Project Segway Self Balancing Scooters

[AussieDollar]

I'm planning to sell a lot of segways after the snow melts away in about a month.

I already have the website up and I'll be promoting it on the streets with couple friends of mine.

I do have one dilemma. I've checked many websites. Aliexpress, alibaba and dhgate and couple others. I like the alibaba very much, but they expect you to order like 1000 of them. But in that way you get them for $100-150 for 6,5 and 10 inch ones each. I've been sending messages for orders of 10, but no replies as they usually have 10 transactions with value of $100,000.

From dhgate I can get 10 inch ones for $220 with free shipping which I never get an answer from alibaba.


What I was planning to do was to put an pre-order offer on my website. $349 usually. Pre-order now and save $50. After that I could see how many orders there is. Then either order the $220 ones or an amazing amount of 1000 of them.

I feel like there is something else I could do, but can't figure it out. Just wondering if someone had a similar situation and found some kind of a solution for it?

-My promo ways are fb/Instagram (30accounts) with social media give aways.
-T-shirts with my website on it and friends wearing them
-Website with 0 link competition. SEO isn't really a big thing here, but I believe the hoverboards will be. It's snowing and some people already driving them!
-Business cards with website to give people who seem interested

All thoughts appreciated

 

[1morenoob]

I doubt alibaba will be much cheaper once they add shipping and if you want to pay with paypal, they're heavy, shipping will be atleast 50$ probably closer to 100$ unless you want to wait 10 weeks+ by boat

Prices don't drop on bulk orders as much as people seem to imagine, as a example say a factory produces 1000s per month they may have their prices set to:
1-10 100$
100-500 90$
1000+ 85$

Trade company buys 1000s at 85$ and is happy to sell fast below 90$ as theres dozens of trade companies competing on price

edit: just seen you're in Asutralia? They might not be replying because of that, I know you have strict customs and the UK has been stopping loads of them for dodgy electronics, I've never had a problem getting replies on alibaba for a 2000$ order

 

[AussieDollar]

I doubt alibaba will be much cheaper once they add shipping and if you want to pay with paypal, they're heavy, shipping will be atleast 50$ probably closer to 100$ unless you want to wait 10 weeks+ by boat

Prices don't drop on bulk orders as much as people seem to imagine, as a example say a factory produces 1000s per month they may have their prices set to:
1-10 100$
100-500 90$
1000+ 85$

Trade company buys 1000s at 85$ and is happy to sell fast below 90$ as theres dozens of trade companies competing on price

edit: just seen you're in Asutralia? They might not be replying because of that, I know you have strict customs and the UK has been stopping loads of them for dodgy electronics, I've never had a problem getting replies on alibaba for a 2000$ order

I understand. I'm just trying to figure out how to get below the $220. I would have time to wait 3 months. That's kind of the "hot" season for the segways.

I just moved out of the country so not living in Australia at the moment. Just going to keep sending messages. I also thought about making some kind of a deal with local small electronic shops. To sell 300 for 3 stores or similar. But many many things to consider.