Kelly

The strange thing is they aren't coming out and asking for free samples. They ask about my terms and such. And then when I recommend they try the products (I offer sampler packs) that's when I don't hear back. I guess that's why I assume they are hoping I'd say "Let me send you a free sample". Not going to happen. They sure come up with some believable stories as to why they want to wholesale with you though!

If you have already clicked on anything in that email or logged into PayPal from a link within that email go to PayPal immediately and change your password! Oops ChrisR already said this, but it is that important that it be mentioned at least twice!

As my business expands, I'm getting more and more emails for wholesale information. I do have a wholesale program to large or small business' will to meet my reasonable requirements. But anyway, everytime I respond to these inquiry's I never hear back from them. I'm wondering, are these people just out fishing for free samples? I feel like I have a pretty fair wholesale program with a minimum first time purchase of $100.00 and anything you purchase before you sign up for the program is deducted from that $100.00. So for example, if they buy $20.00 worth of items to try them out before them commit I'll then take that $20.00 off of the minimum, so it would only be a $80.00 order. Anyway, it seems that when I recommend they purchase some items to try them out first I never hear back. Just wondering if other business owners run into this and if I am in fact right about them just fishing for free stuff...?

Maybe this will help. I asked a similar question yesterday. http://www.candletech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58270

Yes it makes sense. Thanks for your response!

prairieannie - Another question if you see this (or someone else who may know can chime in), if you wholesale out your products do you charge state sales tax to your client?

Awesome. Thanks so much for your help!

I agree going in person in most cases probably is best, but I can't afford trips across the state (or other states for that matter - not yet anyway!) Which limits me to email, mail or phone. Thanks for your advice, I appreciate it. Did you need to do anything special tax-wise or license-wise to be able to sell your products wholesale?

Ok that's what I figured but I figured I would ask since their may be unspoken rules for going about this sort of thing. I just don't want to do things wrong! My aunt who runs a gas station/gift shop (tourist town) said that they would never take phone calls and they ask people to leave when reps come into their gas station. They prefer the unsolicited materials and samples so they can browse/try them at their leisure. So who knows! Can't please everyone all the time I suppose. Someone won't like phone calls, someone won't like free samples, someone won't like mailings. *Shrug*

Mail info packets with samples to potential business' that are not within driving distance in the hopes that they will carry your products? Is it more appropriate to call first and ask if you can send them the packet? What is the proper ettiquette? TIA

Hi, Can anyone tell me where to find Three Kings Charcoal Tablets at an affordable price and at a reliable supplier? Everything I seem to be finding doesn't look very... safe (yes I'm one of those cautious to put their CC# online peeps). TIA! Kelly

I also don't want to be mean or discouraging, I'm just curious, where does a 17 year old get the finances to do this type of business? I've spent thousands testing and when I was 17 I sure didn't have thousands of dollars at my disposal! But I agree with Late Night, you really need to do the proper testing for everything. Keep your website up to date (I'm not good at this one myself, but you need to update frequently and take out-dated or incorrect information off ASAP). Take your time being a super seller doesn't happen over night and sometime not at all. A bigger variety doesn't always mean a better product. But good luck with the T-Shirts. I followed the link you provided for the "original" shirts and I couldn't even read them, that's how out of touch I must be with this particular item. The font, colors, layout, design is just way to busy for me.

SOS has a review system like this too. This do make a statement where they will remove any reviews if they don't meet certain criteria. But it's great too, because if you find a negative review or a product that has no review they will send you a free 1 ounce sample (limit 4 per order). I can't tell you how many free samples I've gotten (before they had the 4 per order I went wild - I may have been the reason for the 4 per order rule!) and usually the reviews by other customers are pretty accurate to my results as well.

Here is what I had copied off of thier site about 2 months ago. There is a note that says this at the bottom: These are guidelines only. Please call 732-922-2520 for your personalized quote. _____________________________________________________ Price per pound Fragrances for Candles, Soaps and Body Oils: Value: $10 Standard: $12 Premium: $14 Designer Fragrances for Candles, Soaps and Body Oils: Standard: $16 Premium: $18 Premium Designer Fragrances for Body Oils ONLY: Value: $18 Standard: $25 Premium: $30 Essential Oils: Call for pricing. Many of our Essential Oils are available as Certified Organic. Contact us for availability and prices.

I think I copied the priced list awhile back when they had it on their site and saved it in a word doc. It's on my other computer but I think the pricing structure was $10.00 for the lowest concentratation and $16.00 for the highest and designer fragrances. But like you said that could have changed because it's no longer on the site. I pretty much won't order from someone who doesn't allow for online shopping, so I won't get to try out RA.

Ah there is the difference I don't order gallon size. But I have gotten a few pound size which weren't in bags but that probably depends on who is packing them since I really ordered only a couple.

Really? I order from them a lot and never had my bottles taped or in a ziplock bag, never. They always arrive with the screwed on top or wrapped in a plastic grocery store type bag. Maybe it's because I'm in Wisconsin it only takes about a day to get to me that they don't bother with the tape and ziplocks?

I personally feel this same way even about cosmetic grade FO's. You are putting chemical directly on the skin, when you could just mix it with a carrier get the same strenght fragrance and be putting a safer product on your skin. Everyone has difference skin chemistry, so better safe than sorry!

So when you order the boxes online do you still have to pay S&H?

Well I wish I would have been thinking ahead! I need to ship some candles Monday and don't have any of the boxes on hand. I'll have to stop by the post office tomorrow and hope they have some!

Hi... I have a question about these. Can you just pick up the boxes from the post office or do you have to order them through the USPS website? Are the square ones sturdy enough for packing candles in? The pictures on the site look a little flimsy to me, but if I don't use these boxes I don't think I'd get the flat rate price. TIA Kelly

PM'd ya Wick'n'wax

Where in the process is he? Has he uploaded your site? (Can you go to your web address and it'll show your site?). It's hard to offer advice because I'm not really sure where exactly he's falling short. There is something he isn't finishing, I get that, but what?

Thank you so much for this information. Maybe this would be something better to try for personal use instead of adding it to my product line. Personally, I think it sounds cool.

I have seen and read about the loose powder incense... is this easy to make? Do you scent it the same way as you do stick or cone incense? I'd like to make a powder incense to sell in tins but I'm not sure this is a possibility because I don't fully understand the whole loose incense deal. If someone could help me out I'd be greatful! Thanks, Kelly