eBay Business All-in-One For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Chapter 4: Sourcing Liquidation and Drop-Shipping

In This Chapter

• Speaking like a merchandiser
• Understanding the different types of salvage
• Practicing safe shopping
• Drop-shipping without drop-kicking your customers

You're likely to find various levels of quality when you look for merchandise to resell on eBay. Receiving a box of ripped or stained goods when you expected first-quality merchandise can be disheartening. If you take the time to evaluate the condition of the merchandise you're interested in buying, you save time (and money) in the long run. But to make that evaluation, you need to know what the industry language tells you about the quality of the merchandise.

In addition to qualifying the goods you buy, take the time to qualify the processes and partners you use. For example, drop-shipping (shipping goods straight from the stockpile to the consumer) has become a popular method for moving merchandise sold on eBay, but it comes with many caveats. For example, eBay has a policy about preselling items, so be sure to check it out — and make sure your drop-shipper has the merchandise ready to go when you place your order. Use this chapter to become a savvy buyer of goods to resell and an effective mover of those same goods.

Know the Lingo of Merchandisers

To help ensure that industry jargon won't trip you up, this section describes the lingo you need to know and offers pointers on making the right decisions about your merchandise and methods. Here are some terms you're ...