Sourcing and importing products for bol.com

You buy from wholesalers in the Netherlands or elsewhere in Europe, or directly from manufacturers in Asia, often through Alibaba. Always order a sample before you buy stock, so you can judge quality, packaging and lead time yourself.

If you import from outside the EU, you pay import duties and VAT. The Incoterm you agree with your supplier, such as DAP or DDP, decides who arranges transport, who carries the risk and who handles customs. Put that in writing beforehand.

As the importer, you are responsible in the EU for the CE conformity and the safety of your product. bol.com also requires a valid EAN code for every product.

Only work out a product once you know all the costs: the unit price, transport, import duties and any product testing. That total cost price decides whether the product still makes a profit after bol.com's commission.