topic Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay in Buying

Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

friday_club_wines — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 03:06:21 GMT

Hi everyone

My question is actually on buying from Alibaba, I am new to Alibaba and importing.

I have found an item I would like to import into Australia to sell on eBay

The total order is around $4000, as a first timer I am understandably hesitant about transferring this amount of money into someone’s bank account in China.

I can see that this supplier has been on Alibaba for 11 years, I cant imagine they would make it this far if they were ripping people off.

Anyway, I would love the opinion of a few experience importers as to weather I should do business with this supplier.

Thanks in advance,

Michael

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

digupatin — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 03:28:33 GMT

You don't actually buy from Alibaba, they are mainly a 'middle man' connecting suppliers with buyers.

As long as the company you purchase from has a Gold rating, much like high feedback on eBay, you should be as safe as anyone else buying from China.

Don't forget you may be competing with the same suppliers selling on eBay so have a good business plan and use Google to learn more.

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

imastawka — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 04:04:05 GMT

A bit more research wouldn't go astray.

Your id hasn't sold for 6 months?

Ebay may restrict your sales to 20 listings.

And Paypal will hold your money for 21 days

Also, importing $4000 worth of goods, I think you have to pay GST on that lot.

Depending on what you're importing, also customs fees may be charged.

Someone else may know more, or correct me

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

ausbargainbasement — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 05:05:12 GMT

Only use Paypal or credit card payments with suppliers on Alibaba, do not use direct payment, as there are scamers on that site as well, google the supplier see if any reviews as well, tread carefully.best to try a small sample first, before making a large layout a grand is a lot to lose.

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

lyndal1838 — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 06:12:28 GMT

@imastawka wrote:
A bit more research wouldn't go astray.

Your id hasn't sold for 6 months?

Ebay may restrict your sales to 20 listings.
And Paypal will hold your money for 21 days

Also, importing $4000 worth of goods, I think you have to pay GST on that lot.

Depending on what you're importing, also customs fees may be charged.

Someone else may know more, or correct me

Customes duties, fees and GST are definitely payable on $4000 worth of goods as well as the shipping charges.

As a first time importer of commercial quantities of goods I would recommend using an agent to do the Customs clearances for you, at least for the first time.

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

springyzone — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 04:50:43 GMT

I'd be having a long, hard look at what you are planning on selling and seeing how much it goes for on ebay and exactly who on ebay is selling it.

My finding has been that you can get things cheaper on alibaba/aliexpress if you buy in bulk.

But I know of quite a few people now who shop on aliexpress as well as ebay. Unless you can undercut that site, I am not sure how well you will do. Sure, sellers there may charge extra for smaller amounts but then again, so will you have to.

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

niknah — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:36:29 GMT

I tried doing this before.

Auspost costs kills this sort of business. It's much cheaper to ship all the way from China than to send something to the next suburb via auspost.

But look for dropship people who'll do the delivery for you from China.

Watch out for resellers. You could be talking to a reseller who's buying from the actual factory.

Your question is, can you trust them. Offer to pay partially at first, then pay the rest when they deliver.

And ask for a sample before you order.

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

rocket2retro — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 09:26:26 GMT

To the best of my knowlege if you import more than AU$1000 you have to register as an impoter (with an associated fee). You will also be be charged GST 10% of the value of the goods plus customs fees or tax (cant remember what it was called)

I'm not an expert but I was astounded when I purchased someone (for myself) that was over $1000 from overseas. It added 25-30% to the cost of the item.

Customs will hold the goods until all fees are paid (and charge a daily holding fee if the monies aren't paid on time).

Secondly- be prepared that even if your research leads you to believe there will be profit to be made, the items you are buying can be bought by anyone.

People watch ebay etc to see what's selling. There is nothing stopping others buying the same items (perhaps in larger quantities and getting them for less) You should have decided what profit margin you will be making per unit. Any other competitors might be prepared to sell at a much lower profit margin. Some sellers are.happy to make just a few cents per item if they are high volume sellers (eg phone covers etc)

You need to be prepared for this -either with a plan for other avenues of sale or be prepared to sell at a small profit margin (or in a worst case scenario to recoop you investment).

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

lyndal1838 — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 09:33:16 GMT

@rocket2retro wrote:
To the best of my knowlege if you import more than AU$1000 you have to register as an impoter (with an associated fee). You will also be be charged GST 10% of the value of the goods plus customs fees or tax (cant remember what it was called)
.
I'm not an expert but I was astounded when I purchased someone (for myself) that was over $1000 from overseas. It added 25-30% to the cost of the item.
Customs will hold the goods until all fees are paid (and charge a daily holding fee if the monies aren't paid on time).

You do not have to register as an importer just because one shipment is over $1000 but you do have to pay the Customs Fees and Duties as well as the GST on the item cost plus the shipping.

You are quite correct that these charges add a considerable amount to the cost.....sometimes as high as 40%

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

glwis13 — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 12:01:59 GMT

I want to start an on line buying and selling biz, but i dont know where to start and the rules, can someone guide me? I am in Australia

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

davewil1964 — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 12:33:01 GMT

Read this thread. But don't post on it.

And search the internet.

And work out a business plan.

Or, more likely, stop dragging up dead threads to post spurious questions.

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

imastawka — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 14:54:56 GMT

@glwis13 wrote:
I want to start an on line buying and selling biz, but i dont know where to start and the rules, can someone guide me? I am in Australia

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/policies/default/ebays-rules-policies?id=4205

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/selling

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

brerrabbit585 — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 07:37:14 GMT

http://sellercentre.ebay.com.au/

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

gumardee_coins_and_banknotes — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 01:06:15 GMT

When I imported items, the GST 10%, Customs fees 5%, and port fees for the export and import port was $4000, and that was for items costing $40,000.

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

davewil1964 — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 06:52:29 GMT

@gumardee_coins_and_banknotes wrote:
When I imported items, the GST 10%, Customs fees 5%, and port fees for the export and import port was $4000, and that was for items costing $40,000.
That's a good trick - 10% + 5% + port fees equals 10%.

You do realise the post you replied to was made in February 2016?

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

guam-crist — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 06:23:51 GMT

Hi guys, I have a couple of questions. I want to I port some goods (tech) from Alibaba less than 1k. Do I need an ABN or paying shipping fees and gst??

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

lyndal1838 — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 06:42:34 GMT

You do not need an ABN but you will have to pay the shipping fees and the GST.

If the shipment is under $1000 the GST will be applied to the invoice when you pay.

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

davewil1964 — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 07:25:58 GMT

I have one question - Do your tech items comply with Australian standards?

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

countessalmirena — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 13:32:10 GMT

... And so we humbly beseech all sellers of tech / electrical / electronic items

For ever and ever

AMEN.

Re: Advice on purchasing from Alibaba to sell on eBay

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 02:10:25 GMT

First and foremost, check ebay and amazon for the products you are planning to sell.
A great many fall into the trap of buying from asia only to find the manucaturer selling direct.

Apparently you will have a much better chance if you can 'Brand' your products.