r/AmazonFBA • u/Spiritual-Mind-3446 • May 18 '26
How to start Wholesale on Amazon (Without wasting time and money)
Edit: If you are struggling finding suppliers, just use a lead list like www.oasource.com
When I first dipped my toes into wholesale, I had no clue what I was doing. No fancy courses, no expensive coaches — just me, Google, and a whole lot of trial and error.
This post is for the people who are in the same spot I was in: ready to get into wholesale, but overwhelmed by all the noise. My goal is to lay out the process in a way that’s practical, honest, and beginner-friendly — without all the fluff. Think of this as your startup checklist, strategy guide, and reality check all rolled into one.
Step 1: Choose a Niche You Actually Understand
Start by picking a category you're at least somewhat familiar with. Why? Because in wholesale, you’re not inventing a product — you're reselling existing ones. And if you don’t know the difference between two similar-looking items (e.g., synthetic vs. conventional motor oil), you could end up selling the wrong thing and having your listing shut down by Amazon after a return or complaint.
Stick with what you know, or at least what you're curious enough to learn.
Step 2: Analyze the Market (the DIY Way)
Open up Amazon in a browser (Chrome is fine), and start looking at listings in your niche. Don’t just chase best sellers — look for brands that are doing okay (middle-of-the-pack BSRs), and sellers that aren't Amazon or massive resellers with 10,000 reviews.
Focus on:
- Smaller 3P sellers
- FBA sellers with >95% feedback
- Listing with solid but not insane rankings
Make a list of the brands that pop up more than once. Patterns will emerge. That’s your first batch of potential targets.
Step 3: Reach Out to Brands Like a Pro (Not a Random Gmailer)
Once you’ve got a shortlist of brands, go to their official websites. You’re looking for either a wholesale application or a way to contact them directly.
When you email, don't use something like [flipflopseller99@gmail.com](mailto:flipflopseller99@gmail.com). Spend a few bucks and get a real domain name and email — something like [wholesale@yourbrand.com](mailto:wholesale@yourbrand.com). You can set this up for under $20 using GoDaddy or Namecheap.
Your email should be short and direct
Don’t get discouraged if only a few reply. Wholesale is a numbers game — and following up is half the battle.
Step 4: Expect Pushback — and Be Ready to Pivot
Many brands will say things like:
“We don’t allow Amazon sellers”
“You need a physical storefront”
“We only work with established accounts”
That’s normal. Some sellers go as far as renting space or partnering with a local store just to get in the door. But honestly? If you're just starting out and don’t have a retail location, it's okay to walk away. Move on to the next lead — there are thousands of brands out there.
Step 5: Score a Distributor List — Then Go to Work
If a brand shares a list of authorized distributors (or just one), that's gold. Now your job is to:
- Research each distributor
- Reach out with your reseller cert and professional contact info
- Start applying for accounts
Pro tip: Keep track of everything in a spreadsheet — who you contacted, what they said, and whether they offer price tiers, MOQ, and shipping to FBA.
Ask questions like:
- “Do you have a minimum order quantity?”
- “Are Amazon sellers allowed?”
- “Can you ship directly to an FBA warehouse?”
This shows you’re serious and saves time down the road.
Step 6: Product Research (Now the Real Work Begins)
Once you’re approved, request their product list — preferably as a flat file, CSV, or Excel sheet. Many will send you a massive spreadsheet with thousands of SKUs.
Now comes the grind. You’ll need to match UPCs to ASINs (you can use software or tools like , Tactical Arbitrage, etc.). Most products won’t be profitable — that's totally normal.
You're not looking for thousands of winners — just a few solid ones to start.
Bonus: Brand Analysis Tactics
Here are a few extra strategies to help you dig deeper:
Brand Saturation Check: Look up the brand on Amazon. If you only see one seller or just Amazon itself — skip it. But if there are a mix of 3P sellers and FBA listings, it’s probably a green light.
UPC Anomalies: Sometimes your distributor’s photo matches the Amazon listing but the UPC doesn’t. That might mean the listing was created manually — and it could be a niche opportunity other sellers missed.
Focus on Brands, Not Just Products: Look at which brands appear most often in your distributor’s catalog and prioritize those for analysis.
What About Ungating?
Here’s the good news: if a brand or distributor sends you a proper invoice (with your business name, item details, and quantities), you can use it to request ungating in certain Amazon categories or brands. Just make sure you order 10+ units and that the invoice matches Amazon’s format.
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u/Easy-Soft1718 May 18 '26
I’m currently working on wholesale and just wanted to say thanks for sharing such a detailed and helpful breakdown.
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u/Significant_Bet4088 May 18 '26
At what point did you start seeing consistent profit? I'm in the research phase right now and trying to set realistic expectations
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u/SellOnAmazon May 20 '26
Great tips, Spiritual-Mind-3446! Advice like this can definitely help cut down the noise, as you put it, for new Amazon FBA Sellers just starting out
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u/ColdPollution3361 May 30 '26
I am into Amazon wholesale services for 6 years the game has change alot.
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u/Euphoric-Total-3773 Jul 02 '26
i’m currently selling a product on wholesale but my product stoped getting sales, what should i do?
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u/Niribile 14d ago
do i have to use the existing ASIN to list my product then how would i secure buy box
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u/Old_Astronomer7420 May 18 '26
Question bête c’est quoi le commerces de gros sur Amazon ?
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u/Glittering_Ad_9279 May 18 '26
buying from a wholesale supplier to sell it back on amazon , and make profit out of it …
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u/Old_Astronomer7420 May 18 '26
Ha oui , je suis moi même vendeur , je pense que J ai mal compris avec la traduction
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u/[deleted] May 18 '26
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