Do You Need
eBay Product Sourcing Ideas?

eBay product sourcing is the continuing challenge of every PowerSeller and online merchant. Where do you find products to sell on eBay or your online store?

Check out these product sources that will keep your online eBay store and auctions stocked and running efficiently.

As you begin your eBay home business, you may be like thousands of other eBay entrepreneurs who sell used merchandise. After all, that is how eBay first got started.

After you have sold all the extra items you have laying around on your shelves, or in your garage and basement, you will find out quickly you need new sources of products.

OPM, Consignment Sales and eBay Trading Assistant

OPM takes on another meaning when applying it to selling on eBay. OPM means Other People's Merchandise.

After you have gained some experience at successfully selling on eBay, you can offer your services to sell other people's merchandise for a fee or commission.

Selling on consignment is a win-win situation. You get things to sell without any capital investment, and your consignor sells their wares without the labor of setting up an eBay account, handling an auction, and shipping the product.

eBay has set up a program called the Trading Assistant program. When you join this program, you are telling everyone you are willing to sell for them.

A seller can go to eBay directory and look for a Trading Assistant in their local area. If your name is listed in this directory, the seller can contact you by email or phone and arrange to have you help them sell their wares on consignment with you for a fee.

It is a great way to find product sourcing. Off course you can also advertise locally offering your consignment services.

Other Used Product Sources

Here is a short list of other places you can look for used product sourcing.

• Antique Shops And Malls
• Beginning and Inexperienced eBay Sellers With 0 Feedback
• Church Rummage Sales
• eBay About Me Page - Solicit Here
• Estate Sales
• Flea Markets
• Government Auctions
• Local Auctions
• Library Sales
• Moving Sales
• Newspaper Ads
• Second Hand Stores
• Thrift Shops
• Yard Sales

Wholesale Product Sourcing

Many PowerSellers prefer to sell new brand name merchandise. In my opinion it is better to sell brand name merchandise than off brand items.

People search by brand name. The brand name becomes a valuable keyword to use in your auction titles and descriptions.

In order to have a dependable source of brand name merchandise, you need to find a legitimate wholesaler. You could use the search engines to find wholesalers who are willing to sell to home based internet businesses.

Chances are you will more likely find a middle man masquerading as a wholesaler. These fake wholesalers buy from legitimate wholesalers and then re-sell the products to you at marked up (retail) prices. It will be difficult to make a profit with these sources.

Some entrepreneurs sell compiled lists that are also suspect. So where do you find legitimate wholesale product sources?

One way is to call the manufacturer of the product you want to sell. Ask the manufacturer's sales representative for a recommendation of a wholesaler who sells their products. Better yet, ask for a list of wholesalers that carry their products.

Manufacturers, generally do not sell in single or small quantities to home based businesses. They prefer to sell large quantity orders of $100,000 plus to large retail stores. If you are lucky to find a very small manufacturer, they might sell to you directly.

You will need a business name and a tax ID to work with legitimate wholesalers.

Another way to find legitimate wholesalers is to become a member of Worldwide Brands.

Worldwide Brands, an eBay Certified Provider, has done the leg work for you. They have researched legitimate wholesalers for you. They provide home based internet businesses and eBay product sourcing information.

You will find :

• Drop Ship Wholesalers
• Light Bulk Wholesalers
• Instant Import Buys
• Liquidation Wholesalers
• Volume Wholesalers
• Instant Market Research

Each wholesaler has been verified as legitimate and reputable. That's a great time and money saver. When you think about product sourcing, think Worldwide Brands.

OneSource, the Worldwide Brands directory, tells you what sells, and where you can get it.

Legitimate Drop Ship Sources

Drop shipping is a great way for eBay sellers and online merchants to avoid stockpiling products. No longer will your basement become a warehouse with products that may not be selling well. Money in inventory, is money that is tied up and not working for you.

If you as an eBay seller have a business relationship with a legitimate drop ship wholesaler, you only need to list the products you like in your eBay auction.

When the product sells, you collect the retail price from your customer, you pay the wholesale price to the drop shipper, and send your drop shipper your customer's name and shipping address.

The drop shipper will send the product to your customer under your name or shipping label. You keep the difference between the retail and the wholesale price as your profit.

The biggest risk using drop shippers is sometimes the product you have sold has to be back ordered. When this happens your feedback could be damaged. You might think about having a few products in stock at home to cover this situation.

In addition to Worldwide Brands, Shopster is an eBay Certified Provider of wholesale drop ship product sourcing. They have over 1,000,000 + products from 130 product vendors.

Shopster also offers online storefronts, order and transaction management, and eBay selling tools.

eBay product sourcing will consume a lot of your time. As products fall out of consumer favor, you will need to find new products to replace them.

Keep looking for new sources of products and ideas. Have a prosperous auction or online store.

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