Originally Posted by
weave
If he's exporting a hot item that isn't available yet internationally, like the Apple iPad was a few months ago, then there wouldn't be an option to buy from a wholesaler.
Regardless, numerous things about this arrangement don't pass the smell test. Reward doesn't justify the risks IMO.
A place I worked a number of years ago did this exact thing. We focused on import video games and systems (back when Japan got everything before the US). We couldn't deal with wholesalers as they wouldn't send out of the country so ended up dealing with a couple large retailers in Japan.
There are a few reasons to use retailers instead of wholesalers, and if the market is there it can still be profitable. But the situations are probably fairly rare.