Your first wholesale sneaker order: a buyer’s checklist

A desk review based on available product information. Individual fit and performance vary.

A wholesale inquiry works best when it describes an order that a supplier can price accurately. Begin with the intended customer, selling region, approximate quantity and preferred models. Keep sample evaluation separate from the decision to place a larger order. A low unit price alone does not show that the assortment will work for your business.

Confirm who supplies what

Request the supplier’s business identity and clarify whether it sells as a retailer, distributor or another type of intermediary. Product photographs and a brand name do not by themselves establish authorisation or origin. Ask for the documentation relevant to the transaction and your intended market; do not describe an item as officially authorised without supporting evidence.

Define the assortment

List product codes, colourways and quantities by size. Ask whether a minimum applies per model, per colour or to the whole order. Confirm whether mixed sizes are accepted and whether substitutions require your approval. A total quantity without a size breakdown can hide an unsuitable allocation.

Agree on a sample

Ask what the sample costs, how it relates to the proposed production or stock batch, and which features can be inspected. Document labels, packaging, visible workmanship and dimensional consistency. Keep photographs and notes. One satisfactory sample is useful evidence about that sample, not a guarantee that every later unit is identical.

Calculate the delivered cost

Request item price, packing, freight and the stated delivery arrangement separately. Identify which charges are included and who handles destination formalities. Currency, payment fees and returns can also affect the commercial result. Obtain location-specific import or tax advice when needed rather than relying on a generic rate in a product listing.

Put acceptance in writing

The final order should identify the goods, quantities, agreed condition, payment milestones, delivery expectations and the process for shortages or defects. Confirm how long the quotation remains valid. Keep the correspondence and inspect the received batch against the agreed list. PiBest inquiries help organise requirements; a submitted inquiry is not a confirmed order, a stock reservation or a payment instruction.