Hey all, I'm not looking to start up a PS3/game company or anything but as part of a research project... How much would it take to get royalties (license) to sell PlayStation products such as a PS3? I have no idea where to find this information and don't know where to start ... Any help would be appreciated.
You don't need resell rights to sell PS3's in a store. You just would have to purchase the ps3's via wholesale or dropshipping. If you are talking about customizing and selling PS3's then I am not sure because there are many regulations that could keep you from doing it aside from getting Sony's permission. I know many people who customize PS3's and sell them on ebay without any problem. But not exactly sure what you are wanting to do please provide more detail.
Hope your incorporated or LLC'd. You can call SONY, and ask for their distributors here in the US. From their you ask the distributor that you would like to become a reseller. More then likely, because of how huge sony's distributors are they will want you to buy wholesale only and will NOT deal with an individual. So, it has to be business and all licenses...resell certificate, bank account in business name, Tax ID...I mean the works.. This is Sony, Im sure they get a few hundred calls on this every other day. It took me a while and MANY MANY phonecalls to know how speak to distributors. From experience, i BS you not. I had a distributor for some products. The man in charge of signing up resellers would not sign me up. #1 Im 24 and probably sound young to him, #2 I told him I was GOING to make a site. Anyways, lets cut this short. I built the website within a week and called him back a few times till he spoke with me. He looked at the website and said OK Ill send all the paperwork you need to fill out, please fax it back...
Wow thanks for all the information ... sounds like a lot of work man. You think it'd be a good cash business though?
Ok, that doesnt sound very reassuring for me. Let me put some questions to help you out and really see if this IS for you. Do you have a store? What kind of capital are you working on? Do you have all the paperwork a REAL distributor requires to sell you a PS3 at retail prices tax free? This costs about 100-400 depending on how much footwork you do on your own. Who is your market? Are you thinking of selling on ebay? Because trust me, look at the link on the bottom of my sig...which I need to take off. I was selling hydrponic items on ebay left and right...and so was everyone else and their momma...so what happens... 1st person says but it for 100...2nd person says screw that I want mine sold...here... 99 bucks...then 3rd person...98...catch my drift? Ebay devalues products, unless you have such a HUUUUGE discount that no one else can beat you... So, to say....just guessing if you thinking ebay..not a way to 'start up' I sold 900 in products, my profit was to be around 400. I ended up with less then 150 after ebay and paypal fees. I didnt buy in bulk, i dropshipped and their were fee's for that, and not huge discounts to buy 1 product at a time...so I failed. Didnt give up though, actually in the works with my own website....anyways back to quesions.... screw the questions let me speak some reality...If you can buy wholesale, and you know where to sell a couple PS3's and games fast then this idea can work. CraigsList would be great...but also its hard to tell because, how much is a unit? Can I buy 1 unit or do I have to buy bulk? Most distributors wont show you their wholesale prices unless your signed up. The real wholesalers and dropshippers do not ask for membership fee's and ask for ALL paperwork I discussed...so dont be fooled, or be target to the middle man attack. Manufacturer->Distributor/Wholesaler/Sometimes do dropship-> Reseller -> BUYER.... Beware of sites that say you can buy direct, and no need for this and that. Screw that crap...add them in the middle of those lines and thats how it works...a scheme....so be careful ...i found out the hard way myself. ok this is a lot but I just wouldnt want you to go after this if your not sure. With enough capital and potential purchasers it will work....the question is will you profit in the end? Check every aspect...see if the Sony Distributor will give you a price..if not ask how much for 100 units...then 50 units....try and divide that...but dont expect to buy 1 unit, or 1 game from Sony's distributors. I hope this helps, I know its all over the place but I got excited answering your question...lol and good luck.
yea youll prolly need to be pretty established, maybe if you can make a little mom and pop game store