How to Find a Supplier for Any eBay Product (Search by Photo)

You found a product selling well on eBay. Now you need the same item from a supplier at a price that leaves you profit. Here is how to do it properly, and the three mistakes that make the numbers look better than they are.

1. Search by photo, not just by keyword

Keyword search gives you hundreds of look-alikes. Search by photo finds the same product. Save the main photo from the eBay listing and use the camera icon in the AliExpress, Temu or Alibaba search bar.

2. Check it is really the same item

• Compare details in the photos: buttons, ports, logo position, packaging.
• Read the specs: size, power, cable type, number of pieces.
• Prefer suppliers with many orders and recent photo reviews.

3. Avoid the three price traps

• Lowest variant. Search results show the cheapest variant. Select the exact size, colour or plug you will sell and read that price.
• New-user deals. AliExpress and Temu often show a lower price for first orders or with coins. You won’t get it on repeat orders, so don’t plan on it.
• VAT. For UK buyers, AliExpress and Temu add 20% VAT at checkout on orders up to £135. Add it to the price you see. If you are VAT-registered, ask your accountant how to treat it.

4. Work out your landed cost

Landed cost = supplier price for your variant + 20% VAT + shipping to you. Then: profit = eBay price − eBay fees (around 13–15%) − landed cost − your postage to the buyer. If that leaves less than about 25%, keep looking.

5. Order a sample

Always order one or two first. Check quality, packaging and delivery time before you buy stock.

Do it automatically

On the Product Scout eBay sellers page, type any product or niche. Product Scout searches AliExpress and Temu by keyword and by photo, an AI marks each supplier as the same item or only similar, and the profit is worked out with UK VAT and eBay fees. You get the supplier link to check the variant yourself. Your first 3 searches are free.