I'm looking to start a little reselling business.  At first I'd just
buy and then resell on ebay.  Then hopefully build a website as things
go well.

I'd like to know what good wholesellers you know of that would sell
products such as cell phones, digital cameras, or mp3 players, etc. 
Could you tell me where to get some lists and contact information for
reputable sellers?  Have you worked with any of these wholesellers? 
Thank you

I myself am running an online shop, so I have a few tips for you.

Generally, when you identify a product that you would like to sell,
contact the manufacturer directly. They are usually very open about
identifying distributors where you can purchase their products at
wholesale. Often times they will sale to you directly. A number of
products at my shop, for instance, where purchased directly from the
manufacturer. These include:
-Takara (Japanese maker of interative electronic toys)
-LRI (makers of Photon microlights)
-Fisher Space Pen Company
-American Outdoor Products (makers of Astronaut freeze dried ice
cream)
-Color Kinetics sales through a distibutor Display Supply and
Lighting(http://www.dslgroup.com/)

So I would generally start with a manufacturer.

Additonal, this site may be of much interest to you:
http://www.liquidation.com

Liquidation.com is like an ebay for wholesale/bulk products. There is
enormous array of products in categories such as:

-Clothing & Accessories
-Computers & Peripherals
-Construction & Building
-Consumer Electronics 
-Consumer Merchandise 
-Networking & Telecom Equipment
-Office Supplies & Equipment
-Vehicles & Transportation
-Other

See:
http://www.liquidation.com/marketplace/

Products are often sold a loss in order to liquidate for a variety of
reasons sometimes simply to make room in a warehouse for other
products.

Liquidation.com is a few well designed site that I think is much more
nicely designed than ebay. Additionally you can view the details of
historical sales which help you determine "market" price when bidding.

Addtionally there is an affiliate program which allows you to generate
revenue from channeling bids through your web site.

Finally, some sales are pallets of mix-match goods, which might be
especially good for a start-up.

The same company also runs a government auction site, but the products
aren't really in the area you have suggested. That site is:
http://www.govliquidation.com

additonal resources follow:
http://www.closeoutsdist.com/index.html

1. Wholesale Sources REVEALED! 
Discover four amazing wholesale drop shippers where you can buy one
product at a time and no minimum order.
http://www.cyberspacewarehouse.com 
  
2. BIGLOTSWHOLESALE.COM 
Big Lots Wholesale.com is a business-to-business exchange that
provides top-quality merchandise at below-wholesale prices. As a
division of Big Lots Stores, Inc., the nation’s leading buyer and
seller of broadline closeout merchandise, we have long-time
relationships with most of the world’s leading manufacturers. When
ordering, use the code W411 and receive $50.00 off orders of $750.00
or more.
http://www.biglotswholesale.com/shopping/display_prodlist.asp?... 
  
3. Closeoutsdealer.com 
Closeouts, overstock, store returns, salvage, athletic footwear,
shoes. World wide shipping available.
http://www.closeoutsdealer.com/electronics.cfm 
  
4. MerchantQ Wholesale 
MerchantQ Wholesale is a leading online distributor for fine gifts,
collectibles, jewelry, miniatures, figurines, dolls, toys,
birthstones, religious Christian, fantasy art, tea sets, candles,
samurai swords and knives.
http://secure.merchantq.com/cgi-bin/support/client.cgi?do=ref&i... 
  
5. Noveltieswholesale.com 
Wholesale merchandise, novelties, electronics, leather, watches, If
it's HOT we got it!
http://www.myaffiliateprogram.com/u/lottofun/t.asp?id=1017 
  
6. AffordableDirect.com 
As Seen on TV Products, electronics, including digital cameras, AND
the new bino-cam (binocular camera)
http://www.affordabledirect.com 
  
7. Cutting Edge Products, Inc. 
We offer the largest selection of security products, safety products,
and electronic gadgets at the LOWEST WHOLESALE PRICES. We provide same
day shipping and we drop ship.
http://www.CEPI.biz 

8. Liquidation.com 
Use Liquidation.com and bulk online auctions to buy or sell overstock,
returns, and other types surplus consumer merchandise. Our complete
suite of fulfillment, payment, and marketing services makes it very
easy and inexpensive to buy and sell bulk surplus.
http://www.liquidation.com/index.html?tid=DC00000037 
  
9. ENZER ELECTRONICS - modern luxury 
Wholesale contemporary design telephones by Jacob Jensen of Denmark.
The hottest trend in Europe right now. Not Available In Stores!
Resellers make 100% profit!
http://www.enzerelectronics.com 
  
10. Via Trading Corporation 
Via Trading deals in Department Store Returns, SURPLUS goods, CLOSE
OUTS and LIQUIDATION ITEMS. We deal in all sorts of merchandise
including electronics, clothing, kitchen items, toys, hardware,
luggage, domestics, homewares, sporting goods and many many more.
http://www.viatrading.com 
  
11. Globaltech Distribution 
We work with 1000's of buyer's and supplier's, allowing us to offer
excellent name brand products at prices far below wholesale. Our
prodcuts range from men's and women's apparel, electronics, sporting
goods, hardware, toys, health and beauty products and many more. Check
out our new exclusive weekly specials!
http://www.gtechdist.com/Products/Electronics/electronics.html 
  
12. Bayoou Wholesales 
We offer a variety of products like cameras, toys, electronics, tools,
radar detectors and many more, at unrealistic wholesale prices. Visit
our site and see how we do it. Discounts available on bulk orders.
http://myhotbuy.com/bayouwholesales 
  
13. Pure Imports - Wholesale Electronics 
AplusOutlets: We specialize in bringing you great prices on
wholesale-priced brand-name merchandise - housewares, home electronics
electronics, sporting goods, and more.
http://www.at-wholesale.com 
  
14. Shopping for Wholesale Electronics? 
At BizRate.com you can compare prices, product features and store
ratings to always get a great deal from over 1,500 popular stores.
http://www.bizrate.com 
  
15. Electronics - GPC Wholesale 
Wholesale products for online auction sellers, flea marketers,
retailers and individuals. Hundreds of brand name items. Save 40% off
your membership. Join today.
http://www.gpcwholesale.com 
  
16. Wholesale Electronics Lots 
Electronics closeouts, surplus, merchandise liquidation, overstock,
salvage items at great discounts. Clothing, toys and much more.
Everything is below wholesale priced.
http://www.liquidationmerchandise.com 
  
17. Wholesale Electronics 
Second Chance LLC is a wholesaling company specializing in closeout,
surplus, salvage truckloads, department store returns and liquidation
merchandise. Contact us.
http://www.secondchancellc.com 
  
18. Wholesale Sources $9.95 
An incredible e-book featuring wholesale electronics that will pay for
itself many times over with millions of different wholesale product
links.
http://www.995info.com 
  
19. Closeouts - Electronics, Tvs, Vcrs, More 
Closeouts and overstock merchandise, salvage, closeouts, liquidation,
apparel, clothing, toys electronics, housewares and more. Call now and
save.
http://www.salvagecloseouts.com 
  
20. All You're Looking for 
Cameras, electronics, photo and much more - all at the best prices! 
http://www.luluusa.com 

Good luck with your venture!

---

Request for Answer Clarification by monty02-ga on 04 Mar 2003 00:37 PST

Very nice answer.  I appreciate the help.

I'd like to know though if you are aware of wholesellers that sell the
new "HOT" items & electronics, aside from novelties & closeouts (which
many of those sites offer).  Thanks.

---

Clarification of Answer by maxhodges-ga on 05 Mar 2003 05:55 PST

Supplying Japanese brandname electronics and audio video products to
importers, wholesalers, retailers, online stores, distributors,
corporate institutions, mail order companies & government departments
since 1989:
http://is7.pacific.net.hk/~indoftco/

Here is a book which purports to list consumer electronics
distributors, but I have no personal experience with the content:
http://www.theustrader.com/wholesale.html

Finally, I actually found a consumer electronics distributor, but not
a lot of lines. Product line include JVC, Toshiba, Sharp, Numark D.J.
Equipment, Community speakers, QSC amplifier, Hair America, Jem Sound,
American DJ, Accustic Research and other affiliated and accessory
products.

Their customer base is made up of retail stores, on-line and
e-commerce companies and corporate accounts:
http://www.cedincorp.com/about.htm

This looks better. Looks better, but still not great:
http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Business_to_Business/Consumer_Electronics/Distributors/

OK. As I said before, your best bet is going to be to contact the
manufacturer of the specific “hot” products you are interested in and
get their list of distributors.

For example, Lexar Media sells compact flash and SD memory cards and
readers for digital cameras and mp3 players. You can find their list
of distributors on their site at:
http://www.lexarmedia.com/where/distributor_locator.html#USA

Now, once you see their distributor list, you might want to find out
what other products that distributor carries.

Is my experience, most companies will very freely tell you who their
distributors are, for example, this is on the web site of Jabra makers
of BlueTooth wireless headsets:

For Resellers
JABRA products are available in the United States and internationally.
If you are interested in boosting your margins with JABRA sales,
please send an email to the appropriate regional representative below.
Please include full contact information (company name, address, phone,
email, etc.) Please note that minimum purchase volumes must be met in
order to purchase directly from JABRA Corporation. In addition, direct
purchase agreements are subject to credit approval, and require
minimum marketing resources specifically for the JABRA product line.
Alternately, we will be happy to provide you with sales information
and connect you with a local distributor.

Also, I found some interesting leads here. Be patient. It takes a
while for the page to load:
http://www.bizweb.com/categories/electronics.consumer.html

Here is another list of manufacturer to get you started:
http://dmoz.org/Business/Consumer_Goods_and_Services/Electronics/

I feel much hope this answer exceeds your expectations.

Are you interested in only technology based products?
Do these reccomendations need to based on prior experiences?

I'm interested in more than just technology based products, but I hope
it can be a starting place.  For now I'd like to concentrate on this
area.

The recommendations don't need to be based on experience, though it's
always preferred.  I'd like to have some peace of mind when buying
lots of product from someone.  Reputable sellers are desired.

In terms of the purported wholesale guide from theustrader.com, I
don't trust any website that tries to harvest my email address when I
visit it. It suggests that they're far more interested in selling my
email address to spam lists than they are in selling me an actual
product.

I'm always interested in finding sources of discounted goods. I didn't
personally have much luck with the "additional resources" links, but
if you liked them you can find more like them on the wholesale411.com
website:
http://www.wholesale411.com/cgi-bin/bidsearch/search.cgi?keywords=electronics