becoming direct with Topps, Upper Deck, etc

kingraider75

I was thinking about becoming a direct wholeseller with some card companies, perhaps opening up a shop, or just flipping wax at shows or on ebay.

Anyone know how hard it is to be become direct with any of the card companies??

Stone193

<< <i>I was thinking about becoming a direct wholeseller with some card companies, perhaps opening up a shop, or just flipping wax at shows or on ebay.

Anyone know how hard it is to be become direct with any of the card companies?? >>


UD requires that you have a storefront and solid proof with pics, resale license, lease etc.

your friend
Mike

kingraider75

ok, forget UD. How about the others?? Anyone know about Inkworks, Comic Images, Rittenhouse??

shambo2000

I inquired with Topps a few months back and they also required a physical storefront documented inside and out with pictures.

Shannon
shambo2000

Stone193

king
Chris Kuhlmann is a dealer from the Atlanta area - I contacted him and asked him to come over and answer your questions. He monitors the boards daily - so he will be here soon.

your friend
Mike

kingraider75

cool thanks Mike.

Sounds like Topps and Upper Deck want a storefront to be set up already, guess that's why wholesales are around.

envoy98

I attempted to do the same thing. I was shot down immediately by all the companies. They all wanted a Sales Tax ID, pictures of the storefront, a copy of an advertisement in a local magazine, paper or trade publication as well as copies of 2 different utility bills with the company name and address on it.

Your best bet is to go after one of the wholesale distributors. The prices aren't as good, but they are very competitive.

In case you haven't found this info yet.
Topps - 212-376-0300

Donruss/Leaf/Playoff

Fleer.
16. How do I purchase product for my business?

If you have an established collectibles business, you may be eligible to buy directly from Fleer/SkyBox and be a part of our Hobby Bullpen Program or buy from one of our authorized distributors. For information regarding this program, please call our Hobby Sales Department at 800-338-1347 or e-mail us at hobbyinfo@fleer.com with the following information:

Company name
Contact name
Address in the USA
Phone number
Type of business
(Hobby Shop /Trade Show /Mail Order / Internet [please provide web and/or email address])


Hope that helps.

kingraider75

sounds like a storefront has to be up first. Guess that makes sense from the card companies standpoint.

Pharber

Does anybody have a list of reliable distributors so that we don't have to go through a second middleman?

Knuckles

What if you have a business license and all that jazz but just had an online store? That should be fine especially today..

kingraider75

guess most companies want a storefront. Maybe I can ask around the shops and see if anyone will hook me up. If they can sell me something for maybe 5-10% over their wholesaler, it might be ok. But I guess it would be hard to compete pricewise at that rate still.

NickM

Kingraider - you should also check with SAGE and Press Pass. As smaller companies, they may not be as selective.

Nick

helionaut

All companies have tightened their requirements for direct ordering after a number of people became phony dealers. They'd send in photos of some random card shop and claim it was theirs. My LCS was mis-represented at least twice that I know of. Donruss, I think, requires photos of the inside of the shop now, showing at least 3 walls with sports memorabilia prominently displayed. I people are more deterred if they have to go into a shop and take photos.

Card companies have a pyramid buying plan, or at least they used to. You have to order 3 cases of product X to get 2 cases of product Y to get 1 case of product Z, where X is a junk product, Y is a solid mid-line brand and Z is a highly anticipated perennial like SP Authentic or Bowman Chrome. Otherwise no one would order X and few would order Y. They also don't sell direct to most online dealers and weekend warriors because those types of people are usually cash-poor and are the ones you see pre-selling cases at cost because they have to cover their nut long enough for the big payday products to come out. That usually makes product DOA and a long-term buzzkill for the card companies.

kuhlmann

kingraider

You have to have a store front with street sign and pics of the store. to go direct with all card companies.
you can however go through distributors you need a tax license etc..
in my opionion its not worth the trouble. seems to me the guys selling on ebay are flipping for a 5$ profit on boxers most of the time after fees. im actually looking to sell my sports store and just do online sales. this way i can only go through distributors. which i find easier anyway.

you need any other help just pm me.

kingraider75

kuhlman, I tried to PM you, but I dont' think it worked. If you get a blank message it's me! lol thanks

Crusader765

I was trying to do the same thing.

I do not have a storefront but do have a resale license and tax id.

I contacted Fleer last week about their list of distributors. Their response:

"I appreciate your interest and support. However, our distributors will
also require that you own a store location to purchase from them. "

So much for distributors not requiring a storefront. I'd really like to know how these people without storefronts are selling their brand new release boxes on ebay for so cheap and not going broke. I contacted Dave and Adams about their dealer program. The savings were pretty measly, like 25 dollars off a 900 dollar case. Not even close to profitable for ebay sellers.