Things to Consider When Choosing Wholesale Distributors

For those who wish to start a small business, finding the best wholesale supplier is often as difficult as finding wholesale products to sell. There are hundreds of thousands of bulk items suppliers in the United States alone, so how do you know which one can serve you the best.

How to Choose the Best Wholesale Supplier:

Rates

Of course, the best wholesale supplier has the most competitive rates. To be able to determine this, get a price list of wholesale products from at least three bulk items suppliers and compare those. You also need to factor in the shipping fee because buyers often shoulder the cost. A useful tip here is to choose bulk items suppliers that are near to your location because the shipping fee will be considerably lower if you were to buy from a distributor on the other side of the country.

Try to negotiate the prices and see which wholesalers can offer you the lowest rate. Don’t be shy to do this because buying wholesale gives you the leverage to negotiate prices. 

Shipping Terms

Wholesale purchases are often shipped right to your doorstep because not everybody has the time and means to pick up bulky purchases. That said, you need to know the exact shipping conditions of the wholesale distributors that you’re considering. Here are some important questions to ask:

*What delivery service is used in shipping products?
*Is this delivery service known for fast and safe shipping?
*How much is the shipping rate depending on the weight of the products? 

As hinted in the first two questions, you need to research the performance or reputation of the delivery service. Look for customer reviews or testimonies. See if there have been any delays or damaged items upon delivery. 

Availability of Product Information

You also need to see if the bulk items suppliers that you’re considering has a ready list of products with detailed information. This is usually a sign that the supplier has a set smooth process where nothing goes missing, and everything is organized properly. This means that when you place your order in the future, it will be fast and easy because you can just point at the list. This is not the same with some wholesale distributors, where you would have to go through exhausting back and forth discussions of which is which. 

Customer Service

The quality of customer service in your initial contact with the wholesale distributors is also a huge factor. The best wholesale supplier will have courteous manners of communicating to customers. You don’t want to have repeat transactions with a distributor that’s rude, unresponsive, communicates poorly, and disorganized. 

Take note of how long it took for the wholesalers to answer your first inquiry, how it was answered, and what their overall attitude was.

These are the four key areas that you need to consider when looking for wholesale distributors. Compare as many wholesale distributors as you can and don’t settle for anything less than the best. This is one of the earliest decisions you’re going to make for your business, so it’s best to do it wisely.