vending question

I live in USA and have helped run a vending operation before. The guy I vended with retired and moved away. I didn't want to take on the whole operation on my own, and didn't know everyone involved, as it was all on a need-to-know basis. There was one person who we talked to who would then talk to runners and packers. We didn't talk to any of them. Anyway, I got to see how certain things work, but didn't think I had all the know-how to keep it going and keep myself and customers safe.

I still need to make money, and have been thinking about trying to find someone to sell to, who can then sell on DNMs. I can get a product for a price that I can mark up, and the reseller could also mark up, and we could both make a substantial profit. I won't say the product or how much, because this isn't an advertisement. My question is: There is obviously less headache doing it this way, but is there more or less risk? I am assuming less because of less attack surface, but maybe I am wrong and supplying the supplyer would make me a bigger target? And would I need to get a vendor account going anyway? When I helped to vend, we took a big blow when a market went down and I just don't trust them since. But is having an account the only way to build trust? or could I find and established vendor that doesn't carry my product and approach them? Is this normal to do? Anyone here successful at this have any tips?


Comments


[3 Points] None:

unless you can somehow convince people to initially order from you off-market, yeah a vendor account would be necessary. once youve got enough of a customer base, start offering better prices for direct deals and people will begin to migrate.

it;s tough to say whether there's more or less risk by including an additional person. varies from person to person, too. if you trust them and their operation 100% (as in, they wont get caught and if they were to, they wouldn't snitch), including them would be a great decision. allows you to make money not really doign anything. but on the flipside, if you don't trust them and their operation 100%, including them would reap less profits, with greater risk, than if you just did it yourself.

I doubt you'll be able to work out anything with existing vendors. anyone willing to begin doing business with you is probably not someone you'd want to do business with anyway.

on a side note, I like you. I fucking hate all the people on here that think its reddits responsibility to hand-hold potential vendors. I considered vending for awhile, literally had worked out every last detail of the operation (packaging costs, estimates for traveling times, profits after laundering, laundering methods, maximum sales volume, etc) before I decided against it. its refreshing to see someone who alrady knows whats up/has done their research posting on here, instead of the typical "how does make bitcoins back in 2 cash??"


[1 Points] 323329:

Start out on your own, the last thing you want is someone peeking over your shoulder from the get go and learning everything step by step. Anyone with half a brain will be loyal until he learns how to vend and supply by himself. Even if it's your best friend; greed can make people deceptive and creative. With a partnership you won't just have a bigger issue with getting caught, you also stand the chance of becoming disposable.

Instead of partnering up, find someone to run your offline operation once you get enough sales every week. Don't teach him shit about the online part, pay him a set weekly wage, and give him the chance to negotiate on it. If you do it right you also mitigate the risk a normal vendor has. If you get caught they won't find much. If he gets caught you can deny everything, and in case he snitches put the blame entirely on him. If he starts to cause problems, he is disposable, but you won't be. Also, make it clear that he isn't your partner or 'employee', just someone you're helping out.