If you've been reselling for a while, you've probably heard a version of this story: someone pays a "supplier" a couple hundred pounds for stock, and then nothing. No tracking number, no reply, no stock. Or a bundle turns up half empty, nothing like the photos.
It happens more than people think — and it's usually not because the reseller was careless. It's because the warning signs weren't obvious until it was too late.
Here's how to protect yourself, whether you're buying from a wholesale supplier or picking up a bundle from another reseller.
Buying from wholesale suppliers
Check for a Companies House number.
This should be your first, easiest check. It tells you the business is a real, legally registered entity — not just a random email address or Instagram page. You can search any company for free at Companies House, which will show you the registered address and the names of the directors.
Worth being clear on what this does and doesn't tell you though: a Companies House number isn't a guarantee that a supplier is good. It doesn't confirm their stock is genuine, that they'll deliver on time, or that they'll be pleasant to deal with. What it does tell you is that there's a real legal entity behind the listing — which is a much safer starting point than nothing at all. Treat it as one signal among several, not a green light on its own.
Never pay into a personal account for a business purchase.
If a "wholesale supplier" asks you to transfer money to what's clearly a personal bank account rather than a business one, that's a red flag worth taking seriously. Legitimate businesses invoice and take payment as a business.
Ask for an invoice before you pay.
A proper supplier will have no issue sending one. If they dodge the question or get vague, that tells you something.
Start small.
Before committing to a big bulk order, test the water with a smaller first order. It costs you a bit more per unit, but it's far cheaper than finding out the hard way that a £500 order was a mistake.
Buying from other resellers (bundles, joblots, Take The Lot style listings)
Peer-to-peer bundle buying works a bit differently — you're not dealing with a registered business, you're dealing with another individual seller. The checks are different, but just as important.
Check their selling history first.
Look them up on eBay, Vinted, Whatnot, wherever they're active. Feedback and reviews tell you a lot about whether they're reliable.
Use a payment method with buyer protection.
PayPal Goods & Services, not Friends & Family. It's tempting to use F&F to avoid fees, but it also means you have no protection if something goes wrong. That fee is basically insurance.
Insist on trackable, insured postage.
Never agree to "I'll just post it, don't worry" with no tracking number. If a bundle goes missing in the post and there's no tracking, you have no recourse.
Get clear photos and condition confirmation before you pay, not after.
If someone's cagey about sending extra photos or answering specific questions about condition, that's worth noticing.
Red flags that should make you walk away
A few signs are common across both wholesale and peer-to-peer buying:
Pressure to pay immediately — "someone else is interested" is a classic urgency tactic
No online presence anywhere else — if you can't find them beyond the one listing, be cautious
Reluctance to answer basic questions — a legitimate seller won't dodge simple things like "can I see more photos" or "what's your return policy"
Prices that feel too good to be true — if it's dramatically cheaper than everyone else for no clear reason, ask why
Trust your gut here. If something feels off, it usually is.
If it's already gone wrong
Contact your bank or PayPal immediately to look into a chargeback or dispute — the sooner you act, the better your chances
Report it wherever you found the listing, so others don't fall into the same trap
Warn your community, responsibly — share your experience clearly and factually, without accusing anyone of anything you can't actually prove
The bigger picture
None of this is about being paranoid — it's just about building the same habits any smart buyer builds over time. A few minutes of checking before you pay can save you a genuinely stressful, costly situation later.
It's also exactly why we built ResellerVault the way we did — every supplier in our directory is checked before it goes live, and we flag Companies House verification where we've confirmed it. It's not a guarantee of a perfect experience every time, but it's a much safer starting point than searching blind.