Where Do I Find Product to Sell on eBay & Amazon?
By far, this is the number one question that I get asked all the time. Jason, Where do I buy product to sell on eBay? The answer isn't easy to explain because it is also the MOST challenging part of any business, not just someone who wants to sell on eBay.
The reason is the question is so challenging is that there are millions of possible options with just as many sellers out there asking the same thing. Do not let these big numbers get you down. The reality is most people look, touch, and feel. Most never commit because there is no “one size fits all” solution to this answer. I will not miss lead you as many companies do by offering a source, guide, or end all magical supplier that is waiting for you to call with prices so low you will make BIG PROFITS on eBay.
Give me a break.
In my book, Part Time Selling: 90 Days to Online Success by selling on eBay & Amazon, I dive into this more deeply and discuss product sourcing. When I am asked the question, "Jason, Where do I buy product to sell on eBay?" face to face, I have to respectfully assume the person asking is a novice seller. There is nothing wrong with that but I am not going to give that person the big picture that I discuss on my book. It can overwhelm them. For the beginner that just wants to try it out, I would suggest the following:
- Pick a hobby, occupation, or something you are interested in and have knowledge about. This eliminates the need to learn about something from scratch
- Review items that are selling for on eBay related to your area of knowledge by searching for them and then selecting Completed Listings. Sort by Highest Price to make it easier to view what items are selling for
- Review the items that have sold ( in Green ) one by one. Red prices mean the item has not sold.
- Note how they sold. Was it a fixed price listing or auction? If an auction, how long was the auction and what was the starting price?
- Review the condition, what is included with the item, the shipping charges, and the final price
- Search for the product being sold on other platforms when you can source it for resale, such as Craigslist, closeout and discount stores, and even dollar stores
- Determine if you can make a profit after eBay & Paypal fees by buying on one platform and selling on eBay
These are the basics of it. Once you get a taste and want to build your inventory, you can study up on it more. Many people selling locally on Craigslist or in newspaper ads have no idea what their item is worth. Some just want to get rid of it. Over time you can hone your skills to spot the deals. Generally speaking selling online opens your item up to millions of potential buyers instead of thousands with a local ad. More buyers plus an item that is in demand means you will get more for it by selling it online.
There are many reputable sources for buying into a product line. These include overseas and domestic distribution suppliers, liquidation sources, reverse chain distribution, closeouts, and much more. They tend to gear themselves to the bulk buyer. So if you are not ready to take that big step.... don't! There is nothing wrong with trying it with a few local options to buy and resell.
- Jason Guarino
