The VA route fails for a structural reason, not a people reason. VAs scan the same price lists every other seller already has, so whatever margin existed is gone before you open the file.
Experienced wholesale sellers mostly work backwards instead. Start on Amazon, not with the wholesaler. Find brands already selling well with a handful of sellers on the listing, no Amazon on the buy box, stable pricing, then go find who officially distributes that brand and open the account.
The brand’s “where to buy” page or one email to their sales team usually names the distributors. It’s slower, ten conversations might open three accounts. But those accounts are yours, and that’s the difference between consistently profitable and sharing a dying price list with two hundred sellers who found it the same day you did.