Bargaining, while making personal purchases is easier as compared to dealing with wholesalers. While dealing with a wholesaler, your main motive should be to acquire the best deal, and for this, you should remember the following points.
Find the right wholesaler
Finding a suitable wholesaler will make it easy to deal with him while making your purchase. If you are starting a new business, then sorting out the good and the bad wholesalers will be of great help to you. A good wholesaler will listen to your needs and you will have no problem in dealing with such a wholesaler. If a wholesaler is prepared to do more for you, then this is an indication that the wholesaler is reliable. A nervous looking wholesaler can be more difficult to deal with, so try to make out about the nature of the wholesaler from the first impression. It is better to change the wholesaler until the time you find the one you can deal with comfortably.
Plan your visit
It is good to contact the wholesaler before approaching him. You can do this by talking to him over the phone. This will also help you to know in advance whether the wholesaler has the stock you require or not and can enable you to prepare a strategy for your meeting. Some of the popular wholesalers are very busy and assign different visiting times for the clients. Wholesalers, who sell expensive items also need you to call before the actual meeting. Remember to check the policies of the suppliers as this will help you to deal with them properly and you can also find out about their procedures prior to your meeting. Try to avoid meeting the wholesaler during the busiest time of the day, as this makes negotiating a deal more difficult. If you find a time, when the wholesaler is not busy, then you will get more attention from the wholesaler, and he will be able to pay heed patiently to all your requirements.
Negotiate the price
While purchasing something in a small quantity, you can choose not to bargain or negotiate the price, as this will not affect your budget much. However, when you are out there to buy in bulk, the situation is a little different. A small difference in the price the wholesaler charges and the price, which you negotiate to pay, can affect the difference amid your profit or loss. Remember that a wholesaler will not put forward the best deal in front of you in the first instance, so you should negotiate the price and then convince the wholesaler bring down the price to suit your business. You can save a lot of money if you strike a good deal with a wholesaler by cutting down a little on the price.
Fulfill the requirements
If you fulfill the requirements of a wholesaler, then dealing with a wholesaler can be much easier. Majority of the wholesalers will call for a sales tax ID, as this ensures that you are a legitimate retailer, especially if you run an eCommerce business. This is also a proof that the wholesaler is genuine, as a wholesaler that does not ask for the sales tax ID might be a middleman or a fake wholesaler. If you are an online retailer, then dealing with wholesalers can turn out to be more difficult, as wholesalers are not generally willing to deal with online retailers and merchants. The main reason behind this is that online retailers tend to buy smaller volume as compared to other retailers. However, if your online business is legal, then dealing with wholesalers will not be a big problem.
Keep yourself protected
Protection is very important if you are buying pricey items from a wholesaler. Make a visit to the premises of the wholesaler, as this will give you an idea about the legitimacy of the wholesaler. Another good idea is to request for test order from the wholesaler. In this way, you will be able to check the productâs quality. Even though some wholesalers hesitate in doing this, but you can convince them by visiting their premises. You should be aware of fake wholesalers to prevent yourself. Check references of a wholesaler while dealing with him, as reputed wholesalers always have verified references. You can probe into details by asking some inquiring questions. Checking the VAT number and registration number of a wholesaler can be an added advantage. Remember, that dealing with wholesalers can be a big trouble, but they are the one who help you to earn profit, so just make smart moves to deal with a wholesaler properly.
