All the most common and some uncommon questions are answered here.


About Us

Who are The Select?

The Select is a business opportunities company founded in 2004 to help individuals and small businesses establish themselves selling products online with minimum risk.

Since that time we have grown in size and developed our services to not only include drop shipping (the practice of shipping a single item directly to your customer) but also to provide tools and services in the aid of online selling.

Our company is there to give you the platform to succeed without investing thousands of pounds in stock, websites and advertising. We can give you everything you need to sell and be successful online with just one small cost. We can do this because over the years we have built up our infrastructure of suppliers, systems and skilled personnel.

Our job is to help you make money online.

Do you have any awards Awards or Recognition?

Yes we have won and been nominated for a number of awards since we began in business. They range from customer orientated online service to awards for e-commerce excellence. We have just been nominated for the 2010 Electronics Expo award.

In 2005 we were recognized by the Department of Trade and Industry with an award for 'eCommerce Customer Care'

Earlier this year we we were a finalist in the European IT awards for software development.

Brining us up to date in October 2010 we were nominated for the 'eCommerce Awards for Excellence 2010' we will keep you posted on what happens!

How Does It Work?

How do I make money?

You will make money using our service in one of three ways:

1) Selling on eBay / Amazon: You will list any of our products for a good competitive price (e.g. £100). Once you sell the item you log back into our website and order from us and pay the low cost price (e.g. £50). The profit is the difference (e.g. £50) which is for yourself and this is how you make money.

2) Selling on Your New Website: All the products from our stock are listed on your website. You decide if you want them to appear and what price they sell at etc. In the same way as eBay if you list a product for £100 but the cost is £50 you will make an instant £50 profit with every sale. Once you have received an order you will be notified by email and you process with one click which dispatches the product and charges you the cost (e.g. £50) leaving you with the difference (e.g. £50) and this is how you make money.

How do you set up a website?

After payment has been received for your account you will be sent an email with a link which is the starting point for the set up of your website. All you need to do is click on that link and then make your design selections and chose your domain name. The website will then go live within 24 hours. If however you have chose the design option then your account manager will contact you to find out your requirements before sending this information to on of our designers and they will develop a new design for you within 3 days. The website will then go live.

How do I sell on eBay or Amazon?

When you become a member of our service you are sent an email with your login details to this website. Once you have logged in you will see a website area dedicated to assisting you in selling products on auction websites such as Amazon or eBay. This includes easy access to downloads of the images, advertising and text for creating the perfect eBay / Yahoo advert. Once you have placed your advert and you make the sale you simply log back into our website and order from us to be delivered direct to your customer.

How do I get paid?

You are paid by selling products at a higher rate than their cost price from us. With our service you sell before you buy but every product has a specific cost price which is lower than the normal retail price. Sometimes up to 90% lower. Therefore when you sell a product at the market rate (e.g. £100) and you buy from us at the cost price rate (£50) you make the £50 as the remaining gross profit. Because you sell before you buy this profit will remain with you after you purchase the product for your customer from us.

Business Potential

How Much Money Can I Make?

This depends as much on your own input as ours. We can provide you with the best possible platform and opportunity to make sales online but you still have to use it. On average our members earn between £500-£1000 per month net profit but depending on your input and if you work well with us you could earn as much as £5000 per month on a top level package such as eCommerce with Design & Marketing.

How quickly can I make back my investment?

It depends how you market the products and your website. If for example you start selling products straight away on eBay and Amazon you could make 1 or 2 sales and make your money back within just 2-3 days. If you are just concentrating on building up your website so it gets to the top of the search engines then it could take longer however you can always get instant results with websites just by using pay per click and other traffic resources.

What are the average and top earnings?

Ecommerce Website: Average earnings around £500 per month with top earnings around £2500 per month.

Ecommerce Website With Design: Average around £600 a month with top earnings around £4000 per month.

Ecommerce Website With Design & Marketing: Average around £800 a month with top earnings around £6000 per month.

Who are your most successful clients?

Unfortunately we can't disclose client information due to our rigid privacy policy which is designed to protect our clients who are understandably very precious about their websites and the success they enjoy. We are sometimes able however to give examples of new websites being produced or old designs so please feel free to contact us if you would like some examples.

What happens if I'm not successful?

If you have any problems or you consider that the service is not working for you then all you need to do is pick up the phone or email us. You have a team of people here dedicated to your success, if something is not working there is always a reason and with over 7 years experience you can be sure we will find that reason very quickly and give you the necessary advise to turn yourself around and become successful. Our job is to ensure that you make money from our service so that you will continue using us year after year.

Products

How do you buy products and where do they come from?

We have our own buying team who work directly with the sales team of the main manufacturers and distributors in the UK. We buy in bulk and this enables us to create the available margin which you benefit from.

Do you have a full price list?

We provide products for online Retailers all over the world and part of our commitment to them is to keep their prices secure and non-disclosed to non members. This means we are unable to provide a full price list before you join however we have designed the website to give you an accurate representation of our products and the potential margin you could achieve based against todays selling prices. We also believe that huge spreadsheets full of prices are not helpful to anyone because there are so many prices and they change all the time. Of course once you become a client of ours you are inside the Retailer group and all pricing information is disclosed.

Do you have any price/profit guarantees?

Yes we do. As the UK's leading drop ship company we guarantee that our drop ship prices are the lowest of any drop shipper in the UK. We will match or beat any drop ship price online from a UK supplier.

How do we know that a product is safe to sell?

We only buy from UK based manufacturers and distributors. Every product has to be CE marked to comply with European safety regulations which are very strict. We do not and never will sell products which we consider to be a potential hazard to the buyer.

Do you constantly update your product range?

Yes we have a monthly review of products and each day our buyers work to find new product lines which we can add to our product base. We also cut product lines which are not performing so that the products which remain are all products with great sales and profit potential. It's very important, especially with eBay that we carry products which are current and in demand as it makes them much easier for you to sell.

Can I specialize in any specific product range?

Yes of course. This is often a good tactic as it allows your marketing to be very targeted and this way you can usually hit higher conversion rates. The websites are easy to customize so if you wanted to specialize in 'Baby Care' or 'Gadgets' or 'Console games' then you could do so simply by turning off the other categories. You can also turn off individual products with just the click of a button.

Can I add my own products to the website?

Yes you can add products and product categories to your website at anytime. There is no limit or restriction on this.

Shipping

How do you ship items?

Everything we ship is sent out on a maximum 48 hour delivery with full tracking and insurance. We use a mix of Royal Mail for smaller items as this is cost effective and couriers for bulkier products or high value items.

What is the average delivery turnaround?

In 90% on instances the product will arrive with your customer the very next day. However our standard turnaround is 48 hours. If you order before 3pm(GMT) it will be shipped the same day. The only exception to this is furniture products which are often made to order and can take longer although this is advised on the product information.

What is the average shipping price?

Most items ship for around £3-£4 and included within that you have full insurance if anything goes wrong and you have full tracking details. Most importantly this means you can prove that item was sent to your customer and that they received it. The shipping price can be build into your cost if you want to offer 'Free' shipping.

Are the products insured when they are shipped?

Yes absolutely. Every product is ensured for it's value. This means that if for any reason the courier damages or loses the product your customer can be sent an immediate replacement.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes we do ship internationally. We also have distribution centres all over the world so it can sometimes be cheaper depending on the proximity of the distribution centre to your country. Don't forget that you can also sell our products to the UK market from anywhere in the world, if you are from outside the UK you are not limited to just selling in your own country.

What is your returns policy?

Within 7 Days: The item can be sent back for any reason as long as the packaging remains intact.

Within 30 Days: The item can be sent back for any fault or technical problem.

All electrical items also come with at least 1 year manufacturers warranty.

What is the returns procedure?

1) The client contacts logs into your website. They select that they wish to return the item.
2) We receive this request and contact them under your brand with a shipping address to send the product back to.
3) We receive the product, check the product and refund the product to your account.
4) You then use these funds to refund your client or offer an alternative product.

Do you handle the returns for us?

Yes, processing returns can be a real bother but with The Select you don't need to worry about this because in the unlikely even that your customer has a problem we are there to take care of it for you. We act as your 'distribution centre' receiving and refunding returned orders.

How do we refund a customer if we need to?

If a product has been returned to us then we will refund you immediately so you can refund your customer in turn using the funds we have sent you.

Website Systems

Will my website be created from a generic template system?

No, your website will be built using our website engine which helps us to save time and save you a lot of money however the structure of each site is completely open to customization. This means you can choose your layout, decide on your design, decide on your promotions, prices and maintain complete control of your website. If you chose the 'design package' a professional designer will take your website even further and make it completely different to any other.

What shopping basket system does it use?

Our system does not use open source or off the shelf packages. Everything is custom built by our developers and the shopping cart system is our own which means it is perfectly adapted to your requirements. We call it our 'Retailer System'

What happens if my website goes down for any reason?

Our servers are managed 24/7. If there is any problem this is reported to us immediately and we will know the instant your website fails. A technician will be assigned and will be working to resolve the issue straight away. Your websites are also backed up every single day and and we employ a high level firewall and security to prevent hacks and sabotage.

What happens if I spot a fault or have a problem?

Every customer is assigned a dedicated account manager to assist you with any questions or problems you may have. You will have their direct contact information including email and phone number. If there are any problems at all you just need to contact them and they will have them resolved for you.

Is there any training on how to use the administration system?

Yes we provide training videos for all aspects of using the administration system of your website. We also have a support website with FAQs and literature to assist you further. Of course you also have your account manager to assist you directly and talk you through any part of the system if needs be.

What other support can I rely on for assistance?

Your line of support is as follows:

1) In built Help & Video assistance in your website admin
2) Support website
3) Dedicated account manager

Will my customers have their own login?

Yes, our web systems are very advanced so your customer will have their own login to (a) review and print previous orders (b) contact and correspond with you (c) request returns (d) change their details.

What email addresses do I get?

Usually our customers receive 5 emails addresses for sales, admin and your own. For example 'yourname@yourwebsite.com' These email addresses can be accessed online or through your Outlook email client.

Can I use a domain name I already own?

Yes you can. All you need to do is ensure the 'Domain Name Servers' are pointing to our server. Your account manager can inform you how to do this and it is very easy to do.

Is the hosting included?

Yes the hosting for the entire year and your domain name is included in the price.

How quickly will my website be online?

Standard E-Commerce Site: Usually within 24 hours as long as you respond to the Welcome email and let us know what domain name you are using.

Designed E-Commerce Site: Within 3 working days with the full design.

Do I have to enter all the product details myself?

No your website is installed with all the products already uploaded. No data entry is required however if you don't want a category of products or a specific product you can easily deactivate them with one click.

How is the website kept up to date?

Our main system is continually feeding your website with information to keep it up to date and relevant. It does this in several ways:

1) Our system searches for our entire product range online everyday and works out the average online selling price for the product. It then updates your prices with the same price unless you have changed any of the prices yourself. This enables you to ensure that even if you have 7000 products on your website you can always keep it up to date.
2) Your website is plugged directly into our product database so if anything changes like a photo or text then it will be updated on your website unless you have already changed it manually.
3) Your website is also plugged into our stock system so it will only display products which are in stock and available to sell and ship.

What happens when I make a sale?

Your first sale is something special but it will be the first of many and this is how the sale process takes place.

1) Your receive an email to say that you have just received an order.
2) You login to your admin and with one click submit that order to us.
3) We take payment for that order(s) and then dispatch the product directly to your customer.
4) The order is then complete and the difference between the selling price and your cost price with us is your profit.

Website Design

How will the designer know what I want?

When you order a package with design you will be sent an email questionnaire from the designer. This will ask you questions regarding what you like and don't like in web design. The answers to our questions will help the designer to create your perfect design and website brand. You can then talk to the designer further if you require any changes.

Do I own the rights to the design?

Yes, once the design is completed we regard this brand as your intellectual property and if you were to leave us at anytime in the future this design will be yours to take with you.

Can I have my website look like Play.com or Amazon.com?

Obviously we understand why you might want to do this, they are good designs but there are obvious reasons why we can't just 'copy' a design. What we can do however is use other websites as inspiration and create something similar but at the same time unique for you. Mentioning websites you like the look of helps your designer to understand your tastes and requirements.

What if I don't like the design created for me?

All our designers are extremely professional and well established so it is very unlikely you will not like it. However if you don't like the design we will establish why it is that you don't like the design and change the design accordingly.

What other benefits are there to getting my website designed by a professional?

Our designers know how to create a design which makes the user feel comfortable and ready to spend money with you. They can create the image of trust and professionalism that is not always easy to create. The other benefits are that they look at it from a usability standpoint and therefore the customer will be directed by the marketing to the point of sale.

If I order with design do I get a new design every year?

Yes, if you renew your account in a years time as a 'design' package you will be given a new / updated design. You may however decide you like the design already and decide to renew at the standard e-commerce website level.

How quickly are designs created?

Your design should be completed within 3 working days of your order.

Website Marketing

How do you help me get more traffic to my website?

Marketing professionals can cost hundreds of pounds an hour so what we have done is used our top level online marketers to create a bespoke marketing solution for your online store. They have created a 10 point plan of action to get your website as high as possible on Google and the other search engines for the search terms you decide on. This will bring you traffic which will result in sales.

How effective is the additional Marketing programme?

If you don't know how to market your website then we would say it's almost essential to get the level of success you are looking for. The Marketing programme has seen some of our websites get on the first page for some of the biggest terms online and that makes a huge difference to a business. If you get the number one position on a term that gets 5000 hits a month then you could be receiving around 2500 hits a month just from that one keyword. Imagine what that would do for your business!

Why do I need Marketing?

If you haven't got the first idea of how to promote your website then I would strongly suggest that the Marketing package is essential to you. If you don't have a plan of action for your marketing then you might have the best website in the world, giving away products and you would still find it difficult to sell. The marketing of your website is the key to the success of your website.

How can I track my results?

Part of the website marketing package means that we install 'Google Analytics' onto your website. This is the industry standard when it comes to analyzing traffic coming to your website and understanding what that traffic does when it arrives. You will be able to see not only how many people have visited but also what pages they went to, how long the stayed there and what they did next. This is all important information for building up the success of your website.

How long does it take to get to the top of Google?

This depends on the search terms you are working on. The more competitive the search term the longer it will take to get to the top. The good news is however that the internet is still relatively new and not everyone knows how to effectively market their website so if you do or you work with a company like us that knows then you will be at a distinct advantage.

What is the quickest way for me to get traffic to my website?

The quickest way to get traffic to your website is either using PPC (pay per click) or by using social media, blogs and linking. As long as you are posting in areas where there is traffic it is more than likely you are going to be able to redirect some of that traffic to your website.

Should I try PPC (pay per click) on Google?

If you want instant results or you want to test a selling page then PPC is the ideal solution however be warned! It can be very expensive if you don't know what you are doing and set your budgets correctly.

How can social media help me?

By talking about your website or services on a social network it will bring attention and interest to what you do. Facebook, Twitter and Linked In are used by millions of people and if you can build a fan base using social media techniques and link it to your website you can achieve some very good results and sales.

Commonly Asked Questions

Do your prices include VAT?

Our service prices exclude VAT however all of our products include VAT.

Are there any minimum or maximum order quantities?

No, there are no minimum or maximum order quanties. You are not obliged to purchase our products in any specific quantity.

What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept PayPal or any debit or credit card through Securetrading as methods of transaction.

Do I have to be VAT registered?

No you do not have to VAT registered to begin with. This would only be relevant once you are earning £55,000 or over from the service.

Is there any legal contract?

No, there is no legal contract involved with our services.

Do I have to reserve products before I sell them?

No you don't. Our stock is constant and you only need to order from us AFTER you make a sale.

Do you have to be registered as a business or can I sell as an individual?

You can sell as an individual. We also cater for companies, whatever is suitable for you at the time of joining.

How much time and work do I need to put into to make a good profit?

It depends what you consider a good profit however even just an hour a day will get you results if you use that hour effectively. Once your website is getting traffic you might even spend less than that if you are happy with the amount of money you are receiving.

Dropship Wholesalers