The ResellerVault Sourcing Guide
How to source stock safely and confidently as a UK reseller. Designed to help UK Whatnot sellers and resellers source stock safely, avoid common pitfalls, and buy with confidence.
Section 01
Understanding Stock Types
Before you start sourcing, it helps to understand the different types of stock available to UK resellers.
Manifest Stock
A manifest is an itemised list of exactly what's in a lot or pallet — every item listed with its description, original retail price, and condition. This is the gold standard for resellers because you know exactly what you're buying before you spend a penny.
What good manifest stock looks like:
- Full item list provided before payment
- Original RRP shown for each item
- Condition clearly stated (new, like new, damaged etc.)
- Brand names included where relevant
Watch out for:
- Manifests sent only after payment — this defeats the purpose
- Vague manifests that just say "mixed clothing" without detail
- RRPs that look inflated to make the deal seem better than it is
Described Lots
Not a full manifest but a clear description of what you're getting — grade, category, brand mix, and pricing. Common with preloved clothing sold by weight (kilo pricing). You won't know exact items but you know enough to assess value.
Examples:
- "Grade A/B women's premium brands, 5kg, £12 per kg — brands include Ralph Lauren, Nike, Phase Eight"
- "Mixed homeware joblot, 50 items approx, kitchen and bathroom, all new"
Blind Stock
No information provided before purchase. You're taking a gamble. Can be profitable but carries the highest risk — especially for beginners.
Our advice: Avoid blind stock until you have experience and can absorb a bad purchase without it hurting your business.
Section 02
How to Assess a Supplier Before Ordering
Never place an order with a supplier you haven't checked. Here's a simple 10-minute check you should do every time.
Step 1 — Check Companies House
Go to find.companieshouse.gov.uk and search the supplier's company name.
Look for:
- Are they registered? If not, be very cautious
- Are they active? (not dissolved or dormant)
- How long have they been trading? (longer = more trustworthy)
- Is their registered address legitimate?
Step 2 — Check Their Website
A legitimate supplier's website should have:
- Clear contact details — phone number, email, physical address
- Real product listings with actual prices
- Clear information about ordering, delivery and returns
- Professional appearance — not a template site with stock photos
Red flags:
- No contact details beyond a contact form
- Prices that seem too good to be true
- Poor quality website with spelling errors
- No physical address listed
Step 3 — Check Their Social Media
Search for them on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Look for:
- Are they active and posting regularly?
- Do they post real photos of actual stock?
- Are there genuine customer comments and reviews?
- Do they respond to comments and messages?
A supplier with an active TikTok showing real warehouse footage and genuine customer unboxings is a strong trust signal.
Step 4 — Google Them
Search "[supplier name] reviews" and "[supplier name] scam UK"
Check:
- Trustpilot reviews
- Facebook group mentions
- Forum discussions
- Any news articles
Step 5 — Make an Enquiry
Before ordering, send a simple enquiry email or message:
"Hi, I'm interested in ordering [product]. Could you tell me more about your minimum order, delivery times, and whether you provide manifests?"
A legitimate supplier will respond promptly and professionally. If they don't respond within 48 hours, that tells you something.
Section 03
Safe Payment Methods
How you pay matters enormously. Some payment methods offer protection, others don't.
✅ Safest Options
Credit card — Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act protects purchases between £100 and £30,000. If you don't receive goods, you can claim a refund from your card provider.
PayPal (Goods & Services) — PayPal's buyer protection covers you if goods don't arrive or aren't as described. Never pay via PayPal Friends & Family — it offers zero protection.
Debit card — Some protection via chargeback through your bank, though less robust than credit card.
⚠️ Use With Caution
Bank transfer (BACS) — Once sent, bank transfers are very difficult to recover. Only use bank transfer with suppliers you've ordered from multiple times and trust completely.
❌ Never Use
Cash — No protection, no paper trail.
Cryptocurrency — Completely unrecoverable if something goes wrong.
Western Union / MoneyGram — Commonly used in scams. No legitimate UK wholesaler should ask for this.
Section 04
What to Ask Before Your First Order
Before committing to any new supplier, ask these questions:
- Can I see the full manifest before payment?
- What is your returns policy if items are damaged or not as described?
- How is stock packaged and shipped?
- What are your delivery timescales?
- Do you offer smaller trial orders for new customers?
- What payment methods do you accept?
- Do you have references from existing customers?
A good supplier will welcome these questions. A bad one will be evasive or dismissive.
Section 05
Understanding Grades
Stock grading varies between suppliers but here are the general UK standards:
- Grade A — Excellent condition, minimal signs of wear, all items functional. As close to new as possible for preloved.
- Grade B — Good condition with some signs of use. May have minor marks or light wear. Still very sellable.
- Grade C — Noticeable wear, marks, or minor damage. Priced to reflect condition. Can still sell well at the right price point.
- Unsorted / Mixed Grade — A mix of all grades, usually cheaper per unit but unpredictable quality.
- New With Tags (NWT) — Brand new, never worn or used, original tags attached.
- New Without Tags (NWOT) — Brand new condition but tags removed. Common with returned items.
Section 06
Calculating Whether Stock Is Worth Buying
Before ordering, do a simple profit calculation:
Total cost of lot ÷ number of items = cost per item
Average selling price on Whatnot − cost per item − fees = profit per item
Don't forget to factor in:
- Whatnot commission (8%)
- Shipping to your buyers
- Your time photographing, listing and packing
- Items that won't sell (there will always be some)
- Storage space
A rough rule of thumb: Aim for stock that you can sell for at least 3x what you paid for it. This gives you enough margin to cover fees, unsellables, and still make a profit.
Section 07
Red Flags — Walk Away If You See These
- Supplier asks for bank transfer only, especially upfront
- Manifest only provided after payment
- Prices dramatically lower than anywhere else
- No Companies House registration
- Pressure to order quickly ("stock going fast")
- No physical address or only a PO box
- Poor communication or slow responses
- No social media presence or fake-looking profiles
- Requests for payment via unusual methods
Section 08
Starting Small
If you're new to sourcing, always start small:
- Order the minimum quantity available
- Test one supplier at a time
- Assess quality before ordering more
- Build relationships with suppliers who treat you well
- Reinvest profits rather than risking large amounts early on
The best resellers on Whatnot UK have 2–3 trusted suppliers they order from regularly — not 20 different ones. Focus on finding those trusted few rather than chasing every new source.
Section 09
Reporting a Problem
If you have a bad experience with a supplier found through ResellerVault:
- Contact the supplier directly first and give them the chance to resolve it
- If unresolved, raise a dispute through your payment provider
- Report the supplier to us via the "Report this Supplier" button on their profile
- Leave an honest review to warn other members
We take all reports seriously and will investigate promptly.
Section 10
Stay Connected
The best source of supplier recommendations is other resellers. Join the conversation:
- Whatnot UK Sellers Facebook Group — our community of UK Whatnot sellers sharing tips, experiences and supplier recommendations
- ResellerVault Blog — regular guides, supplier spotlights and sourcing tips. Read the blog →
ResellerVault is a supplier directory. We provide this guide for educational purposes only. Always conduct your own due diligence before purchasing from any supplier. ResellerVault is not responsible for transactions between members and suppliers.