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Before you buy your first stock

Use this checklist to turn an appealing wholesale offer into a considered buying decision. Save or print this page for your next order.

1. Define what you will sell

Choose a specific customer, product category and selling platform.
Check that your account has the permissions needed to sell those products.
Look at evidence of completed sales where available, not only optimistic asking prices.

2. Check the supplier and the stock

Confirm the business identity, contact route and invoice details.
Ask for exact product names, quantities, condition and recent stock photographs.
Confirm whether the lot is manifested, mixed or a sample selection.
Read written payment, delivery and returns terms before committing.

3. Count the full cost

Include stock, inbound delivery, relevant charges and unusable units.
Allow for selling/payment fees, packaging, seller-funded postage and returns.
Keep cash aside for operating costs while payments are pending.

A simple worked example

A lot costs £500 plus £80 delivery. If 100 units arrive but only 80 are sellable, the effective stock cost is £580 ÷ 80 = £7.25 per sellable item.

A £12 sale leaves £4.75 before selling fees, packing, any seller-funded postage, returns, labour and other overheads. This example is not a forecast or a valuation of our pallets.

4. Prepare your selling and packing process

Write accurate listings and show condition clearly.
Give stock a consistent reference; for live sales, label sold items in sequence.
Prepare suitable boxes, protective material, scales and label printing.
Keep customer labels and personal details off camera.
Match every packed item to the correct order before sealing.