# Wholesellers??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 16, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wholesellers/169200 "2003-04-16T23:29:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HighSoci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@HighSoci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HighSoci)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wholesellers/169200/1 "2003-04-16T23:29:36Z")
How can you get a list of whole sellers?? I have searched online, but everyone that I have found is wanting you to send money for the information. I know there has to be some information out there somewhere that has a list of whole sellers nation wide that want your buisness. Anyone have any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wholesellers/169200/2 "2003-04-16T23:41:47Z")
Wholesalers don’t generally want to sell to members of the public as this would be undercutting their major clients (quite apart from possibly breaching all kinds of contract terms with the manufacturers). There are mailing lists, organisations etc you can join up to, but you have to be running a legitimate business to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Harli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@Harli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harli)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wholesellers/169200/3 "2003-04-17T00:46:06Z")
Depends on what kind of wholesalers you are looking for. I know of a database of drop shippers, but yes, there is a membership fee. But a lot of e-commerce websites out there offer reseller programs (such as the sites I work for). So, what kind of reselling do you want to do? What kind of items? To sell in a store, or online? Are you looking for a dropshipper? ---
**Author:** ![HighSoci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@HighSoci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HighSoci)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wholesellers/169200/4 "2003-04-17T01:25:27Z")
Basically online or at trade markets. I would really be intrested in selling video games, electronics, or computer supplies. ---
**Author:** ![Harli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@Harli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harli)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wholesellers/169200/5 "2003-04-17T01:36:30Z")
**HighSoci** , I’d look for sites or individuals selling the kind of stuff you want to sell and see if they sell wholesale, have a contact for a wholesaler, or have some kind of reseller program. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wholesellers/169200/6 "2003-04-17T01:44:45Z")
If you can do 50 pieces, minimum, then you could talk to the genuine computer equipment distributors out there. Ingram-Micro and Merisel are the two that leap to mind at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wholesellers/169200/7 "2003-04-17T01:49:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HighSoci \* > \*\*How can you get a list of whole sellers?? I have searched online, but everyone that I have found is wanting you to send money for the information. \*\* Just go sign up for a business licence a ficticious name and put an address and phone # in the phone book. Trust me…you will get so much b2b junk mail from people looking to sell you stuff its mindboggling. Of course you could just kick down for the list since once you have a few potential suppliers you have plenty of time to hunt. I have a friend who works for [GDC Distribution](http://app2.zoovy.com/gdc/) They sell some misc software and electronics but most of it is clothing and food. Or here is the electronics page from [Surplus.net](http://eis.net/lib/start.cgi/surplus/searchelectronics.html) ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wholesellers/169200/8 "2003-04-17T02:19:41Z")
One low-tech way that also works if you’re just starting out: look in the yellow pages, under [whatever product category] - wholesalers & manufacturers. Not every such business will be listed, since many do not want any calls from the general public, but you can at least get a start on leads. Another, very simple way to do it is to acquire some packaged samples of the sort of thing you want to sell, and look for the manufacturers’ contact info on the labelling. If they feel you’re legit (which may involve various sorts of proof, depending on the industry, or may just require inquiring after a large initial order), they might provide you with either their sales terms, or a contact for the company that’s authorized to resell in your area.