eBay Inventory the Smart Way: How to Find Great Sources and Manage Your Merchandise to Maximize Profits on the World's #1 Auction Site [Paperback]

Joseph T. Sinclair (Author), Jeremy Hanks (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ebay Inventory the Smart Way | Publication Date: April 10, 2006

"EBay Inventory the Smart Way" is the first book to look exclusively at the most profitable strategies for finding reliable suppliers and marketable products to sell on eBay. The book covers more than 25 types of inventory sources - including liquidators and closeouts, local retailers, national and local wholesalers, drop shippers, and more - and tells how to find and profit from each. Whether buying in bulk, sourcing one item at a time, or establishing a powerful inventory management system, both established online retailers and newcomers will find this book indispensable. This title features a recent A.C. Nielsen study reports, the Number 1 concern of eBay sellers is what to sell and how to find suppliers. The number of eBay sellers keeps growing! 1.5 million people say they supplement their income by selling on eBay. In addition to Sinclair's status as 'the' eBay author, co-author Hanks is an expert in online auction inventory. At eBay Live this past June, the product sourcing session was the biggest draw of all the opening meetings, and Hanks was featured as a key expert.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

"The chief concerns of any retail operation are where to get inventory and how to get the best prices and terms. These are ongoing business challenges that apply as much to eBay sellers as to traditional retailers. eBay Inventory the Smart Way is the first book to look exclusively at the most profitable strategies for finding reliable suppliers and marketable products. Readers will learn how to:

* form relationships with wholesalers and obtain dealer status

* finance purchases, manage inventory better, and use just-in-time delivery strategies

* increase profits with drop shipping and co-op advertising

* deal directly with manufacturers and wholesalers, “work” trade shows, and take advantage of trade organizations

* research product sales potential, buy closeout merchandise, and tap into pawnbrokers’ inventories

* and even buy inventory on eBay

eBay Inventory the Smart Way covers more than 25 inventory sources and tells how to profit from each. Whether buying in bulk, sourcing one item at a time, or establishing a powerful inventory management system, both established online retailers and newcomers will find this book indispensable."

About the Author

Joseph T. Sinclair (Vallejo, CA) is the author or coauthor of eBay the Smart Way, eBay Business the Smart Way, Building Your eBay Traffic the Smart Way, and other books in the eBay the Smart Way series. Jeremy Hanks (Orem, UT) is cofounder and principal of WholesaleMarketer, which provides product sourcing services for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 17 and up
  
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM; First Printing edition (April 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814473598
• ISBN-13: 978-0814473597
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,109,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Helps put a specific perspective on eBay business, but not much to work with., April 24, 2007

By 

J. L. Pielak "PieSquared" (Rochester Hills, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: eBay Inventory the Smart Way: How to Find Great Sources and Manage Your Merchandise to Maximize Profits on the World's #1 Auction Site (Paperback)

This book is a decent overall, 1000 ft view of options for acquiring inventory to sell on eBay. It presents the 'you should consider' rather than the 'step one, step two', which is fair seeing that no one answer can fit all.

Granted, this wasn't intended to give you a list of manufacturers, wholesalers, or even a comprehensive list of online services; but just when you think something tangible (as opposed to purely conceptual) is about to appear on the next page, you get a 'not within the scope of this book' or 'buy our other book XYZ for that info' Also be warned of the DOBA ads threaded throughout this book (one of the authors is the CEO)

One 'tangible' piece of info I couldve used is in the area of importing. The book goes into the general process of working with manufacturers and wholesalers. You'd think getting the inventory is a considerable aspect of managing inventory, however the book simply recommends contacting a customs broker and stops. Then points to another one of their books for $24.95.

On top of it all, there had to have been at least 50 pages in this book created out of pure repetition. There were a number of places I thought I had reread, only to notice it had been covered multiple times. The unorthodox organization of the book helped lead to this, fat margins, etc, but I'm sure its no accident..a 250 pager sells more copies.

Decent book, but not well executed. I definitely will not consider any other publication in the series.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have for Newbies and Vets Alike, April 7, 2006

By 

Cy West "One Armed Bandit" - See all my reviews

This review is from: eBay Inventory the Smart Way: How to Find Great Sources and Manage Your Merchandise to Maximize Profits on the World's #1 Auction Site (Paperback)

Having read other books in the "eBay the Smart Way" series, I knew that this would be an easy read.

I've sourced product for my eBay business several different ways, and Sinclair & Hanks lay the business out plain and simple in a very easy-to-understand manner.

As a businessman, I'm always on the lookout for new and viable product sources. But when you discover something new, you don't ever want to go in looking like the "new kid on the block." This book will give you the knowledge needed to help prevent that, and stave off the first time jitters so you can investigate new sources with confidence.

I expect this book will be one that I find myself referring to often.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book, so far, on subject, April 4, 2006

By 

MJ (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: eBay Inventory the Smart Way: How to Find Great Sources and Manage Your Merchandise to Maximize Profits on the World's #1 Auction Site (Paperback)

I received this book and was very impressed with the straight forward information the authors provided. It was very helpful to me and I found myself creating exciting new ideas as I was reading it. That's a well written book IMHO. I've read many books on the subject and have to say that I believe this is the best book on the subject available today.