Sourcing Cell Phone Watches, How Not To Get Burnt
One of the most noticeable trends of the first half of 2008 has been the rise of the mobile phone watch.
But this current technology is just another flash in the plan and the design and quality limitations of watch phones' manufacturing make them not worthy of your time, right?
If this is your view, then you're in for a shock.
Not only does the cell phone watch have completely unique hardware and software but it also comes packed with just as many features as you're likely to find in a wholesale mobile phone from China or brand name phone from anywhere else.
Not only that, they are set to take the resale market by storm where everybody from gadget hunters, mobile hunters to even John and Jane suburb will be lining up to buy watch phones.
So why do mobile phone wrist watches have such a promising future?
The mobile phone watch phone has already become a steady selling item for anybody stocking it, even though it has only really been on the market since late 2007. This is even though most major cell phone manufacturers have not yet brought out a mobile phone wrist watch and no GSM phone watch has made its way into the reports of mass media yet.
The phone watch has been a big part of pop culture for many years. It has been included in many works of science fiction ever since the inclusion of the two-way radio watch in the Dick Tracy series in the 1950s and is always mentioned alongside the flying car when people are talking about futuristic ideas of the 1950's.
However, the actual technology for multimedia cell phone watches hasn't been around since the beginning of 2007 with commercial models really hitting the market late last year, adding to the novelty value of cell phone wrist watches
If unlocked cell phones are convenient then cell phone watches take convenience to another level as they sit on a person's wrist and are almost impossible to lose or misplace.
But this doesn't mean that all watch phones are created equal and, if you are interested in getting into the market of reselling watch phones online you'll first need to do some research and testing to make sure your seller reputation stays intact.
Here are the steps you can take to help you to cut the wheat from the chaff when sourcing a cellphone watch from China:
Finding a mobile shop in China or Chinese wholesale company with a line of GSM phone watches is only the first step and you've still to do some groundwork to make sure that they'll not try to trick you and will treat you and your customers with professionalism.
Some of the signs that you may need to avoid a company include: * Their website is badly put together, has very few product photos, or stolen product photos and has little to no contact information * Many people have complained about them on dropshipping, e-commerce and wholesale forums or fraudwatch sites. * Their products are priced too high or too low
It also may be worthwhile sending them an email as an interested customer and seeing how they respond
Once you're sure the company is an ethical and professional operation then it's time to do some research on pricing and features that will suit your market best.
Off-brand mobile phone wrist watches go for anything from US$120 to $250 depending on the model and the features.
There are many different types of watch phones available so it pays to feel out your potential customers before committing to any specific model
If your customers are looking for camera phone watches that are easy to use then you would probably be better looking for a cell phone wrist watch that has buttons on the strap. If they do a lot of physical exercise, or outdoor pursuits then they will probably be more interested in a more rugged model with an in-built GPS system.
The next step would be to get a sample to make sure it will handle the wear and tear of daily life. While cell phone watches won't be dropped like a wholesale mobile phone or an unlocked cellphone will they will still have to stand up to daily usage.
As a result you will probably need to ask the following questions:
* Does it feel solid, and not overly light or toy-like? * Do the buttons operate well, does the touchscreen controls synchronize quickly with the stylus movements? * How long does the battery last for, will the watch keep going after the battery runs down? * How well does the phone perform with calls, are they clear? * How well does the charger, headset and other accessories work? * Is the SIM card/battery easily accessible? * Are there any scratches or flaws on the phone? Is the screen in the right place? * Is it put together well, are all the screws present that should be, does it rattle if you shake it?
If you've done all this and the mobile phone watch still looks ok then you can put it on your stock lists.
So what are you waiting for? Investigate this popular, cutting edge market now and get a foothold online before the pack does.
About the Author
Rose Li is the PR manager for Chinavasion, China's premier dropshipper for quality wholesale consumer electronics. Looking for Western quality watch phones at China prices? Visit Chinavasion.
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