Hello eurominimalist,
A lot of our members are very interested in sourcing Apple iPhones, iPods and the iPad because they are extremely popular. Unfortunately the requirements to source these wholesale are extremely high due to Apple’s desire to protect their brand value. If you want to source these items wholesale, you’ll need to fill out an application on Apple’s website and be able to meet a minimum annual purchase requirement of more than $100,000 and provide 2 business references – among other things. You can read the full requirements here: Link hidden: Login to view
Although there is no other way to legitimately source Apple iPhones, iPods and the iPad wholesale except through Apple themselves, you can source Apple accessories from a number of wholesalers and drop shippers. Here is a list of a few SaleHoo suppliers for Apple accessories:
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(Don’t forget you need to find the Wholesale section on these supplier’s websites and either fill out an application form or contact them directly to get wholesale prices).
The other option to source Apple products is via liquidators. Liquidators can legitimately resell iPods, iPhones etc, but Apple won’t honor the warranty for products sourced this way.
Some liquidators of Apple products in our directory are:
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eBay has become an extremely competitive marketplace and it is not uncommon to find products selling at prices the same as or lower than wholesaler. How can this be? Because lots of wholesalers sell on eBay directly to the public! Unfair yes, but its the reality. What can you do about it?
* Order in bulk quantities to drive the wholesale price down
* Sell on another auction site other than eBay – there are heaps to choose from and profit margins are usually better. Craigslist is also a good place to sell if you live in the USA. (Let us know if you need more suggestions for places to sell online)
* Buy liquidation – this lets you get product for pennies on the dollar. (I’ll let you in on a secret, this is how lots of powersellers make money on eBay these days)
* Find a niche market with few competitors – collectibles and one-off items have amazing profit margins, even on eBay.
These days, you have to be pretty savvy to survive on eBay, so I hope we’ve given you some ideas.
All the best!