Selling surplus stock

May 6, 2008 7:10 AM

How can I sell surplus stock in North America?

We have a load of surplus stock, mainly contractor tools and equipment for the service industry. What methods could be used to sell online or are there companies who could take on the task of selling and shipping the stock online where they take their cut and we take ours? Using something like ebay is not really an option as it is too labour intensive for us. There may also be issues regarding our involvement becoming aware by our wholesalers as some of the sales would bypass them and go straight to end-users who are traditionally their customers.

posted by anonymous to work & money (6 comments total)

ReTool buys and sells new and used tools.
posted by Andy's Gross Wart at 8:04 AM on May 6, 2008

I have no experience with this company, but I've seen storefronts for iSold It! and it appears they do all the labor part of the ebay selling and take their commision. I'm not sure how anonymity works with regards to wholesalers but that would certainly take the work out putting it all online and selling it if you're willing to take the % hit from their cut.
posted by genial at 8:31 AM on May 6, 2008

You can try http://www.liquidation.com/. They have an ebay-like interface but might also be able to buy direct from you and resell. You can also do a search for "value added reseller" ("VAR") and call around to see if a VAR might take your equipment off your hands. Might want to see how much they'd sell you the refurbished versions of what you have before talking about selling what you've got - the markups can be huge between purchase and sale for VARs.
posted by lorrer at 9:53 AM on May 6, 2008

Also I know of a VAR for computer, phone, and networking equipment if you have that (I'm not sure what "equipment for the service industry" would entail). www.cxtec.com.
posted by lorrer at 9:55 AM on May 6, 2008

I was under the impression that woot.com sells surplus items. Try them?
posted by wongcorgi at 10:43 AM on May 6, 2008

There may also be issues regarding our involvement becoming aware by our wholesalers as some of the sales would bypass them and go straight to end-users who are traditionally their customers.

Your distributors/retailers WILL find out, I guarantee it. Are you inexperienced in dealing with channel conflict? Are you dependent on good relations with your distribution network? If the answer to either question is yes, then the short-term gain by selling your overstock directly is not worth the long-term pain. Negotiate a deal with an existing partner, blow the stock out and take a hit on the books now.
posted by randomstriker at 10:51 AM on May 6, 2008