Posts Tagged ‘electronics’
Selling Wholesale Mobile Phones
Thursday, November 8th, 2007
Starting a wholesale mobile phone business can be rewarding and profitable experience. In the United States alone, it has been estimated that up to 65% of phone service consumers are now using mobile technology in conjunction with standard phone service or alone. Some upstarts begin their business by looking into franchises or through affiliate programs. For others, they have found success by setting up a wholesale facilities and distribution centers. For the individual who determines that the Internet is the most efficient way to sell wholesale mobile phones, there is a world of resources available, vendor’s pages, government pages and trade sites that connect buyers and sellers.
When planning to start your business, developing a solid business plan will help you consider all operating costs and expenditures. In addition a well-devised plan will help you secure the funds necessary to start your business. Another area where research will be of tremendous benefit is by carefully studying trade laws for export and import in particular on trading zones. Additionally caution should be exercised when locating business partnerships in foreign countries. Scammers abound in this and any business. International laws regarding trade vary widely and understanding the law of the land is a wise recourse. Arbitration is often used as a means of solving these kinds of disputes. Arbitrage may or may not result in a satisfactory conclusion.
Another area that appears to be problematic for many wholesalers of mobile phones is the transfer of funds. Some vendors use bank-to-bank transfers, Paypal and Western Union. All of these means can be convenient, but caution should be exercised when establishing a business relationship with an unknown partner. Some vendors find that brokers and agents can act as good intermediaries for establishing terms and conditions of international money transfers.
Tags: advice, cell phones, electronics, mobile phones, Product Sourcing, source, tips, wholesale
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Avoiding Wholesale Electronics Scams
Monday, October 22nd, 2007
Home-based businesses are now a multi-billion dollar industry–piquing the interests of both new entrepreneurs and the scammers trying to take their money. The wholesale electronics industry is ripe with unsavory business people, ready to take the money of unsuspecting buyers. Wholesale electronics is a popular sector for scammers because the products they claim to sell are well-known (ipod , xbox , etc.) and when purchased in lots, require a significant amount of money from the buyer. However, once you know what warning signs to look for, avoiding these less-than-honest companies is simple.
Telltale signs of a scammer:
1. Upfront payments required to be made via Western Union or Bank Wire (TT). Unscrupulous companies love these forms of payment because it allows them to quickly abscond with your money without leaving a trace. These types of payments are unsecure and offer no protection to the payment sender. You should only do business with electronic wholesalers that accept secure payment options, such as credit cards, Letter of Credit (LC) or escrow–these types of payment offer you security and protection of your money in case the goods you order don’t arrive or aren’t what they were claimed to be.
2. Wholesale prices seem too high. Many companies claiming to be wholesalers of electronics are really just middlemen purchasing products from the manufacturer’s factory-authorized distributor and then marking the prices up to unsuspecting buyers. Always call the manufacturer whose products you wish to sell and ask them who their factory-authorized distributors are. Ordering through the manufacturer’s distributors will ensure you are getting the very lowest prices.
3. Wholesale prices seem too low. If you have already called the factory-authorized distributor and received a price list, then you know what the lowest prices are. Unless you are a well-known store purchasing in quantities of 10,000 units or more, the distributors price list is the lowest you will be able to get. Profit margins are low on electronics to begin with; depending on the item, you should expect a 10%-20% discount off of the retail price. There are plenty of eBay auctions listing electronics at seemingly discounted prices. Most likely these listings are fake and will send you nothing after receiving your money (don’t trust positive feedback, as many eBay accounts are temporarily hijacked each day for this purpose).
4. Charging upfront or monthly fees to be your drop-shipper. In the electronics industry, it’s doubtful you would ever find a manufacturer or factory-authorized distributor willing to drop ship for you. However, there are plenty of middlemen companies that are. Because you’re paying a higher price for the products (by not going to the factory-authorized distributor yourself), it’s truly doubtful you’ll be able to find a buyer for the merchandise. So rather than wait for sales that probably won’t happen, these companies require upfront or monthly fees.
Is there any recourse once I’ve been scammed?
There are several consumer protection agencies that you can file a complaint with. It’s best not to get your hopes up in their ability to actually get your money back; however they will take your complaint seriously and investigate if necessary.
* DC Attorney Generals Office: (www.oag.dc.gov )
* Federal Trade Commission: (www.ftc.gov )
* Better Business Bureau: (www.bbb.org )
* National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA): (www.consumeraction.gov/state )
Electronic wholesale scammers prey on people who want to "get rich quick" by selling electronics at a discount. The truth is, name brand electronics’ prices are controlled by the industry manufacturers and there just aren’t any "dirt cheap" prices to be had on new, name brand electronics. It just takes a step back and some thoughts of common sense to think through the problem: "Why would Apple let some no-name distributor sell their Ipod Nanos on eBay?" It’s unfortunate, but many buyers never take the time to do that and wire hundreds or thousands of dollars to the seller (usually from another country)–never to see their merchandise or money.
Tags: advice, Carrie Hinkel, electronics, Product Sourcing, scams, source, tips, wholesale
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3 Questions to Ask Yourself If You Want to Sell Electronics
Monday, October 1st, 2007
Every good seller knows how profitable it can be to sell electronics. Their popularity and long shelf lives guarantee a good return on your investment. And while knockoffs and used brand named electronics are easier to procure, if you have any desire for a future in sales, you’ll eventually want to join “the big league:” selling new brand name electronics .
The Internet revolution has opened a global market for popular electronics, and no electronics company has enough people to cover all of those markets. Companies are beginning to realize the advantages of licensing their brand name, and electronics companies know this more than most. Income opportunities abound if you’re willing to chase down the companies and put in the time and legwork to make the sales.
In order to sell brand name electronics, you will need a license. This shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, since it takes a license to do many things in the world of commerce. If you don’t have a business license, this is the first thing on your to-do list. Once you have a regular business license, if you are going to buy or sell electronics as a wholesaler, you will need to have a reseller’s license. This license permits you to buy merchandise without paying the sales tax and is a standard addition to most business packages.
If you think you’re ready to sell brand name electronics, sit down with a notebook and pencil and make sure. Brainstorm about the kinds of electronics you would like to sell and any particular name brand that interests you. Answer the following questions:
1. Do you want to sell new or used merchandise?
Overstock.com and other clearance sites allow you to purchase pallets of electronics for a set price. Once you receive the merchandise you can divide it and price it as you wish. If you don’t have the room or the patience to inventory a pallet of merchandise, you can work through a drop shipper , for whom you will serve as an intermediary.
2. Do you have an established business or specialized knowledge in the subject?
Yes: If you have been in business for a while or have a good business reputation, you may approach a local sales representative of the brand that you would like to sell. Ask them about their resellers program. It is rare that they would simply hand over product for you to sell, but if nothing else you can walk away with a reseller’s application and some honest respect.
No: Going to a trade show is a good way to pick up lines of electronics to sell, since many manufacturers will bend over backwards to work with people who show they are serious about their product. If you are new to the sales game and your business is still in the fledgling stage, you may have to prepay for the merchandise and keep it warehoused.
Even if you are going to work through a manufacturer at a trade show to sell electronics, you will want to know the steps you need to take to follow through with a reseller’s application. The questions on a resellers application may appear to be overly detailed and thorough, but don’t be offended. You are applying to represent a company’s pride and joy, and they are simply taking the same precautions in screening individuals as you would if it was your company. Expect to find questions asking your company name, length of time in business, last year’s financial dealings, how many employees you have and what type of business you run as well as other questions about financial strength and monetary position. They will also ask what you plan to do with the license should they award you one. You have more of a chance at acceptance if you are honest here instead of flattering.
3. Are you ready for the responsibility that comes along with selling brand name electronics?
When you agree to a licensing agreement with a brand name company, you will be bound by contract to work with that company for a specific amount of time, selling a certain number of products. If you don’t want that kind of commitment, you might be better off sticking with selling the occasional brand name stereo or appliance. Before you sign a contract, read everything carefully. They will ask that you sign a Non-disclosure agreement (aka NDA) to guarantee that you don’t pass any industry secrets along.
Besides signing a contract, you will have to take responsibility for the products you sell, or the products that you manufacture to sell. Once the merchandise has been sold and distributed, you are responsible for collecting payment and remitting the proper percentage to the company that you represent.
There are some advantages to being licensed to sell brand name merchandise. The world of electronics is full of potential, and licensed resellers often receive generous discounts on merchandise, a heads-up and a free preview of new releases, and the advice and mentorship of a company executive to boot. Finally–and this is often an unappreciated benefit–you have an opportunity to specialize in an area of sales that is often more profitable the more you know.
Tags: advice, electronics, electronics business, jennifer ratliff, Product Sourcing, selling electronics, source, tips
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China Wholesale Electronics
Wednesday, September 19th, 2007
It is no secret that today China has been branded as the worlds "electronics factory" due to the ever increasing technological advances and brand popularity gained in the consumer electronics niche. Having said that, it has become the largest producer and supplier of consumer electronics products in the world. Chinese consumer electronics products are becoming increasingly popular not only because of the great deals that they offer but also because of the quality of products and services that they provide. Many satisfied customers from around the world can agree to the exceptional quality of services that Chinese suppliers provide.
The phenomenal economic growth in China has had an ever-increasing effect on world trade, and in the world of re-selling products on the Internet. Anybody looking to source products just has to start their search in the Chinese wholesale markets. Many Consumer Electronics re-sellers in the United States and Europe are aware that the way to make a quick fortune is to order in bulk from China, and sell at competitive prices locally.
China already has a good reputation for quality clothing, shoes, and basic commodities, but increasingly China wholesalers are turning to high-technology products.
With this in mind, importing consumer electronics from China is quite simply the way to go at the moment! Of course you can look elsewhere on the internet, but the main point that I would like to make here is that Chinese electronic products are manufactured and exported cheap without compromising quality.
Just Remember, your goal in buying goods from China is to buy low and then sell high. Where do you find these suppliers and manufacturers? Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, the problem of having to locate reliable suppliers from China has been passed on to your fingertips. Doing business can’t get any easier than doing it online. Search them out one by one and contact them through email, and even give them a call to make yourself feel content that you’re about to do business with the right people. I can’t emphasize more the importance of really building good relationship with these suppliers. These wholesalers are not picky as long as you build good relations with them and they are really into exporting their goods to US and European markets. So before your competition already starts capitalizing on it, take advantage of importing consumer electronic products from China now, whether it is for business or for pleasure.
There are a few excellent resources on the internet with a lot of expertise in sourcing China wholesale products. You can visit this website at http://www.alibaba.com , which offers excellent advice, and can immediately supply details of Chinese manufacturers for your chosen product.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Tags: advice, alibaba.com, BestDealsMarket, china, Doing Business Internationally, electronics, ezinearticles.com, Product Sourcing, source, Stephen Alfred, tips, wholesale
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Avoid the Pitfalls of Wholesale Electronics Sourcing
Wednesday, September 12th, 2007
There are an overwhelming amount of electronic manufacturers on the market. Many of them are OEM manufacturers-which is why you’ll see the same exact product with dozens (sometimes even hundreds) of different brand labels. If you’re willing to purchase a certain quantity, you too can have your logo printed on the product.
For buying the latest models of popular brand name merchandise, it’s best to work directly with a factory-authorized dealer. In order to make sure you are dealing with the right company you MUST call the manufacturer and ask for a list of their factory-authorized retailers. Never take the word of the distributor, as many of them make their money by fooling companies into thinking they are authorized, when in fact they are not.
For electronics that are not popular brands or are not the latest styles you may opt to buy from importers, distributors, liquidators or wholesalers on eBay. Here’s a brief description of each:
Importers: These are companies who will import various electronics from an overseas manufacturer. They store the merchandise in their warehouse and will ship to you or they may possibly drop ship for you.
Distributors: They have acquired electronics through a variety of sources: direct from manufacturer, from other distributors, auctions, liquidators, etc. These are not factory-authorized distributors but may still have good prices because they are dealing with off-brands or older style electronics. They may offer drop shipping services as well. You will especially need to check the reputation of these companies before dealing with them, as many are small, fly-by-night operations
Liquidators: You can get a great bargain from buying closeout merchandise from a liquidator. They receive their products from a variety of sources: manufacturers, distributors, importers, and retailers. Just remember the products may be there because they are outdated styles or because they were slow-sellers.
eBay wholesalers: Many times wholesalers sell electronics on eBay. Most likely you’ll get the best prices on off brands or older models, since these wholesalers are typically not buying direct from popular electronic manufacturers.
If you plan on buying a good-sized quantity of a brand you are unsure of, you may want to ask for a sample to check the quality of the product. That way you won’t be in for a surprise when the full product shipment arrives. You’ll also be able to test the product to answer any questions your customers may have.
Also, if you’re looking for the latest and greatest electronics, one of the best ways to be in the know is to attend an electronics trade show. You’ll see all sorts of new products and meet distributors as well. Many times a trade show is a great way to get started in sourcing electronics because you will be able to make a lot of good sourcing contacts-from quality manufacturers to reliable distributors. Plus, if you’re into electronics, these trade shows tend to be fun, with plenty of product demonstrations and hands-on testing. You’ll get to see the quality of the merchandise in person, lowering your risk of receiving disappointing, cheap products.
Tags: advice, Carrie Hinkel, electronics, Product Sourcing, source, tips, wholesale
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