posted on September 5, 2000 04:33:45 PM
I'd like to know if anyone can help me out with this: I would like to buy some Warner Bros. licensed merchandise to sell on eBay, and I cannot seem to find out how. I do not own a retail store, nor a website, but I have been selling on eBay for almost two years. I would like to sell licensed merchandise for a particular character, as many other eBay sellers do (this character has over 1,100 listings on eBay right now), but I don't know the ropes about obtaining the product at a wholesale price. What do I need to do to get WB to sell me this stuff wholesale?
Can anybody help me? I've been lurking around AW for quite a while, and I have learned SO MUCH from you guys. I just registered so I could join the fun!
posted on September 5, 2000 05:25:07 PM
Most companies will only sell to you if you are a registered business with a tax number. Some of the bigger companies want proof that you actually have an operating storefront. Many will not sell you just the most popular character in the series, you are required to buy a "lot" that includes the lesser characters also. They require a purchase ranging from $250 to $1500 for each order.
posted on September 5, 2000 05:46:31 PM
also you may use your social security number as your tax id, but you need to find out about your local tax liability(local sales tax), contact a warner bros. outlet establishment and ask for the clearance merchandiser.
every 20 seconds in america a woman is giving birth:SHE MUST BE FOUND AND STOPPED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.................................................................
posted on September 5, 2000 05:53:16 PM
If you don't have a sales tax ID # you should get one so that you can buy wholesale. Of course this also means that you have to do sales reports to your state and also with the IRS. Many big names will require a tax ID but you may be able to get things without it from closeout sources etc. So a lot depends on how badly you want to sell this stuff.
Licensed mdse can be easy or difficult to get depending on whom you are dealing with. Many big companies will not sell if you don't have a store front, but if you can find a greedy sales rep they don't give a hoot, they will sell you the stuff.
Licensed mdse can come from dozens of sources. For instance: you can get T-shirts with picture "A" on it from Company "B"; you may buy mugs with picture "A" from Company "C"; you may buy towels with picture "A" from Company G - and on and on.
So you may very well be buying from many sources. Plus how much you have to buy depends also on each company. It may be as little as 100.00 or it can be as much 3000.00 and more.
Also some companies have protected territories that even sales reps can't get around. They will allow only so many people selling their line in a given zip code.
Some companies would be appalled that their line was being bought to sell in an auction while others wouldn't care.
So you have to do a lot of homework and see if you can get into some wholesale trade shows that might be near you.
Hope this gives you some guidance or at least and idea of how some of this works.
posted on September 5, 2000 10:02:48 PM
Thanks for your responses ... Sorry I disappeared but I've been having some computer problems this evening. I really would like some further (more detailed) advice or instruction on how to go about accomplishing some of these things I need to do -- get a tax ID #, find my area sales rep, contact a WB "outlet establishment" (what's that?), ask for the "clearance merchandiser" (again, what is that?), etc.
Needless to say, I am a total neophyte in this area. Is there someplace anyone knows of where I can learn the basics? Any books or whatever?
posted on September 5, 2000 10:51:13 PM
You probably should spend a few years in retail working up to being a buyer to learn the ropes. What you are trying to do is problematic for a veteran, much less a novice.
The collectibles industry is undergoing radical change, and retailers are up in arms about the unauthorized competition from eBay sellers. As a result it is twice as hard to become an authorized reseller for the good stuff. The low end mass market crap is easy to find. Just go the New York Gift Show or better yet, the Variety Merchandise Show. And be sure to bring your tax id, some invoices to show you are actually a buyer, your store lease, and a credit sheet.
posted on September 6, 2000 07:32:48 AM
you might have to purchase the collectable you need retail by calling Warner Bros and having them mail to you. you still make money on ebay if the item is hot. I sold nbc peacocks a few years ago and I just called and they mailed them to me. I made a few dollars on each of them. Hope this helps
posted on September 6, 2000 08:08:58 AM
See if your state has a web site with rules & regulations on it. In my state, information on obtaining a state sales tax ID number --also known as a resale number-- is on the state Department of Revenue web site. Requirements can vary from state to state, so there's no one-size-fits-all set of rules. You may need a local business license to qualify for the state tax ID.
Check your library for books on starting up a small business in your state. There are some state-specific books out that spell out the basics.
Warner Bros. has a chain of 150 stores in malls around the country and a few other nations. It also has a mail-order catalog and sells merchandise via its web site.
Some of the items they carry are exclusive to the stores. Others are not.
posted on September 6, 2000 08:50:56 AM
I agree that it will be very helpful to you if you get a book from the library that explains the basics of starting a retail business.
This is an interesting time for retailers because of increasing internet sales. Many companies do not want their product lines devalued by being sold on online auctions.
I was interested in selling a popular product line but there was an initial $10,000 start up fee plus I would be required to buy their display case, submit photos of my store including the signage and window display and interior shots. Many of the big companies ask that you devote a certain square footage of your shop to their product line.
Good sales reps are worth their weight in gold as there are just as many sleazy ones.
BTW, chopstix welcome to auctionwatch and thanks for starting an interesting topic. Good luck with your future sales.
posted on September 6, 2000 10:33:11 AM
If the originator of this thread is still around I have a question I forgot to ask you. Just out of curiosity I would like to know why you would choose a product that already has so much competition on ebay?
posted on September 7, 2000 07:15:06 PM
Sorry, I thought this thread was dead. Shaani, I want to answer your last question to me. You say why do I want to sell merchandise that already has so much competition on eBay. Well, that is relative. This particular character is very, very hot now, but the merchandising has only just begun. Yes, there are over 1100 items of this character on eBay right now. But look at Pokemon -- I just checked, and as of this moment there are 27,935 Pokemon items on eBay! The character I would like to sell has the potential to meet or exceed that popularity, I believe.
I decided I wanted to get in on the action when I bought my daughter a T-shirt for this character last week and it was $20!
