Thread: Buying wholesale contact info - wholesalers and dropshippers directories and lists

How well do you trust this source?

I wouldn't pay for any type of contact information, I have paid for lists in the past and have found them to be not worth it.

Most lists found online or on eBay aren't worth the money it costs to print the money you pay for them ... either because they are out of date, too small, or because they charge for unverified contacts that can be obtained for free.

There are a number of key directories you can use, free and paid, which have advantages and disadvantages:

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GlobalSources.com

Website: Manufacturers: Global Sources

Fee: Free for buyers (Specific to China manufacturers)

Advantages:

1. Large selection of verified Chinese manufacturers, rated using a 6 star scoring system. GlobalSources.com personally visits each manufacturer and assigns a star rating based on the number of checks carried out. More details on their verification system can be found at Global Sources - Find quality suppliers here

2. Publishes industry specific monthly magazines (in both paper and electronic format), some free some for a fee. More details are available at:
Sourcing Magazines
and
Global Sources - Help & FAQ - Sourcing Magazines

Disadvantages:

1. Limited number of suppliers listed

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ThomasNet.com

Website: ThomasNet® - CNC Machining, Metal Stamping, Gaskets, Fasteners and other industrial products and services.

Fee: Free for buyers (Specific to USA industrial parts suppliers)

Advantages:

1. Perfect for sourcing USA suppliers of parts for manufacturing. If you are looking to produce your own products and need to source parts to complete your prototype or to manufacture your product in mass, ThomasNet is the directory you should use. It can also be a good source for your manufacturing partner, although they'll likely already be using it.

Disadvantages:

1. Limited to sourcing of parts for manufacturing. If you are looking for profitable sources to sell on eBay, Amazon Marketplace or online it won't be much use to you unless you have a product that you want to manufacture in bulk.

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Frasers.com

Website: FRASERS - Catalog of Industrial Suppliers and Manufacturers

Fee: Free for buyers (Specific to Canadian industrial suppliers)

Advantages:

1. Largest database of industrial Canadian manufacturers and suppliers

Disadvantages:

2. Limited to manufacturing. Limited use for retailers, eBayers and online resellers

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TTNet.net

Website: China Manufacturers Taiwan Suppliers China Products Chinese trade directory list B2B Marketplace Taiwan Manufacturers China Suppliers Taiwan Products Made in China Taiwan Asia wholesale exporters

Fee: Free for buyers (Specific to Taiwan based manufacturers and exporters)

Advantages:

1. Focuses on Taiwan, renown for their high quality electronics and electronic and computer parts and accessories compared with China, where lower quality but cheaper parts tend to be produced.

Disadvantages:

1. Focuses only on Taiwan and requires you to import large quantities to gain a competitive advantage.

2. Does not verify all its suppliers

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Esources.co.uk

Website: Wholesale Suppliers & UK Wholesale Products Trade Directory - eSources.co.uk

Fee: Partly Free or $40 for buyers (Broad range of suppliers from importers to manufacturers from all over the world. Has a very large directory of dropshippers).

Advantages:

1. Good for the eBayers, online resellers and retailers looking for smaller quantities orders. Claims to verify every listing in its database.

2. Contains two large directories of dropshippers:

US & International: Dropshippers and Dropshipping International Wholesale Suppliers - Wholesale Dropshipper & Dropshipping Directory

UK: Dropshippers and Dropshipping Wholesale Suppliers in UK - Wholesale Dropshipper & Dropshipping Directory

3. Offers some advantages to online resellers like a free web store and eBay book with premium buyer membership: Premium Buyers Upgrade Page

4. Market Research capability: Demand Analysis - eSources Market Research Wizard Intro Tour - eSources.co.uk

Disadvantages:

1. Charges buyers for access

2. Design looks outdated

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WorldWideBrands.com

Website: Drop Ship, Light Bulk, Liquidation and Import Wholesalers from Worldwide Brands! - Home Page

Fee: $299 for buyers with satisfaction guarantee

Advantages:

1. Suppliers have been verified to check they supply online traders.

2. Market research capability

3. Online guides on trading on eBay and online

Disadvantages:

1. High joining fee

2. Limited number of dropshippers

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Salehoo.com

Website: SaleHoo | Wholesale Directory & Dropship eBay Products Suppliers

Fee: $67 for buyers

Advantages:

1. Community of 60,000 buyers monitors and gives feedback about performance of listed suppliers

2. Members forum allows to discuss suppliers and trading strategies

Disadvantages:

1. Limited selection of suppliers

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HKtdc.com

Website: hktdc.com - Verified Suppliers & Manufacturers from China & Hong Kong

Fee: Free for buyers (Specific to Hong Kong suppliers)

Advantages:

1. Largest web directory of Hong Kong suppliers

Disadvantages:

2. Does not verify all its suppliers

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Alibaba.com

Website: Alibaba.com

Fee: Free for buyers

Advantages:

1. Very large selection of worldwide suppliers

Disadvantages

1. Too many scam suppliers and middle men are listed. Our advice is to stay away from branded goods supplied from China, since 99% of the time they are fakes. If you are considering gambling on that 1% probability, consider the fact that official brands distributors never sell directly from China, they have preferential and dedicated distribution channels in each Western country. View this thread for more information on this topic.

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to be continued...

Wow! Great post indeed. No need to tell me which one I am signing up for.

Hey WholesaleForum, which directory would you personally suggest??

As impartial advisers we can only list the advantages and disadvantages we have identified for each directory service. Thanks for asking though.

WholesaleForum.com Admin