goWholesale

Complete Guide to Purchasing for Buyers by Anxman

Ok, as a neophyte to this board but a veteran of eBay, I wanted to write up this guide to help new purchasers protect themselves. This is information I've compiled over the last few months and typically only applies to your first transaction with a supplier.

When first contacting a seller, ask for the following:

- Pictures
- Minimum Order Quantity
- Location of the Items (IE: Are they just brokering the deal, or do they have physical stock)
- Sample availability
- Paperwork availability
- Acceptable methods of payment
- Written guarantee of authenticity
- Method of delivery and tracking info availability?

Now, you can negotiate the transaction with the seller over email, phone, or aim/msn/yahoo/irc/forums whatever, but save every conversation you have.

Researching the item:

- Use the awesome "Is it Fake" forums on Wholesale411 to see what other buyers/sellers have learned about fake items. You should find out what the signs are of fake items.
- Use the pictures and the sample you purchased to determine if the item is fake. If something doesn't seem right, it should set off a red flag.

Before Payment:

- Use the search button on the Wholesale411 forums for the seller's name and/or company name to see if there are any outstanding disputes. If you see anything, this should set off a red flag in your head.
- Get the phone number of the seller and call him on the phone.
- Get the address of the seller, and for extra security mail a small check of, say $1.36, and have the seller verify the amount of the money. If the seller cashes the check, you will know.
- Write out exactly what the transaction is (50 units @ $12, shipped from Atlanta GA including sanitized invoices with written guarantee of authenticity). Then, email this to the seller and make sure he confirms.
- IMPORTANT: Do a gut check. Does the transaction feel right? Does something feel funny? Most legit sellers are happy to answer a lot of questions while the phonies will get upset easily or say, "ok, just go somewhere else". Trust your instincts.

Payment:

- Paying by check, money order, or bank transfer is 100% unsafe. If you send your money, and the seller turns out to be a fraud, you will have no recourse for your money short of legal means, which can be very costly and time consuming.

- Paying by PayPal can be safe, but you have to be careful. Always pay with a credit card on PayPal (not via your Bank) and start out with a small purchase. If you absolutely have to, you can file a fraud report on PayPal and usually get your money back, but if you do it too much, you risk having your PayPal account locked.

- Paying by Credit Card is best. If you get defrauded, you can dispute the charge with your credit card and usually get 100% of your money back.

If the transaction was succesful:

- Post on the Wholesale411 forums in the Feedback area that the transaction was succesful. If possible, include detailed info like what was purchased and on what date and how long it took for the items to arrive. This helps us all make informed decisions.

If you have a dispute over the goods received:

- First contact the seller and try to resolve the matter peacefully. Email him, then follow up with a phone call the following day, and then another email and phone call every day for 1 week. Take a pad of paper, and write down every time you email and every time you call.

- If you receive no reply, send a final email and certified letter to his address (you got his address right?) stating that if the matter is not immediately resolved, it will be referred to the authorities, fbi, ftc, and postal fraud division (if applicable).

- Wait 1 more week, if no reply, it has now been two weeks from the first contact over the bad goods, and you have a written log of every time you tried to contact the seller. Now is where it gets nasty and follow all of the following steps:

1. Find the number of the police department for the locale to the seller. Request a fax number. Now compile the following: a detailed letter stating exactly what was agreed upon with the seller and how the seller deviated from this contract, print outs of the email conversation with the seller, receipt of the payment to the seller, and the log of every time you tried to contact the seller to resolve the dispute. Ask the officer to write up a police report for you and mail it to your home address.

2. File a complaint with the FTC: https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01. PRINT OUT THE CONFIRMATION.

3. File a complaint with the FBI Cybercrime Division: http://www.ifccfbi.gov/cf1.asp. PRINT OUT THE CONFIRMATION.

4. If you received the items through USPS, file a complaint with the postmaster general. Call your local USPS for more information on how to do this, or consult their website at [urlhttp://www.usps.gov[/url].

- Now another 2 weeks or so will go by, and you will receive your police report. Now, compile all of this printed information, and send another certified letter to the seller. He should be scared shitless. If you still receive no reply, it's time to call your attorney, or write off the loss.

- Another option is to drive or fly to the seller's address, and bring some friends and resolve the issue the old fashion way. I say only do this on a large dollar amount, and it takes some guts.

Conclusion

Counterfeit sellers beware, we're coming after you. If you are an authentic seller of goods, we will become your best customers. If you are selling fake goods or not delivering, then we will be your worst nightmare.

As with all transactions, buyer beware -- be careful and don't risk more than you can afford to lose, no matter how "legit" the seller seems.

anxman wrote:[b]- Get the address of the seller, and for extra security mail a small check of, say $1.36, and have the seller verify the amount of the money. If the seller cashes the check, you will know.

Can you clarify this part? What do you mean verify the funds? Why would you send a wholesaler a check for such a small amount of money when you do not even owe him anything to begin with? Why would they bother to cash it unless they were really hard-up for $1.36?

I have had to fax a copy of a voided check just to prove I had a business bank account but I was never told to write out a small check for them to cash. But this is done for the protection of the wholesaler, not for my protection.

Everything else is great info but that one part just confused the heck outta me.

Similar to what PayPal does to confirm an account. A small deposit in an odd amount.

Thanks for this post....i am a newbie and this really helped out...i have know got my site up and running nearly with all the info on (pictures, sample request etc)

Many thanks

Hello all. Indeed this is a very useful summary or checklist for someone entering the marketplace in this fashion.

ArtBroker -- I would not expect to purchase from a Fortune 500 company in this fashion. My credibility to them is far more in question. If you have suggestions on how a small business/new business can begin establishing themselves with Fortune 500 companies, or any major company for that matter, please share. I am new to this site and would welcome your suggestions or comments.