I see many of you doing then you should start small at the local level, search for mfgrs within 100 miles or so and contact them about overstock or excess inventory. IF you want, start big and contact the large manufactures. Although this isn't directly related to selling excess inventory, it is related to stressed merchandise, and you can offer acquire the rights to the product with a simple agreement and no out of money expenses.

    Just One Good Product

    Bob Blagg's course will help you to expand your thinking as you are contacting mfgrs about overstocked items, a few phone calls to frustrated inventors could be worth mucho moolah to you.

    As for Toll Positions, there is an unknown guy in St. Louis who has been paid over 15 million dollars in the past decade simply because he has a piece of paper which allows him to collect a small royalty on the sales of a best selling specialty product.

    There is is this great big world out there, one which most Warriors don't bother to find out about.

    Again, thanks John for sharing. It is really, just a crack in the door of the opportunities that exist for those who are not afraid to deal with people.

    gjabiz

    Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

    Basics Of Brokering

    The last thread was getting a bit overly complex, so I am going to break it down to the basics here in a fresh recap.

    10 Basic Steps.

    1: You find a list of manufacturers

    2: You call them and ask them if they have any liquidation merchandise they need to unload.

    3: They say yes

    4: They send you a manifest/inventory sheet of the available product, like one did for me here in this real live example of a sale I made:

    Copy of Closeout Inventory as of 072508.xls

    5: You go to a trade site and contact buyers of those kinds of products via email.

    6: You send interested prospects a copy of the manifest (like above)

    7: They, if they are interested, look through the manifest and pick out what they want, with a minimum qty order of , say, one 40' truckload.

    8: You send them an invoice , via email, like the one below. (Yes its a real sale with a real customer, acct numbers blocked out).

    Beijing K-Fashion Trading Co Final Proforma-1.xls

    9: They Wire the Money To Your Seller

    10: You (in my case, in this example) make $8,000, or $20,000 or whatever it is.

    There is alot that can be said about it , but those are the basics.

    You can make 10K deals, or 20k deals, or Million dollar deals.

    International export brokering is said to create more overnight millionaires than any other industry in the world.

    JF Straw himself made a million dollar deal like this.

    Sam Walton was the king of it, only he didnt broker, he bought the deals for his retail stores.

    YOU dont even have to buy or purchase ANYTHING or even TOUCH it. This is all done by email.

    Believe it or dont, but the proof is right here in front of you complete with contact information.

    So, before anyone over complicates the idea...Thats how it works. I just showed you a real life 100% verifiable example!

    Dont say it cant be done, or that its more complicated than that, because thats exactly how it's done, and it isnt any more complicated than that.

    -JD
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    • Profile picture of the author wesb
      Thanks for sharing! Great information. I have courses on the licensing business and I love Joe Cossman book. I got to put all this info together but I can only start with one and that the export brokering although they all tie together.
      Originally Posted by gjabiz View Post

      You all should appreciate what John is sharing here. It is great to have people who are willing to take the arrows from the peanut gallery and post up what most would call..."inside information". thanks John.

      I prefer to fly low and collect the dough. However, since I was one of the original members of Jim Straw's Finders Fee club (he published a monthly newsletter in the 70s on Business Opportunities) and have done this...I'll share a little with you.

      Here is a link to Lawrence Bernstein's site
      Harvey Brody's: 'Toll Postion Secrets' Report

      Buried in Harvey's report is some good HOW TO regarding this subject.

      Another good place to learn from is Sherman Hunter's site, his free report on this business is a good starting point for you too. His site is

      ealliancemaker.com

      OK, now if you care to read...a little history.

      Harvey Brody worked with Joe Cossman and many of the great importers of the 50s and 60s. He has a product, the Zoom Spout Oiler which he totally owns and controls and has for over 60 years. It has sold around 75 million units or so. You can find it in most places like Walmart, Lowes, Sears, etc.

      Anyhow, Harvey wrote a course on Toll Positions in the 80s. He also taught guys like Jay Abraham, Joe Karbo, Joe Sugarman, Gary Halbert, Ben Suarez ands a host of others about the Direct Response business.

      He also has made tons of moolah with Finders Fees because most of the stuff he finds doesn't meet his very high astandards so he passes them on to others.

      If you OVERTHINK THIS, as I see many of you doing then you should start small at the local level, search for mfgrs within 100 miles or so and contact them about overstock or excess inventory. IF you want, start big and contact the large manufactures. Although this isn't directly related to selling excess inventory, it is related to stressed merchandise, and you can offer acquire the rights to the product with a simple agreement and no out of money expenses.

      Just One Good Product

      Bob Blagg's course will help you to expand your thinking as you are contacting mfgrs about overstocked items, a few phone calls to frustrated inventors could be worth mucho moolah to you.

      As for Toll Positions, there is an unknown guy in St. Louis who has been paid over 15 million dollars in the past decade simply because he has a piece of paper which allows him to collect a small royalty on the sales of a best selling specialty product.

      There is is this great big world out there, one which most Warriors don't bother to find out about.

      Again, thanks John for sharing. It is really, just a crack in the door of the opportunities that exist for those who are not afraid to deal with people.

      gjabiz
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  • Profile picture of the author NewParadigm
    Small/med businesses need a little prompting to take an objective look at their inventory. They don't like realizing a loss in some ways, but these days, people are just looking to raise cash anywhere they can to keep cash flow going as lines of credit are tough to come by.

    Suggest to them to run an inventory report and sit down with them to go over it, identifying products for liquidation. For some stubborn people, share with them a simple inventory carrying cost calculation or email em a widget or spreadsheet. Inventory COSTS them money when it just sits there, whether they acknowledge it or not. The clock is always ticking. This is good motivation for them to do business with you. The other way is showing them that freeing up that capital will allow them to invest it more wisely in faster moving profitable products so you can show them some "ROI" if you will.

    Other opportunities are small/med businesses who have no real good inventory tracking. Offer to help them in taking inventory of product/equipment they no longer use. You could set up an easy process to have an hourly person come in and do it for you, using a camera and laptop. After awhile owners have blinders on and don't even acknowledge the obsolete equip/inventory in their business even if they walk by it every single day. You can show them the money!
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  • Profile picture of the author rugman
    Hey John - I just sent you a PM - don't know how often you look at them so thought I would give you a shout to take a look. Thanks
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    Growing older but not up!

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    • Profile picture of the author EllisMediaGroup
      Hey John, you mention in your OP (Step #5)

      "Go to a trade site and contact buyers."

      Got any personal trade sites you recommend checking out in particular?
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      • Profile picture of the author stranger11
        EllisMediaGroup - he recommends alibaba. His first wso on this method was called alibaba gold. He even has an old thread that was called alibaba- offline goldmine or something where people did the same thing and convinced him to release the first wso.

        Originally Posted by EllisMediaGroup View Post

        Hey John, you mention in your OP (Step #5)

        "Go to a trade site and contact buyers."

        Got any personal trade sites you recommend checking out in particular?
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        • Profile picture of the author John Durham
          Originally Posted by stranger11 View Post

          EllisMediaGroup - he recommends alibaba. His first wso on this method was called alibaba gold. He even has an old thread that was called alibaba- offline goldmine or something where people did the same thing and convinced him to release the first wso.
          Yes, I do recommend Alibaba, because thats where my own primary market has been, however in recent years other trades sites have come up and grown. originally Alibaba was the only one that had a million users , so it had the bigeest market, but I have done some studying of other trade sites, and they have really grown in recent years and there are quite a few with pretty big markets, I would today advise to join a few of them... The big thing you want to look for is how big their market is , how many members.... to make sure its big enough to be worth your time.

          @ Stranger, I missed your other post, but I dont mind that you started that thread at all , it was a great thread, I just wanted to start a new one that began with the basics, as you are already somewhat in the know and your questions were more advanced.

          -John
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    John in case you were wondering why I have had so many questions and so much interest: Aside from truly having an interest in this industry as I mentioned before, I was notified a few weeks ago that I will not be needed at my temp job here any longer after the end of april.

    I sense another battle with unemployment looming. :rolleyes:
    A battle i thought i won after being without a job 7 months, after a company i was with 6 years outsourced my position to india. ( I had to train my replacement too).

    So although I'm sure something will work out, I am really trying to make this work, dive in take massive action, "earn as I learn" and make this work.

    Please rest assured I'm taking notes and going through everything in detail.

    My desperation hasnt clouded my judgement or expectations though, I know dont realistically expect to land a massive deal in 30 days or anything but my intention is simply put the work in, make the calls and fail however many times is needed to hurry up and learn the ropes and start seeing success & cash asap.

    Just my spill to contribute to the above average share of honesty in this thread.
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Hey John do I recall you mentioning something about anything less than a truckload is not worth it or a certain minimum amount you'll deal with? Also what method do you use to research pricing in an industry so you know what too look for and how to markup effectively?
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    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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    • Profile picture of the author mrtrance
      Also how do you know that the pricing details (retail price, wholesale and manufacture price) that you get from seller is correct since you will be basing your buy from those figures in particular the manufacture cost? How do you know a certain item costs this much especially (and the info is legit) since for many of us newbies that have not dealt with this sort of information it can be hard to judge what is doable and what is not.
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      • Profile picture of the author John Durham
        Originally Posted by mrtrance View Post

        Also how do you know that the pricing details (retail price, wholesale and manufacture price) that you get from seller is correct since you will be basing your buy from those figures in particular the manufacture cost? How do you know a certain item costs this much especially (and the info is legit) since for many of us newbies that have not dealt with this sort of information it can be hard to judge what is doable and what is not.

        I would simply look it up online and see what it is retailing for...

        Example, if someone tells me they are selling a truckload of nivea skin care cream for 20 cents per unit, and telling me they retail for $7.00 per unit, I would simply Google it: "Buy Nivea Skincare Cream"

        Issue solved.

        -John

        Originally Posted by eniggma View Post

        Hey John do I recall you mentioning something about anything less than a truckload is not worth it or a certain minimum amount you'll deal with? Also what method do you use to research pricing in an industry so you know what too look for and how to markup effectively?
        For myself, less than a truckload isnt worth it to me. I dont waste my time maki9ng a hundred dollars profit trying to sell a couple of cases or something...

        As far as researching what I should price it for, I just try to BUY it at around 10% of the wholesale price or less, and I mark it up as a rule at 100% of what I bought it for so as not to present a "slap in the face" to the seller. We make equal money on their loss, but not really, because they have costs and I dont.

        -John
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        • Profile picture of the author mrtrance
          Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

          I would simply look it up online and see what it is retailing for...

          Example, if someone tells me they are selling a truckload of nivea skin care cream for 20 cents per unit, and telling me they retail for $7.00 per unit, I would simply Google it: "Buy Nivea Skincare Cream"

          Issue solved.

          -John
          So retail price is easy to figure out, but how can we verify wholesale and manufacture cost (this being critical since we will be trying to buy at a percentage of this cost) that seller gives us?
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          • Profile picture of the author John Durham
            Originally Posted by mrtrance View Post

            So retail price is easy to figure out, but how can we verify wholesale and manufacture cost (this being critical since we will be trying to buy at a percentage of this cost) that seller gives us?
            Wholesale cost is typically 50-60% of retail cost. I would pay up to 10% of wholesale, but usually much less, I want it for a penny or two on the retail dollar if possible. Anything more than 5 cents on the retail dollar is on the verge of getting too high in most cases. Now if you are talking about new cars or something, and not little skin care products its a different story.

            The point is to sell it for less than anyone out there is selling it for, and in order to do that you have to buy it low. You dont want to pay more than 50% of what you think you can sell it for to a secondary market buyer.

            In order to be able to buy this way there is only one thing needed:

            That you have a desperate manufacturer on the line, and there are plenty of them. Most of them already KNOW how liquidators buy, and they are only talking to you because the need one.

            Originally Posted by Vikuna2009+ View Post

            So it is my understanding that the products you have exported are mainly discounted merchandise? There are a lot of companies who do not export and their line of products are sold for full retail here and might also sell for that abroad. Yes, those products does not have the same mark-up as liquidated goods but could still make you money.

            Thoughts?

            Eva
            You can do it any way you want to. I like discounted products because I can mark them up and set my own price. For instance if you represent a full price retail product you are going to get 15% commission and you cant mess with the price. With secondary product I can mark them up 100% or 200% or whatever I want and make whatever commission I want to. Certainly, you can use the same "selling" techniques for first line product though, you are just stuck in their price and commission pay scale as opposed to being able to do mark ups... and move them around negotiating price. If all that's between me and selling 20 truckloads is just 20 cents, I can drop 20 cents or whatever and make the deal...
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            • Profile picture of the author mrtrance
              Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

              Wholesale cost is typically 50-60% of retail cost. I would pay up to 10% of wholesale, but usually much less, I want it for a penny or two on the retail dollar if possible. Anything more than 5 cents on the retail dollar is on the verge of getting too high in most cases. Now if you are talking about new cars or something, and not little skin care products its a different story.

              The point is to sell it for less than anyone out there is selling it for, and in order to do that you have to buy it low. You dont want to pay more than 50% of what you think you can sell it for to a secondary market buyer.

              In order to be able to buy this way there is only one thing needed:

              That you have a desperate manufacturer on the line, and there are plenty of them. Most of them already KNOW how liquidators buy, and they are only talking to you because the need one.
              So typically with many consumer products these days like from a toy to like a simple electronic item wholesale price is arounde 50%-60% of the retail we see in stores.

              So like a digital picture frame that sells retail for like $50 at like Target would have a wholesale price of $20-$25? So in this case would you be trying to buy like at like 1-2% of wholesale or would need to figure out what the manufacture cost is and then buy like at 20-3% of that cost? Can you give some feedback on how you would go about with these sort of deals? Would you even consider items in this price retail price range or deal with items with much less retail price to be profitable?
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              • Profile picture of the author mrtrance
                Originally Posted by mrtrance View Post

                So typically with many consumer products these days like from a toy to like a simple electronic item wholesale price is arounde 50%-60% of the retail we see in stores.

                So like a digital picture frame that sells retail for like $50 at like Target would have a wholesale price of $20-$25? So in this case would you be trying to buy like at like 1-2% of wholesale or would need to figure out what the manufacture cost is and then buy like at 20-3% of that cost? Can you give some feedback on how you would go about with these sort of deals? Would you even consider items in this price retail price range or deal with items with much less retail price to be profitable?
                John,

                Can you give some feedback on this?
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                • Profile picture of the author John Durham
                  Originally Posted by mrtrance View Post

                  John,

                  Can you give some feedback on this?
                  Sure Mtrance,

                  First:

                  1: You are going to ask the buyer in your pitch what his absolute bottom line is, after you have told him already that your buyers pay cash, they are fairly urgent, they move quickly, and that they they typically only buy stuff in the range of 10% of wholesale...

                  Now he knows whats coming, and if he isnt half interested in doing that kind of business, the conversation wont go any further.

                  2: If you dont like his price, and you are unsure as to whether it is realistic for your model...then you say "Im not sure if thats going to work", and he will either ask you what you would pay, or you can say "let me get back to you", and let him sweat.

                  3: Let's say the product is 7" Digital Photo frames that retail for an average of $48.00 like in the example you gave, and the one below (which actually appears to have an msrp of around 70 bucks):

                  Aluratek ADPF07SF 7 inch High Resolution Digital Photo Frame (ADPF-07-SF)



                  Model: ADPF07SF | SKU: <890989001842
                  Availability: Usually Ships Same Day
                  More than just a digital photo frame, Aluratek raises the bar with its new (DLD) Digital Lifestyle Device.View hi resolution print quality pictures easily by inserting your camera or camcorders digital media card or USB thumb drive directly onto Alurateks (DLD).
                  View hi-quality digital photos Product Requirements: Windows® 2000, XP and Vista, Mac OS 10.4 or later Easy operation High quality frame 7” TFT true color LCD
                  Our Price: $48.99
                  MSRP: $69.99 You Saved $21.00



                  3: So, you get off the phone and go research it on trades sites, and look for the cheapest lot you can find, and you come across one like this:



                  Digital Picture Frame with PAL/NTSC Video Format Switch

                  FOB Price: US $2.5 - 38 / Piece Get Latest Price Port: shenzhen Minimum Order Quantity: 50 Piece/Pieces sample is avaliable

                  Supply Ability: 10000 Piece/Pieces per Week no matter how many,we can offer



                  4: So you call him back, and say "I understand if you dont want to do this, but I checked with my buyers... and they arent going to pay more than a few dollars MAX per unit, if even that... and I still have to make a profit somehow, but the "Good News" in that they buy in quantities of a couple of truckloads at a time and pay cash in advance, so, I dont know if you are willing to go that low, but I cant really offer more than $1.50 per unit to maybe $2.00 max......."

                  5: Now remember, this is a tax write off to the seller, he probably KNOWS how liquidators work already, and because its already written off, he really isnt risking anything...

                  If the seller is truly desperate (Which is the only kind you want), then he will face palm and say "I can do that but I really cant go any lower...Please dont try to haggle me down, thats going to be my absolute bottom line".

                  6: If he says "No" then move on... We all kick ourselves when we have to walk away from a good deal on a Corvette in our personal life, but if it isnt within your budget (or in this case "Business model") then its a mistake for you.

                  7: Once you truly understand how the secondary market works, then thoughts like the one Im relaying here wont shock you.

                  8: You may think that what Im illustrating is a rare deal, or a rare find... but thats what liquidators do, they locate rare finds, and they make rare deals.

                  You now see proof (above) that people on trade sites sometimes sell $48.00 retail products at $2.50 cents per unit, which is ten percent of wholesale.

                  Im sure with more research I could even dig one up for less than that. These rare deals that you are able to locate , are because you know how to lay the ground work in you "buying" pitch, like Sam Walton did, and you understand the sellers problem... That is exactly WHY you are going to be able to undercut and outsell everyone else.

                  "A deal well bought is half sold" - Sam Walton

                  Sometimes you will break your formula a bit depending on what the market looks like... You always want to find the lowest possible price in the market, and dont buy or sell for more than that.

                  On the other hand, you can also strike a deal to actually become a wholesale agent for the guy and try to sell it as first line product on to the retail market, if you dont want to approach it from a liquidation angle.

                  In my case I would just cringe if he didnt go along, and say to myself "Darn, that would have been a cool product" and move on.

                  However, as stated, you now have proof positive that these deals do exist, in almost every niche. sometimes you have to use a little judgement, and do some research...

                  Hope this helps.

                  -John


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                  • Profile picture of the author mrtrance
                    Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

                    Sure Mtrance,

                    First:

                    1: You are going to ask the buyer in your pitch what his absolute bottom line is, after you have told him already that your buyers pay cash, they are fairly urgent, they move quickly, and that they they typically only buy stuff in the range of 10% of wholesale...

                    Now he knows whats coming, and if he isnt half interested in doing that kind of business, the conversation wont go any further.

                    2: If you dont like his price, and you are unsure as to whether it is realistic for your model...then you say "Im not sure if thats going to work", and he will either ask you what you would pay, or you can say "let me get back to you", and let him sweat.

                    3: Let's say the product is 7" Digital Photo frames that retail for an average of $48.00 like in the example you gave, and the one below (which actually appears to have an msrp of around 70 bucks):

                    Aluratek ADPF07SF 7 inch High Resolution Digital Photo Frame (ADPF-07-SF)



                    Model: ADPF07SF | SKU: <890989001842
                    Availability: Usually Ships Same Day
                    More than just a digital photo frame, Aluratek raises the bar with its new (DLD) Digital Lifestyle Device.View hi resolution print quality pictures easily by inserting your camera or camcorders digital media card or USB thumb drive directly onto Alurateks (DLD).
                    View hi-quality digital photos Product Requirements: Windows® 2000, XP and Vista, Mac OS 10.4 or later Easy operation High quality frame 7” TFT true color LCD
                    Our Price: $48.99
                    MSRP: $69.99 You Saved $21.00



                    3: So, you get off the phone and go research it on trades sites, and look for the cheapest lot you can find, and you come across one like this:



                    Digital Picture Frame with PAL/NTSC Video Format Switch

                    FOB Price: US $2.5 - 38 / Piece Get Latest Price Port: shenzhen Minimum Order Quantity: 50 Piece/Pieces sample is avaliable

                    Supply Ability: 10000 Piece/Pieces per Week no matter how many,we can offer



                    4: So you call him back, and say "I understand if you dont want to do this, but I checked with my buyers... and they arent going to pay more than a few dollars MAX per unit, if even that... and I still have to make a profit somehow, but the "Good News" in that they buy in quantities of a couple of truckloads at a time and pay cash in advance, so, I dont know if you are willing to go that low, but I cant really offer more than $1.50 per unit to maybe $2.00 max......."

                    5: Now remember, this is a tax write off to the seller, he probably KNOWS how liquidators work already, and because its already written off, he really isnt risking anything...

                    If the seller is truly desperate (Which is the only kind you want), then he will face palm and say "I can do that but I really cant go any lower...Please dont try to haggle me down, thats going to be my absolute bottom line".

                    6: If he says "No" then move on... We all kick ourselves when we have to walk away from a good deal on a Corvette in our personal life, but if it isnt within your budget (or in this case "Business model") then its a mistake for you.

                    7: Once you truly understand how the secondary market works, then thoughts like the one Im relaying here wont shock you.

                    8: You may think that what Im illustrating is a rare deal, or a rare find... but thats what liquidators do, they locate rare finds, and they make rare deals.

                    You now see proof (above) that people on trade sites sometimes sell $48.00 retail products at $2.50 cents per unit, which is ten percent of wholesale.

                    Im sure with more research I could even dig one up for less than that. These rare deals that you are able to locate , are because you know how to lay the ground work in you "buying" pitch, like Sam Walton did, and you understand the sellers problem... That is exactly WHY you are going to be able to undercut and outsell everyone else.

                    "A deal well bought is half sold" - Sam Walton

                    Sometimes you will break your formula a bit depending on what the market looks like... You always want to find the lowest possible price in the market, and dont buy or sell for more than that.

                    On the other hand, you can also strike a deal to actually become a wholesale agent for the guy and try to sell it as first line product on to the retail market, if you dont want to approach it from a liquidation angle.

                    In my case I would just cringe if he didnt go along, and say to myself "Darn, that would have been a cool product" and move on.

                    However, as stated, you now have proof positive that these deals do exist, in almost every niche. sometimes you have to use a little judgement, and do some research...

                    Hope this helps.

                    -John
                    Thanks John for providing that example to explain it in real world terms of how a deal can go down.

                    A few questions if you don't mind.

                    1. So in the example in Step 3 where we go and research it for the lowest price we aren't looking for the exact model that the seller is trying to get rid of, but something that is very similar correct?

                    2. The listing that is on Alibaba is that supplier that is selling each of those 7" digital picture frames for $2.5 for each unit with a minimum of 50 units? What does the supply ability section referring to when they say "10000 Piece/Pieces per Week no matter how many,we can offer"? We do this research to find out exactly what pricing is out there so we can make the best deal with the seller and leave room for our markup correct? We wouldn't be trying to sell to this person on here because they are trying to sell units as well like us, but we would look for buyers instead on Alibaba?

                    3. Let's say for example we were able to secure the deal from the seller at say $1.5 per unit for 10,000 units, would we then go to a trade site like Alibaba and posting our listing (similar to the one that is selling for $2.5) and try to sell it for like $2.00 a unit and have a minimum quantity listed as well? Once we find ahead of time what is the lowest cost per unit for similar item we try to list ours a bit lower than that and still have room to markup from the price we settled with the seller?

                    If you can go over the exact breakdown of what markup and fees would be for this example if we secured the deal for say $1.50 a unit and the lowest we found on a trade site was $2.5?
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                    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
                      Originally Posted by mrtrance View Post

                      Thanks John for providing that example to explain it in real world terms of how a deal can go down.

                      A few questions if you don't mind.

                      1. So in the example in Step 3 where we go and research it for the lowest price we aren't looking for the exact model that the seller is trying to get rid of, but something that is very similar correct?

                      2. The listing that is on Alibaba is that supplier that is selling each of those 7" digital picture frames for $2.5 for each unit with a minimum of 50 units? What does the supply ability section referring to when they say "10000 Piece/Pieces per Week no matter how many,we can offer"? We do this research to find out exactly what pricing is out there so we can make the best deal with the seller and leave room for our markup correct? We wouldn't be trying to sell to this person on here because they are trying to sell units as well like us, but we would look for buyers instead on Alibaba?

                      3. Let's say for example we were able to secure the deal from the seller at say $1.5 per unit for 10,000 units, would we then go to a trade site like Alibaba and posting our listing (similar to the one that is selling for $2.5) and try to sell it for like $2.00 a unit and have a minimum quantity listed as well?

                      Once we find ahead of time what is the lowest cost per unit for similar item we try to list ours a bit lower than that and still have room to markup from the price we settled with the seller?

                      If you can go over the exact breakdown of what markup and fees would be for this example if we secured the deal for say $1.50 a unit and the lowest we found on a trade site was $2.5?
                      Sorry Mtrance, can you re ask this question in one or two sentences? Im a bit confused, but we are getting deep here so I understand.

                      Hang, on actually, let me sort this out...

                      Thanks.

                      1: Yes we are just trying to get a general idea of what the market will bear for that type of product.
                      2: Yes, correct
                      3:This: "10000 Piece/Pieces per Week no matter how many,we can offer"

                      Simply means they can supply an unlimited quantity.

                      4: Yes Correct

                      5:Yes that is correct we are not trying to sell the person we researched , we are going to sell just like they are...

                      6: "Let's say for example we were able to secure the deal from the seller at say $1.5 per unit for 10,000 units, would we then go to a trade site like Alibaba and posting our listing (similar to the one that is selling for $2.5) and try to sell it for like $2.00 a unit and have a minimum quantity listed as well?"

                      Yes, correct.

                      7: Yes , correct

                      8: "If you can go over the exact breakdown of what markup and fees would be for this example if we secured the deal for say $1.50 a unit and the lowest we found on a trade site was $2.5?"


                      Answer: We would try to sell it for $2.00 or $2.50... if it was a better brand name, then that would make our deal even MORE attractive.

                      If you cant get it for an amazing deal that allows you to offr a better price than everyone else, then I personally walk away, but you may choose to try and sell it on a basis other than price if you really want to, its not impossible to sell a competing product at a higher price, but I personally always go for price arbitrage.

                      Making a 50 cent, or $1.00 profit on 50k units of product isnt bad.

                      Again, there is no EXACT formula... there isn't a standard one for "All" buying and selling, sometimes judgement is involved...there is a fairly standard one for the liquidating industry though, and its around 10% of wholesale for buying.

                      Most sellers already know this, annd they either need a liquidator or not. If they need one, then they want to talk to you, even though they know you are only going to offer them pennies.

                      On another note, I have a brother who buys cars on craigslist for 3 grand, and then resells them in the VERYsame craiglist section for 5 -6 grand, month after month... He just knows how long he can sit on it,which is longer than the desperate sellers can...

                      He knows that potential value of what he's looking at, and he knows how when to buy low... and finally, he knows that there is a buyer for EVERYTHING if you are willing to sit on it, he even has it down to an exact number of weeks that the average car will sit in his driveway before selling, and he is comfortable with his system. It works like a clock.

                      Sometimes he passes on cars that he REALLY wants, because they dont fit his buying formula. You will do that too sometimes with liquidation lots. In your case, you take no risk, because it costs you nothing to try whatever you want to try.

                      -John
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                      • Profile picture of the author mrtrance
                        Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

                        Sorry Mtrance, can you re ask this question in one or two sentences? Im a bit confused, but we are getting deep here so I understand.

                        Hang, on actually, let me sort this out...

                        Thanks.

                        1: Yes we are just trying to get a general idea of what the market will bear for that type of product.
                        2: Yes, correct
                        3:This: "10000 Piece/Pieces per Week no matter how many,we can offer"

                        Simply means they can supply an unlimited quantity.

                        4: Yes Correct

                        5:Yes that is correct we are not trying to sell the person we researched , we are going to sell just like they are...

                        6: "Let's say for example we were able to secure the deal from the seller at say $1.5 per unit for 10,000 units, would we then go to a trade site like Alibaba and posting our listing (similar to the one that is selling for $2.5) and try to sell it for like $2.00 a unit and have a minimum quantity listed as well?"

                        Yes, correct.

                        7: Yes , correct

                        8: "If you can go over the exact breakdown of what markup and fees would be for this example if we secured the deal for say $1.50 a unit and the lowest we found on a trade site was $2.5?"


                        Answer: We would try to sell it for $2.00 or $2.00... if it was a better brand name, then that would make our deal even MORE attractive.

                        If you cant get it for an amazing deal that allows you to offr a better price than everyone else, then I personally walk away, but you may choose to try and sell it on a basis other than price if you really want to, its not impossible to sell a competing product at a higher price, but I personally always go for price arbitrage.

                        Making a 50 cent, or $1.00 profit on 50k units of product isnt bad.

                        Againm, there is no EXACT formula... there is a standard one for "All" buying and selling, sometimes judgemenht is involved...there is a fairly standard one for the liquidating industry though, and its around 10% of wholesale for buying.

                        Most sellers already know this, annd they either need a liquidator or not. If they need one, then they want to talk to you, even though they know you are only going to offer them pennies.

                        On another note, I have aa brother who buys cars on craigslist for 3 grand, and then resells them in the VERYsame craiglist section for 5 -6 grand, month after month... He just knows how long he can sit on it,which is longer than the desperate sellers can...

                        He knows that potential value of what he's looking at, and he knows how when to buy low... and finally, he knows that there is a buyer for EVERYTHING if you are willing to sit on it, he even has it down to an exact number of weeks that the average car will sit in his driveway before selling, and he is comfortable with his system. It works like a clock.

                        Sometimes he passes on cars that he REALLY wants, because they dont fit his buying formula. You will do that too sometimes with liquidation lots. In your case, you take no risk, because it costs you nothing to try whatever you want to try.

                        -John
                        Thanks for your answers. It cleared things up for me now.
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  • Profile picture of the author Apollo-Articles
    Hey John,

    I have a few quick questions for you:

    1. What's the back-end of this business operation?
    I.E. Do you run it as a separate company with it's own website/email address ect, or are you working as an individual?

    2. Do you make the profit by adding an additional "finders/brokerage fee", adding a price to the cost of the goods (if so am I right in thinking you add a markup of 100%)? or both?

    3. Do you negotiate with the sellers to get an even better price?

    Thanks,

    Sam
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by Apollo-Articles View Post

      Hey John,

      I have a few quick questions for you:

      1. What's the back-end of this business operation?
      I.E. Do you run it as a separate company with it's own website/email address ect, or are you working as an individual?

      2. Do you make the profit by adding an additional "finders/brokerage fee", adding a price to the cost of the goods (if so am I right in thinking you add a markup of 100%)? or both?

      3. Do you negotiate with the sellers to get an even better price?

      Thanks,

      Sam
      Good questions

      I just work as an individual, although a couple of times I have asked manufacturers with major brand names if I could set up alibaba accounts under their name and operate under the "image" of being a company representative. Out of 50 or so deals I have tried different things, but the blanket answer here is that I operate as an individual.

      I ALWAYS make my profit the same way- from markup, and almost always do it at a 100% markup.

      If I get a product for 30 cents, I sell it for 60 cents... if I get it for 50 cents, I sell it for a dollar.

      Sometimes buyer try to haggle me down, and I will go back to my seller, which I HAVE in a few cases, and say "I have a buyer who will buy right now, but only at x price...if you can lower your price another dime we will have this sale in the bag and i can seal it up within the next day or two and get money wired...".

      They typically cooperate without much resistance.

      -John
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Yo John dont forget to post that success story you mentioned for me.
    Aside from that I think I'm actually out of questions for now. Back to reviewing
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Testimony:

    John,
    here is my short review/testimonial for the (export) method:

    I've been one of the first buyers of John's ebook after after following discussion on WF. Last week I received my first payment - $15,300. It took about 2 month and a lot of patience to close the deal. Working with real people never been easy. But I just want to say that it is possible, the method works. I've been following it step by step. But of course you can't describe every situation in one book. Life is full of surprises. There are always will be situations and problems you have to solve yourself. This is a real business.

    Look somewhere else if you want another get rich quick scheme. It is not that. But I found it exiting and a nice change from my day job where I work with computers every day.
    Having a day job and also working on my IM projects didn't leave me too much time for this business. I only spent on average 3-4 hours per week working on it - answering emails and making phone calls.
    Now when I see the result and know that it actually works I'm planning to work harder to have more perspective clients and close more deals.

    Regards,

    Sergie

    On another note, please dont blow this guys pm box up, out of respect. Im sure SOMEONE will have to do it, and wont be able to resist their urges, and Im sure I will hear about it, but, I dont need him regretting this testimonial because 50 people blew up his email box. Serge is a great guy, and I value him as a comrade.

    -John
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    I will leave him be. You got my word.
    Thx again for this.
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    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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  • Profile picture of the author wfapples
    Been following thread with interest John, thanks for sharing everything you have so far. Is there the ebook Sergie references, the one you aren't selling anymore?
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by wfapples View Post

      Been following thread with interest John, thanks for sharing everything you have so far. Is there the ebook Sergie references, the one you aren't selling anymore?

      Since so many people are asking, I guess I need to answer this...Even though its discontinued... I wasnt a very good writer then, and was hoping to get a newer / better version in peoples hands but... If you want it, it's in my sig.

      I would wait personally, the next one is going to be better.

      Edit:

      At Mods... Im not intentionally sig pointing, but alot of people are asking , so I have to answer... Im really not trying to sell this one anymore.
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  • Profile picture of the author Apollo-Articles
    Thanks for the answers, I was gonna ask if you have ever been involved in the import/export business which seems strikingly similar - then I saw your sig!

    When I next settle, I will put in some hours to see what I can get out of this. Since I moved away from 'traditional affiliate marketing' I don't post here so often, however whenever I do browse I always find this sub-section (and a couple of others) immensely more valuable than the main forum.

    Thanks again for the share - you make it seem simple through a step-by-step explanation. I think that's awesome.

    Sam
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  • Profile picture of the author DaniMc
    Hey John, sent you a PM. I know you get a ton of them so I wanted to bring it to your attention. You want to read this one.
    Signature
    Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      [DELETED]
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      • Profile picture of the author langdon0555
        John,

        What type of time frame are we talking when the updated WSO will be ready for purchase?

        Cheers
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        • Profile picture of the author eniggma
          Originally Posted by langdon0555 View Post

          John,

          What type of time frame are we talking when the updated WSO will be ready for purchase?

          Cheers
          Check his Sig. Looking forward to hitting the ground running with this.
          Signature

          "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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          • Profile picture of the author langdon0555
            Ah, I know he had mentioned he was going to open up the old one but didnt look at his sig...Now I see, next week!
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Hey John from a business standpoint how do you like to track everything like client info, commissions, shipments, etc? A spreadsheet, software?

    Also do you have a set timeframe for following up with buyers and suppliers?

    For example to just touch base and see if they have any new orders in mind, if suppliers have anymore inventory to liquidate?
    Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
    Wow John, I'm amazed about how helpful you have been and responding to everyones questions!

    quick question, about how much do you think your new WSO will cost? trying to get an idea before you release it.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by TakenAction View Post

      , about how much do you think your new WSO will cost? trying to get an idea before you release it.
      I dont know yet...Honestly I can produce a report pretty cheaply, all it takes is laying out some knowledge that I already know like the back of my hand... but in order to help people get the most out of something like this, I feel the need to offer 30 days of training with it...

      As you can see, just answering questions for free on a subject like this is alot of work, so I have to find a balance between making sure I dont rip myself off for the 30 days of intense coaching that are going to accompany this, and making it reasonable for an average person to participate...

      I know some people charge thousands of dollars for coaching...although I have never done that online... So that is something I have to carefully consider.

      I want to be good to people, but I also want to make sure that I can justify enough time to it, to make sure everyone gets a really great course....

      Anyway, Im still considering that...

      Unlike what some people try to make me out as, I really do have a heart to share what I know with people who want to learn, but sometimes I rip myself off in the process... and I really want this to be a great course.... So Im torn about price right now to be honest.

      I always share EVERYTHING sincerely so let me share this with you... If you charge too much, then there are only a few people in the class and its boring... If you charge too LITTLE, you run the risk that it still may not sell many copies and then you are stuck doing coaching for 30 straight for next to nothing, and it makes it hard on you to devote the time.

      OR, you charge too little and it sells like crazy, and you are looking at a class of 200 people and you havent made near enough money to justify all the attention it takes.

      Most people dont realize it, but when you do something like this, it's not just them taking a risk, you are taking one too.

      I could just write a report by itself... But with this kind of opportunity in particular, I feel that you really need to follow it up with support for the people who are really trying to make it work.

      On the other hand, (and this is just some education for you) If it sells really well, then you can invest in your students... and even hire other teachers to come in and help with the class, like my friend David Weinberg for example, who has made millions of dollars at this.

      It's always a risk...you want to offer as much value as possible, but then if something sells slow, you lose.

      Let me ask YOU?

      What is better, a skype class that costs hundreds of dollars and has fewer people in it, where questions are answered in real time, or a "forum" atmosphere where the price is more reasonable, or a mere "report" that is cheap and has alot of info, but doesnt offer any coaching afterward?

      I honestly , really am undecided, but will make up my mind over the weekend as to what kind of post report training I will go with, and what a reasonable price is for that.

      I will do my best to make it a good deal for everyone involved, and cross my fingers and hope it sells well, and that I also get a fair deal to at least justify the time...

      In any event, I will make sure it delivers hard core for anyone who participates, even if I take a loss.

      The question I asked you doesnt require an answer honestly... It's not for me to ask you really, but Im just doing what I do and teaching sincerely and showing you guys a little bit of the other side of the fence while you are here.

      As Max5ty pointed out using a different frame of reference, trying to make something a success is always a risk... Even those who sell WSO's sometimes win, and sometimes they get the short end of the stick.

      In any event I want everyone to win. Not everyone will hit the lotto overnight, but EVERYONE will walk away a better business person with the knowledge to accomplish great things, if not some big sales under their belts, and Im sure there will be quite a few of those.

      It really is NOT luck, unlike the lotto, this is something you can control by how much devotion you give it. If you make up your mind to make deals, you really can, but then "people" are fickle, and no matter what opportunity they pursue , some just dont go the distance.

      In any event, the resources to help you go the distance will absolutely be there, and it will be more than just a report, there will be support for you just like there is on this thread.... Of course, I guess its obvious to everyone here, that I can only go on on a thread like this, at this intensity for so long, without justifying the time...Thus we put out reports...

      Does that sound honest and understandable?

      I think Im leaning toward a forum honestly and a reasonable price.

      I'll be real with you, a mere "report" is easiest on me personally, but I want you to get more value than that.

      -John
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      • Profile picture of the author stacyfox
        John,

        I just bought the report in your sig and I plan to buy the report you release next week (unless the price is sky-high). I, for one, would like the forum. I like the community that forums create and prefer not to be on skype all day.

        Just one person's opinion.

        Stacy
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      • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
        Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

        I dont know yet...Honestly I can produce a report pretty cheaply, all it takes is laying out some knowledge that I already know like the back of my hand... but in order to help people get the most out of something like this, I feel the need to offer 30 days of training with it...

        As you can see, just answering questions for free on a subject like this is alot of work, so I have to find a balance between making sure I dont rip myself off for the 30 days of intense coaching that are going to accompany this, and making it reasonable for an average person to participate...

        I know some people charge thousands of dollars for coaching...although I have never done that online... So that is something I have to carefully consider.

        I want to be good to people, but I also want to make sure that I can justify enough time to it, to make sure everyone gets a really great course....

        Anyway, Im still considering that...

        Unlike what some people try to make me out as, I really do have a heart to share what I know with people who want to learn, but sometimes I rip myself off in the process... and I really want this to be a great course.... So Im torn about price right now to be honest.

        I always share EVERYTHING sincerely so let me share this with you... If you charge too much, then there are only a few people in the class and its boring... If you charge too LITTLE, you run the risk that it still may not sell many copies and then you are stuck doing coaching for 30 straight for next to nothing, and it makes it hard on you to devote the time.

        OR, you charge too little and it sells like crazy, and you are looking at a class of 200 people and you havent made near enough money to justify all the attention it takes.

        Most people dont realize it, but when you do something like this, it's not just them taking a risk, you are taking one too.

        I could just write a report by itself... But with this kind of opportunity in particular, I feel that you really need to follow it up with support for the people who are really trying to make it work.

        On the other hand, (and this is just some education for you) If it sells really well, then you can invest in your students... and even hire other teachers to come in and help with the class, like my friend David Weinberg for example, who has made millions of dollars at this.

        It's always a risk...you want to offer as much value as possible, but then if something sells slow, you lose.

        Let me ask YOU?

        What is better, a skype class that costs hundreds of dollars and has fewer people in it, where questions are answered in real time, or a "forum" atmosphere where the price is more reasonable, or a mere "report" that is cheap and has alot of info, but doesnt offer any coaching afterward?

        I honestly , really am undecided, but will make up my mind over the weekend as to what kind of post report training I will go with, and what a reasonable price is for that.

        I will do my best to make it a good deal for everyone involved, and cross my fingers and hope it sells well, and that I also get a fair deal to at least justify the time...

        In any event, I will make sure it delivers hard core for anyone who participates, even if I take a loss.

        The question I asked you doesnt require an answer honestly... It's not for me to ask you really, but Im just doing what I do and teaching sincerely and showing you guys a little bit of the other side of the fence while you are here.

        As Max5ty pointed out using a different frame of reference, trying to make something a success is always a risk... Even those who sell WSO's sometimes win, and sometimes they get the short end of the stick.

        In any event I want everyone to win. Not everyone will hit the lotto overnight, but EVERYONE will walk away a better business person with the knowledge to accomplish great things, if not some big sales under their belts, and Im sure there will be quite a few of those.

        It really is NOT luck, unlike the lotto, this is something you can control by how much devotion you give it. If you make up your mind to make deals, you really can, but then "people" are fickle, and no matter what opportunity they pursue , some just dont go the distance.

        In any event, the resources to help you go the distance will absolutely be there, and it will be more than just a report, there will be support for you just like there is on this thread.... Of course, I guess its obvious to everyone here, that I can only go on on a thread like this, at this intensity for so long, without justifying the time...Thus we put out reports...

        Does that sound honest and understandable?

        I think Im leaning toward a forum honestly and a reasonable price.

        I'll be real with you, a mere "report" is easiest on me personally, but I want you to get more value than that.

        -John
        Thanks for your response to my question! I like the idea of a product along with 30 daysw coaching and how you weighed the pro's and cons of going both ways.

        Honestly, I feel as if on your WSO page you should sell your main product (just the PDF or W/e) for $XX and then sell your 30 days coaching as an option for $XXX. Not everyone will be able to afford the coaching but will still want to purchase the product. Most likely that will be me.

        thanks for your time.
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        • Profile picture of the author langdon0555
          Coaching sounds like a great idea with a pdf and/or videos but most probably including myself, cant or will not be able to afford it.

          I like the idea of a forum better with a pdf. Maybe if john goes that route then maybe have a special webinar or coaching call instead of full on coaching.

          Cheers
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          • Profile picture of the author John Durham
            Originally Posted by langdon0555 View Post

            Coaching sounds like a great idea with a pdf and/or videos but most probably including myself, cant or will not be able to afford it.

            I like the idea of a forum better with a pdf. Maybe if john goes that route then maybe have a special webinar or coaching call instead of full on coaching.

            Cheers
            Thats a good idea...The reason Im leaning toward the forum, is

            1: Because I have experience at running one.

            2: Because people will be locating products and suppliers and will have real time questions as they get into their various deals... A single webinar would be cool for a coaching "session", but, as dozens of people are getting into various sitations with suppliers... they will need various answers on the spot, day to day, that with a forum, you can post and everyone else can learn from it, so the knowledge base accumulates as well, for the benefit of future people who get the report. I think thats what Im going to do.

            I did this by myself with no help when I started...but, it would have been great to have some along the way. I think a report would equip people with the knowledge they need to pull it off, but a resource center where they can ask questions from day to day will be a big plus. I would really like to see some people pull deals in the next 30 days to 45 days... It would be AWESOME to have a bunch of stories like Sergits.
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            • Profile picture of the author langdon0555
              Glad you agree!

              It just seems it would provide the most value for the broadest range of customers who were to purchase.

              Cheers

              Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

              Thats a good idea...The reason Im leaning toward the forum, is

              1: Because I have experience at running one.

              2: Because people will be locating products and suppliers and will have real time questions as they get into their various deals... A single webinar would be cool for a coaching "session", but, as dozens of people are getting into various sitations with suppliers... they will need various answers on the spot, day to day, that with a forum, you can post and everyone else can learn from it, so the knowledge base accumulates as well, for the benefit of future people who get the report. I think thats what Im going to do.

              I did this by myself with no help when I started...but, it would have been great to have some along the way. I think a report would equip people with the knowledge they need to pull it off, but a resource center where they can ask questions from day to day will be a big plus. I would really like to see some people pull deals in the next 30 days to 45 days... It would be AWESOME to have a bunch of stories like Sergits.
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Really like the sound of coaching and training. Lookin forward to seeing how that works.
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    I think I see. the cheapest is 2.50 and you tell em $2 max leaving you with a .50 per unit profit minimum which is a good margin right?
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  • Profile picture of the author djackson
    Wait so your essentially becoming a re-seller on Alibaba?

    As in, your posting a listing of the product you secured just like other sellers on Alibaba? So your competing with them, just offering lower prices and hoping someone contacts you to buy a heavy load?
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by djackson View Post

      Wait so your essentially becoming a re-seller on Alibaba?

      As in, your posting a listing of the product you secured just like other sellers on Alibaba? So your competing with them, just offering lower prices and hoping someone contacts you to buy a heavy load?
      @ Djackson

      No.... If you want to read around and catch up, you can get the whole picture. You dont secure it even close to the same way others do. they are all buying and selling products they find on line, you have a much better way of finding products... Online, you see a product in on one site, you see it all over the net. The deals that YOU come up with are unique and your buyers dont see them just every day, because of the way you source.

      The above was just a random example.

      -John
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      • Profile picture of the author djackson
        Ah ok awesome, ya I've read through it. Really good information. Worth giving a shot.

        Cheers for the value!
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  • Profile picture of the author timpears
    Yes, I know it can and is being done all the kind. I made hundreds of calls to manufacturers trying to find such an opportunity. I got blank stares over the phone. It was like they had no idea what i was talking about. all I did was ask them if they had any excess inventory they wanted to get rid of. Not too complicated. I never found one business that wanted to unload anything. It was very disappointing.

    I had paid a company a few thousand dollars to teach me how to do this. They finally refunded me part of my money. But I lost around three thousand bucks on this endeavor.
    Signature

    Tim Pears

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  • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
    Made 30 calls with this script:

    Hello I'm a liquidator, we sell closeout merchandise to
    a group of overseas wholesale buyers, and I have some potential buyers who are urgent
    for a couple of loads, they pay cash upfront,
    and I was wondering if you folks have any distressed merchandise you need to unload...
    Maybe we could help each other out here..."

    out of the 30 calls they were either not interested or had no distressed merchandise.

    Making 30 more calls tomorrow.
    Signature

    The best thing you can do is put yourself out there.

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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by TakenAction View Post

      Made 30 calls with this script:

      Hello I'm a liquidator, we sell closeout merchandise to
      a group of overseas wholesale buyers, and I have some potential buyers who are urgent
      for a couple of loads, they pay cash upfront,
      and I was wondering if you folks have any distressed merchandise you need to unload...
      Maybe we could help each other out here..."

      out of the 30 calls they were either not interested or had no distressed merchandise.

      Making 30 more calls tomorrow.
      @ Eniggma, thats because you arent listening to my advice. You arent using a good script yet, and are jumping the gun! Lol Wait until I get a full script in your hands. You cant fairly say "Im failing at this system", when you dont even have the system yet.

      @ Tim, try it again, and let me teach you. I have gotten good in the last couple of years at training people with this stuff, now that I understand all of their issues fully.
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      • Profile picture of the author eniggma
        Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

        @ Eniggma, thats because you arent listening to my advice. You arent using a good script yet, and are jumping the gun! Lol Wait until I get a full script in your hands. You cant fairly say "Im failing at this system", when you dont even have the system yet.

        @ Tim, try it again, and let me teach you. I have gotten good in the last couple of years at training people with this stuff, now that I understand all of their issues fully.
        What the?? Dude I have been waiting! Lol I have only been making a list of suppliers to call since you told me to wait. What did I do? Lol
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        "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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        • Profile picture of the author John Durham
          Originally Posted by eniggma View Post

          What the?? Dude I have been waiting! Lol I have only been making a list of suppliers to call since you told me to wait. What did I do? Lol

          Sorry eniggma

          I was reading another post from someone I had never advised that to , but you had thanked that post, and when I read your name on the thanks and I guess I read it wrong and responded like it was your post. Was just reminding you to wait. I was reading the wrong post from the wrong poster when i wrote that...:rolleyes:

          My bad.
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  • Profile picture of the author max5ty
    My own personal opinion of this idea...

    I haven't or won't ever sell anything on this forum. Don't have anything against anyone who does...but, I think I offer a fair view about things because of it.

    Will this plan work? Yes, it can. However, it's not as easy as it sounds.

    If I sold a book on the lottery and told you how great it was and how once you got the right numbers you'd all be happy...I'd be telling the truth...

    Not everyone will hit the big jackpot. Most will only hit the $1 and $5 winners...and the amount of money they spent to win that still had them behind.

    I could list testimonials from those who hit the lottery jackpot and get everyone excited...truth be told, the chances of you hitting the jackpot are rare.

    Yes, you can make some big money. Most never will, but they'll chase the dream and they'll have a carrot dangled in front of them until they've spent their last fortune...just like the lottery.

    Be wise. Don't spend more than you can afford to lose.

    Just like the lottery...there's some great stories but they're used to keep you buying more and more tickets.
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  • Profile picture of the author space
    Amazing thread.. Thanks for the great information.

    I have a question.

    In order to enter this business, before I contact any manufactures and/or buyers, should I first set up a Professional Business Image? Do I have to have a sole proprietorship or an LLC so they'll work with me? Or can any average joe without a legal business structure jump in and pull off a successful deal?

    Thanks for this thread..
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Originally Posted by space View Post

    Amazing thread.. Thanks for the great information.

    I have a question.

    In order to enter this business, before I contact any manufactures and/or buyers, should I first set up a Professional Business Image? Do I have to have a sole proprietorship or an LLC so they'll work with me? Or can any average joe without a legal business structure jump in and pull off a successful deal?

    Thanks for this thread..
    Your average Joe without a structure can jump in. Thats what 90% of the liquidators out there ARE when they get into it, until they start making big money.

    I made my first 4-5 deals that way, and later set myself up legally, but even then, the legal staus never really made much of a difference, however, depending on what you want to do, it is good to at least try and get registered as a sole proprietor so you can go into trade sites being "verified".

    If you arent though, I wouldnt let it stop me. I made $20k in commissions before I became verified, and even spent some of it becoming a GOLD member... But that didnt really increase my sales to be honest, so the following year I opted not to pay the premiums again.

    Honestly, the biggest benefit to being "verified" (having a legal EIN) on trade sites is that it enables you to take advantage of more of their selling options, and if you fully utilize them all it can be a plus, but I do it in a real simple way and dont need all those options... NOT being verified wont keep you from making sales either, just BEING verified gives you a few more selling options.

    Some SELLERs like "Macy's" have a protocol and only work with registered businesses, but most manufacturers know the liquidation game is made up mostly of average people and the thought of whether you are verified or not doesnt make any difference to them whatsoever.

    For instance, if I had a big stocklot, and you told me you wanted to help me sell it, and you think you might know some buyers... I dont care if I was the CEO of a 100 million dollar corporation, i would say "Sure, jump on in! I can use the extra hand!".

    It doesnt matter that much, but in some cases it can help. I wouldnt let it stop me if I wasnt registered, and I DIDNT, but whenever you can get registered it is a good thing.

    Hope this helps.

    -John
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    • Profile picture of the author space
      Thanks John... Looking forward to your new report. I'll be one of the 1st in line to buy it when released.
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    • Profile picture of the author warek44
      I think it's a good idea but such intersow however, need to have a head on your shoulders
      Signature
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    • Profile picture of the author stranger11
      Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

      Some SELLERs like "Macy's" have a protocol and only work with registered businesses, but most manufacturers know the liquidation game is made up mostly of average people and the thought of whether you are verified or not doesnt make any difference to them whatsoever.

      -John
      I asked this before...with big chains like Macy's, who do you contact? An individual branch or the headquarters? Whether they have that type of protocol or not, you first need to talk to someone who can make the decision and tell you their protocol.
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      • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
        Many, many moons ago, export & import was exactly what I wanted to do but the way it was presented to me was for me to purchase the goods, then sell them. That was a financial obligation I could not take on and so the subject was deserted.

        Fast forward to today, the way John suggests you to do this is totally doable with some persistence and I am sure his future guide on the subject matter will be a big help for those who wishes to pursue the matter.

        In the meantime, here is a VERY lenghty article from Entrepreneur Magazine with a lot of valuable information that also supports what John is saying even though his method is classifed there as you being a REPRESENTATIVE (absolutely doable).

        On the last page of the article there are some resources but be forewarned, you can easily get an overload of information so visit at your own risk:

        How to Start an Import/Export Business | Entrepreneur.com

        Hope you get something out of it,

        Eva
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      • Profile picture of the author John Durham
        [DELETED]
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        • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
          Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

          Wow! Cool! Talk about great timing huh? So, now my idea is even supported by entrepreneur Mag? Too Cool!

          Believe it or not my friend, when I started doing this, I made most of it up along the way... and didnt really know much about the rest of the industry, only focused on my idea, and learned the rest as I went along, talking to other liquidators... This is sooooo cool!
          Glad I made somebody's day, lol!

          Here's a thought to everyone following this thread and being afraid to take the plunge to actually trying this method out.
          1. Start your research NOW, you will only be ahead.
          2. Get JD's report when it comes out if you feel it would benefit you.
          3. Look for a deal that does not scare you, one where you might only make a $1,000 or less but at least, once the deal goes through, do another one worth a bit more $$$. By starting small, if that is what you are comfortable with, why not, soon enough you will go for bigger and bigger deals.
          4. If there were to be either coaching/webinar/forum for this by John, sign up after you have made that money by brokering a small deal.

          Actually, this has gotten me all exited again, thanks John!

          Eva
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          • Profile picture of the author eniggma
            Great suggestions thx. That's really all I've been doing this past week is reviewing, researching, reading about import export in general, and building a call list of manufacturers in the 2 niches I'm interested in.

            I agree a forum is the most cost effective and worthwhile thing for both John and us "students". Forums are self sustainable and really do a lot to help and motivate everyone all at once.

            I really am gona work to take massive action and follow everything to the letter and be one of those to hopefully see a deal within 30-45 days.

            I wont let myself be the reason this won't work.

            Originally Posted by Vikuna2009+ View Post

            Glad I made somebody's day, lol!

            Here's a thought to everyone following this thread and being afraid to take the plunge to actually trying this method out.
            1. Start your research NOW, you will only be ahead.
            2. Get JD's report when it comes out if you feel it would benefit you.
            3. Look for a deal that does not scare you, one where you might only make a $1,000 or less but at least, once the deal goes through, do another one worth a bit more $$$. By starting small, if that is what you are comfortable with, why not, soon enough you will go for bigger and bigger deals.
            4. If there were to be either coaching/webinar/forum for this by John, sign up after you have made that money by brokering a small deal.

            Actually, this has gotten me all exited again, thanks John!

            Eva
            Signature

            "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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            • Profile picture of the author John Durham
              Originally Posted by eniggma View Post


              I wont let myself be the reason this won't work.
              Never quite heard it put that way, Im stealing that line.

              Whenever I'm down, which has been more than just a couple of times in life, I assure you...and I start thinking about where Im headed in the future, and getting excited... I always think to myself- "dont be down on that guy in the mirror, because it's HIS personal greatness that's going to have put you there once you've arrived".

              Whenever Im "up", I never fail to realize that it was the guy who looked like he was down that got me there.

              In fact, in a couple of my down times in life, it was this system we are talking about here that pulled me back from zero to hero. Once I was behind on the mortgage even, and took a shot in the dark...it was the most miraculous thing I had ever seen, and I made a sale within 24 hours of listing it and had $7500 in the bank literally within 48 hours.

              I have never had a sale happen in 24 hours since.

              I remember when it happened I listed something and literally thought "this is a shot in the dark", even had Ozzie's song going through my head while I was working (lol seriously)...and it blew me away, within just a few hours I had a buyer, with no questions asked. It was really miraculous. They wired the money early that morning, just a few hours after my listing it, and within 24 hours the seller wired me my cut.

              I wouldnt expect that anyone...I didnt even expect it honestly...but Im living proof that it CAN happen... although I still think it would be a shot in the dark. lol

              Just goes to show, that you "miss every shot that you dont take", but if you take one, there's always a chnace that you could SWOOSH... so it's worth taking the shots. I think that is something that has helped me in life alot. Im not afraid to take shots, even if some of them seem like long shots.

              -John
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              • Profile picture of the author eniggma
                I agree. Imperfect ACTION is always better than perfectly doing NOTHING.

                I have been working at making money online and having my own business for 3 years. Had some success, mostly failures.

                Although I am thankful for the little successes and aha moments, I am not where I want to be financially and I am hoping this does it. And even though I have spent long hours online learning, and a lot of money wasted on methods that did not work, Or spent so much time on something just to learn I did not have the ability financially to make it continue, I don't regret any of it because its the path I have taken to learning a biz model like this that I love and with a lot of potential.

                I never would have run into this had I not kept learning and trying things and I would not have had a chance at being successful if I had of just succumb to doing nothing.

                That is what motivates me to keep pushing:
                1- I know this is something that can work and has been proven to work so I will reap the rewards for keeping at it.
                2- I can be SURE that I will never stand a chance, by never taking action.

                Leaving my only option which is to put my head down and get to work.

                Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

                Never quite heard it put that way, Im stealing that line.

                Whenever I'm down, which has been more than just a couple of times in life, I assure you...and I start thinking about where Im headed in the future, and getting excited... I always think to myself- "dont be down on that guy in the mirror, because it's HIS personal greatness that's going to have put you there once you've arrived".

                Whenever Im "up", I never fail to realize that it was the guy who looked like he was down that got me there.

                In fact, in a couple of my down times in life, it was this system we are talking about here that pulled me back from zero to hero. Once I was behind on the mortgage even, and took a shot in the dark...it was the most miraculous thing I had ever seen, and I made a sale within 24 hours of listing it and had $7500 in the bank literally within 48 hours.

                I have never had a sale happen in 24 hours since.

                I remember when it happened I listed something and literally thought "this is a shot in the dark", even had Ozzie's song going through my head while I was working (lol seriously)...and it blew me away, within just a few hours I had a buyer, with no questions asked. It was really miraculous. They wired the money early that morning, just a few hours after my listing it, and within 24 hours the seller wired me my cut.

                I wouldnt expect that anyone...I didnt even expect it honestly...but Im living proof that it CAN happen... although I still think it would be a shot in the dark. lol

                Just goes to show, that you "miss every shot that you dont take", but if you take one, there's always a chnace that you could SWOOSH... so it's worth taking the shots. I think that is something that has helped me in life alot. Im not afraid to take shots, even if some of them seem like long shots.

                -John
                Signature

                "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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        • Profile picture of the author stranger11
          Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

          Sorry Stranger. I have the contact info for the person in charge of this at Macy's, will PM you later. with it.
          Thanks John, but what I was asking was who do I contact for these big chains, not necessarily Macy's? Is it the same strategy, because it is much harder to get in touch with someone in the big chains. Do I contact individual branches, or are they not responsible for this decision and I should contact the headquarters?
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          • Profile picture of the author John Durham
            Originally Posted by stranger11 View Post

            Thanks John, but what I was asking was who do I contact for these big chains, not necessarily Macy's? Is it the same strategy, because it is much harder to get in touch with someone in the big chains. Do I contact individual branches, or are they not responsible for this decision and I should contact the headquarters?
            Most of the HUUUUUGE retail corps like Macy's, either have buy back agreements with the manufacturers to take their overstock, in which case it lets you know their manufacturers have overstock frequently, OR they already have a protocol system in place for dealing with liquidators and they should have a department for it that they can forward you to, or someone that handles that.

            For instance, Macy's works with all kinds of liquidators because their overstock in so astronomical. They will send you an app to fill out your EIN number and put you through their system and make you one of their network, So, if you called them up and said you were a liquidator, they would send you straight to their liquidation department.

            Usually you want to call "corp" offices, however some corp offices will say "We make our local offices handle their own liquidations" in which case that is good news, now you know to call all of their local offices because there is probably liquidation issues they need help with occasionally.

            Others will say "We produce on demand, and so we dont have liquidations". Pass. They arent your market...

            @ Eniggma.... I guess we will talk about that next week wont we?

            The short answer is "yes".
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    No worries bro.
    Signature

    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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  • Profile picture of the author rugman
    I vote for a forum! That way you get help from all directions.
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    Growing older but not up!

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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    You got it eniggma my man. That is the same attitude I had when starting. I knew people wanted to buy things out there, so why couldnt it be me that sold it to them?

    It took a minute to figure out, but I knew it didnt make sense that I couldnt sell something to people that they wanted to buy right?

    It just makes sense. It keeps you going, because you know that, there really is no reason it cant be you that brokers that deal if other people are doing it!

    If a hundred people are looking for truckloads of garden hoses to buy, why cant I just locate some and be the guy who sells it to them?

    The Answer: There's no good reason, all I have to do is find a good deal on garden hoses right?

    Right.

    -John
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    • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
      John,

      from reading your thread, it looks like you have been IMPORTING and selling those products mostly in the U.S., right? If that is so, you are an IMPORTER not an EXPORTER, lol.

      No, I am not here to bash you or nit pick on words but, there is a whole other world out there, EXPORTING American products to all over the world, which is a completely different subject and not to be over-looked. The subject of exporting however, should probably be kept separate from this thread, no?

      Eva
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      • Profile picture of the author John Durham
        Originally Posted by Vikuna2009+ View Post

        John,

        from reading your thread, it looks like you have been IMPORTING and selling those products mostly in the U.S., right? If that is so, you are an IMPORTER not an EXPORTER, lol.

        No, I am not here to bash you or nit pick on words but, there is a whole other world out there, EXPORTING American products to all over the world, which is a completely different subject and not to be over-looked. The subject of exporting however, should probably be kept separate from this thread, no?

        Eva
        Nope, it's exactly the opposite.

        I source U.S.A. manufacturers ( and a couple of Canadian ones) and sell their wares over seas to other countries. I think I may have only sold one or two deals inside the US as a matter of fact. The rest were to China, London, Bulgaria, Nigeria... Actually the Chinese are my favorite buyers.

        Mostly because they are short and sweet, one or two line emails, they dont like to talk on the phone...They dont tend to be tire kickers... They dont like to be sold, they just want the facts and the numbers, and when they have made a decision, it's in stone.
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        • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
          Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

          Nope, it's exactly the opposite.

          I source U.S.A. manufacturers ( and a couple of Canadian ones) and sell their wares over seas to other countries. I think I may have only sold one or two deals inside the US as a matter of fact. The rest were to China, London, Bulgaria, Nigeria... Actually the Chinese are my favorite buyers.

          Mostly because they are short and sweet, one or two line emails, they dont like to talk on the phone...They dont tend to be tire kickers... They dont like to be sold, they just want the facts and the numbers, and when they have made a decision, it's in stone.
          Oh! Duh... I am glad I asked, guess I missed that part, lol. Having said that, if I remember correctly, some statistics of U.S. companies that do not export because of lack of know how, is as high as 96% (will try and see if I can find the source for that number).

          Question; would it be beneficial to try to locate a buyer BEFORE finding sellers or am I over-complicating things?

          Eva

          CORRECTION:

          Why Export?

          • 96% of the world’s consumers live outside of the US.
          • Exports counter domestic economic downturns.
          • Firms that export are up to 40% more profitable than those that don’t.
          • Over 70% of the world’s purchasing power is outside of the US.
          • Approximately 1/3rd of the increase in the nation’s GDP comes from exports.
          Sources: Kiplinger Newsletter, WSJ, State of the Union 2010, 2011
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          • Profile picture of the author John Durham
            Originally Posted by Vikuna2009+ View Post

            Oh! Duh... I am glad I asked, guess I missed that part, lol. Having said that, if I remember correctly, some statistics of U.S. companies that do not export because of lack of know how, is as high as 96% (will try and see if I can find the source for that number).

            Question; would it be beneficial to try to locate a buyer BEFORE finding sellers or am I over-complicating things?

            Eva

            CORRECTION:

            Why Export?

            • 96% of the world’s consumers live outside of the US.
            • Exports counter domestic economic downturns.
            • Firms that export are up to 40% more profitable than those that don’t.
            • Over 70% of the world’s purchasing power is outside of the US.
            • Approximately 1/3rd of the increase in the nation’s GDP comes from exports.
            Sources: Kiplinger Newsletter, WSJ, State of the Union 2010, 2011
            Locating buyers first, even though that isnt how I myself started is more beneficial, but it's better if that buyer belongs to a POOL of buyers, that way if you source something for them , and they fall through, you have a bunch of other potential buyers.

            You touched on something, here thats hard for most people to believe- It's amazing how companies appreciate this service so much, you would think they would know how to source overseas buyers by themselves, but it's astounding how many dont, and to them you are an expert.

            Most of them already have shippping companies who know how to handle customs... but the company's themselves are sometimes so ignorant about making overseas sales, especially regarding secondary market merchandise. Thats why they value you.

            You are doing them a HUGE favor by getting their secondary product off of the local market, so it doesnt flood the market place and drive their retail prices down.

            It seems strange but your stats are correct in my experience.
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          • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
            Originally Posted by Vikuna2009+ View Post

            Question; would it be beneficial to try to locate a buyer BEFORE finding sellers or am I over-complicating things?

            Eva
            I would like to know this as we'll....
            It almost sounds easier.

            It seems easier to buy, when you know what to buy.
            Vs.
            Buying and then looking for a way to off-load it
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            - Neale Donald Wilson -
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Read my above post vndnbrgj,

    I use to have a different philosophy, but it has evolved, mostly because some of my original buyers have asked for various things, outside of the original niche I sold them in...and I have had to source different things for them...it IS a much easier sale that way. We live and grow.

    -John
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  • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
    So basically after making some calls and hearing what others have had to say.

    the hardest part is finding manufactures who have merchandise for us to sell.

    I cant really say this for sure because I haven't gotten this far but, I don't think the selling
    will be that hard but I also don't think think it will be super easy. Basically, it sounds like list it on multiple trade sites and should receive some offers. Even if you don't find someone just keep up with it for a couple weeks and we should find some buyers.

    I know I jumped the gun on this John and used a simple script and haven't received any merchandise or inventory sheets yet but I am looking forward to your product to help out!

    All I ask if that you offer the product at a price ($XX) and the coaching as a higher price because I dont think at this time I will be able to afford the coaching but I could afford the product if this is making sense.

    Regardless thanks for all your priceless advice so far.

    -Connor.
    Signature

    The best thing you can do is put yourself out there.

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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    I wouldnt do that takeaction, Im going to throw the forum in for free with the report... as long as I can justify my time, Im good, I dont intend to charge people out the ying yang. I know most of you guys arent made of money...

    Originally Posted by stranger11 View Post

    I asked this before...with big chains like Macy's, who do you contact? An individual branch or the headquarters? Whether they have that type of protocol or not, you first need to talk to someone who can make the decision and tell you their protocol.
    Sorry Stranger. I have the contact info for the person in charge of this at Macy's, will PM you later. with it.

    Originally Posted by Vikuna2009+ View Post

    Many, many moons ago, export & import was exactly what I wanted to do but the way it was presented to me was for me to purchase the goods, then sell them. That was a financial obligation I could not take on and so the subject was deserted.

    Fast forward to today, the way John suggests you to do this is totally doable with some persistence and I am sure his future guide on the subject matter will be a big help for those who wishes to pursue the matter.

    In the meantime, here is a VERY lengthy article from Entrepreneur Magazine with a lot of valuable information that also supports what John is saying even though his method is classifed there as you being a REPRESENTATIVE (absolutely doable).

    On the last page of the article there are some resources but be forewarned, you can easily get an overload of information so visit at your own risk:

    How to Start an Import/Export Business | Entrepreneur.com

    Hope you get something out of it,

    Eva
    Wow! Cool! Talk about great timing huh? So, now my idea is even supported by entrepreneur Mag? Too Cool!

    Believe it or not my friend, when I started doing this, I made most of it up along the way... and didnt really know much about the rest of the industry, only focused on my idea, and learned the rest as I went along, talking to other liquidators... This is sooooo cool!
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    John are there certain niches that are easier to locate distressed inventory than others within the retail realm?
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    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Hey so John do you recommend these major retailer arrangements are worth going after?
    Signature

    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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    • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
      Originally Posted by eniggma View Post

      Hey so John do you recommend these major retailer arrangements are worth going after?
      It is a 2 minute conversation for a NO.

      Everything is worth going after. Today's NO is tomorrow's YES.

      BTW john, you know what i was trying to do with the kindle and the Kindle fire.
      It did NOT work out as envisioned. SO, i decided to start calling companies
      that i KNOW have previously bought them, AND am trying to buy their over stock.

      SO far, i have received a bunch of... YES we have it, NO, we don't have over stock YET.
      Call back in X time, and we will tell you what we have left over.

      From what i can tell ... and this only applies to electronics, because things upgrade so fast
      nobody wants to have outdated stock on hand.

      But, I have found over 200 people that sell it, and want me to call back.
      Not a sale, I have made no money with it. But i have found a HUGE well
      of future potential business.
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      Selling Ain't for Sissies!
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      • Profile picture of the author John Durham
        Originally Posted by kenmichaels View Post

        It is a 2 minute conversation for a NO.

        Everything is worth going after. Today's NO is tomorrow's YES.

        BTW john, you know what i was trying to do with the kindle and the Kindle fire.
        It did NOT work out as envisioned. SO, i decided to start calling companies
        that i KNOW have previously bought them, AND am trying to buy their over stock.

        SO far, i have received a bunch of... YES we have it, NO, we don't have over stock YET.
        Call back in X time, and we will tell you what we have left over.

        From what i can tell .. this only applies to electronics, because things upgrade so fast
        nobody wants to have outdated stock on hand.

        But, I have found over 200 people that sell it, and want me to call back.
        Not a sale, I have made no money with it. But i have found a HUGE well
        of future potential business.
        That Fricken Rocks! So you have found stocklots of kindles?

        Let me help you sell em!

        Take A look at this Ken , and tell me if you think you can get them low enough to compete? These people buy truckloads... Let me go look at the buyers market real quick.

        http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?...rchText=kindle
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        • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
          Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

          That Fricken Rocks! So you have found stocklots of kindles?

          Let me help you sell em!

          Take A look at this Ken , and tell me if you think you can get them low enough to compete? These people buy truckloads... Let me go look at the buyers market real quick.

          Kindle-Kindle Manufacturers, Suppliers and Exporters on Alibaba.comConsumer Electronics

          I am after the Kindle, Kindle Fire and the Kindle Fire HD - 7 to 9 ''.

          No accessories.
          Signature

          Selling Ain't for Sissies!
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          • Profile picture of the author John Durham
            [quote=kenmichaels;7836675]

            Duh, so you are saying you want to BUY...I should have gooten that!

            You are also saying that you cold called manufacturers and found a bunch of stocklots. Cool!

            On the other hand Im glad you are actively pursuing your idea man! It's definitely an awesome one.

            -John
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        • Profile picture of the author the h3rbalist
          John, I'm new to posting on the forum (have been lurking for a while) - just wanted to say this is a very informative thread. The effort you put in to providing free yet valuable information is astounding.

          So the basic premise is that once you get a buyer & seal the deal with the seller, you have the seller make an invoice with your markup and then just forward that to the buyer. Once the buyer pays, then the seller pays you the markup.

          If that's the case, my only question is this:

          How do you ensure that YOU get paid? With no contract between you and the seller, are you just going on the seller's word that they'll give you the difference?
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          • Profile picture of the author John Durham
            Originally Posted by the h3rbalist View Post

            John, I'm new to posting on the forum (have been lurking for a while) - just wanted to say this is a very informative thread. The effort you put in to providing free yet valuable information is astounding.

            So the basic premise is that once you get a buyer & seal the deal with the seller, you have the seller make an invoice with your markup and then just forward that to the buyer. Once the buyer pays, then the seller pays you the markup.

            If that's the case, my only question is this:

            How do you ensure that YOU get paid? With no contract between you and the seller, are you just going on the seller's word that they'll give you the difference?
            You are exactly right "TH"- I have some answers to that question on this thread here if you want to check it out:

            http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...s-advices.html

            Will probably go into greater detail in the forum...
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            • Profile picture of the author the h3rbalist
              Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

              You are exactly right "TH"- I have some answers to that question on this thread here if you want to check it out:

              http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...s-advices.html

              Will probably go into greater detail in the forum...
              Appreciate the fast reply, I'll read through that thread now.

              Look forward to the WSO and forum.
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    I also posted a question yesterday on how you track your clients, loads and commissions? If I'm asking stuff that's covered in training just let me know.
    Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Alrighty then, just talked to Ken...He is actually looking to BUY some loads...Duh...Looks like I have some sourcing to do...if anybody jumps my deal I will kick your Butt. lol

    JK, he wouldnt let anyone go around me anyway...

    Originally Posted by eniggma View Post

    I also posted a question yesterday on how you track your clients, loads and commissions? If I'm asking stuff that's covered in training just let me know.
    We are going to cover it in training bro.
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Ok thx John.
    Signature

    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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  • Profile picture of the author gil12
    Awesome! im speechless. But i dont understand what you mean buyers? you mean contact suppliers right? thanks john peoples like you makes me happy
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    • Profile picture of the author stranger11
      Gil12 - Read through everything again. He is already giving out so much information, it sucks to have to explain it over and over. You are looking for manufacturers or stores that have overstock and you sell that to other people who buy bulk amounts. Sometimes they are suppliers.

      Originally Posted by gil12 View Post

      Awesome! im speechless. But i dont understand what you mean buyers? you mean contact suppliers right? thanks john peoples like you makes me happy
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      • Profile picture of the author gil12
        Originally Posted by stranger11 View Post

        Gil12 - Read through everything again. He is already giving out so much information, it sucks to have to explain it over and over. You are looking for manufacturers or stores that have overstock and you sell that to other people who buy bulk amounts. Sometimes they are suppliers.
        sorry thanks alot!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author avandrunen
    Hi John,

    Thanks for sharing your incredible insights into what you have done, I have loved this thread and it has given me a lot to think about.

    I was let go from my job last September and have been trying(not yet succeeding) to get an offline model off the ground. My current focus has been the classic stand by of web design. I will admit...I am not making enough calls yet...I am making some but not yet enough to get to the deals.

    Anyway...I have finished reading through this and this looks like an excellent opportunity and something that there is a lot of room for many entrants into the market.

    I will have to go through this a second time and jot down the finer points that I can glean and work from there.

    I will most likely not be able to justify the course expense to my wife( at least not until I am delivering on the web design biz anyway) but I am looking forward to what I can learn from this thread.

    Thanks again for sharing and I will get onboard with your much anticipated new course when I can.

    Have an awesome day and I am looking forward to learning what I can when I can.

    @gil12 - I would suggest you wait for answers in this original thread, I see that you started a new one...let's keep it all in one place to make it easier for John and those of us that may be looking for the same information.

    It would also be tough for anyone to suggest an average salary...it is your own biz and how much one makes is entirely dependant on ones effort.

    Adrian
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  • Profile picture of the author Deidra Renee
    To the person (or people) wondering about being a *legit* business. If all you need is an EIN to be verified on trade sites; you can go to your Secretary of State's office and register your business name as a DBA. It's only $7, at least that's how much it is here in St.Louis. You then go to the IRS and get your EIN (free).

    You can now take your documents showing you have an EIN to a bank and get a business account. My business account is with the same bank my personal account is through (which would make sense, if you're in good standing with them it should be no problem getting a business account set up for yourself.) I set up my business account ONLINE, no need to go to the bank, thinking it takes this or that, apply for it online, get a decision (via email) within days. I think it only took 24-48 hours for my *Welcome to your new business checking account* email.

    Now, you're a verified seller/broker/whatever lol and it took all of 2 days! Please note: I don't do anything with importing/experting, just wanted to show how simple it is to become a verifiable business.

    P.S. I'm waiting on the new report as well John!! lol
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    • Profile picture of the author space
      Originally Posted by Deidra Renee View Post

      To the person (or people) wondering about being a *legit* business. If all you need is an EIN to be verified on trade sites; you can go to your Secretary of State's office and register your business name as a DBA. It's only $7, at least that's how much it is here in St.Louis. You then go to the IRS and get your EIN (free).

      You can now take your documents showing you have an EIN to a bank and get a business account. My business account is with the same bank my personal account is through (which would make sense, if you're in good standing with them it should be no problem getting a business account set up for yourself.) I set up my business account ONLINE, no need to go to the bank, thinking it takes this or that, apply for it online, get a decision (via email) within days. I think it only took 24-48 hours for my *Welcome to your new business checking account* email.

      Now, you're a verified seller/broker/whatever lol and it took all of 2 days! Please note: I don't do anything with importing/experting, just wanted to show how simple it is to become a verifiable business.

      P.S. I'm waiting on the new report as well John!! lol
      Thanks for the info.

      Wish it were that simple and cheap up here in Canada. :-)
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      • Profile picture of the author kumar
        You know what, John. I am going to spend just 30 mins. today to select one industry.
        Any one. Instead of over-complicating it.

        I've just taken a bonus prepaid card that makes my calls to US very cheap.
        Already built a one page website that explains what I do.
        This web presence may enhance the perceived value of my services.

        I'll have a quick dinner and prepare a short script based on your OP.
        And then, I'll get to calling. I intend to call atleast 10 manufacturers today
        to see if they have any excess inventory.

        I have never cold-called, but guess you just have to do it to gain that skill.

        Thank you so much John. Will report back.

        To all: I am sure JD's report will be valuable and will teach or shorten our learning curve,
        but just get started with whatever he has shared. Atleast choose a market, make a list of
        sellers to call, get your small website up with an associated email id and perhaps even start calling,
        if nothing else, for getting your confidence up.
        Signature

        Life is not a sprint, its a marathon. A bad start does not really matter too much

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  • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
    Thanks for the post above to show how easy it is to get your EIN etc.

    So from there I would like to know. When you try and sell Macy's overstock do they make you purchase it first or can you do what you're doing in John's method and just get an inventory sheet and be the broker.
    Signature

    The best thing you can do is put yourself out there.

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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by TakenAction View Post

      Thanks for the post above to show how easy it is to get your EIN etc.

      So from there I would like to know. When you try and sell Macy's overstock do they make you purchase it first or can you do what you're doing in John's method and just get an inventory sheet and be the broker.
      Macy's in particular will make you purchase first, which is a rare case...however most overseas buyer who want Macy's stock are unable to get in on the deals, so they may be more pliable about making the check out to you personally, and you pay Macy's with that, to have it shipped.

      Its nothing different really, other than the way the money changes hands, you still arent out a cent and you dont risk anything, unless you think Macy's is going to rip your buyer off somehow....Not likely.

      If you dont want to do that, then Macy's may not be the place to work with. They are a bit more proud of their brand than most sellers. In any event, you broker it the same way basically, the money just flows differently and there is a small tweak to the process.

      I only know this because I have negotiated with them before. They are the first ones I came across who ever had that kind of policy, in hundreds of calls, I can say its rare.
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      • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
        Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

        Macy's in particular will make you purchase first, which is a rare case...however most overseas buyer who want Macy's stock are unable to get in on the deals, so they may be more pliable about making the check out to you personally, and you pay Macy's with that, to have it shipped.

        Its nothing different really, other than the way the money changes hands, you still arent out a cent and you dont risk anything, unless you think Macy's is going to rip your buyer off somehow....Not likely.

        If you dont want to do that, then Macy's may not be the place to work with. They are a bit more proud of their brand than most sellers. In any event, you broker it the same way basically, the money just flows differently and there is a small tweak to the process.

        I only know this because I have negotiated with them before. They are the first ones I came across who ever had that kind of policy, in hundreds of calls, I can say its rare.
        Love the quality of information coming back every time a question is asked. Thanks very much for this answer. Looking forward to your release next week.
        Signature

        The best thing you can do is put yourself out there.

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  • Profile picture of the author gil12
    Thanks alot! i have little qus' what is your avarge salary from this broken?
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    @ Connor

    It's easy to snap back an answer on this thread because Im subscribed. Sometimes I may go for a while without answering because I'm also working... but, no problem. Once I get this forum going it will be more like "real time".
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    • Profile picture of the author gil12
      Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

      @ Connor

      It's easy to snap back an answer on this thread because Im subscribed. Sometimes I may go for a while without answering because I'm also working... but, no problem. Once I get this forum going it will be more like "real time".
      your work is internet marketing or offline marketing?
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      • Profile picture of the author John Durham
        [DELETED]
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        • Profile picture of the author gil12
          Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

          Depends on what day you ask me... Today it's internet work.
          internet matketing really works? i think all of the wso for im is junk.
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          • Profile picture of the author John Durham
            Originally Posted by eniggma View Post

            Yup great info constantly flowin on this thread.
            So John are these Macys deals something you would go after often?
            Not really, that was just for a specific project, most of my deals have been in home decor because I started with wallpaper and went from there... However a few years earlier I also had sourced a bunch of novelty items and toys... Back then I had figured out a good system for how to source product, but I didnt know how to "sell" it yet. That came a few years later...

            Originally Posted by gil12 View Post

            your work is internet marketing or offline marketing?
            Depends on what day you ask me... Today it's internet work.

            Originally Posted by gil12 View Post

            internet matketing really works? i think all of the wso for im is junk.
            Experiencing success in 90% of ventures is more about your own commitment and less about the state of the industry itself. As I said, I got this idea and learned how to source product many years ago, but didnt know how to sell it... later I put one foot in front of the other and figured out how to sell it too.

            It wasnt that liquidation didnt work back then... It was just that I hadnt developed myself enough yet to really know how to seize an opportunity.

            Internet marketing works, selling websites works, owning a forum works, liquidation works, building a mailing list works... I have done ALL of those things since then, some of them right here in front of this whole forum..., and proof of at least one of them is right here on this thread...they all work, its about self more than anything, and keeping your eyes focused on the prize.

            Not giving up. No matter what you endeavor to do. I wasnt always able to pull things off like I can now... I had to develop that attitude of making things work.
            Originally Posted by wfapples View Post

            RE manufacturers: when they state they export to say "Asia" and do not mention say "Australia" does this stipulation matter when you are selling liquidized stock? Eg if you found a buyer in Australia would the supplier be able to make this deal (not familiar yet with import export laws, not sure if there is sometimes a reason why certain suppliers would be unable to sell to certain other countries)

            Thanks
            Mostly because that supplier may have an exclusive distribution contract with a particular region, that doesnt allow them to flood that market with secondary merchandise so as to drive the price of the retail product down for their distributors. So they specify, and name out a country and say "The other company wont sell to you, but we will..."

            For instance I quit dealing with a particular Wallpaper supplier because they had developed an exclusive contract with a Chinese distributor that would not allow any secondary product sales to China, which was the number one place their brand was popular...

            It doesnt always mean they dont sell to other countries, they are just specifying one they DO sell too, in your example. Some sellers wont sell to Nigeria for various reasons, so if one does, it's a good thing maybe to advertise that. It means "we are familiar with your unique needs... and we can work with you", and they are just giving a shout out.

            Nigeria buys alot of "food products" for instance, but they buy it by the POUND , or Metric Ton in 50 lb sand bags...and not by the retail ready "Package" or "UNIT" alot of times... so some sellers dont sell to them, because they dont sell by the pound, they sell by the UNIT.

            For instance the box itself can weigh as much as the net product it contains, and that is figured into the price of the UNIT. Some sellers dont sell pasta in 50 pound bags, they sell it in 16 ounce retail ready packages, so selling by the POUND isnt really how they do it.
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Yup great info constantly flowin on this thread.
    So John are these Macys deals something you would go after often?
    Signature

    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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  • Profile picture of the author wfapples
    RE manufacturers: when they state they export to say "Asia" and do not mention say "Australia" does this stipulation matter when you are selling liquidized stock? Eg if you found a buyer in Australia would the supplier be able to make this deal (not familiar yet with import export laws, not sure if there is sometimes a reason why certain suppliers would be unable to sell to certain other countries)

    Thanks
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
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      • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
        So it is my understanding that the products you have exported are mainly discounted merchandise? There are a lot of companies who do not export and their line of products are sold for full retail here and might also sell for that abroad. Yes, those products does not have the same mark-up as liquidated goods but could still make you money.

        Thoughts?

        Eva
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Man I have been reviewing amd reading and readn some more. Its such a cool industry and I'm glad to finally have found a way into it. I am chompin at the bit to get started with this man and start callin and land suppliers and get the ball rollin. Ready to take some massive, well educated action.
    Signature

    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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    • Profile picture of the author kumar
      John,

      Not sure if it was asked in the thread, but how do you choose a market?

      Is it just picking any one and following up with the mfgrs. in that industry,
      or do you have a more trend or demand-based approach?

      Thanks!
      Signature

      Life is not a sprint, its a marathon. A bad start does not really matter too much

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      • Profile picture of the author John Durham
        Originally Posted by kumar View Post

        John,

        Not sure if it was asked in the thread, but how do you choose a market?

        Is it just picking any one and following up with the mfgrs. in that industry,
        or do you have a more trend or demand-based approach?

        Thanks!
        Hey Kumar, this is the short answer, but, "almost anything you see in a department store, there is a demand for", as to whether a ton of manufacturers in that niche are desperate or not, you find that out by contacting them... It really is no skin off of your back whether they are or arent, you are just looking for someone who has a problem that you can help with.

        I think my report will REALLY help you guys understand the intense problem that this is for them, and you will feel great about helping them. I think that for most its probably kind of vague, as to why the merchandise is called "distressed", however, I am on 49 posts in this thread now, and I only get 50.

        Last night I was at 52 and didnt even realize it, so I fixed it. Was lucky it didnt get deleted.

        I want to say that I think this is another valuable thread. With people asking you questions you dont get the chance to truly put it in a chronological order. In fact if a person were to see it in that order, and their understanding was laid block upon block, most of the questions here wouldnt even be necessary.

        I am going to go into contracts and even include some by the way... for those who feel they need them, and Im even going to show you how to leverage them... but thats another story.

        Back to my point.

        This thread is valuable, but after reading it, then getting the knowledge laid out to you correctly in an order that builds your understanding in the proper sequence... It really is much simpler than alot of people are thinking.

        Heck, you see that I did it, and I have to tell you, I had ZERO understanding when I started. I was a $12.00 per hour telemarketer, with no education, a criminal record for getting busted with drugs when I was younger... Grew up basically in the ghetto... and people will poke at this cliche statement, but truly, "If I can do it you can do it".

        Can I guarantee that everyone WILL?

        No, but I know you CAN, I know you are capable of putting together a hundred thousand dollar deal with less effort than you could sell a $10,000 website from your pc, even if you live in an OUTHOUSE!

        ANYONE can accomplish great things, and if it was COMPLICATED, you wouldnt see that I have done it. Because I am no rocket scientist, Im just a BELIEVER, And I hope to convince you all to be believers too, because you can truly do anything.

        Lastly,

        Dont believe everything you read, there are alot of tabloids out there who dont have the faintest clue what they are talking about... they just love to create trash, because they are ghetto minded and trash is the only thing they know how to create or be...

        In any event, I hope everyone has enjoyed this thread, it was an intense experience creating it, and it was so fun that I ran past my 50 allotted posts in just 3 days, and didnt even realize it. Training on this is going to be fun for me.

        So I now retire from this thread, and I go to prepare my stuff.

        Hope everyone enjoyed it!

        -John

        Ps. Now that the cat is away from the thread, the mice are certain to come and play, but dont mind me if I dont defend any of my statements here, when they come to spread doubt, and remember I told you they would be coming.

        As someone wise once told me "It's just what they do".
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  • Profile picture of the author Kell
    John,

    Not sure if this was asked, but how do you determine your commission? The manufacturer pays your broker's fee, right? Can I just ask for 5% of the sale price? What is a reasonable broker's fee? Can it be added to the sale price?

    Also, can you name a good trade site? How about Trade Holdings.com (American Companies and Leads) or Trade Key? I saw some complaints about Trade Key on Google.
    Of course, everyone knows about Alibaba, is that OK?

    Thanks for any help you can give me.

    Kell
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    • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
      Originally Posted by Kell View Post

      John,

      Not sure if this was asked, but how do you determine your commission? The manufacturer pays your broker's fee, right? Can I just ask for 5% of the sale price? What is a reasonable broker's fee? Can it be added to the sale price?

      Also, can you name a good trade site? How about Trade Holdings.com (American Companies and Leads) or Trade Key? I saw some complaints about Trade Key on Google.
      Of course, everyone knows about Alibaba, is that OK?

      Thanks for any help you can give me.

      Kell
      I don't think he can make any more posts since he made his 50 posts already but what he did say is to mark it up 100%. So if the company is selling their products for $5,000, you sell it for $10,000. That $5,000 would be based on him getting the product for 5-10% on the dollar so now the buyer is still getting a good deal at 10-20% on the dollar and can still sell it for a good profit.

      Hope that helps, Eva
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      • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
        How conducive is this business to being run as a full-time business? For someone jumping in without enough in the bank to pay the mortgage for a few months, should they be advised to stick with it part-time until they got the hang of it?

        Seems like its pretty much a numbers game (with the odds stacked in your favor), and in order to dominate the game and bank 5 digits per month, one should approach with "overwhelming aggression."

        Thoughts?
        Signature
        FILL IN THE BLANKS!
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      • Profile picture of the author gil12
        Originally Posted by Vikuna2009+ View Post

        I don't think he can make any more posts since he made his 50 posts already but what he did say is to mark it up 100%. So if the company is selling their products for $5,000, you sell it for $10,000. That $5,000 would be based on him getting the product for 5-10% on the dollar so now the buyer is still getting a good deal at 10-20% on the dollar and can still sell it for a good profit.

        Hope that helps, Eva
        its hard to imagine that if you double the price someone actully will buy what you offer. I think the best its to take 15-25% fee.
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        • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
          Originally Posted by gil12 View Post

          its hard to imagine that if you double the price someone actully will buy what you offer. I think the best its to take 15-25% fee.
          This is what John said in his post;

          "As far as researching what I should price it for, I just try to BUY it at around 10% of the wholesale price or less, and I mark it up as a rule at 100% of what I bought it for so as not to present a "slap in the face" to the seller. We make equal money on their loss, but not really, because they have costs and I dont.

          -John"

          HTH, Eva
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        • Profile picture of the author tonypilot7
          Originally Posted by gil12 View Post

          its hard to imagine that if you double the price someone actully will buy what you offer. I think the best its to take 15-25% fee.
          Price is subjective. If you are offering your buyer something that they can only get at wholesale prices (30% of retail) for 10 or 15 % of retail, they are still getting a good deal.

          It doesn't matter to them if you are making 100% or 500% markup if there is still some meat on the bone for them.

          You are actually offering it to them cheaper than they can get it from their local wholesalers.

          From the supplier's point of view, this is last year's excess inventory, taking up space in the warehouse that is needed for this year's inventory. They have already written it off against earnings from last year, so their cost basis is effectively nothing on it.

          Every month that it sits there, it is costing them manpower and space.. they will eventually get rid of it for a pittance, or throw it out, which costs more money.. You are doing them a favor.
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        • Profile picture of the author the h3rbalist
          Originally Posted by gil12 View Post

          its hard to imagine that if you double the price someone actully will buy what you offer. I think the best its to take 15-25% fee.
          You should probably read through the thread again. And maybe one more time after that, so you can understand the concept better.

          If you double the price you paid for it people will still buy it, because the price you paid was only 10% of wholesale. So when you double the price that's only 20% of wholesale. Which will be lower than the majority of sellers on the market, giving you the price advantage.


          The bread and butter of this method is finding a supplier. John makes it seem brilliantly easy to find someone liquidating millions of units, and I think this is hugely misleading. Especially to the people coming into this thread with no experience, lured in by the idea of making $15,000 commissions from their armchair.

          The fact of the matter is that it is not "easy" to find these suppliers. From my experience, the large retail stores (Macy's, Bloomingdales, etc.) sell their overstock to established liquidators who have the purchasing power to directly buy all of it, and then sit on it until someone buys it from them for wholesale (or a little below).

          This leaves the "other" manufacturers. John mentions the Thomas Register, and manta.com. Good resources, with thousands of manufacturers. I am sure that some of them do have stock they are willing to liquidate - perhaps even for that elusive 10% of wholesale price. The point I am trying to get across is that you aren't going to find them by calling 10 people and simply asking "do you have any distressed items you'd like to sell?".

          Not that simple. It is a numbers game, and your chances are only bolstered if you know what you are doing. You're going to need to understand the business. Even then it's not unlikely that you will need to preform hundreds of calls. Once you do find someone desperate to get rid of their overstock, it's not quite as simple as "BOOM I have a buyer, done deal". It might take weeks, a month even more to secure the deal. You have to find a buyer (again harder than John has made it seem), then you have to negotiate (shipping, condition, samples, price, etc.), and hopefully you can get both parties to agree.

          And then after all the money and goods have been transferred and shipped - you have to hope that YOU get your money from the supplier. There are no contracts that will protect you (unless you're an established liquidator who consistently clears entire stocklots). In fact, as a no-name guy with no previous experience with the supplier, they have no idea what you're all about. If they buy into the notion that you have a huge network of buyers beyond the one you just hooked them up with, then it is definitely in their best interest to pay you and keep the relationship. If not, then it would make more sense for them to cut you out of the equation, keep your profits, and deal with the buyer directly from that point forward.

          Not to scare anyone, but I think John has portrayed this method in a misleading way. Perhaps to sell his WSO, or maybe just because it's been a while since he's done any of this. Either way, I think it's important that people understand that this method can be done. But it is not easy by any means.
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  • Profile picture of the author gil12
    john i need to target some offline niche.... you recommend target on this method or keep on selling websites?
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    I look at it this way, if anyone really wants to be successful and start a real business they need to get the idea of ANYTHING being easy out their head right now. Sometimes the process is easy and simple, the effort is not. I mean lets be real here a large majority of those that hang out at this forum are looking for the EASY way to a full time income. Which instantly makes them possible sheep being led to the slaughter of a rude awakening after they spend their hard earned money on some "simple system that makes me $657, 825 while I have my remote in one hand and my pc mouse in the other and I've fallen asleep". Lol

    The key is to find a biz model that is proven to be real and viable ( like this one) and be willing to perservere and stick to it and keep at it no matter what.

    Quit searching for easy lazy ways of making money and being slapped time and again in the face with the reality that its not true after falling for those selling crap in the business of misleading newbies all over the place. Instead find and follow in the footsteps of those that have found success by working hard at tried and true and proven biz models. Online or offline. They knew it can work and will work, if they work hard. They did and are now the people that those who are searching for that path now are looking up to.

    Stop looking for an easy method and focus on a PROVEN one.

    The soapbox is now vacant. Lol
    Signature

    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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  • Profile picture of the author Kell
    After reviewing John's explanation of the basics in post#1, I don't see anything about negotiating samples, shipping, etc. If the seller is as desperate as was said to unload this excess stock, then I would think that he would be more than happy to negotiate those things with the buyer. If he won't do it, then I'll find a seller who will.

    I would think that the seller would be overjoyed at my finding a buyer for his unwanted merchandise and ask nothing more of me.

    Kell
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    • Profile picture of the author the h3rbalist
      Originally Posted by Kell View Post

      After reviewing John's explanation of the basics in post#1, I don't see anything about negotiating samples, shipping, etc. If the seller is as desperate as was said to unload this excess stock, then I would think that he would be more than happy to negotiate those things with the buyer. If he won't do it, then I'll find a seller who will.

      I would think that the seller would be overjoyed at my finding a buyer for his unwanted merchandise and ask nothing more of me.

      Kell
      If that's your attitude going into this, then all I can say is good luck.

      Like I said in my previous post, John has represented this business model in a very simplified, and therefore misleading way. If you are a broker, of course you're going to have to negotiate everything between the buyer and the seller. That's your job for crying out loud.

      If you want to take his word as the absolute truth (which many people here seem to be doing), then so be it. Buy his WSO and wait for the $$$ to roll in.

      I commend John for sharing the cliff notes of a timeless method that's been used since the dawn of trade - I'm just trying to get the point across that it's not as simple as he has made it seem.
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      • Profile picture of the author eniggma
        What about the process do you feel he is leaving out if its not that simple? I feel like the process and concept itself is that simple but its going to take a lot effort which in itself is not so simple. Putting forth a consistent amount of effort is the hard part?

        Unless you know of something he is not revealing about the process?


        Originally Posted by the h3rbalist View Post

        If that's your attitude going into this, then all I can say is good luck.

        Like I said in my previous post, John has represented this business model in a very simplified, and therefore misleading way. If you are a broker, of course you're going to have to negotiate everything between the buyer and the seller. That's your job for crying out loud.

        If you want to take his word as the absolute truth (which many people here seem to be doing), then so be it. Buy his WSO and wait for the $$$ to roll in.

        I commend John for sharing the cliff notes of a timeless method that's been used since the dawn of trade - I'm just trying to get the point across that it's not as simple as he has made it seem.
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        • Profile picture of the author the h3rbalist
          Originally Posted by eniggma View Post

          What about the process do you feel he is leaving out if its not that simple? I feel like the process and concept itself is that simple but its going to take a lot effort which in itself is not so simple. Putting forth a consistent amount of effort is the hard part?

          Unless you know of something he is not revealing about the process?
          Yes, at it's core it is a "simple" business model. Find a seller, find a buyer, broker the deal. Building a list is also a simple business model. Make a website, get traffic, get subscribers. But we both know there's more to it than that.

          What it comes down to is that you cannot just follow the step by step directions someone provides in their WSO, or in a thread like this that promotes their WSO. It's a great outline, and serves as a good source to get the creative juices flowing - but once you're in the thick of it you will have to adapt, learn and even make shit up as you go.
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          • Profile picture of the author John Durham
            Originally Posted by the h3rbalist View Post


            What it comes down to is that you cannot just follow the step by step directions someone provides in their WSO, or in a thread like this that promotes their WSO. It's a great outline, and serves as a good source to get the creative juices flowing - but once you're in the thick of it you will have to adapt, learn and even make shit up as you go.

            As I said in my last post, when the cat is away... sigh.
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            • Profile picture of the author samrand
              Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

              As I said in my last post, when the cat is away... sigh.
              Hahaha! John did call it on his last post. I had to go read it to see what
              he meant.

              Too funny. Anyways looking forward to the report.

              Sam
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              • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
                There are TONS of information about exporting on the internet. Yes, I do think it would be valuable to buy John's report since he actually have done this but if you simply want to educate yourself in the meantime, google is your best friend and did I mention it is FREE?

                It used to be that you could contact the embassies and consulates for the countries you were looking to find interested buyers from. Do not know if that is still applicable. The U.S. government also has several really good publications, some free, some not, some up to date, some not.

                My take on product selection would be to pick products to export that you are already familiar with to cut down the time. Take it from there, keep your day job though, cut out silly TV time 3-4 hours a week and educate yourself. Once you get your "Aha" moment, you will know what to do,

                Eva
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  • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
    I was under the impression that this method was defiantly do-able but not easy by any means. I mean yeah finding a company with distressed merchandise will be pretty hard but once you have done that you will have that contact for a long time. Also yeah finding buyers won't be easy either but I'm fine with posting on many trade sites and waiting weeks to find the right buyers. What makes this a better method is that once ou find a buyer then you have to negotiate shipping etc. but this can be done over email and short quick responses which I like. Overall- not an easy method but defiantly a rewarding method.
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    I dont think the intention was to keep it simple to be misleading. Sometimes you need it to be kept simple so you can get started and stay focused. I feel like with the assumption that you go into this with the goal to work hard until it works for you and not be looking just for something simple where you make 10 calls and wait for a check, then this is better than a lot of the other crap that's being sold out there on "so called" complete methods of making money online that actually leave out quite a bit or promote methods that dont work anymore, or the seller tried once, or said will work just in theory, or could flat out get you in trouble if you tried it now.

    Like was mentioned earlier this is a biz model that's been around forever and is still in full swing today. You just need to come with a desire to learn the right way to do it and then go hard.

    And in Johns defense, his intention for the wso and training is to do just that, elaborate and go into deeper detail on the process and the obstacles and responses you may face and how to deal with them.
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    • Profile picture of the author the h3rbalist
      Originally Posted by eniggma View Post

      And in Johns defense, his intention for the wso and training is to do just that, elaborate and go into deeper detail on the process and the obstacles and responses you may face and how to deal with them.
      Fair enough. Perhaps I just don't believe that the subtle nuances of a complex business world can be taught in a WSO. You all have the information you need to get started right now.

      Nobody is going to reveal valuable trade secrets to you in some $XX pdf. If they are truly that valuable why would the owner ever give them up?

      It's the hard work, learning & adapting as you go that will make you successful. Buying a WSO on the other hand only makes someone else successful.

      Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

      As I said in my last post, when the cat is away... sigh.
      A very compelling and informative response, John.
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Bottomline is you gota start somewhere and if someone who has proven experience in this proven business model is offering his help in any capacity then why the hell not?
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  • Profile picture of the author xDennis
    I gotta say, I'm a little annoyed at thread because this is not as easy as 1,2,3 bam got money coming...

    I would like to add my two cents to this discussion based on brokering export deals experience. (John, you may have already said parts of what I'm saying below.. )

    I run a liquidation business, I am a member of the telemarketing forum --which is basically dead-- (at least the export section), and have read alibaba gold a few times.. I'm very familiar with import/export logistics. I've been importing since 2005. (In fact, I ran a highly successful ebay WSO back in 2009 which was based on import logistics) I currently import more then I export, but that's due to my current business model. I have a $50,000 bond, I'm registered with the state, etc.

    I am an active purchaser of Macy's liquidations. I buy between $10-20k per month from their various warehouses. I don't ship them oversees, in fact some of the items you are not allowed to ship overseas and you must sign agreements to confirm. Specificly high end fashion items like coach stuff.. I sell retail and wholesale to other vendors.

    I pay a guy to call 100 warehouses per day , 5 days a week. He works on a as-needed basis. If I've got more "lots" then I can handle I shift him to other projects (I'm a serial entrepreneur also)... On average we would get 2-3 warehouses willing to sell their goods. It would be anything from pool tables to paint, to baby clothes to chemicals and everything in between.

    Lots range from a few hundred to a few hundred thousands pc lots. Typically the larger lots are for lower cost items, like art paper, or brushes or something like that.

    Calling Warehouses:
    - I developed a tool which would scrape (okay maybe this is grey hat:p) Manta based on my criteria. (Don't ask for the tool I'm not giving it away) The telemarketing forum used to have a good lead tool but it crashed a year ago prolly and was never brought back to life. (unless things have changed recently)

    - I organize the list and give to my cold caller


    The cool thing is, its not like you're trying to SELL them something, it's more like you're trying to help them clear items out so the conversation is much different.. more friendly.

    The most common response is:

    1) No Answer
    2) We Make to Order (Meaning they don't carry excess inventory)
    3) call is back in 3 months we might have something (call them back 3 months later and they give you the same response)

    I've been doing this since October of 2011, it's hard to believe it's been so long. Anyway, I've found that Q3 and Q4 are the best as warehouses are trying to clear any excess to make room for new items for the holiday season. Q1 is pretty much the worst. we can call 1,000 warehouses and get maybe 3 or 4 lots to sell. These are the dark depressing days you have to muscle through..


    The Easy Part:
    Despite what people have said on this board (who have not actually done the business) the EASY part is finding people who have stuff to sell. Again, we'll call 100 per day (in peak times) and get on average 2-3 sellers. Sometimes 0, on a few good days as much as 5 or 6. Always called 100 per day though during our calling cycle!

    The Hard Part:
    Finding buyers plain and simple. It's much harder than posting an Add on your non-gold alibaba account. Yes, you will get inquiries. However 99% of them will be duds or scams.. or people trying to sell you something...

    There is actually a whole industry out there of people who do this. It seems that John believes he started this but that's not the case. I've come across dozens of good ol boy type of guys who have been doing this for decades and don't make millions..they are doing decent but not millions..They all have stories of that "deal they did that time which netter $100,000) You can goto closeoutcentral.com and find them. You'll also find them here: theimasd.com

    The interesting thing, most of the Chinese buyers on Alibaba prefer to buy from Chinese sellers..in my experience..(this is contrary to JD's claim) I have yet to export to China.... OR they want the good for dirt cheap. Often times for apparel the'll (the Chinese) try to buy per kilo. and will offer some ridiculous low amount.

    Negotiation:
    You will think you have a deal lined up, you will see the money falling out of the sky when you get to this point. It's essentially when you have a verbal "yes" or "We're interested" , then what happens is the buyer is trying to beat you up, and get the items for even less then what you purchased them for. (even though you have not told them your buy price) Here, you either have to add a tremendous amount of value (being a good salesman) or just walk away. More times then not you just walk away because the deal won't make sense, or the buyer has ridiculous demands which no one would go for.

    The final sale.

    If you rely on a good faith check, which works as long as you maintain the position with the seller that they would still be holding the inventory had it not been for you and your network of buyers.. you'll get a pay day. I've never received a $50,000 pay day or even a $20,000 pay day.. hell I'm still waiting on a $10,000 pay day. My exporting pay days are not that great considering the time I put it. It's almost like digging for gold.. you're just waiting to find the big nugget that makes it worth while.

    After several months or years, you'll have established a decent relationship with a handful of buyers and sellers and it makes the process much easier. "Hi Jim, got anything for sale? Jim: Yes. You: Okay let me call Bob. "Hey Bob need any XYZ? Bob: Yes. Okay lets make a deal... The trick is getting involved with high dollar items like manufacturing equipment.. that's where the BIG pay days are IMHO. (or weapons lol, j/k!!!!) The movie "Lord of war" is awesome it's liquidation 101 haha anyway back on topic.


    Big picture:
    If you don't plan on calling 100 per day consistently for a month at least, you're going to be relying on luck. You have to put in work to make this happen. It's not as easy as finding a seller, posting an ad, finding a buyer and BAM you got a $50,000 commission.

    This is also not for someone who is going to go at it part time and think they'll be making hundreds of thousands per year unless they get REALLY lucky. This model will with with the right amount of work and commitment to make it work.


    How to make this work for you:
    1) Find buyers first. Before you start calling warehouses Post ads on alibaba for random "toys" or "baby clothes" or something. You'll start getting inquires. Then you'll want to follow up with them ALL to find the serious people. Here you'll also realize how not so easy it is to find legitimate buyers.. Once you have found someone you'll have to let them know you don't have that exact lot but not to worry as you have a large network to relay on (which is true, it's called manta)and you can get a very similar lot... Now you better bust @$$... you must call warehouses until you find a similar lot (atleast a lot in that category)... in peak times it'll take about 100 calls or so, once you have that seller now you can craft the deal. (Warning, this sounds easy but it's not just go try it by first posting ads and try finding legit buyers) . . . this may be a "deceptive" approach, but trust me.. it's for your own good.

    If you post an add on Alibaba give yourself no less than 3 months to find a legitimate buyer. of the Complete lot. You'll get some buyers who want to buy 10pcs or some nonsense.



    It can happen faster, but it could also happen slower....

    Outsourced labor I use:
    1) Cold Caller: called warehouses all day to get seller leads.
    2) Alibaba Manager: This person was responsible for responding to inquiries, posting lots we had available.. basically trying to get buyer leads.

    I don't export much anymore, I import as I developed a model which works better for me. I'm not saying exporting won't work.. I'm just trying to point a realistic picture.



    My Advice to John:
    If you're going to pitch a forum for support, etc I hope you have a way to keep it more active then the old forum. Many of my questions went unanswered and I grew frustrated with it. The forum had very little to do with my success. It was as if you got tired of the project and stopped visiting.. at least the export gold section. I have no doubt that you have had success in this industry, I believe wholeheartedly you did. I just believe that when you pitch it, you do make it sound much easier then what it is.

    EDIT: I'm not quite sure why JD even mentioned exporting Macy's stuff.. if he actually uses them as a vendor he'll realize of what he is allowed to export won't work. You have several types of macy's merchandise which basically boils down to destroyed or store stock. When you're exporting goods, the buyers want good stuff for the most part. And if they want destroyed items they will not pay the price that even Macy's will sell to you for, they'll pay less than a dollar which leaves no wiggle room. The stock lots, from macys' will range around $11-$15 (dresses for example) per item.. this is what they'll sell to you for. Again, this won't work for exporting. The buyers will want to buy from you for $3-4.
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    • Profile picture of the author the h3rbalist
      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      The Easy Part:
      Despite what people have said on this board (who have not actually done the business) the EASY part is finding people who have stuff to sell. Again, we'll call 100 per day (in peak times) and get on average 2-3 sellers. Sometimes 0, on a few good days as much as 5 or 6. Always called 100 per day though during our calling cycle!
      I made a point to say that finding a supplier is hard, because relative to John's explanation, it is hard. He made claims here and in his previous WSO that something like 2-3 out of every 10 calls will land you a desperate manufacturer trying to clear their lots. Obviously this is not the case, and I thought it important that people in this thread understand that it will take hundreds of calls, like we both said.

      Great response though. Especially the part about Lord of War. Great movie. Inspirational even... :p
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    • Profile picture of the author SGTech
      The cliff-notes version of any business makes it sound simple. Web design business? Find customers, build websites for them, make money. Restaurant? Find a building, equip it, hire staff, open up and make money. So John sharing the basics of this business in this thread is not misleading anyone. The CONCEPT of the business is simple.

      The problem I see is that too many people are looking for ideas on this forum that sound simple but don't require work. Hell, if I could find a business that allowed me to make tons of dough in a few hours per week i'd be all over it but we all know that's not how it works.

      As much as I appreciate John for bringing this idea forward, I also appreciate the people in this this thread who have experience in this industry that have said...wait a minute, it's not quite THAT easy. I enjoy the balance that such posters bring to the discussion.

      The bottom line is that yes, the concept of this business is simple. Find sellers that have a product then find buyers to buy it from you. But how many will start this process and quit when $15,000 paydays are not falling out of the sky within a week? It is those that work at it, research the industry and have a plan that will succeed. Which sounds a lot like any other business out there.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post


      I run a liquidation business, I am a member of the telemarketing forum --which is basically dead--
      I don’t own the telemarketing forum anymore. The new owners (safesoft solutions) tried to switch it to a new platform after taking over and messed up the files to where people cant log in now. I would like to join myself.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      (In fact, I ran a highly successful ebay WSO back in 2009 which was based on import logistics)
      Now this is making sense.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post


      in fact some of the items you are not allowed to ship overseas and you must sign agreements to confirm. Specificly high end fashion items like coach stuff.. .
      Okay that’s not a news flash, but thanks for repeating what I already said. I covered in this very thread that some companies have exclusive distribution contracts with certain regions that prohibit you from selling them.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      Calling Warehouses:
      - I developed a tool which would scrape (okay maybe this is grey hat[IMG]file:///C:UsersStratmanAppDataLocalTempmsohtmlclip11clip_i mage001.gif[/IMG]) Manta based on my criteria. (Don't ask for the tool I'm not giving it away)
      Surely no one is going to ask you about it now.:rolleyes:

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      The cool thing is, its not like you're trying to SELL them something, it's more like you're trying to help them clear items out so the conversation is much different.. more friendly.
      True.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      The Easy Part:
      Despite what people have said on this board (who have not actually done the business) the EASY part is finding people who have stuff to sell. Again, we'll call 100 per day (in peak times) and get on average 2-3 sellers. Sometimes 0, on a few good days as much as 5 or 6. Always called 100 per day though during our calling cycle!
      Good advice , and those stats sound accurate.

      Pretty good odds compared to calling for website prospects. You forgot to mention it only takes 2 or 3 hours to make those hundred calls, and find those 3-6 suppliers. I have made 90% of my sales in the worse market in the world with only 4 suppliers.

      So with hundreds of suppliers I don’t see why its hard on you, unless you are actually buying this stuff and warehousing it and having to worry over that investment.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      Finding buyers plain and simple. It's much harder than posting an Add on your non-gold alibaba account. Yes, you will get inquiries. However 99% of them will be duds or scams.. or people trying to sell you something...
      I usually find that its more like 1-2 out of 15 prospects that turn into a sale myself.

      99% is a bit extreme. Perhaps you aren’t buying low enough for your price to be competitive. If you are warehousing this stuff you are creating some overhead Im sure that has to be covered. Not assuming that you are warehousing.

      Also , if you are not brokering, then you are working off of your own credibility and not the credibility of major manufacturers and wholesalers, which gives a broker a slight edge. Again, not assuming you are warehousing, but people are more likely to write a check to an established well know large corporation.

      There are several factors that can contribute a percentage to your chance of success that make a big difference. We are obviously approaching this differently.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      It seems that John believes he started this but that's not the case. I've come across dozens of good ol boy type of guys who have been doing this for decades and don't make millions..they are doing decent but not millions..
      I see… you are posting this because you resent me… and putting words in my mouth, I have said on many posts that this is a centuries old industry and that there are a lot of old pros, even mentioned in this very thread that most of them wear overalls and spend their days digging through boxes in warehouses. So I don’t know where the newsflash is here. I would LOVE for you to show me where I came off like I invented it. I said I “found my own way and taught myself”. Not that I invented it.

      I think you are expressing some jealousy here that I am speaking of this and drawing interest that you feel I don’t deserve.

      This post is looking like it’s due to an imagined slight, and you are pissed off because Im about to teach a hundred people your industry.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      They all have stories of that "deal they did that time which netter $100,000) You can goto closeoutcentral.com and find them. You'll also find them here: theimasd.com
      I wouldn’t feel so insulted if it weren’t for the fact that you are acting like I haven’t already said these things. But I have said three times at least in these past threads that there are smaller bread and butter deals of 5k to 20k and that the million dollar ones are more few and far between.

      Why do you insist that I didn’t say these things? Please don’t answer because you are making me work on defending myself in a thread, probably intentionally, when Im trying to prepare my launch.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      TThe interesting thing, most of the Chinese buyers on Alibaba prefer to buy from Chinese sellers..in my experience..(this is contrary to JD's claim)
      Don’t you mean JD’s Proof?

      I just showed you three straight up Chinese invoices.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      I have yet to export to China....
      Im sorry, as you stated, your focus is on importing.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      OR they want the good for dirt cheap. Often times for apparel the'll (the Chinese) try to buy per kilo. and will offer some ridiculous low amount.
      That’s what Im teaching here isn’t it? To buy low and undersell guys like you? Isnt that the whole secret to this thread?

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      You will think you have a deal lined up, you will see the money falling out of the sky when you get to this point. It's essentially when you have a verbal "yes" or "We're interested" , then what happens is the buyer is trying to beat you up, and get the items for even less then what you purchased them for. (even though you have not told them your buy price) Here, you either have to add a tremendous amount of value (being a good salesman) or just walk away. More times then not you just walk away because the deal won't make sense, or the buyer has ridiculous demands which no one would go for.
      You aren’t buying right. You aren’t selling low enough, that’s why its hard on you. You aren’t even focused on the right kind of sellers to buy that low. You are in the “closeout price” game, or the “Wholesale price” game.

      You aren’t talking about the liquidation market like I am. You don’t have to be a salesman when you buy right and sell low. Sounds like they buers are just doing what they do and you are too proud to accommodate them to me.

      It sounds like you are selling like a wholesaler in a liquidation market. Square peg, round hole.

      Sorry if this further makes you feel slighted or makes you even more pissed off that people are interested in what Im saying when you feel you have earned it more somehow.

      That’s showing bigtime.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      hell I'm still waiting on a $10,000 pay day. My exporting pay days are not that great considering the time I put it. It's almost like digging for gold.. you're just waiting to find the big nugget that makes it worth while.
      Sounds like you have bad experience, how can you teach anybody to have a good one, if you have never had one? Sergit had a 15k payday in his first 8 weeks working only 1-2 hours per week, that’s 8 -16 hours of work…

      I’m sorry you haven’t even had a 10k one, and yet you feel qualified to tell people how its done?

      I have provided undeniable evidence here, what more do you need? I know what Im talking about. Where’s yours?

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      After several months or years, you'll have established a decent relationship with a handful of buyers and sellers and it makes the process much easier. "Hi Jim, got anything for sale? Jim: Yes. You: Okay let me call Bob. "Hey Bob need any XYZ? Bob: Yes. Okay lets make a deal...
      Why did it happen for me in my first 14 days? Why did it happen for sergit within 16 hours of work?

      Im sorry but it sounds like you are doing something severly wrong.

      Honestly if you source hundreds of products like you say, Im thinking you are putting way too much stuff out there and you aren’t focused enough to get anything accomplish. You are playing like the other sellers instead of side stepping the competition and choosing your battles.

      It looks like you are taking every buy that comes down the pike and saying “I’ll take it” with every seller you come across, instead of making good buys that are easy to sell.

      “A deal well bought is half sold”.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      The trick is getting involved with high dollar items like manufacturing equipment.. that's where the BIG pay days are IMHO. (or weapons lol, j/k!!!!) The movie "Lord of war" is awesome it's liquidation 101 haha anyway back on topic.
      Did I just say my friend bought a $250,000 printing machine for 10k and sold it for $75,000? Like maybe 6 posts ago?

      Im still waiting for you to say something I haven’t said in this thread already, you are acting like Im keeping these people ignorant or something. It’s insulting after all the work I have done to try and answer their questions thoroughly.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      If you don't plan on calling 100 per day consistently for a month at least, you're going to be relying on luck. You have to put in work to make this happen.
      Bulls**t.

      Now you are contradicting yourself, you just got done saying your telemarketer sometimes lands five or 6 sellers within a hundred calls, that’s a three hour session.

      You are losing your story line here.

      Remember, if you tell the truth the first time, then you never have to remember what you said.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      It's not as easy as finding a seller, posting an ad, finding a buyer and BAM you got a $50,000 commission.
      Must we go over this again?

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      This is also not for someone who is going to go at it part time and think they'll be making hundreds of thousands per year unless they get REALLY lucky.
      I have made well over six figures at it and I probably haven’t even worked 200 hours in my life on it. It’s not because I sell hard either… It;’s because I know how to choose my battles , which it appears you don’t, and that’s what this whole thread teaches, to outsell guys like you.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      My Advice to John:
      I need your advice?

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      If you're going to pitch a forum for support, etc I hope you have a way to keep it more active then the old forum. Many of my questions went unanswered and I grew frustrated with it. The forum had very little to do with my success.
      That forum had 4,000 members, and 5 different sections that had nothing to do with exports, and I managed it all by myself. This one will have 100- 150 people in it probably and I will be devoting my attention to it exclusively for 8 hours per day.

      Thank you for giving me a “little” credit for your success, whatever amount that is. From the post you made here that’s questionable, but I could show you at least 4-5 reasons why,. It doesn’t seem like you really followed the system, and you are all over the map.

      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      It was as if you got tired of the project and stopped visiting.. at least the export gold section. I have no doubt that you have had success in this industry, I believe wholeheartedly you did. I just believe that when you pitch it, you do make it sound much easier then what it is.
      1: It’s hard to appreciate the vulnerability you show here in this sentence, after everything else that’s been said here…, but I do anyways. I always appreciate being saying something heartfelt. As staterd I was dividing 8 hours per day between 4,000 people in the last forum. That’s why Im more excited about this project, because it will get the focus that people really need, and I will be at it full time with a much smaller group, more concentrated group.

      2: I’m sorry if you feel let down.

      3: I think that if you will give up the idea that you are an ole pro, and throw that all out the window and listen to what I have to say, and not get so excited about taking every deal that comes down the pike I can help you gain much more success. If you have hundreds of suppliers there is no way you are focusing on your “buys”.

      You are doing the exact opposite of what Sam Walton did, you are taking on every seller who says yes, and not picking your battles.

      It shouldn’t be a problem so much of the time that buyuers are driving you down… You should be focused on coming up with deals they cant say no to.

      If you can get past your feelings I can help, and I admire that you have made an effort, but they say that practice doesn’t make perfect always, because you can practice bad habits. Let me get you into some good ones.

      I know you have been importing for ebay since 2005, and it looks like you are still in the ebay kind of buying habits…closeouts…wholesale…

      You shouldn’t be trying to close 5 sellers per day. You need to be WAAAAAAAAAAAY more selective at the way you buy, then selling low and making a profit, and creating a win win deal for prospects wont have you selling till you are blue in the face.

      Im not saying this isnt work… but if you will calm down and quit trying to take every seller that comes down the pike, and focus on “no brainers” then you will be much more successful and close a lot more deals.

      I had a guy in the old forum who called himself Magnus, and he went ballistic hiring 5 telemarketers and building scrapers and taking on every seller that said yes.

      Of COURSE they are saying yes, they want you to sell their sh8t… but you have to choose your battles and be able to say “No, that’s not a good deal for me, Im not going to spin my wheels and waste my time trying to sell in the competition”

      You have to choose your deals, and side step the competition and undersell all those kinds of buyers.

      Sorry if this got heated, and that came across as equally condescending, hopefully we can go have a virtual beer together now.

      Is it okay now for me to I please go to work on getting my launch out?

      You get in for free okay? I respect your effort, if you respect the fact that I can help you correct these issues.

      -John

      Ps.

      Originally Posted by the h3rbalist View Post

      I made a point to say that finding a supplier is hard, because relative to John's explanation, it is hard.
      You again? Why does this not suprise me?

      I said 2 out of 3 manufacturers need the service, whether you catch them at the time of year when they are loaded down with merchandise is another story... I agree that a person should make 100 or so calls to find a couple of manufacturers that are worth taking on..or at least contact 100 people whether that initial contact is email or the phone.

      It's 2 -3 hours of work guys to contact a hundred people, cmon...:rolleyes:

      Im buying Dennis, I just think he could use some fixing, but herbalist?

      In your case I think misery just loves company because you didnt say another word till someone came along who you felt would jump on your boat.

      That lacks character.

      Im out guys have at it.

      -John
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      • Profile picture of the author the h3rbalist
        Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

        You again? Why does this not suprise me?

        I said 2 out of 3 manufacturers need the service, whether you catch them at the time of year when they are loaded down with merchandise is another story... I agree that a person should make 100 or so calls to find a couple of manufacturers that are worth taking on..or at least contact 100 people whether that initial contact is email or the phone.
        John I'd just like to bring in a direct quote from your WSO "Alibaba Gold":
        YOU are gonna run into him about 1 out of every 20 calls
        Him being "the guy who has 100,000 units of some product back in his
        warehouse taking up space, that he desperately needs to move, or throw away".

        All of the sudden you're changing your stats and argument because a couple people came into the thread who brought up completely valid points that happened to oppose your claims?

        And before you start with the "proof" stuff - let's be realistic. You posted some excel sheets with some numbers and the information for companies that haven't even been in business for years. Even if someone wanted to verify them, they couldn't. But hey, let's assume that they ARE verified and legitimate. How are we supposed to prove that you were the broker?

        You're just like the rest of us. No one can verify that I've brokered deals, that Dennis has brokered deals, or that you have brokered deals. We are all on an even playing field, we all have opinions - and with that in mind, there is absolutely no justification to warrant your personal attacks on people in this thread that have respectfully brought up points contrary to your own.

        That lacks character.
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        • Profile picture of the author John Durham
          Originally Posted by the h3rbalist View Post

          John I'd just like to bring in a direct quote from your WSO "Alibaba Gold":
          Quote:
          "...YOU are gonna run into him about 1 out of every 20 calls "
          Didnt xDennis just say he could find 5-6 sellers out of 100 calls?

          Isnt that 1 in 20?

          Do your math dude. Quit trying to trap me. I said it 2 years ago and Dennis just confirmed it today, my story doesnt change.

          When you tell the truth, you never have to remember what you said.

          -John



          Ps. Now that you have 'quoted my book. I will quote you from your post above:

          Originally Posted by the h3rbalist View Post

          relative to John's explanation, it is hard. He made claims here and in his previous WSO that something like 2-3 out of every 10 calls
          Now who is telling stories and making up numbers? Me? Or You?
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          • Profile picture of the author the h3rbalist
            Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

            Didnt xDennis just say he could find 5-6 sellers out of 100 calls?

            Isnt that 1 in 20?

            Do your math dude. Quit trying to trap me. I said it 2 years ago and Dennis just confirmed it today, my story doesnt change.

            When you tell the truth, you never have to remember what you said.

            -John



            Ps. Now that you have 'quoted my book. I will quote you from your post above:



            Now who is telling stories?
            Like I said, enough with the personal attacks. I am not trying to trap you. I'm simply pointing out that as soon as anyone comes into this thread with an opposing viewpoint, presented in a respectful manner, you jump on the defensive and immediately label them as ridiculous.

            I'll repeat myself. There is no verifiable proof that ANYONE in this thread has ever brokered a deal in their life. We are all on an even playing field, with different opinions. Don't play god here, because you are not.

            And for the record, 2 out of every 3 does not equal 1 out of every 20.
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            • Profile picture of the author John Durham
              Originally Posted by the h3rbalist View Post

              Like I said, enough with the personal attacks. I am not trying to trap you. I'm simply pointing out that as soon as anyone comes into this thread with an opposing viewpoint, presented in a respectful manner, you jump on the defensive and immediately label them as ridiculous.

              I'll repeat myself. There is no verifiable proof that ANYONE in this thread has ever brokered a deal in their life. We are all on an even playing field, with different opinions. Don't play god here, because you are not.

              And for the record, 2 out of every 3 does not equal 1 out of every 20.
              1: Where did I say 2-3 out of ten in my book?

              2: Im not attacking anyone, Im just quoting you on your lie/spin.

              3: There are 5 documents listed on this thread with the names and contact information for 2 different buyers and 3 different sellers that I have done business with who work for reputable world wide corporations, so I argue with you, that there IS more verifiable proof than you will ever find on any wso in your life.

              4: Im not labeling you as rediculous, you obviously just lied about the numbers I quoted, then you quoted my book and outed yourself on your own lie.

              5: If I offer rebuttal thats not being defensive, it's simply offering a rebutt., dont try to spin it into more than what it is.

              6: You labeled yourself. All you are doing here is making me look honest, and rightfully so.

              -John
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              • Profile picture of the author the h3rbalist
                Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

                1: Where did I say 2-3 out of ten in my book?

                2: Im not attacking anyone, Im just quoting you on your lie/spin.

                3: There are 5 documents listed on this thread with the names and contact information for 2 different buyers and 3 different sellers that I have done business with who work for reputable world wide corporations, so I argue with you, that there IS more verifiable proof than you will ever find on any wso in your life.

                4: Im not labeling you as rediculous, you obviously just lied about the numbers I quoted, then you quoted my book and outed yourself on your own lie.

                5: If I offer rebuttal thats not being defensive, it's simply offering a rebutt., dont try to spin it into more than what it is.

                6: You labeled yourself. All you are doing here is making me look honest, and rightfully so.

                -John
                1.
                Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

                I said 2 out of 3 manufacturers need the service
                You said 2 out of 3 in this thread, and 1 out of 20 in your book.

                2. See 1.

                3. For your convenience I'll quote myself:
                And before you start with the "proof" stuff - let's be realistic. You posted some excel sheets with some numbers and the information for companies that haven't even been in business for years. Even if someone wanted to verify them, they couldn't. But hey, let's assume that they ARE verified and legitimate. How are we supposed to prove that you were the broker?
                4. See 1.

                5. and 6. See dictionary.com for definition of "defensive" and "honest".
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    • Profile picture of the author langdon0555
      Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

      This is also not for someone who is going to go at it part time and think they'll be making hundreds of thousands per year unless they get REALLY lucky. This model will with with the right amount of work and commitment to make it work.
      John,

      Any feedback on this statement? I do work full time, have friday-sundays off. Is it not possible to be successful at this doing it part time with a full time job, or is it I would have to get lucky and land a big deal?
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Wow. Lol Well I thank both for raising and addressing real possible objections though. To each his ow n, long as you're makin money right?
    Signature

    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      [DELETED]
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      • Profile picture of the author xDennis
        The trouble is that they didnt raise any objections that I havent already covered on this thread.
        I was not trying to pick anything apart.. if you read my original thread you'll see where I clearly stated (You may have mentioned wha tI'm saying below...) do you recall reading that?

        The point of my thread was to provide a realistic (which I believe I did) portrayal of how it works, which I believe I did.
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  • Profile picture of the author xDennis
    John, I can appreciate your passion here. It's your passion that draws people in, I totally appreciate it. You're good at that.

    I'm writing this post, partially in defense mode which may seem unintentionally hard...

    This is Based on prior experience with your product. your previous WSO gave very little technical advice. As you've stated here already (i believe).. it was written in a very scatter brained way... Which is why so many questions were asked on your forum.. which many went unanswered. (I guess it's our fault that you had no time for the mastermind group because you were busy helping the other 4,000 people though) I hope things will change with your new release.

    You blame me for not picking my battles..?? Funny, I blame you for offering no support for your product - until now. (I had to wait for going on 2 years:p). I was left figuring things out myself.. which I don't mind doing, and as a result I identified a few different models I enjoy.. but I was sold on the awesome support you'd provide. Which according to you clearly I was doing it wrong... well that's not entirely my fault

    I also found it annoying that on your forum, I would ask legitimate questions.. get no answer to it... but regularly get some SPAM in my inbox from you about your latest WSO. To me it was like, your forum was more focused on you selling your WSO's then offering support on your current products. I can only speak of offline gold mastermind group, I did not spend too much time on the telemarketing portion.

    All I'm saying is don't pitch this awesome hands on forum if you have no intention or no time to actually support the curious, interested and good indentioned members. It fosters frustration. Yes, I am speaking from first hand experience.

    The first paragraph I said, you have probably mentioned things that i was stating, I guess you overlooked that.

    I find it ironic that I've received more guidance from you in a single post in this thread then I did in your forum. Even though much of what you say I still believe is hype. For example, closing 1-2 leads out of 15. This is possible I believe with a well established network. Not just random inquiries...atleast not in my experience, which according to you is an inaccurate portrayal.

    You also stated you've worked no more then 200hours on this and have made well over 6 figures. That can be true with a good amount of luck, but I also believe that is RARE. This is MY opinion which is based on real world experience... So what you're telling these people(potential buyers of your wso) if they spend 200hours (about 5 weeks fulltime) they can make well over 6 figures. C'mon JD.........I'm pretty sure you've spent more then 200hours on it. You've probably spent 200hours on various forums promoting / defending it.

    I have spoken to the forum member "Sergit" (His real name is Surgei BTW), he has since made a few smaller deals that I know of... I have not spoken to him in some time, so I can't speak of his current progress. I'd be curious to see how things are going for him. He was the only person on the forum that successfully closed a deal and posted about it. I'm sure there are 1 or 2 others including yours truly which have closed a deal but failed to mention it. But listening to you, it's like if you don't close a deal then you just suck as your results are typical.

    Jealous? Hardly. Must be your ego telling you that..? I am very pleased with how things are going for me.

    Keep in mind you're a MASTER at cold calling and sales and negotiating the bottom of the barrel prices.. Most people who will purchase will have likely never picked up the phone to sell something, or have never negotiated anything. There will be a learning curve for those select few that stick with it past the learning curve might close a deal or two and will go on to make more then 6 figz... For the rest of the people, it won't happen. The same rule applies to this that applies to any other business.

    What I don't appreciate is you trying to pick apart my experience. You* said it would take me 3hours of work to call 100ppl? Actually it takes 5+ hours no less. Don't forget, we're not machines.. we need breaks. Oh, and if you have a full time job.. forget about it. Calling on the weekend or nights is useless. (so plan on hiring someone to do this if you have a job or other obligations)

    Again, you're ego thinks I'm jealous that you're giving away some secret to my (as you call it) industry.

    No John, you're wrong. I'm just giving a REALISTIC portrait of what it's like, looking past your hype.

    You're assuming I've had no success. I'm saying I have not had big pay days. (at the time I spoke to Surgei regularly, neither did he outside of the one....) As I stated it's like digging for gold most deals will be small


    The point of my post was simply to provide an accurate portrayal of what this business can be like, and I believe I did that and stand behind everything I said 1000%
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  • Profile picture of the author xDennis
    I don't find 1 in 20 to be accurate. Yes from a "theoretical" POV but not from a pragmatic POV.

    Direct mail is about 1-2% response rate if you're lucky.

    To someone new, they would say, oh okay, if I send 100 mailers I will get atleast 1 or 2 repsonses.

    But this is incorrect. Because 1-2% is based on several thousand mailers.

    The same is true here. People will think, if I call 20 people everyday. I will get 1 seller everyday.

    This idea is false.

    This to me is the difference between real world experience and theory.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Originally Posted by the h3rbalist View Post

    1.
    You said 2 out of 3 in this thread, and 1 out of 20 in your book.

    2. See 1.

    3. For your convenience I'll quote myself:


    4. See 1.

    5. and 6. See the dictionary.com for definition of "defensive" and "honest".
    I beg to differ Dude, Brewster, Wallpaper Depot, and Blonder are all three still in business, 2 of them on a world wide scale, still selling hundreds of millions of units all over the globe. Where did you get your facts? In fact they even have the names of the shipping companies on them and the branches where they bank.

    2: Saying 2out of three manufacturers need this service is a long way from saying you are going to land a deal in one out of twenty calls.

    Im done, you guys have fun.

    Originally Posted by eniggma View Post

    Wow. Lol Well I thank both for raising and addressing real possible objections though. To each his own, long as you're makin money right?
    The trouble is that they didnt raise any objections that I havent already covered on this thread.



    Now ...
    Sigh.

    Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

    I don't find 1 in 20 to be accurate. Yes from a "theoretical" POV but not from a pragmatic POV.
    Is this below you just being "theoretical" xDennis?

    Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

    we'll call 100 per day (in peak times) and get on average 2-3 sellers. Sometimes 0, on a few good days as much as 5 or 6.
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    • Profile picture of the author the h3rbalist
      Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

      I beg to differ Dude, Both brewster, Wallpaper depot, and Blonder are all three still in business, 2 of them on a world wide scale, still selling hundreds of millions of units all over the globe. Where did you get your facts? In fact they even have the names of the shipping cdompanies on them and the branches where they bank.
      Oh my bad, the invoices must be legitimate because you said so...

      I'll quote myself again:

      But hey, let's assume that they ARE verified and legitimate. How are we supposed to prove that you were the broker?
      Honestly I could care less if they are or are not legitimate. I'm not trying to disprove their validity.

      I am saying that they have no place on an internet forum, because they hold no weight here. Like I said before, there is no proof that any of us have any experience whatsoever in this industry. We are all equal online, so don't try and put yourself above everyone.
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      • Profile picture of the author John Durham
        Originally Posted by the h3rbalist View Post

        Oh my bad, the invoices must be legitimate because you said so...
        Lol. This is my last post, you cant figure out how to figure out if they are legit?

        Herbalist, I can sell websites, I can build a forum, I can make money from an email list, I can get a music publishing deal, and I can sell a load of bulk inventory overseas...

        ....but I cant fix "stupid".

        And that was not a "direct" insult.

        -John
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        • Profile picture of the author CreekChub
          Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

          Lol. This is my last post, you cant figure out how to figure out if they are legit?

          Herbalist, I can sell websites, I can build a forum, I can make money from an email list, I can get a music publishing deal, and I can sell a load of bulk inventory overseas...

          ....but I cant fix "stupid".

          And that was not a "direct" insult.

          -John
          John,

          You're starting to make yourself look bad, to pretty much everyone reading this who isn't a slappy. EDITED...

          And you're right. Anyone can check into this stuff, in order to come up with a reasonable idea about what is factual - and what has just enough fact thrown in with the fantasy to make it seem legitimate to folks who have no real world experience.

          I'm staying pretty busy right now, but this whole export thing had me intrigued. I usually try to do due diligence before I spend my hard earned money, so I let my fingers do some "Googling". I was absolutely shocked by what I found in the first few searches. I won't mention the site, but someone has put a serious amount of time into researching your history. This won't be news to you, of course. I read your comments on his article. The guy seems like kind of a tool who doesn't have anything better to do, but regardless of his motivations, facts are facts and what I read shed quite a bit of light on this forum in general, and you in particular.

          I'm not going to get in a pissing match on here - we're all big boys and girls, so if folks want to throw money at WSO's without doing due diligence, they can have at it. Just lay off of the "my crap don't stink" stuff for a while. At best you're not some sort of a God (telemarketing or otherwise), and at worst, well, good luck on your new WSO. You have done a masterful job creating your online persona. I would be very curious to find out how much of it matches the offline one.
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          • Profile picture of the author samrand
            Originally Posted by CreekChub View Post

            John,

            You're starting to make yourself look bad, to pretty much everyone reading this who isn't a slappy. I have a feeling Claude and Ken are shaking their heads right now.

            And you're right. Anyone can check into this stuff, in order to come up with a reasonable idea about what is factual - and what has just enough fact thrown in with the fantasy to make it seem legitimate to folks who have no real world experience.

            I'm staying pretty busy right now, but this whole export thing had me intrigued. I usually try to do due diligence before I spend my hard earned money, so I let my fingers do some "Googling". I was absolutely shocked by what I found in the first few searches. I won't mention the site, but someone has put a serious amount of time into researching your history. This won't be news to you, of course. I read your comments on his article. The guy seems like kind of a tool who doesn't have anything better to do, but regardless of his motivations, facts are facts and what I read shed quite a bit of light on this forum in general, and you in particular.

            I'm not going to get in a pissing match on here - we're all big boys and girls, so if folks want to throw money at WSO's without doing due diligence, they can have at it. Just lay off of the "my crap don't stink" stuff for a while. At best you're not some sort of a God (telemarketing or otherwise), and at worst, well, good luck on your new WSO. You have done a masterful job creating your online persona. I would be very curious to find out how much of it matches the offline one.
            Funny I've been around the forum for a little while but not the offline section.
            Started reading threads here for about 2 months now, but after reading this particular
            thread I feel the opposite. It makes John look better.

            I don't know John nor purchased any his products but it probably doesn't even take
            a slappy to take notice of people who know what the fu** they are talking about.
            Maybe I'm in the minority in reading this thread but I highly doubt it. You have the nerve to mention Claude and Ken and the possibility they might be feeling the way
            you are. I don't know them either but I'll go as far as to say they are shaking their
            head at you for even mentioning them in your post. They know John is the real deal
            with real world experience in the subjects he talks about. It doesn't take advanced
            reading comprehension to figure that out.

            I've seen John break down a poster's complete post with logical fact filled
            rebuttals and document proof for the other numb skull on here.

            I really didn't see him being passionate or trying to ridicule anyone. Just merely
            flipping silly posts (designed to maybe discredit John) upside down on it's head
            with facts that were already covered on the thread.

            Now is his persona online really "masterful" or is it he just decides to share with
            us a bunch of real world experience based business knowledge that quite simply
            is amazing to people such as yourself so you have to go figure that it possibly can't
            match up with the "offline John". Wizard of Warrior forum maybe?

            Sam
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            • Profile picture of the author CreekChub
              Originally Posted by samrand View Post

              Funny I've been around the forum for a little while but not the offline section.
              Started reading threads here for about 2 months now, but after reading this particular
              thread I feel the opposite. It makes John look better.

              I don't know John nor purchased any his products but it probably doesn't even take
              a slappy to take notice of people who know what the fu** they are talking about.
              Maybe I'm in the minority in reading this thread but I highly doubt it. You have the nerve to mention Claude and Ken and the possibility they might be feeling the way
              you are. I don't know them either but I'll go as far as to say they are shaking their
              head at you for even mentioning them in your post. They know John is the real deal
              with real world experience in the subjects he talks about. It doesn't take advanced
              reading comprehension to figure that out.

              I've seen John break down a poster's complete post with logical fact filled
              rebuttals and document proof for the other numb skull on here.

              I really didn't see him being passionate or trying to ridicule anyone. Just merely
              flipping silly posts (designed to maybe discredit John) upside down on it's head
              with facts that were already covered on the thread.

              Now is his persona online really "masterful" or is it he just decides to share with
              us a bunch of real world experience based business knowledge that quite simply
              is amazing to people such as yourself so you have to go figure that it possibly can't
              match up with the "offline John". Wizard of Warrior forum maybe?

              Sam
              You're right. I edited out the references to Claude and Ken. Putting words in their mouths was irresponsible of me.

              As for the rest, just stick around a while and keep your eyes and ears open. I've learned a lot of positive things from the WF, and for that I am grateful. If not for this place, I would have never had the notion that I could make a healthy living selling online goods and services to offline businesses - and finally, I am. I've also had my eyes opened to the reality that this place is a world of its own. Much of what is talked about here has no basis in reality. FWIW, I was as much of a slappy as anyone else here, for a long time. At some point, if you pay attention, you'll start reading things that don't add up - even from some of the "keepin' it real", boots on the ground guys.
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              • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
                Interesting thread. This thread coupled with the original Bob Ross post on Giant Postcards are 2 of THE best templates on how to presell your WSO, study them and you too will have a successful WSO.

                On brokering deals: Way back in the 60s and 70s Jim Straw published a newsletter on business opportunities and from that the original Finder's Fee club was started. The big exporters of the day were Japan, Canada and Germany.

                But there were investor deals also mentioned too, a Steve Jobs was seeking money for a new start-up called Apple (actually offered 10% for only 50 grand, but found no takers...HA!).

                Many of the members were finding success brokering deals. OK for the history lesson.

                Two verifiable tales...first, my former partner in my golf business. He bought and sold x-ray equipment from hospitals. Many of these units cost a million bux or more new. He deducted the cost of removing the stuff from his bid.

                He sold these used pieces around the world, and made a 6 figure profit from each deal...the lesson one of you might want to take from this....

                could be...

                In some cases, it takes less time and energy to broker a BIG deal,
                or a big piece of specialized equipment than it does to fiddle fart around with buying lots and leftovers (with competitors like Big Lots, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, 99cent chains, etc.) when more money can be made for less effort.

                In my hometown of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, on Main St. is a couple of acres where a guy sells (mostly) large equipment like Cats and back-hoes. He ships all over the world, most deals are into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but he also does little bread and butter deals like used Fire Trucks and Street Repair Equipmemnt (still makes thousands of dollars on these everyday deals).

                Just wanted you to think about the whole brokering business....many ways to go about it. And to help you think about bigger items, with less competition.

                NOW, let's downscale it to a measly 1000 bux a day, shall we?

                A reframe of thinking....and that is, your local craigslist is full of stuff that isn't wanted anymore...think of it as being "excess inventory" on a much smaller scale.

                NOW, of course and it works the same way as liquidations and brokering deals, you need a list of BUYERS.

                BUYERS are what make brokering worth your time and attention.

                In the parade of life, there is a new business, say pizza shop, opening up everyday as another one closes down. This is the circle of business.

                Today, there is a pizza oven for sale in Canton, OH for 4500 bux. A new one could cost twice that or more. IF you knew a guy in Cleveland who wants to open up a pizza shop, you could have a buyer. OF course you want to become an expert or specialize in an area or have expertise available, like the guy on the Pawn Shop who calls in experts to help him figure out value.

                But it isn't rocket science...it is all the same thing....you buy low and sell for a profit. Stand in the middle of a deal, a broker, and you can do ONE deal a day which grosses you a thousand dollars. OR one bigger deal a week which makes you 10 grand. Problem is you either need the cash on hand, or you need a backer (a partner) or you simply do smaller deals, which take about an hour and you make 125 to 250 dollars every day you "work".

                So, as you are waiting and anticipating the newest work on import/export, you could be gaining valuable skills simply by shopping on your nearest craigslist and begin to learn the basics of contacting people, negotiating, finding buyers and doing small deals which put instant cash in your hand today...so when you start calling 100 people a day, when you begin to negotiate for those bigger deals, you'll be more prepared.

                Start small and be a BROKER in your own hometown and buy low, sell high or find a buyer for a seller and take your FINDERS FEE without all the paperwork required to do an Import/Export business.

                And the smaller deals, which make you a paltry $250.00 a day will be all cash deals at that...not a bad thing is it?

                Good luck at your brokering business.

                gjabiz
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                • Profile picture of the author max5ty
                  Originally Posted by gjabiz View Post


                  Start small and be a BROKER in your own hometown and buy low, sell high or find a buyer for a seller and take your FINDERS FEE without all the paperwork required to do an Import/Export business.

                  And the smaller deals, which make you a paltry $250.00 a day will be all cash deals at that...not a bad thing is it?

                  Good luck at your brokering business.

                  gjabiz
                  Thanks gjabiz, some really really good information there... a real gold mine of potential wealth.
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                • Profile picture of the author John Durham
                  Originally Posted by gjabiz View Post

                  Interesting thread. This thread coupled with the original Bob Ross post on Giant Postcards are 2 of THE best templates on how to presell your WSO, study them and you too will have a successful WSO.

                  On brokering deals: Way back in the 60s and 70s Jim Straw published a newsletter on business opportunities and from that the original Finder's Fee club was started. The big exporters of the day were Japan, Canada and Germany.

                  But there were investor deals also mentioned too, a Steve Jobs was seeking money for a new start-up called Apple (actually offered 10% for only 50 grand, but found no takers...HA!).

                  Many of the members were finding success brokering deals. OK for the history lesson.

                  Two verifiable tales...first, my former partner in my golf business. He bought and sold x-ray equipment from hospitals. Many of these units cost a million bux or more new. He deducted the cost of removing the stuff from his bid.

                  He sold these used pieces around the world, and made a 6 figure profit from each deal...the lesson one of you might want to take from this....

                  could be...

                  In some cases, it takes less time and energy to broker a BIG deal,
                  or a big piece of specialized equipment than it does to fiddle fart around with buying lots and leftovers (with competitors like Big Lots, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, 99cent chains, etc.) when more money can be made for less effort.

                  In my hometown of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, on Main St. is a couple of acres where a guy sells (mostly) large equipment like Cats and back-hoes. He ships all over the world, most deals are into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but he also does little bread and butter deals like used Fire Trucks and Street Repair Equipmemnt (still makes thousands of dollars on these everyday deals).

                  Just wanted you to think about the whole brokering business....many ways to go about it. And to help you think about bigger items, with less competition.

                  NOW, let's downscale it to a measly 1000 bux a day, shall we?

                  A reframe of thinking....and that is, your local craigslist is full of stuff that isn't wanted anymore...think of it as being "excess inventory" on a much smaller scale.

                  NOW, of course and it works the same way as liquidations and brokering deals, you need a list of BUYERS.

                  BUYERS are what make brokering worth your time and attention.

                  In the parade of life, there is a new business, say pizza shop, opening up everyday as another one closes down. This is the circle of business.

                  Today, there is a pizza oven for sale in Canton, OH for 4500 bux. A new one could cost twice that or more. IF you knew a guy in Cleveland who wants to open up a pizza shop, you could have a buyer. OF course you want to become an expert or specialize in an area or have expertise available, like the guy on the Pawn Shop who calls in experts to help him figure out value.

                  But it isn't rocket science...it is all the same thing....you buy low and sell for a profit. Stand in the middle of a deal, a broker, and you can do ONE deal a day which grosses you a thousand dollars. OR one bigger deal a week which makes you 10 grand. Problem is you either need the cash on hand, or you need a backer (a partner) or you simply do smaller deals, which take about an hour and you make 125 to 250 dollars every day you "work".

                  So, as you are waiting and anticipating the newest work on import/export, you could be gaining valuable skills simply by shopping on your nearest craigslist and begin to learn the basics of contacting people, negotiating, finding buyers and doing small deals which put instant cash in your hand today...so when you start calling 100 people a day, when you begin to negotiate for those bigger deals, you'll be more prepared.

                  Start small and be a BROKER in your own hometown and buy low, sell high or find a buyer for a seller and take your FINDERS FEE without all the paperwork required to do an Import/Export business.

                  And the smaller deals, which make you a paltry $250.00 a day will be all cash deals at that...not a bad thing is it?

                  Good luck at your brokering business.

                  gjabiz
                  This is one of the most inspiring posts ever! Excellent ideas here. Yes, brokering can be done from alot of different angles, you actually inspired me with alot of thoughts reading this.

                  Luckily I dont have to handle alot of paper work, as far as brokering exports goes... The way I do it anyway, the buyer and seller usually handle all of that. I just put the two together.

                  I can see how it would apply to some situations though, and be a headache, depending on how you go about it.

                  In any event, thanks for the awesome post.

                  -John
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    • Profile picture of the author xDennis
      Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

      Is this below you just being "theoretical" xDennis?
      John, no that is actual results. Theory would be YOUR claim that you should close 1 out of 20. Theoretically I closed that.. but that is a deceptive approach. Because my team would call 100 people to close those stats ON A GOOD DAY as I already stated. If you simply say you should close 1 of 20, people will take away it will be people's expectations that they should be closing 1 or more deals out of 20 calls... which is not the likely case. Sometimes you'll call 100 and close 0. Sometimes you'll close 2 out of 100. In that case your theory would be .4 closes out of 20. Which is less than a person. Of course you don't want to say that because 1/20 sounds much easier. My point is, it's not that simple.. Yo have to call a lot of people period. Yes, much easier then selling websites, no, not as easy is "you should close 1 out of 20"


      As I said in a very recent post, that you even quoted... 1 in 20 is inaccurate. you need to call much more then that. You can't base your finding off 20 calls which is what you're attempting to do.

      This is actually kind of strange. Either you're not *getting it* or you're purposefully trying to make me out to be the bad guy.


      This is a discussion, I've treated it as such, you got very defensive (which is why you resorted to personal attacks, calling me jealous, etc)
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      • Profile picture of the author the h3rbalist
        Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

        This is a discussion, I've treated it as such, you got very defensive (which is why you resorted to personal attacks, calling me jealous, etc)
        Seems about right.
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      • Profile picture of the author DaniMc
        Originally Posted by xDennis View Post

        Of course you don't want to say that because 1/20 sounds much easier. My point is, it's not that simple.. Yo have to call a lot of people period. Yes, much easier then selling websites, no, not as easy is "you should close 1 out of 20"
        Really? Because selling websites is fairly easy. If what you say is true , anyone should be able to make this happen.
        Signature
        Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
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        • Profile picture of the author kumar
          John,

          What kind of rebuttals or counter questions have you experienced from
          Buyers and Sellers?

          Actually, I think there wouldn't be rebuttals from Sellers but what questions do they
          or your prospective Buyers ask? Perhaps about your fees, or if you have 'verified' the other party?

          Thanks!
          Signature

          Life is not a sprint, its a marathon. A bad start does not really matter too much

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        • Profile picture of the author xDennis
          Originally Posted by Dan McCoy View Post

          Really? Because selling websites is fairly easy. If what you say is true , anyone should be able to make this happen.
          It's easier then selling websites. Would you rather someone call and sell you something, or call you and ask to buy old stuff.

          You're right, anyone can do this.
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    I agree with the above post. As much as there are of course plenty of liars and scammers that hang out here I also think there quite a few that choose to risk sticking their neck out and giving real amd honest and informative info.

    This is in many cases causes you to look so real and honest, you must be fake.

    Funny how John called it that doubters would come runnin.

    I mean the guy has been around too long with too many posts, thanks, people vouching for his great info dont you think if he was scammer he woulda been ruined his rep by now, or even banned?

    The dudes rep alone on this forum make everyone who gets on here simply to talk crap look bad in my opinion.

    Not that everyone is untouchable cuz of their rep, but just know the odds are stacked against you when you open your mouth. Be ready with some proof. Or get picked apart like john did to their posts.
    Signature

    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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  • Profile picture of the author asad4javed
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author CreekChub
      Originally Posted by asad4javed View Post

      This post is very interesting, I like it. I will always come to visit after.I would recommend to friends more.
      Talk about irony...
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  • Profile picture of the author eniggma
    Lol Somebody ban this spammer please "asad4javed". These primitive, old and ignorant attempts to get links are sad.
    Signature

    "Successful people do the things unsuccessful people won't do" - (Somebody successful) :)

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  • Profile picture of the author xDennis
    Since you quoted me, I would also like to respond since John will probably just say I don't know what I'm talking about with that comment.

    In my experience Friday's you won't have as much luck as you would earlier in the week getting the the right person on the phone.

    Saturday and Sunday I wouldn't even waste calling the US based warehouse leads.

    This business will require you, or someone, be on the phone to identify seller leads. I tested with email marketing but the results were very very very bad. You have to be on the phone, regularly.. plain and simple.

    Success is a function of your drive and motivation. If you find a way to make it work for you between your other obligations you can be successful -in anything. If you find a way to make email marketing work.. you can be successful. You can hire a part time VA and train them up to the cold calling aspect. My guy is from India, he does great...I sent him a magic jack, now he has a US based number. You can partner up with a friend who has a similar vision--and more time. You can be responsible for finding buyers (which involves basically emails), he/she can be responsible for finding sellers.,, You just have to figure out how to make it work for you. That's what I had to do..
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  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    Guys, I went over my post limit on the "Proof Of Sales..."
    The above is from the locked thread.
    I've been here a long time and never heard of a post limit imposed on people who create threads here. hmmm

    I think the wrong thread has been locked as it should be this on in my opinion.

    As an aside, excel files are not proof of sales by any stretch of the imagination. Any one here believing they are proof of a financial transaction, I have some ocean front property to sell you in Montana!
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by Rus Sells View Post

      The above is from the locked thread.
      I've been here a long time and never heard of a post limit imposed on people who create threads here. hmmm

      I think the wrong thread has been locked as it should be this on in my opinion.

      As an aside, excel files are not proof of sales by any stretch of the imagination. Any one here believing they are proof of a financial transaction, I have some ocean front property to sell you in Montana!
      Rus, there is a 50 post limit. I know that because I often contribute so much value to a thread that I run out of posts. I had to carve one out to make this post.

      Question:

      Wouldnt I be a dumbass if I posted the names and contact information of staff members within hundred million dollar companies that I've worked with, and it wasnt true?

      Of course Im not that dumb. Does that not occur to you?

      How hard can this be to understand?

      These are real invoices man.

      -John
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      • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
        They may be real invoices however your title is highly misleading because you call them proof. The reality is they aren't proof of anything especially of a financial transaction.

        Because you claim they are proof when they are not it cast's suspicion upon you from those who know better.

        BRB, creating about 10 excel files so I can come back and call them proof of a sale.

        If there is a 50 post limit then I stand corrected, did not know that, however aren't we just a little narcissistic!

        Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

        Rus, there is a 50 post limit. I know that because I often contribute so much value to a thread that I run out of posts. I had to carve one out to make this post.

        Question:

        Wouldnt I be a dumbass if I posted the names and contact information of staff members within hundred million dollar companies that I've worked with, and it wasnt true?

        Of course Im not that dumb. Does that not occur to you?

        How hard can this be to understand?

        These are real invoices man.

        -John
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        • Profile picture of the author John Durham
          Originally Posted by Rus Sells View Post


          Because you claim they are proof when they are not it cast's suspicion upon you from those who know better.
          You really dont get it do you?

          Amazing...

          Originally Posted by Rus Sells View Post

          BRB, creating about 10 excel files so I can come back and call them proof of a sale.
          If they have the name of your clients where I can actually verify that you did make the sales I will believe you.
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          • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
            I'm sorry that you can't objectively see other peoples perspective but instead invalidate them with comments like that.

            I'm done.

            P.S. Didn't you say in the other thread that you reached your post limit in this thread? How is it that you can post more then, did you delete some of those high value contributions you made earlier in this thread to just respond to me?

            Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

            You really dont get it do you?

            Amazing...



            If they have the name of your clients where I can actually verify that you did make the sales I will believe you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jemtrum
    Banned
    Something completely new to me and I want to say a special thanks for sharing this for free. Especially the proof.
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