A few months back I would buy several pallets of “onlinereturns” pallets from the Indiana Liquidation.com warehouse. As you are probably already aware, these are Amazon.Com returns. These are the best returns in the business if you ask me. I was bidding on several pallets weekly which would add up to a truckload every week. The problem with these pallets is that everyone wants them and consequently, the bids started getting so high that they weren’t even worth buying anymore because there was no profit potential. I then decided to contact Liquidation.Com to try to see if I could purchase truckloads of these before they got listed, I called them several times, sent them many emails about this, and to this day, I still haven’t got a response or when I do get a response, its like “I’ll check on that and get back with you” and then they never do. So I decided to try to contact Amazon to see if I could buy them direct, this experience was worse than Liquidation.com, the customer service people didn’t know what I was asking and then someone gave me their corporate address so I could write them a letter to request this, and I did but of course I got no reply.

I was wondering, with your many years of experience, if you know of the person or company who deals with Amazon.Com returns directly. I assume its some large reverse logistics company but I cant find out who, this is the biggest mystery I have had so far, its like more mysterious than a black hole. I hate to ask you the direct source for stuff like this because I know this is an annoying question that people ask because they don’t want to do the work to find out their selves, but believe me, I have done my homework. Do you happen to have any info on this?

MY RESPONSE:

Thank you for the question, and no, I do not mind receiving requests to provide direct sources. I certainly know how hard it is to track down suppliers. I want you to know that I have spent some time performing my own research looking for Amazon.com pallets and truckloads with little luck. I have talked with a few of my friends across the United States who are very well “connected” and they are just as stumped as I am. My hunch is that Liquidation.com has the exclusive contract with this online retail giant.

Lets open this up to our blog readers and see if anyone has information that would prove otherwise. Is there anyone out there that can help us locate the source for Amazon.com customer returns?

All of the visitors who used the above keywords/phrases were looking for a wholesale handbag wholesaler or liquidator. Online resellers, such as eBayers know that big name brands sell; brands such as Dooney & Bourke, Michael Kors, Nine West, Fendi, Gucci, Maurizio Taiuti, Vera Bradley, XOXO, Kipling, DKNY, Guess, Kenneth Kole, Liz Claiborne, Ecco, Rampage, The Sak, Giani Bernini, Bettysville, Betsey Johnson, Tignanello, Tommy Hilfiger, Young Attitude, Calvin Klein, Coach, Prada, Steve Madden, Kathy Van Zeeland, Fossil, Lucky Brand, Le Sport Sac, Elliott Lucca and others.

Most of the traffic and questions I receive about wholesale handbags centers around reselling on eBay. Everyone wants to know where to purchase wholesale designer handbags. Often, someone will send me a link to another sellers’ auctions and simply want to know where that seller is getting their stock.

In doing some research about eBay and handbags reselling I stumbled upon this gigantic purse forum that you should take a look at. I encourage you to bookmark this site as there looks to be a ton of handbag information relating to reselling, authenticity and general Q & A.

There are so many illegitimate wholesalers who are selling fake and knockoff designer brands, but where do you find authentic bags at a price point low enough to turn around and resell them? I have the direct source for name brand handbags, in fact, this is the main source that eBay and liquidation.com resellers are using to source their inventory.

So what is this about? Why would a company want to make sure I have liability coverage before they will allow a new liquidation buyer to make a purchase?

Lets take a look at an example:

If you buy a direct truckload of customer returned power tools from lets say Harbor Freight, they will ask you for a certificate naming Harbor Freight as an additional insured under your business general liability policy. If you cannot provide this certificate, you cannot make a purchase.

Where is the liability? In the world we live in everyone will get named in a lawsuit; often attorneys look for deep pockets. I will create a scenario where a liability policy will protect you and your business interest.

Maybe you purchased a truckload of tools from Harbor Freight and one of the table saws ended up in the hands of one of your customers who cut off their hand while using the saw. You will end up being named in a lawsuit along with Harbor Freight and the manufacturer of this table saw. Maybe in this situation after investigation it is discovered that there was a design flaw, which would go back to the manufacturer. Or perhaps you the end reseller bears the most liability because you resold a broken table saw that was deemed dangerous and un-usable?

A general liability policy will offer a defense on your behalf and pay any judgment placed against your business up to your policy limits.

Obtaining a Business Owners policy

Often referred to as a BOP (Business Owners Policy), you can solicit local independent insurance agents in your area to market your business to many different insurance companies to find the lowest premium. A BOP will offer premises liability for your store (slip and fall claims) as well as many other coverages you may need.

A typical BOP will cost between $700 – $2,000 per year depending on several factors including the nature of your business, gross annual sales and your experience in your particular field.

Once you have a BOP/GL (General Liability) policy in force your agent can then issue what is called an evidence of insurance naming the company you are buying from as an additional insured to meet buying requirements.

Sounds complicated, but really a knowledgeable commercial insurance agent will further educate and help you make the right policy choices for your business. Remember, not all department stores or catalog companies will require you to have a general liability policy in place to make a purchase.

To me, as with all customer returns, I would assume damages including signs of use, stains and marked soles. The load in question today is being advertised as 192 pairs of shoes weighing in at 592 Lbs with an original On-Air Retail Price of  $9,335.04

The real issue with liquidation shoes is going to be freight. 192 Pairs of shoes will be at least 2 pallets and it would not surprise me to find out that they are actually shipping on 3 pallets. The pricing does not seem unreasonable at 22% of on air price ($2,054.00), but you must add freight costs to reach your total cost per pair landed.

Lets assume you are close to the shipping FOB point and you can have two pallets shipped to you for $425. You must add the $425 + Shoes ($2,054) to come up with your total of $2479.00. Divide the final cost delivered by the number of shoes (192) and you have just found your cost per pair at $13.

Based upon the manifest and brands included (Clarks, Me Too, Deer Stags, Naturalizer, Ryka, Markon, Michael Kors) I do not think that $13 per pair is a great deal if you intend on trying to resell on eBay. The $13 per pair might work for a small discount store, but it will depend on what your local market will pay.

It is really nice to be able to review the manifests of liquidation merchandise and customer returns from QVC, in fact they even provide photos of each individual item.

Have you purchased liquidations from QVC? What is your experience…Good or Bad?

Can a serious income be made online retailing?

I don’t know where you live, but here is what is happening in my hometown:

• Mom and Pop retail stores are closing
• Large Big-Box stores are closing
• Gas prices are through the roof!
• Unemployment in my city is at an all-time record high
• Theft is on the rise
• People are smiling less, I think in part to the increased stress Lack of Money

Can an honest income be made from home? How do I get started? Who can supply the products I want to sell?

Are you looking for wholesale, below wholesale and liquidation priced merchandise?

You will need to devote some time to watch all of the videos and then follow up with the FREE PDF report. The videos are are a little scary at first, but hang in there……The information is incredible.

Worldwidebrands.com is an information and education provider that helps online entrepreneurs answer the questions: “What should I sell online?”, “Where can I find these products at wholesale and Liquidation prices?”, and “How can I build a business selling physical products online?”

FREE 10 part video series

Our friend Jana Harris formerly of Bariss Enterprises, LLC in Minneapolis, MN wrote the book on sourcing wholesale handbags. I am not talking about Walmart or JC Penny’s handbags, but rather handbags like Coach, Prada, Todds, Chanel, Fendi, Gucci, Dior and other high end designer bags.

Are you looking for wholesale and below wholesale handbags sources for your store…or maybe you would like to resell on ebay………..

For those of you who have purchased or are thinking about purchasing those “wholesale lists” that are being sold on eBay and other websites, let me save you some hard earned money…those lists are a total SCAM!

Jana has contacted dozens of designer handbag wholesalers and distributors personally. She has carefully screened every single wholesaler that she includes in her directory, to be certain that they are reputable.

Get further details about her wholesale handbag directory!

Lets get right to the source today for catalog closeouts and returned merchandise. There is no need to buy from a liquidator or broker when looking for pallets and truckloads of Furniture, Home decor, Bed and Bath, Kitchenware, Apparel, Jewelry and other merchandise. PLEASE NOTE: The following contact information will put you in touch with Seventh Avenue direct. You will need to inquire about purchasing pallets and truckloads from their liquidation department/specialist. Buying direct is unlike buying from a liquidator in the sense that corporations are unwilling to field question after question. When calling to inquire please know that their only interest will be moving as much merchandise as possible. Often, huge catalog companies already have a means to move overstocks and returns with little or no problem at all. Be ready to purchase when calling. You will need to arrange your own freight from their distribution center.

At different times they have truckloads available right at $1,000!

Seventh Avenue Incorporated (563) 242-4006

2000 Harrison Dr, #100 Clinton, IA 52732

CC Liquidation Website

…What are you waiting for? Say “Goodbye” to all of the Brokers!

I get tons of  questions about selling closeout apparel on Ebay, more specifically shelf pull apparel from 5 Star Department Stores. Everyone wants to sell this clothing on Ebay. I have to admit most of the people inquiring about selling closeout apparel on Ebay are stay at home Mom’s looking for a way to bring in some extra income without a lot of money to invest.

I know a lot of successful sellers on Ebay who have turned a part-time side business into a full fledged income selling shelf pull apparel (NWT – “New With Tags” -Popular Ebay Apparel acronym). What separates the successful sellers from the hundreds of thousands who start off with great intentions, but stop soon after throwing in the towel?

Research. Research and Planning. Research, planning and resilience. Today I want to talk specifically about buying from Brokers vs buying direct.

The big name brands sell on Ebay – Ralph Lauren/ Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, Elie Tahara, Theory, BCBG and others. Buying shelf pull apparel from a liquidator is like walking into an actual department store and buying the entire liquidation rack. It is a big jumbled mixture of brands, sizes and styles. I know for myself when I am shopping for clothing and stumble upon a clearance rack typically the selection is limited in styles and sizing. If the apparel does not sell on the clearance rack at a drastically reduced price in the store…Guess what? You end up buying it in a wholesale closeout lot or pallet to sell on Ebay or your discount store.

If you are not buying your apparel direct from the direct source be careful as some brokers can be misleading when they describe a lot or pallet you intend to buy. It is only logical to infer your broker has no clue as to particular sizing, brands or damages to expect. If your broker has not inspected the load… how then can he accurately describe the merchandise to you? He cannot. Not all brokers are misleading, more on this tomorrow.

If buying from a liquidator who actually buys large truckloads from the source and then breaks the clothing down into smaller lots you must be careful as well. Some liquidators will mix accessories into their apparel lots or pallets to lower their actual cost per unit. This practice benefits the liquidator…not you. If you are dealing with a liquidator who adds accessories into their pallets find another company to buy from.

Whether buying Direct or through a Broker/Liquidator remember not to expect all big name brands. Pallets are a big assortment of brand names

If you are not buying direct from the source “Buyer Beware”. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

You can imagine one of your customers buying an item from you and then attempting to take it back to the origin store to try and get a refund. This is a big issue for you the reseller. If this happens stores do have a way of tracking back inventoried “Liquidation” items. This can mean big trouble for you. It is imperative to follow each big box retailers’ guidelines when it comes to defacing and/or de-labeling closeout and salvage merchandise.

Here are a few examples of brand protection agreements

Kmart Delabeling and Defacing Agreement & Procedures

Target Delabeling and Defacing Agreement & Procedures