The hunt to find suppliers for your resale business is a never-ending challenge. A challenge that can be frustrating, time-consuming, but also extremely rewarding when you do make a connection with a new supplier for your business. Finding suppliers on eBay can dramatically help expand your list of suppliers for your resale business.
First, why is it important to always be adding new suppliers?
- It makes your business more resilient – not being reliant on a small number of suppliers.
- You will learn more – new product lines that may be more profitable than the products you are currently selling.
- New connections can be life-changing – one new supplier can completely change your business or introduce you to another person that can help you tremendously. Don’t underestimate the power of a robust network.
So, how are we going to use eBay to find these suppliers and make our life much better? Let’s find out.
Familiarize yourself with eBay
You want to spend time on eBay to learn the marketplace. The more familiar you are with listings, options, search techniques, and the marketplace in general, the easier it will be for you to find success. I prefer the web-based version of eBay vs. the App since it gives you more options for search and information is just presented in an easier to use format.
Capture data
I am going to share some search tips in this article, and you will want to capture the data you find. This is especially true with the user names of sellers you want to research more. You should have some sort of database or spreadsheet where you can keep the information you find. The more data you collect, the more powerful a resource eBay can be for you over time.
Recognizing patterns
With the data you are capturing and saving, you will be able to find the names of the sellers that are generating the most revenue in the categories or specific products you are targeting. You are looking for consistent information that you can use to connect with high-volume sellers on eBay that you can connect with and possibly convert to a supplier for your business.
Don’t buy from end-users
Once you begin to recognize and capture seller information, you will quickly be able to identify end-user sellers that are selling their own items vs. pro sellers that are running a business on eBay. I highly recommend you stay away from end-users. When buying from end-users, you are just not going to be able to create a consistent experience that is repeatable for your business. You will also open yourself up to issues with authenticity, product condition, and poor customer service that you can overcome when buying from a pro seller.
Find the Top Sellers – how to locate pro sellers in your categories.
Search for the products you are interested in sourcing for resale and then check the boxes on the left of your screen to show only SOLD listings. This will change the search results to show only sold items. Click into listings that look professionally created – you will quickly learn how to discern these pro listings – often new product, better photographs, well-written titles.
See my article on search techniques on eBay for more info.
Once you click into a particular listing, check the feedback number for the seller. You want sellers with a large number of feedback results that will indicate that they are volume sellers. Click the Sellers other items link to see a list of items for sale and to confirm that they are a volume seller.
How to contact.
Keep a list of these reseller account names in your database or spreadsheet. You want to be able to track the date you contacted them and any responses from them.
To start the contact process, click on the seller name from any of their product listings. Then find the Contact link at the top of the page. Check the box on the contact page that reads, “This is not about an item” and create your message.
The message matters.
You are fishing here – start your fishing expedition in very general terms to see if the seller is interested in speaking to you about wholesale sales. Here are some examples of the messages that have worked for me in the past. I never give up after only one message; I use a 3-step process of being patient, consistent and polite:
Message 1:
Hello!
I am a new seller, and I see you have a successful business here on eBay. Would you be interested in selling wholesale quantity lots? My interest is not to compete with you, but to expand onto other marketplaces. Thanks for your time, and I hope to connect with you soon.
-Your name-
Message 2 (no response follow up):
Hey there!
I sent a message last week about purchasing quantity items that you have for sale. I am sure you are busy, so I’ll keep it short. Would it be possible to buy wholesale quantity lots from your business? Please let me know either way, and thanks for your time!
-Your name-
Message 3 (no response 2nd follow up)
Hi,
I just wanted to reach out one more time to see if there was any possibility that I could buy in quantity from you. I am very flexible about how it could work and be sure not to compete with your business on eBay. Thanks again, and I hope to hear from you soon.
-Your name-
Of course, you should edit these messages as you wish to make them work for your needs. The key for me is consistency, giving them 3-5 days before sending the 2nd and 3rd messages and always being polite. Each time you send Message 1, 2, or 3, record it on your spreadsheet so you can remember where you are at in this supplier recruitment process.
Off-marketplace purchases
Ultimately you want to make your wholesale purchase off of eBay, so the seller avoids selling fees, and you can get better pricing. eBay doesn’t like this, of course, so you want the seller first to make this suggestion, if possible. Ideally, they will provide a contact email or phone number in response to one of your emails about purchasing. If they do not, you can try to provide your contact info, but be prepared for eBay to block these types of emails often. You can split up your email address or phone number on different lines in the email to avoid this. I also like to do some Google searching to see if you can find the companies website and contact info outside of eBay. Pro sellers often have their company name or other info in their eBay user name that you can use to find more info via a search engine.
Negotiating pricing
Sellers on eBay are paying between 13-20% selling fees when they sell a product on the marketplace. You want to keep this in mind when you do connect with a seller that wants to sell wholesale lots to you. Your negotiating point should START at their current sale prices, less the selling fees. Ideally, you want to pay less, but if you are just opening up a new supplier relationship, I would suggest that it’s more important to get the relationship started versus getting the lowest price. You can always negotiate lower prices down the road.
Connect on LinkedIn
If your emails go unanswered, there’s still another way to connect with sellers. Use the Google search option mentioned above and search LinkedIn for the company name. If you do find the company listed on LinkedIn, you will often see a list of employees that you can try to connect with and try your “can I buy from you” emails with them. Read more about using LinkedIn to find suppliers.
Buying to show you are credible
Another great way to connect to sellers and to find out more information about their company is just to start buying their product on eBay. Think of these purchases as investments in your business. You will often get more company info, emails, and phone numbers via email and inside of the packaging of the products you purchase. It’s also a great intro email topic to be able to say, “I have been purchasing your products…”
You also want to be ready to buy in quantity, even if it’s a small amount. These sellers don’t want to sell one or two products to you. Starting small at 10-20 pieces will get their intention, but I would always mention that your goal is to increase your purchasing as you grow your business continually.
Ask to buy their “junk”
If you continually hit roadblocks and have not been able to connect with sellers, one trick that has worked great for me to open new supplier relationships is the “Sell me your Junk” message. This technique starts with an email or phone call with a message like this:
“Hi there! I see you are a <product category> reseller, and your listings show that you sell high-quality products. I have customers that want to buy slightly damaged, blemished, or defective products. Do you have any of those products that you don’t want to list for sale yourself that you would be interested in selling to me?”
Many companies have products like this that they have a hard time selling. If you can add value and solve this problem for them, it is a powerful way to open a relationship. Once you have established some credibility and have a strong relationship with the seller, then you can start asking about buying other (not junk) products from them. I can’t stress enough how good this can work. Remember that everyone wants to buy the popular, perfect condition products at low prices. By changing the narrative and going after the “junk,” you are lifting your voice above all the rest. Once you do start buying this type of product, focus on selling just to get as much of your investment back as possible. Even if you lose money on these sales, think of it as your Tuition as you learn about sellers and make valuable connections for the future of your business.
eBay is a goldmine of information that I have used for 20+ years to make sales, make connections, and to create a system of ever-increasing revenue that I am excited for you to find for your own business.
Cheers to our mutual success!
Shannon Jean
Lafayette, CA
June 2020