Hello,
I have plan to start Amazon OA, need supplier advice.
Some have physical locations but no positive online ratings, others have good ratings but no physical location.
How can I check authenticity for suppliers (especially those with a physical address but no positive reviews), and what are key red flags to watch for?
Thanks for any quick tips!
Google street view the address. If there is an actual retail location with the supplier name you should be ok. If cashback sites like Rakuten, TopCashBack, etc. offer cashback then the supplier was vetted by them and ok. Review sites are my last option only because they are heavily biased to the negative. I’ll generally pass if the supplier is less than 3* and I’m not able to verify using the other 2 methods.
Hi! Verifying suppliers is crucial, try requesting samples, checking business registrations, and using platforms like Alibaba or Global Sources for verified suppliers. For physical locations with no reviews, can you visit or get references? What product categories are you focusing on? I can share tips to spot red flags!
In online arbitrage, we sell products that are auto-ungated, meaning we don’t need to submit any invoices to Amazon while listing them. For such products, you can source from anywhere, but keep in mind that you must not sell any counterfeit items.
I also have a list of retail suppliers for Amazon online arbitrage. If you’re interested in the service or need help, send me a DM with the message “Retail Suppliers” and I’ll share it with you exclusively.
When checking a supplier’s authenticity, don’t rely on Trustpilot alone, if you search for Amazon.com on it, you’ll see negative reviews, which doesn’t necessarily reflect the actual reliability of the company. Always verify the supplier’s location, warehouse photos, and other supporting details.
“Some don’t have positive online ratings” do you mean bad reviews? What are the reviews about?
Depending on where you live, check if the company is a registered business, VAT/GST registered, if they have an online presence (Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, etc.), reviews, a physical location (store or office), and check their address on Google Maps — what do you see?
So far, l’ve come across two types of suppliers:
Some have great prices, but their profiles are unclaimed on platforms like Trustpilot, meaning they haven’t officially registered or verified their business there. That makes it hard to verify their credibility, even though their offers look attractive.
Others seem more legit on paper they have a physical location, are registered, and even listed on platforms like Trustpilot but their reviews are quite negative. Common complaints include poor customer service, issues when problems arise, or even accusations of selling counterfeit items.
So now I’m stuck in between:
Should I go with a supplier that’s not officially verified online but has good pricing?
Or one that looks registered but has a risky track record?
Also, I have question if a supplier appears authentic and has strong online ratings (e.g. on Trustpilot), but they’re not an authorized distributor and don’t have a physical location, will Amazon accept their invoice if they ever request documentation of supplier from the seller?
If we are talking about OA, there are 100s or 1000s of retailers you can source from.