Most wholesale mistakes are made before the order, not after it. A five-minute check can save you a pallet of stock you cannot sell. Here is the order we would work in.
1. Check whether you can sell it
Search the product in your seller account. If the brand or category is restricted for you, you will see an approval prompt. Know that before you talk about price.
2. Work out the real cost
Add your cost, prep, inbound shipping and marketplace fees, then compare them with the price you can realistically sell at. Our profit calculator does the arithmetic for you.
3. Look at the competition honestly
Who else is selling it, and at what price? A listing with many sellers and a falling price is rarely a safe first buy.
4. Confirm the paperwork
Ask what documentation will come with the order and whether it meets the marketplace requirements for your category. Do this before you pay.
5. Start small
Where the supplier allows it, place a modest first order. Real sales data beats any estimate.
None of this guarantees profit, because prices and fees move. It does remove the avoidable surprises.