How To Avoid Illegitimate Wholesalers

Not everyone who advertises themselves as a wholesaler runs a legitimate business. There are a lot of scams out there, and you need to be careful before you make an investment. Even if the wholesaler has a website and can be contacted by email and phone, it still doesn’t mean that you’re not going to be ripped off. There are a few things you should consider before going into business with a wholesaler and placing a payment.

If the website of the wholesaler has just been set up, and there are no signs that they’ve been in business for a decent period of time, try to avoid them. Search the website for contact information and make sure that you have an email address and a phone number to call. Contact the wholesaler and analyze the way they talk to you. Legitimate wholesalers will answer in a professional manner. They will always include the name of their business and they should have no problem in offering you the details of their physical address. If they refuse to tell you where their offices are, be careful. If possible, take a trip to their offices and check whether they exist. It might take some time, but it’s a good way to make sure that you’re not throwing away good money.

Pay attention to what the wholesaler requires of you. Legitimate wholesalers will ask you to prove that you have a business license or a sales tax ID, if you’re from the US. If they fail to do so, you should be suspicious.

Before placing a big order with a wholesaler, it’s always good to test the product yourself first. Wholesalers should understand this and they should be able to send you a sample, even if at a higher price. Some wholesalers also sell their products on eBay, so you might be able to order a sample from there. If you’re having problems in getting a sample from them, something might be wrong.

When you contact the wholesaler don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you want and voice all your concerns. A legitimate business will have all the answers and won’t hesitate to give you all the information you need in order to gain you as a client. An illegitimate business will duck questions and will be vague about details. They’ll just try to make you send the money with the promise that you’ll get the products.

If you decide to make a purchase, make sure you use secure forms of payment. Be suspicious if the wholesaler asks you to send the money by wire transfer or Western Union. Also, don’t make upfront payments unless you’re sure that you’re going to get the products. If the wholesaler says that they’ve run out of stock at the moment, but that you should make the payment anyway, just tell them that you’ll make the payment when they can offer you some evidence that they have the products in stock.

Last but not least, follow your instincts. If something tells you that there’s something not quite right with the wholesaler, just dig deeper or find a different wholesaler you feel you can trust.