We have two question to review today, one from Ahmad and the other from Jon. One questions deals with reselling branded goods and the other simply asks for nearby liquidation sources. Let’s get right to it:
Ahmad wrote: “I plan to buy a liquidation shelf pull Macy’s clothes, which is a combination of designer clothes and famous brands same as Calvin Klein, Tahari and Ralph Lauren. I know that I have to cut Macy’s tag before selling. Can I sell such items on eBay and Amazon? Can I say: CK dress on my ad? Is not it against the law? Do I need resale permission? Are these items considered as USED or as NEW? Your kind reply will be highly appreciated. Thanks, Ahmad”
Hey Ahmad, good to hear from you. I bet your excited about this new business endeavor. I have to tell you that Macy’s shelf pull apparel is a very popular starting point for many new sellers. I’ve talked to thousands of people who have decided to start purchasing bulk loads direct over the years.
Your correct in your assumption about Macy’s tags and labels. As a seller, you cannot give any indication to a buyer as to where your inventory was sourced from. Removing store price tickets is a must when reselling on or off-line.
Calvin Klein is a brand into itself; it is not a Macy’s exclusive brand and I do not believe you will have any problem selling CK or Ralph Lauren as to your inquiry. Not what may be true today, could very well change within the future, so continue to be cautious. I do not believe you will need resell permission to sell most brands as a reseller. Most concerns arise from seller selling counterfeit goods. This is an area you want to stay away from, but if buying from Macy’s, you should be fine.
As far as your last question, shelf pulls items can be considered or described as new as long as the condition of each items warrants such a description, i.e. no holes, tears, blemishes, etc.
And finally, a question from Jon in South Dakota:
“Thanks for the Liquidators Guide. I have read it and your blogs from ’14 & ’13. We purchased a commercial building and making plans to open an Overstock liquidation business. We are also going to stock several flea market booths, hold event sales and do quarterly auctions. My problem is finding good merchandise sources in the upper Midwest, i.e. close to the Sioux Falls, SD region. This would save me a lot in freight. Do you have any suggestions? Jon B.”
Jon…you’re kind of in the middle of it all, aren’t you? Congrats on the decision to move forward with a liquidation business! I poked around a bit to see what facilities are closest to you. I would encourage you to search Google by taking the closest metropolitan city and adding terms like “Liquidator,” “Wholesale closeouts.” So your search might look something like this:
“liquidators” + Kansas City
‘Wholesale closeouts” + Kansas City
keep searching using different keyword criteria and different cities. Trust me, you will find sources nearby. Not every liquidator have an internet presence, some do not need to advertise online because they’ve built a following over years in business. Make sense?
Having said that, you’ve got a few choices just a few states away. Shipping from a couple of states over is much more economical then sourcing from the East or West coast. Here are a few to check out.
Erikas Bargain Wholesale – Cash and carry wholesale liquidator that will ship nationwide. A very nice selection of apparel returns and shelf pulls.
Countryside Closeouts – I really like the new household pallets they are selling. Even though I have not purchased them, I think they are worth a second look.
Jon, part of the thrill of liquidation merchandise is the hunt! Keep up the good work and keep us posted as to your success. Please send some photos of your operation, I would love to share with our readers.
We also received feedback from from Michelle who read through our Boot Camp series and decided to share the types of loads she has purchased and how each turned out:
“I’ve bought 5 truckloads over the years. The following were: North Pole tent shelf pulls- Home Run. Coleman tent returns from Costco CA- a lot of labor- but home run, Christmas tree load labeled shelf pulls/ customer returns from Rite Aid- a lot of labor- tons in the dumpster- still made money; HSN overstock Christmas décor snowmen- train wreck- defective items. Not good; Target baby load- Home run! Best load ever! 95% new. Michelle M“
Who else has questions I might answer about product sourcing? I’m all ears…
