How to Buy Wholesale Electronics

Common Mistakes People Make

• Thinking that there is a single, reliable, “wholesale price.”

The fact is that wholesale prices are often determined by the amount being purchased. Your wholesaler may have one price-point for one to 100 units and a lower price-point for lots greater than that. If you are only purchasing one of something, such as a digital camera, your price break will be real, but it won't be the price Circuit City gets by purchasing 1,000.

• Looking overseas for a “better bargain.”

Looking overseas for something you can find easily here at home usually translates into unnecessary headaches. Foreign companies are under the jurisdiction of their own country's laws and so the consumer protection you enjoy here may not be in force. Add to that the issues of shipping costs, the time you will wait, and the specter of what might happen if your purchase doesn't meet your satisfaction, and you can see the advantages of buying from a known domestic supplier.

• Wholesale and factory close-out are not the same thing.

The good news is that you can get great deals, sometimes close to wholesale, sometimes better than wholesale. The bad news is that you're getting these great deals on last year's models. This is stuff that the stores couldn't sell before their suppliers sent them current inventory. It is bought up in huge lots by liquidators and then sold to the public at deeply discounted prices. This is not an option for those who need the latest and greatest, but you can find some real bargains if you don't mind merchandise a year or so out of date.

Tips on How to Buy Wholesale Electronics

It is not just an issue of finding what you want, it is also about finding the right merchant.

• Know what you want. You cannot rely on the wholesaler's expertise to guide you to the product you really want. If you are looking for a digital camera, understand what you want to accomplish with it and then do some research so you know which model and which configuration will give you the desired results.
• Use the Internet. Somewhere in those millions hits you will find what you are looking for. Keep refining your search until you find what you want.
• While you are searching, check out wholesale, close-out and liquidation forums as well as the various wholesale communities you will find. That is where you will find out a lot about the different companies. Good or bad, people are not shy about posting their opinions.
• Check out the warranty. Does the seller offer one or will you rely on the manufacturer's agreements? What recourse do you have if something goes wrong? These are questions you need to answer before opening your wallet.
• As with all things, if the price on what you want is too good to be true, then it probably is. Always view such deals with a critical eye, especially if you do not know the merchant.

Good Places and Good Deals

Here are some places you might want to check out. The list contains both merchants and information sources that you will find useful.

• Fry's Electronics--Great prices, lots of outlets.
• Wholesale Central--Strictly business to business but a good resource.
• Savesucash.com--Bills itself as the number one Online wholesaler.
• Megagoods.com--A business-to-business drop-shipper with great wholesale prices.

In Summary

It may not be the instant gratification you have come to expect from American commerce, but as you do your research, check the forums, monitor the wholesale communities, you can learn how to buy wholesale electronics. Remember that all of this work and care will pay-off in the end by putting the product you want in your hands at the price you want.