Before your first order, ask a wholesale supplier about its business, its stock, its Amazon policy, its terms and its invoices. The answers tell you whether the supplier is legitimate and whether its products will work for Amazon FBA. Here are 12 questions and why each one matters.
Quick answer: Ask where the stock comes from, whether its brands allow Amazon sales, what the minimum order and lead time are, what its invoices show, how it handles damages and expiration dates, and what payment methods it accepts. Then start with a small test order.
12 Questions to Ask a Wholesale Supplier
- Where does your stock come from? Tells you whether you are buying from an authorized source or a secondary one.
- Are you an authorized distributor for these brands? Matters for gated brands and complaints. You can check if a distributor is authorized with the brand.
- Does the supplier allow selling on Amazon? Some brands and distributors do not, and buying anyway can lead to complaints.
- Do any of your brands have a MAP policy? You need to know the pricing rules before you list. See MAP policy.
- What is your minimum order? Make sure it fits your budget.
- What is your lead time? Affects when your stock reaches Amazon.
- What does your invoice show? You need the supplier’s details, your details, products and quantities.
- How do you handle damages and shortages? Know the process before something goes wrong.
- What are the expiration dates on dated products? Amazon has shelf-life rules for dated items.
- Can you label, prep or ship to Amazon FBA? Saves you a prep-center step.
- What payment methods do you accept? Look for options with some protection for a first order.
- Can you share a reference from another Amazon seller? A good sign of an established relationship.
Write the answers down. If a supplier will not answer most of them, move on.
Questions to Ask a Distributor Before Buying for Amazon
Distributors carry many brands, so ask brand by brand: which ones you can sell on Amazon, which have MAP or other resale terms, and which need approval in your account.
Should I Place a Test Order With a New Supplier?
Yes. A small first order lets you check:
- the real lead time
- the condition and packaging of the goods
- whether the invoice is complete and accurate
- how the supplier communicates and fixes problems
If everything checks out, scale up with confidence.
How to Ask
Keep it simple: one email with your questions and a short introduction to your business. Our wholesale account email templates give you a starting point.
For the full vetting process, use the checklist in how to vet wholesale suppliers.
Our Answers
Ask us anything on this list. Our minimum order is $1,000, orders ship in 3–7 days, we offer FNSKU labeling, poly-bagging and case shipping to Amazon FBA, and every order includes an invoice. Apply for a wholesale account to get our price list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the supplier allow selling on Amazon?
Ask directly, brand by brand. Some brands restrict Amazon sales, and some distributors only sell to physical stores.
How big should a test order be?
Big enough to meet the minimum and test a few products, small enough that a problem would not hurt your business.
What if a supplier refuses to answer?
Treat it as a warning sign. Legitimate suppliers expect these questions.