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No Nonsense - No Frills. If you are serious about it, then
THIS IS ALL YOU NEED TO START AN EBAY OR OTHER INTERNET BUSINESS
No nonsense - Just the sites and information you need!
Lots of people offer CDs with information and links for starting your own Internet business. They sell them for $5, $10, or $20. But 99% of the stuff on there is a waste of time and often not even related to Internet Sales.
Instead of giving you a bunch of worthless stuff, here you get the 1% of that information that is 100% of what you really need to get started. No nonsense, just what you actually need to start your own legitimate Internet business. That's the purpose of this site. The truth is, its easy to get started once you have the right connections.
Your input on this site is welcome!
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CONTENTS
The Links You Need to Get Started
Common Mistakes New Sellers Make
No-Nonsense eBay Sellers Group
UPDATES: Page 2 - Business Tools
With the links below, you'll come to understand how eBay Powersellers and other Online companies do it: its called "Drop Shipping."
You can sell THOUSANDS OF ITEMS WITHOUT STOCKING THEM. You sell directly from name brand distributors. They ship your product directly to your customer.
Example: You want to sell a DVD Player. You create the ad and sell it on eBay. After your customer pays you, you then order the DVD player from the distributor who ships it directly to your customer - you never touch it. You do it all from your computer in just minutes. You keep all the profits. Its that simple!
Plus, I'll link you to some good companies you may want to use to host and/or develop a personal or business web site. Additionally, LOTS of new stuff is being added - check out the UPDATES!
Please check out the FAQ or write us if you have any questions.
(If you have not yet registered with eBay, you should do that now. Its fast and free. Click below.)
The Links You Need to Get Started (back to top)
NO NONSENSE - HERE'S THE LINKS YOU NEED:
#1 - This is where you find REAL DROPSHIPPERS:
This is the ONLY directory available that can help you start a legitimate business. Here's what you get:
You get all the information and help you need to start your own business. They tell you the steps you must take to be legit, and they even tell you WHY you need to do it. To help you, they link the appropriate informational websites for all 50 states. This is free!
This site gives you all the information you need about the best kind of Internet business to set up. It explains drop shipping, customer service, credit card payments and more. It anticipates all the questions of a serious person just beginning on the Internet. This is free!
Every list except for this one is a complete waste of money and a waste of time. Trust me, I wasted my money and my time with the others - this list is the real deal. The list of distributors has a subscription attached to it - but its worth it.
This is the ONLY drop ship source that is listed with the Better Business Bureau, and it is a member of good standing. This matters a lot in this field where nearly everything else is a scam.
Click the banner below:
Make sure you download the FREE eBook - it will give you step by step instructions on stetting up your business:
#2 - If you want your own web site, here's what you need:
You don't need your own web site to sell on eBay or other sites, but you can expand your business (or even just have some fun) if you have this option. Many of my return customers started with me on eBay, but now write me directly when they want to make a purchase. Its helpful if you have your own web site to direct them to.
PLUS, if you have your own site, you can host your own pictures and save money on listing fees.
ALSO, if you already have your own web page, we'll link you to some affiliates so you can make your web page make money. See below for more details.
You need 2 things to have your own web site:
You need your own domain name, www.yournamehere.com.
You need a hosting company to "host" your web site.
Here are my recommendations for this. However, please check out the Business Tools page for more options.
This is the company I use to register domain names, they have been GREAT. I own about 6 different domains. Its convenient to keep them all in the same place. Plus, its hard to find a better price than this one - Click banner below:
Trust Dotster.com -- An ICANN accredited domain name registrar.
You also need a place to host your site; basically, a computer where your web site is always kept online. For your business, a professional hosting company gives you all the support you need - some even help you build your web site.
Here's a host company I recommend. I list a few more on the Business Tools page, but this one is the best one I've worked with - click below:
Introducing $7.95 Hosting, Free Setup and $100 Marketing Rebate
#3 - Other resources to help you start your business:
Here are some books I read that have helped me get started. They are linked to Amazon.com so you can purchase right away . Most of these can also be found at any major bookstore. Click here for more book recommendations...
#4 - Surplus and Bulk Purchases:
If you have some storage space, a garage or room you don't mind cluttering, it can be a good idea to purchase in bulk. You can do this in two ways. For current model products, just order in bulk from the distributors you get in the Directory or elsewhere. If you want to sell old models, overstocks, returned items etc., then you can get them from some liquidation companies. This is very profitable if you are good at it, however, IT IS A LOT OF WORK and it REQUIRES LOTS OF MONEY UP FRONT! You are responsible for packing and shipping.
Here are some sites you can check out. Some of these businesses will not require a resellers certificate to purchase. However, the IRS will require you to claim your profits and losses.
This is a good site - links you to liquidators all over. I have used this method a couple of times. I bought some books in bulk and sold them on eBay's Half.com
. This site is the best site for selling movies, CDs, books and small stuff. I have sold some large electronic items there, but I'm not having much luck actually. But with books and CDs, I've sold thousands of $$$s worth and made good profits.
Note: I often buy books, read them, then resell them on eBay's Half.com
. Sometimes I almost get as much as I paid for it in the first place!
I've never used this site - but they clearly have a good relationship with dealers. You must buy in bulk, large investment and work involved (some items only sold by the truckload!). But if you have the time and space and money, this is a good site.
Do you have a printer? Here's how you can save a bunch of money on ink:
I use a Cannon S750. At Costco, I can get 2 black and 1 of each color for $49. With this company, I get 3 black and 2 of each color for $40. I print a lot so it saves a lot to use this generic brand. I've noticed no quality difference in pictures or printing. Its the best deal I've found so far!
Why pay full price? Get up to 75% OFF Inkjet Cartridges!
Common Mistakes Made By New Sellers (back to top)
New sellers, or "newbies" as they are unfortunately called, make some common mistakes that cost them money.
They don't consider all the fees and costs.
They don't check out the competition.
They aren't concerned with customer service.
They miscalculate Shipping & Handling charges.
They buy huge quantities of items from a liquidator that they can's sell.
They don't consider all the fees and costs. (back to top)
This is probably the biggest mistake newer sellers make. When you sell a product, there are lots of fees you must consider:
Listing fees
Example: You may have paid $1.00 for access to this information on eBay. But I don't get to keep the whole dollar.
PayPal charges $0.30 plus 2.2% per transaction (Merchant Rate). So, they charged me $0.32 for your $1.00 purchase.
Ebay fees - Closing Value Fee - (5.25% for under $25) = $.05
This leaves me with $0.63.
PLUS, I have to cover costs of the listing fee. Since this is a "Dutch Auction", meaning more than one item offered, the listing fee was $3.65. In addition, I used the "Featured" and "Bold" upgrades that costs $19.95 and $2.00 respectively. That means I lose money until 41 people buy access to this page!
WAIT! THAT'S 40% OVERHEAD! - Well, on this, yes. But that's because its only $1. $0.30 is charged by PayPal whether the transaction is $1 or $1000. Usually you can expect 7 - 10% costs for products that you will sell on eBay, so don't worry.
These are usually small fees, but they can add up. Some new sellers don't figure all of this, and they find out a couple of months later that they aren't charging enough for their products. They think they are making all kinds of money and doing really well, destroying the competition. Well, the competition in these cases is probably smarter than the new seller, and there is probably a reason their price is higher.
A good rule of thumb is to make sure your profit margin is at least 10% more than the item costs you.
They don't check out the competition. (back to top)
Before you set your price, you should see what other sellers are selling it for. If you are using eBay, make sure you search "Completed Items" - you want to see what sellers actually get for an item, not what they are asking for.
If the item does not appear, it could mean two things. The best case is that you've found an item that will sell like crazy without any competition. Worst case is that sellers have had no luck selling that item.
Its important that you have competitive pricing. But you don't want to undersell an item just to beat a competitor. See below.
They undersell their product. (back to top)
How lame is it to sell an item for $200 and make $15 profit when you could sell it for $230 and make $45 profit? Well, it happens all the time. Often, new sellers will try to take away business from other sellers by completely undercutting the price of an item. While its important to offer low prices, its also important to support the market.
For example: a few other sellers and I were selling a cordless phone system almost every day at a comfortable $30 net profit. Then some newbie came along and cut the price to the point where we were all only making about $1.00 per phone. If the newbie would have sold the phone for the same price as everyone else, he or she would have enjoyed real profits. Instead, none of us are selling that phone anymore.
How do you compete then if your prices are the same? Well, customer service matters online as much as anywhere. If you build a great feedback rating, promptly and courteously answer emails, and really make sure your customer is satisfied, you'll compete just fine.
They aren't concerned with customer service. (back to top)
If you go to a restaurant and you get bad service, how eager are you to go back? What if their product is bad and they are rude when you want to send it back? What if its a pain in the neck to get a refund when you deserve it? These same questions matter with Internet businesses.
There are many options for people today, and lots of good prices. If you make them happy and comfortable with their online experience, they are more likely to bid on your products and go back to you when they need something else. Any successful business must value good customer service.
Always put yourself in the customer's shoes. What would you expect from a seller? It makes a huge difference. My repeat customers are often customers who had some kind of problem - because of my prompt refund and courteous emails, they build trust for my company and they keep coming back.
They miscalculate Shipping & Handling charges. (back to top)
Shipping is the actual cost of shipping an item. Its the cost UPS charges you. Have you ever wondered what "Handling" is? Well, its basically whatever you want. However, legitimately, its the cost of shipping materials (covered already by a drop ship fee), and other fees.
Most of your Handling fees are going to have to be made up in the profit of an item. Customers don't want to get gouged by high shipping and handling charges.
Many sellers, in the spirit of competition, offer very cheap shipping. But they are losing money on every sale if the amount they charge doesn't actually cover the cost of shipping. Usually, customers are willing to pay the price of shipping plus a couple bucks extra that covers your costs. But they HATE paying what really are exorbitant amounts.
To find out, just go to www.ups.com (or web site of your carrier) and punch in zip codes. Then add the cost of your dropshipping fee and that covers most of your handling.
They buy huge quantities of items from a liquidator that they can's sell.(back to top)
Say you've got a bunch of money and a bunch of space. You decide to buy a pallet of returned merchandise from a Wal-Mart liquidator. You are excited because you just spent $2000 on $10,000 worth of retail goods.
Once you unload it, you start to sell. You discover that some of it is defective or opened, so you won't get much for it. If you are good, you can make money on the good stuff over a few months time.
But beware. Perhaps the reason Wal-Mart liquidated the stuff is because no one wants to buy it. Some merchandise can't be sold at 80% because people just don't want it. Then you are stuck with it and you are out $2000. Be very certain you understand the market you are selling to.
This is the advantage of drop shipping. You don't buy the merchandise until you've sold it. You never have to put up the money up front.
Frequently Asked Questions (back to top)
What is a real "Drop Shipper"?
Why do I have to start a legitimate business?
What expenses can I expect from starting my own business?
Do I have to pay taxes on my profits?
Got another question? Please write: Furrowcious@yahoo.com
Well, it took me 2 years of selling and scraping by and using phony dropshippers before I found this information. Now that I am a successful Powerseller, I am constantly barraged with questions on how to start this kind of business. So, I figured I'd save time by making a site. THIS SITE WILL SAVE YOU up to two years of trying to find the best sources for products.
Is it worth it to use the Directory? Well, before I subscribed, the best month I had with my phony "dropshipper" was about $1500 in sales, about 15 hours of work, and a net profit of $90. Exactly 2 months after I subscribed and began using REAL Drop Shippers, in one month I did $10,000 in sales and made $1200 profit for the same 15 hours of work! Using real drop shippers is the only way to make it.
The Directory I link you to below has more useful information than all the other sites combined. I won't take the time to reproduce it here, I'll just recommend you read up on that site and subscribe. Its much more then just the distributors, the free resources of the site tell you step by step what to do.
Do I get a commission from sponsor's ads on this site? Yes, enough to pay for this website anyway. You can get commissions on your site too - if you're good, its a good revenue booster!
What is a real "Drop Shipper"? (back to top)
Here's how a REAL Drop Ship distributor works:
A REAL Drop Shipper is a factory-authorized wholesale distributor, or sometimes the actual manufacturer of their products. They ship to your customer from their OWN warehouse. NO middlemen or resellers cheating you out of your profits.
A REAL Drop Shipper (with VERY FEW legitimate exceptions) will not charge you an "account setup fee".
A REAL Drop Shipper will never force you to place a "minimum quantity order"; they will ship one product at a time to your customer with NO quantity commitments.
A REAL Drop Shipper REQUIRES you to have a resellers license and/or Tax ID. For tax purposes, they need proof that they are selling to actual businesses so they don't have to pay sales tax on the merchandise you sell. IF A DROP SHIPPER DOES NOT REQUIRE A RESELLER'S LICENSE, THEY ARE NOT A REAL DROP SHIPPER - they are most likely a middle man working with an actual drop shipper and taking YOUR PROFITS!
Why do I have to start a legitimate business? (back to top)
Because real name brand distributors only work with real businesses. If you want real wholesale pricing, you have to be legit. IT'S EASY to get your reseller's license. Just go to the directory and they will even send you to the right web site for your state.
It doesn't cost much either - the total costs were $17.00 here in California.
What expenses can I expect from starting my own business? (back to top)
Don't be fooled - nothing in business is completely free. In most states, you have to pay a tiny fee for your business name and/or your resellers license or Tax ID. The Directory I send you to requires a subscription fee which goes to help update the list and keep your business up to date with the best Drop Shippers. However, all of the information and help at the directory site is free.
Otherwise, your expenses, overhead if you will, is just the cost of fees from eBay or Yahoo!, PayPal or other services. You make up those fees in your sale price, so its no big deal. Certain other things in your house can become business expenses as well - printer ink, paper, software, etc.
Do I have to pay taxes on my profits? (back to top)
Basically, you have to pay taxes on money you find in a pay phone coin return. Yes, even if you are not a legitimate business, you are expected to include the income from auction sales, even garage sales, on your tax form. But I'm sure everyone does that.
What you need to know is that most states will require you to charge sales tax on your sales if the item is delivered to a customer in your home state. i.e.., I'm in CA, so if someone wins an auction on eBay and lives in CA, I have to charge them 7.5% sales tax because CA will charge me 7.5%. However, if the customer lives anywhere but CA, they don't pay sales tax and neither do I. Check with your own state for local laws.
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