Introduction
This article shows you how to source products on the Wholesale Search portal using the Basic search page. By the end of this article, you will know how to:
- input source resources
- use filters
- launch a search and use the Search Manager tool
1. Activating basic tools
The Wholesale Search page has two states: Advanced and Basic.
This article shows you how to use Basic search. For information about Advanced tools, see:
To display Basic on the Wholesale Search page:
- Click Wholesale Search on the side menu bar. The Wholesale Search page displays.
- In the top left corner, click the toggle towards Basic. Basic tools display on the page.
2. Selecting a source
The first step is to input a manifest, your source of products to scan.
2.1 The Manifest or Product sheet
The first option is to upload a manifest. That's a document with a list of products for sale. The list includes product titles, prices, UPCs and, if you are lucky, ASINs.
The structure of the file is simple. At a minimum, you need one column each for titles, UPCs, and prices. You can add a fourth column of ASINs. Your file can be a csv, xls, or xlsx.
The image below shows an example of the file structure.
2.1.1 Uploading a file
- Click UPLOAD NEW FILE.
- Select a file on your computer and then click Open. The Use Wholesale List panel displays.
2.1.2 Check column names
Before the file uploads, the system asks you to check the names of the columns. Default file names are auto-filled, but you have to check them.
- To change the name of a column, click a field. A drop-down menu displays.
- Select a name on the menu.
- Click UPLOAD.
- Note: The system asks you to name the header row. By default, it is 1. You can change the row number. This is a useful tool if the file has non-searchable information at the top of the page (e.g. store name or address).
2.2 Add a New Source
A wholesaler identifier is very useful for sorting later, especially after many searches.
This is optional and you can leave this blank, however it's good practice to insert, for example a domain, or a business name or some other way you like to identify them.
In short, you label your source, or select an existing one you already labeled here before from a previous scan, before proceeding.
3. Using basic filters
3.1 Cost data
The next step is to enter cost data.
The Tactical Arbitrage algorithm uses these figures to estimate your profit per sale and gross return on investment (ROI).
For most new users, it's a good to enter a number in all cost fields. These costs will give you a more realistic ROI estimate.
- If you live in a jurisdiction that charges sales tax (or your business doesn't enjoy tax-exempt status), enter a figure in the Sales Tax field, or leave as blank if your tax is 0%.
- The Prep $ / Item field is your cost or your prep houses cost to prepare a product for shipping to the Amazon facility you work with.
- This field estimates shipping costs to Amazon based on weight. It's a difficult number to capture accurately for new users. With experience, you develop a keen sense of this cost for your product range.
3.2 Without positive ROI
In the default OFF (orange) position, this switch omits products that do not show a potentially positive ROI.
- Toggle ON the switch to include products in the search results which do not generate a positive POI.
4. Running a search
The final step is to name the search and then start a search.
- Click the field beside Name a Search and enter a unique title.
- Click the SEARCH button.
In Basic tools, you can run up to seven searches at one time.
4.1 Search Manager
The Search Manager tracks searches and search results. You can also look at search results using the View Data tool.
- Scroll up to the top of the Basic tools page and locate the green button.
- Click SEARCH MANAGER. A new page displays.
For more information, see: