Bulk Cameras: Tips on Buying Wholesale Cameras

In the past, I bought small bulk lots of five to thirty cameras each and resold them on eBay. Here are some tips on how to choose the best wholesale cameras, which will sell quickly and satisfy customers...

1. Don't pay extra for bulk cameras that come in a plastic package with film and batteries. The batteries and film will often have already reached their expiration dates, and should not be sold to customers.

2. Consider buying bulk cameras that come with accessories like flash units, wrist straps, or mini tripods. Sometimes these items are separately worth more than the basic camera they come with.

3. Avoid buying wholesale camera products that don't include instructions. I have found that even simple cameras result in more inquiries and return requests if they don't come with any directions.

4. Digital cameras are typically worth more than equivalent film models when they are new. However, digital units generally lose more value over time as they become incompatible with new computers.

5. If possible, look up the camera weight and dimensions before buying it wholesale. Small, light units are easier and less costly to ship. This may or may not be important, depending upon where you plan to sell them.

6. Don't make assumptions (good or bad) based upon the brand name. At times I have bought quality cameras made by brand names I had never heard of, and I've also purchased mediocre products from major brands (and vice versa).

7. Certain cameras require special batteries that cost more and are only carried by a few stores. You must obtain these batteries for testing, so it is only worthwhile if the wholesale product is fairly valuable.

8. Some companies have manufactured low-quality "counterfeit" cameras in bulk and illegally printed major brands on them. Searching for information on the model number will usually reveal any such problems.

9. Wholesale cameras that allow the attachment of accessories (like tripods, flashes, straps, or shutter release cables) are more attractive to customers and offer additional sales opportunities.

10. Keep in mind that one or two of the items in a wholesale lot may be broken or damaged in shipping. Cameras with flashes or motors are more likely to suffer damage in this way.

11. People like extra features such as panoramic or underwater photography, f-stop settings, and zoom lenses. It is hard for a basic nondescript camera to compete with so many others like it, although such products are very cheap to purchase in bulk.

12. The appearance of a camera is important to customers. Often a cheap-looking camera model will remain difficult to sell, even if it has better features than a more solid-looking product.

Using these tips when you look for wholesale camera products to purchase will help you make the right choice, thus avoiding poor-quality or hard-to-sell bulk cameras.