I was talking with my cousin about random stuff untill she talked about how she was selling stuff on amazon. First I thought she was just selling old stuff of hers but then she explained that this was a hobby of hers.

 

 

 

She would go to some local shop where they sell books/electronics at a very cheap price, buy their stuff and then sell it on amazon. Once she found a buyer, she sent it off. After telling her this was the greatest idea since sliced bread, she explained the details and now I'm going to to some REAL WORLD merchanting.

 

 

 

Anybody else done this?

So how does this work? Do you have to buy stuff at a low price and sell it at a higher price?

Very few people actually get into it because theres little profit to be made, especially after shipping costs. On something like a book, you wont be able to make more than 10 dollars profit

Shes an idiot to buy at a local store and then resell online. The real merchants act as a middle man between stockists/warehouses/wholesalers and the customer.

Shes an idiot to buy at a local store and then resell online. The real merchants act as a middle man between stockists/warehouses/wholesalers and the customer.

yea, ANY retail store owner is considered a merchant

When you buy from a store you are already buying from a middle man whos takign their cut. You will never get a good deal/profit by buying from shops and selling online.

You could merchant Wii's. If a shop has any in stock buy them, and then sell them on Amazon/eBay for like $100 more. Desperate people will buy them. :P

i have done this plenty of times. i've made around 800 USD so far

My dad used to go to thrift shops, down by where he lives to see if there are any things that are cheap, that are being sold/bought for more cash on Ebay.

 

 

 

No idea how much he's made, though.

Weeds good to "Merchant", buy it real cheap, sell it for double ;)

My mum and dad would go to car boot sale and often end up with antiques that they sold for quite a lot. They managed to buy some chinese bowls and stuff for 50p and stuff the old owner didn't know they were valuable and my dad managed to put it on Sotheby's

My momma has been "merchenting" on the side for years

 

 

 

She goes to yard sales and flee markets and buys antiques and sells them on ebay, sometimes she makes a lot of money.

i used to do abit of my own 'merchanting' in school... go to a really cheap sweet shop the night before and buy a bunch of drinks, chocolates, crisps etc..

 

 

 

sell them the next day in school for 10-20p more than what you bought them for.

 

 

 

i used to be able to make around ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâã20 a day doing this. thats some pretty good money for 30mins work every day, and i wouldnt exactly call it work either ;-)

Weeds good to "Merchant", buy it real cheap, sell it for double ;)

 

 

 

I've done that. It's better to grow it though. Then go to a local street corner and sell.

Shes an idiot to buy at a local store and then resell online. The real merchants act as a middle man between stockists/warehouses/wholesalers and the customer.

 

 

 

How is she an idiot if she's making money?

Shes an idiot to buy at a local store and then resell online. The real merchants act as a middle man between stockists/warehouses/wholesalers and the customer.

 

 

 

How is she an idiot if she's making money?

Because she could be making a lot more for less effort.

Because she could be making a lot more for less effort.

 

 

 

I have a friend who buys textbooks from a local bookstore and resells them to college student to make 100% profit on every book he makes. If he bought from the distributor instead of the bookstore, he would be paying more for the books than he is able to turn around and sell them for currently.

 

 

 

So how do you propose your solution would make more money?

Because she could be making a lot more for less effort.

 

 

 

I have a friend who buys textbooks from a local bookstore and resells them to college student to make 100% profit on every book he makes. If he bought from the distributor instead of the bookstore, he would be paying more for the books than he is able to turn around and sell them for currently.

 

 

 

So how do you propose your solution would make more money?

 

Buy from the wholesaler.

 

 

 

Also, "merchant" is not a bloody verb.

ebay's turned into a horrible place now, you can't find anyone selling anything worthwile anymore.

 

 

 

i found one person selling the microfilm of yamaha's parts catalog on cd, that can be found for free on yamaha's website.

The real merchants act as a middle man between stockists/warehouses/wholesalers and the customer.

 

 

 

And that's how retail works ^_^

 

 

 

All those people that use eBay, Amazon, and those kinds of sites to sell things they picked up cheap aren't making the kind of money they could be in retail. Chances are they can't even live off of what they're making.

Because she could be making a lot more for less effort.

 

 

 

I have a friend who buys textbooks from a local bookstore and resells them to college student to make 100% profit on every book he makes. If he bought from the distributor instead of the bookstore, he would be paying more for the books than he is able to turn around and sell them for currently.

 

 

 

So how do you propose your solution would make more money?

 

Buy from the wholesaler.

 

 

 

Also, "merchant" is not a bloody verb.

 

 

 

Maybe you misunderstood my post. Buying these books from the wholesaler is more expensive than the price that he sells them back for. And when he sells them back, he makes 100% profit on them. So how would buying from the wholesaler be more beneficial?

All those people that use eBay, Amazon, and those kinds of sites to sell things they picked up cheap aren't making the kind of money they could be in retail. Chances are they can't even live off of what they're making.

 

 

 

If most of those people could make a living of it, you bet it wouldn't last long anyway. ;)

If the wholesaler charges more than a local shop does then the shops are making a loss. Thats an absurd claim.

If the wholesaler charges more than a local shop does then the shops are making a loss. Thats an absurd claim.

 

 

 

Exactly what I was going to say. Either way your 100% correct. All the good traders out there aren't buying from the middle man, as the profits will always not be as good (and far from it) than the distributor in the first place. Buy in bulk for cheaper and sell for more to people willing to pay the amount.

 

 

 

 

 

And yes I've done it a bit before. I find it a fun way to earn money and not a lot of effort is involved when doing it as a small scale project.

If the wholesaler charges more than a local shop does then the shops are making a loss. Thats an absurd claim.

 

 

 

Unless the product is a loss leader.