| Sure.
I’ve done it. Lots of people have done it. But please
take due diligence before setting your sights too high. There are people out there who
have lost their family’s entire nest egg with a hasty business relationship that was
not thought through properly.
This week I'm going to look at some specific products that
have worked for others and may work for you—or maybe not. Be cautious and go slowly.
I’m focusing on eBay only because so many of my
clients are using this vehicle as a way to market imports from China. Yes, lots of people
are already importing from China and selling on eBay, but that doesn’t mean you
can’t do it too. Having said that, lots of these suggestions work even if you’re
selling through old-fashioned mail order or in a bricks-and-mortar store. If you want to
learn more about importing from China -- and other places too -- check out my import
package: http://www.spyglasspoint.com/import.htm.
Chinese Imports Selling on eBay
There’s simply no way to know for sure what the next
hot product will be on eBay. What I can tell you is what products are currently being sold
by real importers on the popular auction site. This should be taken only as a
representative sampling since many, many more products are being sold than I can address
here. Nevertheless, here’s what’s being offered and what their sellers are
telling me about the products . . .
Small electronics
One New Zealand seller wanted to sell TVs and larger
electronics but decided against it because of necessary (and expensive) safety testing for
some electronic products. Instead, he’s importing “cheap mp3 players, watches,
flash drives and so on, which appeal to the gadget collectors.” He’s selling
them online and at a local market, “still cheap even with a 30 per cent mark up after
shipping costs.”
Electronic components
Resistors, capacitors, connectors.
Tea
“China has some of the most amazing teas in the world.
Tea enthusiasts are always looking for good prices on genuine imported teas.” But
another tea buyer warned: “You have to really know what you’re doing with tea
for it to be worthwhile. There’s a lot of crap out there.” And on the subject of
tea . . . “You might also want to look into tea ware. I bought some amazing porcelain
for next to nothing when I was in China.”
Doll clothes/accessories
Non-name brand items are popular on eBay.
“They’re small (low shipping costs), they don’t need to be well made and
there’s high demand on eBay.”
Tacky
“I always brought back Mao lighters and watches (when
I visited China). They make great gifts, along with weird LED jewelry, tacky
Christian-motif electronic frames and similar strange (but unique) products.”
A lot of traders admitted buying knock-off electronics,
batteries and the like but others warned “I suggest that you not sell knock-off or
counterfeit goods. Sooner or later, Customs will take exception to it and you will suffer.
If you import Chinese-themed goods like jade balls, tea or silk, you won’t have that
problem.”
Other popular Chinese imports . . .
inexpensive batteries, mini DVD tapes and camera film (yes,
there are still lots of buyers), lighters, extension cords, cables, digital scales and
smoking pipes. Also, some exporters have had success buying luxury products in the U.S.
and selling them for a handsome mark-up on Taiwan’s eBay site.
It’s no secret that China has a reputation for selling
products with Western trademarks for which they do not hold an authorization.
I’ve told the story before about a customer of mine in
South Africa who purchased a large number of falsely-trademarked ball caps from a Chinese
manufacturer and then had the shipment confiscated in Amsterdam for violating the
trademark.
Be smart. Be honest. But be brave. Make sure your risks are
calculated risks.
Copyright 2008 by Dennis Hessler |
