Wholesale sourcing for Amazon FBA starts with three checks: can your account sell the exact item, does the inventory match the listing, and do the numbers still work after fulfillment and selling costs? A low purchase price alone does not answer any of them.
Check eligibility before committing to inventory
Review the exact product, brand, category and condition in Seller Central. Some products require approval. Ask the supplier what sourcing documents it can provide and compare them with Amazon's current requirements before ordering. Buying from a wholesaler does not guarantee approval, invoice acceptance or permission to sell a brand.
Amazon's wholesale sourcing guidance explains supplier validation and purchase documentation. Its reselling guide is another starting point. Check your own account for the requirements that apply to your proposed listing; this article does not establish GreatBuy as an Amazon-authorized or brand-authorized supplier.
Compare the exact selling unit
- Item identity: match the model, size, color, UPC where present, and included accessories. Similar packaging is not enough.
- Pack configuration: a shipping case can contain many retail units. A retail multipack may count as one sellable unit. Match the listing's pack quantity before calculating revenue.
- Condition: inspect the actual offer, packaging and available condition information. Do not assume closeout or liquidation stock is new, sealed or eligible for your intended listing.
- Demand: use recent evidence for the exact item and realistic competing prices. A suggested retail price is not proof of an achievable resale price.
The GreatBuy case-pack guide explains shipping cases and retail units. Confirm the specific order details before paying.
A purchase-price spread is not take-home profit
If an item costs $5 and sells for $25, the $20 difference is only the spread between those two numbers. Shipping, preparation, marketplace charges, returns and other costs still need to be deducted.
Illustrative example per sold unit: $25 selling price minus $5 merchandise, $2 inbound transport and preparation, $7 selling and fulfillment charges, and $1 expected returns/storage allowance leaves $10 before advertising, overhead and taxes. Those inputs are hypothetical, not Amazon's fee schedule or a GreatBuy earnings claim. Unsold or damaged stock can reduce the result further.
Use the current fees for your exact product, size, weight and fulfillment method. Recalculate at a lower resale price and slower sales pace before scaling. The landed-cost planner can help allocate a wholesale shipment's purchase and inbound costs; it does not calculate Amazon fees.
Plan fulfillment and repeat orders separately
With FBA, eligible inventory goes through Amazon's receiving and fulfillment process. Confirm the current preparation, labeling and shipment requirements before sending goods. A supplier's delivery to your business is a separate step from an Amazon inbound shipment. Confirm any requested preparation or direct-shipping service with the supplier instead of assuming it is included.
Closeout quantities can be finite. A successful test order does not guarantee the same SKU will be available again. Start with an amount you can inspect, store and afford to hold, then evaluate actual sales, returns and remaining stock before reordering.
Questions to answer before your first order
- Can my account list this exact item and condition, and what documents are required?
- How many sellable retail units are in each case?
- What do the listing, photos and supplier records establish about condition?
- What is my estimated contribution after all variable costs at a realistic selling price?
- Who handles preparation and transport at each step, and what remains uncertain?
Browse stock with a specific buying plan
GreatBuy supplies closeout and general merchandise from Los Angeles. Browse currently stocked merchandise, then ask about the exact SKU, case quantity and available documentation. Evaluate each item for your own sales channel; availability in the catalog is not an Amazon approval or profit guarantee.
Substantively reviewed September 19, 2026. Original publication date retained. Platform guidance linked above was checked on this review date; requirements can change.